Changing career or pivoting requires substantial emotional, financial and time investment so it is not surprising that people are immediately keen to find new roles that perfectly align with their new selves.

In my experience, however, trying to find a job that matches newly established criteria can be overwhelming and burdensome, especially while juggling existing roles or redundancy, as well as the coaching process.

Instead, pin less on the perfect job for the time being and look for transition, or bridging, roles. A transition role serves as a bridge to ease the shift from one field to another while providing valuable experience and confidence along the way.

A transition role is a temporary or intermediate position that helps you move from your current career to your desired one. It allows you to gain relevant experience, expand your network, and develop the necessary skills without diving headfirst into an entirely new field.

Transition roles often combine elements of your existing expertise with opportunities to build knowledge in your target area, providing a smoother shift than a sudden leap might.

For example, a senior leader in a school wanted to switch into IT project management. It was going to take time and head space to retrain so as a transition role he took a fixed-term contract and less demanding teaching job in a technical college.

Some of the benefits of taking a transition role include acquiring new skills, testing the water to see if the switch is right for you, developing new networks, and a chance to prove you can thrive in a new setting, which in turns boosts confidence.

In the long run, a transition role can make a significant difference in how successfully and smoothly you move into a new career. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the demands of an unfamiliar role, you’ll have the foundational experience and knowledge to thrive.