How to pivot your career successfully

Career Pivoting requires thought and exciting exploration

Career pivoting is being used more generally this days to describe career change and a complete change in direction, however, in my coaching work I see it as a shift out of a job or sector, not starting again at the bottom, and possibly identifying a growth area that taps into a previous background, building on existing skills, experience and knowledge. Here are my tips for career pivoting successfully.

1.    Trust your intuition, decide on your goals and make a plan

2.    If you don’t have a fixed idea for your next direction, embark on an exploration phase to assess possibilities

3.    Tap into your network for ideas, advice and leads

4.    Identify your transferrable skills and how you can remarket them

5.    Consider further education to plug any skills or knowledge gaps

6.    Be open-minded to any opportunities, however leftfield

7.    Think about your ‘value add’ proposition to the jobs market

8.    Seek insights from people in the industry you’re targeting

9.    Decide on the level of risk you’re willing to take and create a contingency plan

Be patient. Career pivots don’t tend to happen overnight. Take small, steady steps!