5 Tips for Career Pivots in 2021
As a teenager, my life goal was to become a music video director. By 15, I had saved enough money to buy a video camera, an iMac and Final Cut Express. I convinced local bands to collaborate on MySpace videos and volunteered on every production set that would take me. At 19, I had the opportunity to work with one of my favourite directors. To my surprise, he encouraged me to abandon my dream! He warned me about the rise of platforms like YouTube and the fall of music television, record labels and music video budgets.
I was crushed.
Then, I decided to pivot. I didn’t stop working on videos, but I started to broaden my skillset and study a wider range of fields. I realized that the world was constantly evolving and it was unrealistic to expect a linear career path. I leaned into whatever interested me, which led to jobs not just in Video Production, but also Journalism, Design, Finance, and Product Management. Today, I am a Director of Growth at Shopify — both a craft and a company that didn’t exist back when I was making music videos in high school.
The massive social, political and economic shifts in 2020 sparked demand for all kinds of new skills and professions, and also prompted many people to re-evaluate their roles and goals. I’ve received lots of questions about lateral career growth lately, so I teamed up with some fellow career switchers to share some tips. Here’s our (unofficial) guide to exploring a new craft— for those who are more interested in climbing a jungle gym than a corporate ladder.
1. Zoom in: what sparks joy?
If you already know what type of role you want next, then skip to step 3. But lots of people haven’t figured out what they’re passionate about, and that’s ok! Before my last pivot, I reflected on what energized me and what drained me each day. After a month, I realized that while I liked Product Management in theory, I was bored by the types of tasks that filled my days. Looking at the list of what energized me, I was able to spot trends and better understand what type of work I truly loved.
What if your current role doesn’t spark joy? My friend Sylvia suggests going out of your way to try new tasks that expose you to new disciplines. That’s how she developed an interest in Data, which led to a role in Operations.
2. Zoom out: what do you want to learn?
Once you’ve identified how you want to spend your time, start thinking about where you want to grow. For example, in step 1 you may have realized that you enjoy writing, coding, leading meetings or bringing ideas to life. Within each, there is a multitude of jobs that would satisfy your short-term interests. Looking ahead and layering on the skills that you want to build can help you narrow down your options.
Consider surveying your internal job board and reading the more senior job postings that capture your interest. Then, identify the skill and experience gaps that separate you from those opportunities. This type of exercise can help you figure out whether you want to lean into Product Design vs Marketing Design, for example.
3. Meet people who have your dream job
Now that you’ve narrowed down the craft you want to explore, consider reaching out to people who are currently in it. They can offer insight into the roles you have in mind, and suggest resources to help you get there. Here are a few ways to meet new people while working remotely:
- Use Slack’s ‘Channel Search’ feature to find craft channels (e.g #marketing-talk or #UX-talk) or social channels (e.g. #sneakers, #animal-crossing)
- Ask your HR or Culture Specialist if there are social rituals, volunteer opportunities or other programs that you can sign up for
- Consider joining an Employee Resource Group, if applicable
4. Build foundational skills
After surveying job postings, you may realize that you’re not qualified for a lateral transfer into your chosen craft, or even a different role in your current craft. If that’s the case, find out what skills you’ll need to build and what evidence you’ll need to demonstrate mastery. For example, the best way to demonstrate proficiency in Growth Marketing isn’t to complete a certification, it’s to grow adoption for a real product or website.
Once you’ve identified the key skills you need to build, set measurable goals for the next 30, 60 or 90 days and work towards them. Personally, I enjoy spending half an hour every morning on professional development; I’ve found it’s a manageable amount of time that accumulates surprisingly fast. Depending on your area of interest, there may be better ways to build proficiency. Ask your manager or HR rep if there are apprenticeships, secondments or talent development programs that you might be eligible for.
Just a heads up: admission to these types of programs usually isn’t guaranteed and completion often doesn’t guarantee a new role. It may take years to build the skills necessary to even become eligible for an internal transfer, but I honestly believe that’s time well spent. The years will pass by either way, so I’d rather play the long game than stagnate.
5. Be a constant learner
Once you land that new role, don’t stop there! Keep meeting new people, seeking out new opportunities and learning new skills. And perhaps more importantly, find ways to share what you’ve learned with others. You’ve likely absorbed a lot of information about your company, your customers and your craft during your journey, so seek out opportunities to share your insights and empower others.
