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November 23, 2020

Pivoting Into Your New Career Without Losing Your Mind

During the Covid-19 pandemic, working individuals across the world had time to think about their individual growth. They were able to focus on their personal lives and strategize about ways to transform their circumstances, including their life, family, and careers. Currently, there are millions of people looking to pivot their careers – an exciting but daunting task.

If you’re one of the millions currently seeking a career change, here are six tips to successfully pivot into your next job.

 

Re-evaluate Where You Are

First off, don’t immediately dive into a new space; instead, take a moment to reevaluate where you are. Making a career pivot is a big step that requires planning, thought, self-inventory, and reevaluation of yourself and your finances.

Tonya Robertson, Founder of Focused Training Solutions, explains “Making a career pivot is exciting, but it can be uncomfortable as well. Take a moment to think about if this is something that you want to do and how it will benefit you in the long run,” and Tae Lee, founder and CEO of Never Go Broke, shares her sentiment. “Take a moment to see where your finances are and be sure to build out a budget that will have a steady growth in your desired career pivot.”

 

Make A Plan

Once you’re sure of your desire to pivot in your career trajectory, it’s time to make a plan which will streamline and simplify the process. Having a strategy and specific steps outlined for success will make all the difference in the execution of your pivot.

According to Rozalyn Goodwin, Co-Founder of GaBBY Bows, “Making a plan will allow you to see areas where you can continue to strengthen, but also identify the weak spots that will need improvement during your career pivot.”

The value of a good plan is also explained by Nicole Brown, Founder of Izzy & Liv, who’s said, “Planning is one of the most, if not the most, important step in pivoting your career. With a strong plan and vision in your mind, you will be able to have a successful pivot.”

 

Network Within Your Desired Industry

Once you’ve formulated your plan, it’s time to prioritize discussions with people both inside and outside of your network who align with your desired career path. It will feel awkward at times to be outside of your area of expertise, but it’s important to make a strong, committed effort to surround yourself with industry professionals and experts. These should people who you can ask questions and learn from to help you embark on your new journey.

The power of networking has long been known, as Lacresha Hayes, Best Selling Author and Founder Of Divinity Academy, writes, “Networking and talking to industry professionals in your desired career pivot will allow you to get firsthand insight into not only the exciting parts but difficult moments as well.”

 

Keep Learning

As you embark on your journey and long afterwards, it’s important to continue strengthening the skills that you have and continue to learn new skills that will help you in your desired career. It is critical to learn everything you can about the career you want to pivot into, so ask questions and soak up all the information you can.

Nikki N. Klugh, owner and principal designer of Nikki Klugh Design Group, Inc. suggests, “It is important to look at your current skill set and see what you can transfer to your new career pivot, but also identify what skills you need to gain more knowledge and insight on.” Any professional knows the value of keen learning and knowledge acquisition, as Elizabeth S. David follows up with this advice. “Continue to explore the ins-and-outs of your desired career pivot. The more you learn, the more confidence you will feel making your career change.”

 

Take Small Actions

You’re almost there! At this point, you should have a plan, you’ve leveraged your skills and learned new methods and techniques for your career, and you’re nearly ready to make your pivot. It’s always tempting to jump right in, but now is the time to take small, manageable actions that will make a huge difference in the long run.

Take the advice of Sabrina Tucker-Barrett and Anthony Barett, founders of Girls For Technology, Inc. “It is okay to take those small, manageable action steps such as taking classes and talking to industry professionals because those are the additional steps that will prepare you to take the first step out of your comfort zone.” Before you leap permanently into your new career, you should try to take classes in your desired career path and have one-on-one chats with industry professionals.

 

Trust Your Instincts

It’s finally time! After weeks of preparation, planning, networking with industry professionals and learning new skills to help you succeed in your career, the time to truly pivot has come. This is the moment where you have to let go of the safety net, step out of your comfort zone, and trust your instincts.

For a final piece of advice, look to Althea Lawton-Thompson, Founder & CEO of Living Life Limitlessly and Aerobic Yoga & More, when she says, “Just be sure to trust your instincts because once you let go and make the leap, you will realize you know more than you think.” The decision to pivot your career was made because you have a passion worth exploring and the confidence to succeed in your new field. Now, it’s time to make that passion into reality.

 

By utilizing these tips, your transition into your new career will be easier and more efficient than you ever thought possible. Good luck with your new career and have fun with your all-important pivot!

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