It's time to embrace the career pivot
[Images: Nataly-Nete/Adobe Stock; whiteisthecolor/Adobe Stock]

It's time to embrace the career pivot

Welcome readers! The Sunday edition of Fast Company Daily is dedicated to Work Smarter: a weekly newsletter of career, leadership, and productivity advice, curated by Fast Company’s Work Life editors,?Kathleen Davis ,?Lydia Dishman ?and?Julia Herbst .

Subscribe?here ?for the full version of this newsletter.


It's time to embrace the career pivot

By Julia Herbst

Contributor Judith Humphrey has had a number of jobs over the course of her professional life. After studying music in school, she taught English in Toronto before pivoting to the business world. There she crafted speeches for executives—first at major companies, and later at her own leadership communications firm.?

“My career was never a straight line,” she wrote for?Fast Company recently. “What guided me was a willingness to quit jobs where I didn’t think I would succeed, where the people I worked with were not supportive, or where I felt there was a poor fit between my talents and ambitions and my current role.”

Whatever your motivation for switching jobs , if you’re considering making the leap, it’s important to lay your groundwork carefully. Research the new role you’re considering, whether that involves reading industry blogs or newsletters, having informational coffees , or registering for a relevant course or?microcredential .

As you narrow in on your goal, another important step to take is to broadcast the pivot publicly and explain the logic behind your move. “Review your social media and other communications to make clear there is a good fit between your past assignments and future roles,” writes Humphrey in her?guide to successfully changing your career . “Show how they all fit together and give you a dynamic profile that engages others.”

As you make the shift, make sure to?check in about how you’re feeling , writes contributor Joseph Liu. “As is the case with any emotional major life event, the key is not to try and deny what you’re feeling," he writes. “Walking away from corporate perks and benefits can feel unsettling. Leaving behind a fancy job title can even feel embarrassing. Letting go of a stable income can feel risky. Accepting these emotions as part of the journey is the first step toward managing them.”


Deeper Dive


For an even deeper dive,?subscribe ?to the full version of this newsletter.

Dave Herpy

Dad x 4 | Husband | Leadership & Organizational Development | Life Purpose Coach | Triathlete | #WorkLifeSuccess

2 个月

After a 25-year career working in camps and outdoor leadership, I made a successful career pivot to organizational and leadership development. The key to that transition was the transferable skills I had developed over the years—facilitating, leadership, strategic planning, team building, and training. These skills are not confined to one industry; they transcend fields and have been instrumental in helping me thrive in my new role. The ability to pivot and apply your expertise in different contexts is invaluable, and investing in the development of transferable skills is essential for anyone looking to make a career change or diversify their professional path. Embrace the power of these skills—they can open doors to exciting new opportunities!

回复
Luis Vázquez

Former President @ Tupperware USA & Canada, former Executive @ AVON & Herbalife. - Founder Stealth Mode & Independent Advisor /Strategy Consulting - Building something new =)

2 个月

Mykaill Moscosa

Suzanne Mendes

High-Impact Marketing & Communication Executive | Builder of Dynamic Brands & Businesses | Ex-UNIQLO, L’Oreal, Estée Lauder & Inspire Clean Energy

2 个月

I’m going through this exact journey now. It’s the most thrilling yet terrifying chapter of my career. Thank you for the tips, but moreover, thank you for validating the challenging emotions and discomfort that comes along with shedding your past life.

Phil McKinney

Transforming Wild Ideas into World-Changing Innovations ?? | CableLabs CEO | HP CTO (ret) | Innovation Catalyst | Author & Podcast+YouTube Host | Innovation Storyteller |

2 个月

I’ve done this three times over my career (consumer software products, biometric security hardware, telecommunications/broadband). Build out your breadth and not just your depth in one tech/one industry. Your value to future organizations will increase.

Christopher Torres

Still Serving to Enable the Warfighter | Defense Acquisition Workforce | Logistician

2 个月

This resonated and more than timely! #transition

回复

要查看或添加评论,请登录

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了