Pivoting Into a New Career: Best Practices

Over the last few months, I've had many conversations with friends and candidates who have decided to make career changes several years into their professional lives. Very often they're they're not even sure what direction they want to take their careers in, they just know they need a change.

I personally reached that point in my Accounting career, as I've spoken to before. But I've seen this happen to Lawyers, Educators, Academics, Social Workers, Engineers, and many other highly skilled and specialized workers. When you've invested several years (and often tens of thousands of dollars) into a highly niche career, it can be difficult to decide to take a step back. I've seen several people make the move successfully. If you are considering making a career change, here are some pointers:

1) Identify Your Transferrable Skills: Even in the most niche careers, you likely have developed skills that can be a jumping off point into a new career. For examples, educators implicitly develop skills in performance management, effective communicating and messaging. I was able to use my background in Accounting to get into F&A Recruiting. Academics often have research and data analysis skills that can translate into industry. If you have a pivot point, you can often use that in order to find your "in" to start a new career.

2) Know What You're Getting Into: Before choosing to make a career change, do your homework. Learn what the technical requirements are to move into your chosen field including degrees or certifications. Identify what you still need to achieve on top of your transferrable skills Read about apprenticeship and internship programs that can help you along the way. Learn about the different career options within your chosen field and think about which paths interest you the most. Take the time to talk to people in this field to learn what their day-to-day grinds look like. Learn the good, the bad and the ugly and look for red flags or deal-breakers for you.

3) Be Prepared to Take a Step Back: Regardless of what level you are at in your current career, making a career change involves learning new sets of skills. Sometimes you are able to learn those skills from an entry-level job, an internship, or an apprenticeship. Other times you need to go back to school to earn an additional degree or certification. This means that if you are accustomed to a certain level of income, you might need to tighten the purse-strings for a while. If possible, I would plan on having some amount saved up to get you through any harder times.

It also means you are likely going to need to "pay your dues" again. Take the time to network and learn from others in your new industry. You need to build foundational knowledge in your chosen field, and that often comes from taking on the less glamorous assignments. But it's that foundational knowledge that will allow you to grow and advance.

4) Know You Will Succeed: If you don't come in with the attitude that you will succeed, you likely won't. Set achievable goals and milestones for yourself. Take on mentors and learn from them. Ask for regular feedback and take the time to adapt your approach. Be deliberate in your approach from the beginning and take every training seriously.

Have any of you made a career pivot? What piece of advice would you give someone in a similar situation?