How to Successfully Pivot to a More Fulfilling Career Path

 

Changing careers can be daunting, but with some strategic planning, self-reflection, and skill development, you can successfully pivot to a more satisfying job. Here are some tips for making a successful career change.  

Assess Your Skills, Interests and Values

The first step is taking stock of your current skills, interests, and values. What parts of your current job do you enjoy and want to retain? What new skills do you want to gain? What types of work environments and company cultures motivate you? Understanding this will help align your next move with work you find genuinely fulfilling.

Spend time researching job roles, descriptions, and career paths that seem to match your interests and ambitions. Look for themes and skillsets that get you excited. 

Build Your Skills

Once you’ve identified new skills needed to pivot into your desired field, look for ways to build them. Take relevant classes and certifications through community colleges or online learning platforms. Learn new technical skills through video tutorials and online courses. Consider an online masters degree that develops both creative and professional skills to help you transition smoothly. Look at schools like Maryland Institute College of Art for inspiration.

Building a portfolio of work can also demonstrate skills. Do freelance or pro-bono work, tackle new projects at your current job, or create your own website and content to showcase abilities to future employers.

Grow Your Network

Networking will be critical to transitioning into a new industry. Attend industry events and conferences to meet professionals in your desired field. Join professional associations and follow industry leaders on social media. Set up informational interviews to get advice from people who have already made a similar career change. Growing your professional connections increases your chances of hearing about open roles and getting referred for opportunities.

Highlight Transferable Skills

When applying and interviewing for new roles, emphasize how your past experience translates. As an experienced professional switching fields, you likely have many transferable skills. Stress these in your resume, cover letters and interviews. For example, highlight skills like communication, project management and leadership. Use specific examples of when you demonstrated these abilities in past jobs, even if it was in a different industry.

Consider Volunteer or Intern Opportunities

Volunteering and interning are great ways to get experience in a new field, especially if you don’t yet have the resume to directly enter that industry. Look for ways to volunteer your existing skills, take on a supporting role at an organization, or get a foot in the door through internships open to career changers. This lets you demonstrate interest, build your network and develop relevant experience.

Be Realistic About Your Finances

When planning a career pivot, think realistically about finances. Can you take a pay cut or go without income for a period? Do you need to keep earning at a certain level? Understanding the financial implications will help you create a timeline and budget. Many switch to a lower-paying passion career while keeping their current job, then make the full transition later. Save up a “career change” fund to ease the transition.

Don't expect to entirely reinvent your career overnight. Look for incremental ways to move toward your goals while maintaining income and work-life balance. Take it step-by-step, transitioning into your new field while still leveraging your current skills and experience. With strategic planning and effort, you can pivot to much more meaningful work.