For me, the word pivot evokes memories of the school netball court where we were taught to pivot, anchoring one foot to the ground whilst moving the other, looking for new angles and team members to support you.
A career pivot looks similar – you are intentionally shifting in a new direction towards a new career whilst still in your current role. Fortunately, however, you are not subject to the netball rule of three seconds and so have time to evaluate and consider your options.
Research conducted by Henley Business School reported in January 2022 that 50% of polled workers were re-evaluating their jobs. The pandemic prompted people to question how they worked and where they worked. For many, there was no choice but to make a career change from industry sectors hardest hit by the pandemic; others have reassessed what they want from their careers and want to consider looking at other options.
Practical Steps
- If you are wanting to change career out of choice, rather than necessity, a good place to start would be to question why you are no longer satisfied in your current career. It is important to recognise the key factors influencing your decision to make a change.
- Consider your values and identify what is important to you. What skills do you have that are important for you to keep utilising in new role? What are your key transferable skills that can be used in another industry sector or role?
- Use your network. Identify who you know who works in your desired industry and contact them for advice.
- Identify skills gaps and address them. You could sign up for a course or try to gain the required skills through voluntary work.
- Identify your non-negotiables. Think about key things that would prevent you taking a new position – it could be location, hours, staff responsibility – this is personal to you and really important to ensure your new career will work for you.
A career pivot is an opportunity to learn and grow. It is an opportunity to reinvent how you work and find a role that is in line with your values, utilises your key skills and will keep you motivated and happy at work. It may take time, and you might need to find someone to be a sounding board for your ideas, but keep remembering your end goal and why you are doing this!
Denise Tuke is one of our partner coaches. She helps clients work through exactly the kind of challenges she has raised here. To find out more about working with Denise, visit her coach profile: www.careeringintomotherhood.com/denise-tuke
May 18, 2022
