6 Things to Know When Making a Career Pivot

Career pivots are becoming more popular than ever before – with the pandemic being a major catalyst.

Career Coach Kori Burkholder says, “In 2020, I got a tidal wave of new clients looking to make a change.” She adds that “most realized they weren't living their dream but someone else's - parents, teachers, coaches, etc.”

Career Transition Coach Rachel Garett agrees, saying “We’re shifting away from this being a liability--as in lack of loyalty and moving into a perception that the employee will bring more of a depth and breadth of experience if they have experiences at multiple organizations.”

Translating skills to secure a position in a new field doesn’t need to be that scary or challenging, though there are some tips and tricks to know to put your strongest foot forward.

1.Update your resume and write that cover letter

Cover letters aren’t dead, and during a career pivot, may even put you ahead of those already in the field. Burkholder says, “It is your chance to help your reader - either a recruiter or a hiring manager connect the dots.” She adds that “you’ve got a few seconds to make an impression, and your job is to make it easy for the reader to understand how your skills and experience translate and to get your resume onto the “yes” pile.”

Garrett suggests updating your resume to “bring forward the skills and experience you have that connects to the new role you’re seeking.”

2. Focus on showcasing quantifiable results

During interviews, hiring managers are often interested in learning about if you’re results-driven and discussing what you’ve done and any successful processes you’ve used.

Garrett says to add quantifiable results to an application to help garner that initial phone screening in a new field.

She shares that “your resume should not sound like a job description. It should show clear results you drove, whether it’s acquiring new customers, an increase in sales or operational costs saved.”

3. Literally translate your skills

Burkholder shared one of her favorite processes to help translate skills:

First, list out your hard and soft skills transferable to your new field. Start with at least three job descriptions and find the commonalities. ChatGPT can help with this process!

Once you have your list, look at your resume and see how your accomplishments in previous roles relate to the new job.

An example she shares is a fashion designer looking to transition into event planning. Her hard skills in common with event planning are negotiating, hiring talent, budgeting, and sales. She might say something like this in her cover letter:

With a fashion background, I excel in event planning, vendor management, and talent coordination. I'm a natural salesperson with a knack for understanding unique client needs and preferences.

Whether selecting models, working with photographers, or scouting new talent, I am passionate about identifying and bringing in the best individuals for the job.

I have a history of negotiating favorable rates, securing in-store pulls, and fostering solid retail relationships, making me well-suited for sales roles. My talent coordination and budgeting expertise ensure fair compensation for talent while managing budgets effectively.

4. Solve the new company’s problem

Once you’ve secured the interview, come prepared with questions, but not just any questions. Try to get to the root of the company’s problem – why are they hiring for this role in the first place? What pain points do they need to solve?

If you can discover those answers, Burkholder says “once you understand, you can reiterate your confidence in how your skills, experience, and accomplishments are translatable from your last job to this new job.” She adds, “be equipped with career success stories, a few examples of how quickly you have transitioned into new roles, companies, and departments in the past, your resourcefulness, your passion for the role, the company, and its mission.”

5. Skip the portfolio, highlight LinkedIn

In regard to portfolio’s Garrett says, “if it’s not relevant, then I would not include it.” 

However, she does suggest to include your LinkedIn profile link, any awards you’ve won, volunteer work that’s important to you and any hobbies and interests that differentiate you. 

6. Practice patience

Unfortunately, successfully making a career change doesn’t typically happen overnight. Burkholder estimates it can take around six months for the transition, “which includes gaining clarity, choosing your target roles and companies, building a new network, updating your job search materials, applying for roles, understanding the hidden job market, interviewing, and negotiating.”

Garrett suggests a successful career pivot comes from networking. She says “it’s connecting with your network proactively and building relationships in the organizations where you want to be–so that when there’s a role they think of you. Or–they talk to you and say–we need someone like you here! 

Career pivots to align with life circumstances are becoming more popular. Garrett has been working a lot with new moms and those who no longer want to tolerate toxic work cultures.

Take the leap, you never know what’s waiting for you on the other side.

Experts Featured:

Rachel B. Garrett is a career transition coach. Visit her website at Rachelbgarrett.com and connect with her on LinkedIn

Kori Burkholder is a career coach who can be contacted via her website, www.koriburkholder.com