Not all Careers Look the Same. Which one Feels Right for you?

As a psychologist who, by fate (or luck), ended up in HR, I’ve had my fair share of conversations about career changes, growth, and development. And if I’m being honest, I’ve questioned my own career path plenty of times.

It’s not easy to hit pause and rethink whether you want to pivot or whether you need to. It’s even harder to figure out if something different might be a better fit because "you don't know what you don't know." But having that honest conversation with yourself every so often is a must. Keep in mind that your answers might change depending on where you are in life.

My background has been primarily in big, product-driven companies where the work was done in-house. Now that I’m at a consulting firm (Hakkoda), I realize there are things I wish I had understood (or known) sooner. Things that perhaps would have helped me have better, more productive career conversations with others.

If you are currently thinking about your career, whether at the start of your journey or well into your professional life, I think there’s no wrong time to ask:

• Where do I thrive?
• What am I really working toward?
• What feels fulfilling to me?

I’ve found that in consulting you can gain:

• Faster career progression: Many consultants can reach leadership roles quicker than their in-house counterparts.?
• More career flexibility: Your skills don’t box you in; you can pivot into leadership, strategy, or even product roles.
• Broader exposure: Instead of specializing early, you develop a cross-functional, problem-solving mindset across industries.

Bonus to the latter: By having broader exposure, you may find something you’re truly passionate about!?

Product company roles aren’t necessarily easier. They’re just different.

• Long, slow-moving roadmaps: Less variety, often working on the same product for years.?
• Internal politics & slower promotions: Growth can be harder to navigate, especially in big organizations where individual contributions get diluted into "team" efforts.?
• Limited skill exposure: Specializing too early can make career transitions tougher. (I learned this the hard way. I made a thoughtless move thinking leaving talent acquisition would be easy, but switching paths wasn’t as simple as I had hoped.)

From my experience so far, I think that unless a company is highly matrixed with a strong culture of mobility and encourages a growth mindset (I’m thinking Bacardi), it can be much harder to explore different roles or industries the way you can in consulting. Trial and error isn’t always an option in-house, and you will likely depend on a “sponsor” or “ally” to create those opportunities and exposure for you.?Cue to: How to Find a Mentor in your Company article by Alexis Redding and Dorie Clark.

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all career path. The key is knowing where you thrive, what you enjoy, and ultimately, what's your purpose.

Have you ever made a career move that taught you something surprising about where you work best? Would love to hear your thoughts!