How to Pivot Your Skillset For a Career Change

Are you happy with your career? It turns out over 50 percent of Americans aren’t. As someone who has been there, it’s now my mission to help smart, intelligent high-achieving women everywhere take control of their careers and do the work they were meant to do in the world. 

But how do you know when it’s time to switch to a new career? The thought of making the leap is a big enough deterrent for many people, but a career pivot can make the difference between dreading going in to work each morning and waking up with a smile on your face ready to start the day. 

If any of these sound like you, it’s a sign that it may be time to pivot your career:

• You feel like you are at a dead end: If your job feels like you are on a treadmill going nowhere, it may be time to shift gears into a new career direction.
• Your field doesn’t have enough opportunities: With many people facing the reality of a post-COVID-19 world, it may be time to consider a career that can stand through the test of time. 
• You aren’t engaged at work: If you find yourself repeatedly zoning out or procrastinating during the work day, it’s likely a sign that you aren’t exactly in love with your job. Consider thinking about a new career trajectory. 
• Your company is having layoffs: Many companies across the world are having to lay off employees, so it’s important to understand there’s nothing wrong with you if this happened to you. However, this could be an opportunity to follow your passions to a new career. 

If you are considering a career shift, it will be important to create a stellar resume that doesn't just speak to where you've been, but sends a clear message about where you're going. Your resume is part of your marketing materials, so you'll want to make sure it represents you authentically and accurately.

Also, use those precious few lines to promote yourself and highlight your successes, particularly as they related to what you're looking to pivot to next. 

You can do that by measuring your progress to provide actionable metrics for success. For example, instead of saying you “improved CTRs for social advertisements” you could say “Improved CTRs by 8.4% in 6 months by implementing A/B testing and measuring results”. 

It's key to remember that a career pivot does not equate to a failure, but rather is a purposeful shift into a new direction in your professional life.

The most important part of deciding to pivot your career is to find something that maximizes your unique gifts, talents and strengths. Next, be sure to  design your marketing materials to help others see where you're going and to point you in the right direction.

Ready to get your career shift started? Here's a few tips in the graphic below:

In the pivoting process and need some support? Click here to schedule a FREE Career Clarity Session.