How to make a successful career pivot

There are many times in life when we simply decide that we want to make a change. It could be anything from a lifestyle choice (do you know anybody who took part in ‘Veganuary’?) to moving house or switching career paths.

With the dawn of this new decade, it’s hardly surprising that many people are seizing the opportunity to explore new possibilities. And career changes often feature highly on the list. Whether it’s a desire for a fresh challenge which brings greater job satisfaction, more money or a shorter commute time, there are many reasons as to why people may choose to change the direction of their career.

If you’re not looking to completely overhaul your career in life sciences, but want to pivot it in a new direction, here are a few techniques designed to help you make the change you want successfully.

What exactly is a ‘career pivot’?

Put simply, a career pivot is not as drastic as a complete change in career, which could see you starting from the beginning again (although, by all means this is what you should do if that is what your heart and mind desires). Essentially, a pivot describes a career change which may involve you using your transferable skills in another position, or indeed taking up a similar position in a different company.

Gone are the days where a job is a job for life. So, if you have a desire to pivot your career, here are a few tips to help you make the change smoothly and successfully.

Know what drives you

It’s never good to feel as though you’ve jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. Make sure that you know why you want to make a change before making your move. Ask yourself a few questions so you can be sure that your next career move won’t be one you regret.

• What would your ideal career look like?
• What do you like most about your current role/career? Do you want to keep these parts?
• What don’t you like and would be quite happy to leave behind?
• What skills and qualities do you have which you can bring to work? Are they all being used in your current position?
• What do you hope to achieve by moving jobs now?
• What could you lose?
• Is there anything preventing you from pivoting your career, such as skills, location? What can you do to overcome these barriers?
• How will you know that you’re heading in the right direction?

Understanding why you want to pivot your career, the opportunities and barriers you could face and how to deal with them is essential to ensure success. Take the time to conduct this career audit honestly and you’ll soon reap the benefits.

Identify and address skill gaps

If you follow the suggestion above and conduct a thorough career audit on yourself, you may find that you identify gaps in your current skills and knowledge which could hinder you from making the pivot you really want to. If this is the case, take action to upskill yourself so that you don’t end up missing out on positions to people with a more complete skill set. There are a few ways in which you can do this:

1. Learn - Yes, it really is as simple as that. As the saying goes, knowledge is power so take the opportunity to reach out to the network of colleagues within your profession for guidance as to what you can do to improve your skills. Alternatively, investigate what training courses, programmes, or podcasts are available which can help you to develop your skills in the areas you want to. Remember, learning doesn’t always have to be academic study. There are plenty of practical, hands-on ways in which to learn in order to enhance your marketability in the workplace.
2. Take on more responsibility - One way to develop your skills for a prospective new position or employer is to ask for more responsibility in your current role. It isn’t always possible, but it does demonstrate your desire to continually improve professionally, and that’s a good thing.
3. Get involved in team projects - Team projects provide a great opportunity to learn from others. You could even ask a colleague to be your mentor if they have qualities you feel you could learn from.

Don’t give up

If you’re determined to make a career pivot, be prepared that it may not happen overnight. But if you remain persistent and dedicated to doing what it takes, you will reach your goal eventually and all of your hard work will pay off.