Why Change Careers When You Can Pivot Instead?
Last updated August 19, 2021
Pivoting your career is an essential strategy that I have been teaching for many years. The world moves at such a fast pace that people across all industries must learn to adapt to shifting work practices and emerging technology.
So, what does it mean to pivot your career?
Pivoting doesn’t have to mean changing jobs or industries. It could be as simple as moving to a new role within your company, changing your approach within a function or altering your business model.
Are you wondering, ‘How do I make a career shift?’ Here are a few ways you can pivot your career:
Use your skills differently
For example, when the local media industry was disrupted during COVID-19, one client changed from working for a magazine to freelance writing. I, myself, have moved from management to project management, back to management and then across to programme management during my career.Change the way you work
This could be as simple as working remotely instead of going into the office, a trend that is set to continue as employees seek flexibility within the workplace.Use the same skills but shift to a different industry
I have done this quite a few times throughout my working life, such as when I was a manager, I moved from IT to manufacturing, then local government to logistics before switching to healthcare and back to the government. My focus shifted from managing the deployment of IT into business and being more productive, efficient and effective. I used the same skills in each position and developed some new ones along the way, all the time building up my knowledge.
When should you pivot your career?
Now is an excellent time to think about pivoting your career as more options are available to job seekers. Where 2020 was a year of uncertainty, which led many employers to freeze recruiting and employees were forced to pick up the slack, the job market has now shifted in favour of applicants.
Many employers across most industries are desperate to fill job vacancies but are receiving fewer applications than before. Some employers are even resorting to headhunting candidates and offering sign up bonuses to attract suitable candidates.
This is all good news if you’re thinking about making a career pivot. You’ll need to consider your life experience, your existing skills and experience, and what areas you need to work on.
A big part of successfully pivoting your career is writing a killer CV and cover letter.
How do you pivot when facing a job loss or decreased profits?
Suppose you’re in the situation where pivoting is necessary because you've been made redundant or your business isn’t doing as well as it should. In that case, you may need to pivot even if you don’t necessarily want to.
Start by accepting that things have changed and that they are outside of your control. We never know what the future holds, so it’s essential to adapt in both our work and personal life to be flexible and agile.
Of course, it’s easier said than done, which is why I recommend this simple 10-step plan to help you get back on track.
10-step pivot plan
Please spend some time grieving for what was but don't let it drown you.
Realise that you always have a choice.
Access your options.
Explore the cost and return of each option.
Work out what your criteria are for moving forward. For example, if you are looking for a job, what are the ‘must-haves and must not haves’? This will help you make your decision.
Plan what steps you need to take at a broad-brush level.
Decide what option or options you will try.
Do some more detailed planning - this may be simultaneous with taking action.
Make it happen and stay the distance. Sometimes it's a hard road to follow through on a change; in this case, call on your support network to give you strength.
And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Think about who is in your cheerleading squad that you can enrol as your go-to person to act as a sounding board. If you don't have somebody, I strongly recommend finding a family member, friend or professional.
If you want to know more, the bestselling business strategy book Who Moved My Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson is a worthwhile read.
I’d love to know if you’ve made a pivot in your career and have found any of these strategies helpful – please feel free to drop me a comment below or reach out to me on Linkedin.
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