Why Career Pivots Fail (and How to Do Them Right)

Following your chosen career path can be an exciting journey that brims with promise and potential, offering financial security as well as personal satisfaction. But what happens when it just doesn’t work out over time?

All too often, a career that looked so promising turns out to be unfulfilling, a dead-end that offers little chance at advancement. It’s a common dilemma for young professionals as well as midlife workers. Sometimes the only solution is to take the plunge and start planning a pivot to a new career.

It can be a scary prospect, but in today’s rapidly evolving corporate landscape people rarely stay in the same role over the course of their working lives. Changing careers can be accomplished at any stage, really, and it’s more common than ever, but without proper preparation — and the right transferable skills — it can backfire badly.

“A career pivot requires thoughtful research and planning. It can be daunting but is also exciting and more common than ever today,” says Amy Gleason, Division of Continuing Education Career Services Manager.

“In the years of experience I have gained as a career coach, I have developed a few mantras that I share in my workshops and individual sessions. One of them is, ‘Choose a career by design, not default.’ A career by design is one that matches your interests, skills, and values.”

Finding a career that aligns with your values is the single component that often drives people to re-evaluate their work life and seek a new position that pairs their sense of purpose with their career, she added.

“It answers the question, ‘What do you want to contribute to your community through the work you do?’”

Networking Is Key

Clearing a path to a new career can feel overwhelming, but tapping into your extended network can be the key to opening doors. Consider that 70% to 80% of jobs are never publicly advertised but rather filled through personal referrals and connections, Gleason says.

Start by letting your wide web of contacts know you’re looking for a new start in a new field. And don’t just rely on close friends, family and connections — check in with casual acquaintances, people you might have lost touch with. Sometimes, the weakest ties can produce the strongest new career possibilities.

“Leverage and nurture your network. This cannot be emphasized enough,” Gleason stresses. “Job search and career advancement cannot be done successfully in isolation. Whether you are an early-stage professional or a late-career professional, creating and nurturing your network is a game changer.”

Joining alumni associations can be an excellent way to build your professional network. So can alumni and industry events and platforms such as LinkedIn. “Join a professional organization and follow them on LinkedIn. Tap into your alma mater’s alumni association and mentoring platforms, like the UC Irvine Anteater Network.”

Identify Your Transferable Skills — and Skill Gaps

There’s a good chance you already have many skills and strengths you can bring to a new job, whatever role it might be. So, start by listing all of your relevant internships, academic projects and even part-time jobs.

“It is essential for career changers to be able to identify and articulate their transferable skills as they pivot into a new career,” Gleason says. “Transferable skills matter to hiring managers because it indicates you have the knowledge and skills to do the job, resulting in less required training, more job satisfaction, and job retention.”

Reviewing job postings can reveal which of your transferable skills line up with potential new job descriptions — you might find you have relevant skills you didn’t even consider. This allows candidates to identify specific skills that are currently in demand and skill gaps you need to acquire or further develop.

Even if you’re not yet qualified or ready to apply for a new position, look at job postings with a critical eye.

“Run a Job Scan to compare your qualifications with those you often see. Is there a technical skill they are seeking? Soft skills? Be clear about what you need to acquire to upskill and be a competitive candidate.”

It’s also advisable to check with a career coach or mentor, former instructors and coworkers, and seek honest assessments of your strengths and weaknesses. Gleason, for one, offers a workshop, webinar and worksheet that help to define transferable skills in concrete terms and rate the level of proficiency in each category.

Refresh Your Brand

Regardless of where you’re at in your career, it’s easy to feel like your entire working identity is permanently tied to your current profession. So, it’s essential to rebrand yourself before taking the leap to a new role, and there’s more to it than just updating your resume — you need to change how you see yourself and your own potential.

Rebranding your professional profile will refresh your story and present a fresh new face that represents you in a new light.

“Your LinkedIn profile is your brand,” Gleason says. “Update your Headline and About sections to include key words that recruiters in your new industry will be using in their searches. Will your profile be a match? Tell people where you are going, not just where you’ve been. Also update your elevator pitch and professional summary on your resume in the same manner.”

Find the Perfect Continuing Education Option

Once you’ve taken inventory of the relevant skills you already have, along with those you need to develop, it’s time to pinpoint the best educational opportunity to fill those skill gaps. For those seeking a flexible, cost-effective way to build new skills, a certificate program offers a focused and practical path forward.

Gleason points out the majority of DCE adult learners are career changers and those seeking to upskill in their current roles. Several of the most popular DCE certificate programs include Project Management, Paralegal, Human Resources, Accounting, Digital Marketing, Data Analytics and Personal Financial Planning, as well as E-Learning Instructional Design and Independent Education Consulting.

Most certificates can be completed within six to 24 months, with compressed options taking only a single quarter. Courses can also be taken individually, too.

Along with its certificate programs, DCE features a wide range of services through its Career Advancement Network (CAN) that span the entire path of career development, including tools, workshops and webinars designed for career changers, along with the option to schedule one-on-one career counseling appointments with Gleason.

She points out that DCE is the only UC Continuing Education division to offer a dedicated job board for learners as well as alumni via 12twenty. “Our goal is not only to provide quality courses and certificates. We strive to give our learners the tools to find employment, advance their careers and consider DCE as a partner in their journey.”