How to Make a Successful Career Pivot

A career pivot differs from a career change. With a career pivot, you'll use your current education, experience, and skills to pivot to a new position that aligns with your goals. When you pivot, you might change industries or transition to a different role in your current company. A career change is more drastic and often involves a new set of skills and career paths.

Common reasons for a career pivot

People make a career pivot for different reasons. Motivating factors can vary—in some cases, more than one factor is at play. Common reasons for a career pivot include:

Improved salary

According to Pew Research, pay is the biggest reason people leave their jobs. A 2021 survey revealed that 37 percent of people who quit their jobs did so because the pay was too low. Another 26 percent said it contributed to their decision to move on, followed by limited career advancement [1]. Whether you're looking to increase your salary to cover expenses, support your family, or combat rising inflation rates, making a career pivot to bring in additional income is common.

Enhance career satisfaction

Research shows just 32 percent of the US workforce is engaged or enthusiastic about their current job and workload, according to Gallup, a company that tracks employee engagement across thousands of organizations regularly [2]. If you're disengaged at work or unsatisfied, a career pivot might be in order. 

Better management

Sometimes, it's poor management that pushes employees to make a change. Maybe you feel you're not recognized for your work, or leaders are disrespectful or noninclusive, engage in or ignore backstabbing behavior, or aren't truthful. All of these behaviors can push employees to look for new opportunities elsewhere.

Schedule flexibility

The pandemic forced companies to experiment with flexible schedules, and now, many employees like working from home. Whether you're looking for a remote job where you work from home entirely or a job with a hybrid schedule (both in and out of the office), the need for flexibility can spark a career pivot.

Steps for making a career pivot

If you're interested in pivoting to a new position, your first instinct may be to search for jobs online. While that is part of the process, try to self-assess your interests first to evaluate your desired job. From there, you'll research and list the criteria a job must have to meet your needs. As you look into new opportunities, you'll weigh their educational requirements and how that might impact your life. When you're ready to move forward, you can network with colleagues, finesse your cover letter and resume, and start the application process.

Let's take a look at each step in more detail.

1. Weigh your strengths and skills.

Before you make any decisions, start by assessing your current situation. Think about things you like about your job and those you don't. Consider your skills, strengths, and interests. To help, ask yourself these questions:

• What would help you get out of bed, eager to go to work? 

• What tasks do you like and wish you had more of? 

• How does salary fit into your overall needs? 

• What kind of work environment are you looking for? 

• Is there a certain management style that you'd like to find? 

By working through these questions and assessing what you'd like to change, you can start to navigate your next move. 

2. Research new opportunities or internal transfers.

With a complete self-assessment, you can start researching jobs that fit your needs. 

Research new opportunities

If you're ready to find a job outside your current workplace, research online. Search career titles, roles, and salary expectations on job sites like Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also has an Occupational Outlook Handbook that could be helpful. Get a sense of the new job you'd like to have and the industries or companies that offer it. 

Beyond online resources, consider:

• Speaking with colleagues who are in a role that interests you 

• Attending conferences and workshops

• Reading industry news and publications to understand new trends and responsibilities

• Connecting with alumni

Consider an internal transfer

You might be able to pivot your career within the same company. Begin a conversation with your manager or a member of the human resources team to find out about new opportunities that align with your skills and interests. If a new job isn't available, talk about redefining your current role to include more of the daily activities that you enjoy. 

By transferring internally, you might be able to keep your seniority and salary in place and eliminate the need to find and interview for a new job at a new company. While this might not be a viable option for everyone, it's typically more beneficial for companies to retain employees than hiring new ones, so leadership may be open to your suggestions.

3. List your criteria.

Before moving toward any opportunity, be it a new job or an internal transfer, list must-haves. Think of this list as your non-negotiables. If, for example, you need a 5 percent bump in salary and a hybrid work schedule, list them. If you'd like to exclude working in certain industries or for companies that are too far from your home, list them. Know what you want before applying for anything. 

4. Consider additional education or training.

During your research, you may find that you need to obtain additional skills to make a career move. Since career pivots are less drastic than career changes, you probably won't need to earn a new degree, but online certifications or bootcamps could help you earn new skills. 

5. Network.

While you should search job boards for new opportunities, you can also source possible jobs from people you know. During your research phase, you likely reached out to people in your network. When you're ready to make a move, reach back out and inquire about open positions within their company. In addition, try: 

• Updating your LinkedIn profile

• Attending speaking events and introducing yourself to the speaker

• Getting involved in your community or industry and connecting with thought leaders

• Joining industry-specific groups or organizations

6. Apply for new jobs.

When you're ready, look and apply for new jobs that fit your criteria. When you apply, remember to:

• Submit a tailored cover letter for each application that aligns with the job description.

• Follow all of the application instructions.

• Use a professional name and email address.

• Clean up your social media profiles.

• Check your resume and cover letter for errors.

• Keep track of the jobs you've applied for.

How Coursera can help you make a career pivot

To help you navigate the job market and excel at interviewing, consider taking online courses on Coursera, such as Advanced Interviewing Techniques offered by the University of Maryland. With job readiness classes like this, you can communicate your knowledge, skills, and abilities in a way that makes employers take note. Also, consider upskilling to boost your resume or qualify for an internal transfer by exploring the wide variety of Professional Certificates available.