Many of us know we are ready for a change, and staying in the same career track with an increased title and compensation just won’t do it. If you are dedicated to your career track and want advice on how to advance, then that is a topic for a future blog. This blog is written for the professional who knows they want to pivot but isn’t sure how to get “there” quickly and without anxiety.
You might be a finance professional on the sell-side wanting to pivot to the buy-side. You might be a software engineer who is great at coding, but now you want to manage a product. Perhaps you are a project manager who wants to be a product manager, or you want to move from consulting to industry or vice versa. If you read The Muse’s “8 Steps to an Utterly Successful Career Change” you will get a good overview.
However, it really comes down to:
- Network to prove you really are qualified and learn how your job differs from your pivot
- Design your resume and LinkedIn profile to prove you are already there
- Control the interview process to prove you are already there
Network to prove you really are qualified and learn how your job differs from your pivot
You may think you are qualified for a pivot because you work with those that have made the pivot. Maybe you have clients and know you can do the job better than they can. Please do a reality check and network with people that have the pivot. Looking from the outside is easy; getting the inside scoop is crucial. What about possible increased pressure, hours, and political acumen needed? Do an honest assessment if you really have what it takes. If you don’t, make a plan to get the skills and perspective.
Design your resume and LinkedIn profile to prove you are already there
Professionals make mistakes all the time in documenting their skills and accomplishments on their resume. The only skills and accomplishments that matter are those that help you for your next job. Therefore, if you have demonstrated some of the skills for your pivot, this fact should be a major highlight of your resume, more so than you might think. Even if your pivot requires directly managing a team and you never have, you have most likely managed other professionals in your company/vendors or clients. Create that bridge for the reader. A bridge can also be a course or certification.
Control the interview process to prove you are already there
You control the interview process, not the other way around. Thread this common theme through your answers: you have already demonstrated the pivot skills. Don’t get lost in describing all your accomplishments without keeping in mind the end goal; that is a common interview error. You control what you say and how you say it. For a taste of how to control the interview process, please check out my blog “1 Question to Ask Within 1 Minute of Starting Your Interview.”
You either have it or you don’t. If you have it, use it. If you don’t, get it! Got it?
I can help with your job search.