Two Types Of Career Pivots
A career pivot isn’t always a complete shift into a different job function and industry. The first thing you’ll need to figure out is what kind of pivot you’re craving. It may be a lateral move or what’s called a “lane change pivot,” which means a slight shift to a similar position where a lot of your skills will be transferable. For example, you might move from a marketing role at a company to something similar at a consulting firm. A slight pivot like this will require a bit of networking and preparation but no extensive research or rethinking your professional identity. The other type of pivot is what Kea calls a “highway pivot,” where there might be some transferable skills, but you’re doing a 180-degree turn to a different job function or industry. It’s more like going from being a teacher to being an accountant. In this case, you’ll have a lot more to think about: How will you present yourself on a resume? Which skills are transferable, and how can you highlight them? How do you start to get the necessary experience?Why People End Up In The Same Situation They Left
Remember that scary “point of no return?” That feeling of urgency to get out of your current situation is often what causes people to recreate the situation they were trying to leave. We're constantly pushing forward and very rarely spend enough time with painful feelings to get a good understanding of what drove them. When you identify what’s causing stress, creating overwhelm, what tasks you don’t enjoy, and why, you can begin to reverse engineer what the opposite of that environment would be. In addition to the red flags, you want to look out for green flags. For those who aren’t so quick to make a change, fear can paralyze them from exploring their options. They may wonder, “Am I too old to do this? Am I too far down the path? What happens if I start over for fear of losing status? What will other people think, and will it really make me happy?” Thinking about all the steps it will take, and the support you will need to get from Point A to Point B can shut everything down quickly. So instead, focus on getting a clear picture of what you do and don’t want and make small changes in your current situation while you work on finding the position you’ll really love. Your new vision can help propel you forward as you search for the right fit.Lay the Groundwork for Your Career Pivot
1. Get clear on what’s happening now.
Before exploring what's next, don’t overlook the value of naming what's happening right now. Consider asking yourself:- What is it that you want to leave?
- What kind of exploration and experimentation do you still need to do before you feel confident about the next step?
- What gets you excited when other people ask for your help?
- What brings you joy at work?