Tips for Successful Career Pivots

Thinking about a career change? Here’s how to actually make it happen, step by step. I’ve spoken with hundreds of people stuck between “I don’t want to do this anymore” and “But where do I even start?” Here’s the truth: Changing careers isn’t about starting over. It’s about repackaging what you already know, and proving you can solve a new set of problems. Here’s how to do it (with examples): 1. Start with your story. What’s pulling you away from your current path—and what’s pulling you forward? ✅ Example: “I’ve spent 6 years in education, but what I really loved was designing systems and learning tools. I’m now pivoting into UX design for edtech.” Make the shift clear and intentional. 2. Identify your transferable skills. You’ve built real value, name it. ✅ Example: Sales → Relationship-building, persuasion, handling objections Ops → Process design, cross-functional collaboration, execution List your strongest 4–6 skills and align them with your new target role. 3. Learn the language of the new industry. Every field has its own lingo. Start speaking it. ✅ Tip: Search 10 job listings in your target role. Write down the top 5 repeated words/phrases. Mirror those in your LinkedIn, resume, and pitch. 4. Rewrite your resume to match the direction, not the past. Lead with relevance, not chronology. ✅ Example: Add a “Career Summary” section: “Operations leader transitioning into product management, with 7+ years leading cross-functional teams, driving process improvements, and delivering results.” 5. Build proof fast. Don’t wait to get hired to show your skills. ✅ Options: Freelance Volunteer Build your own project Take a short course and create a case study Demonstrate that you’re not just interested, but also taking action. 6. Apply smart, not just often. Instead of applying everywhere, focus on quality roles in flexible environments. ✅ Pro tip: Use DailyRemote to find legit, remote-friendly roles across industries. It’s especially helpful for career changers who want fresh opportunities and a bit more breathing room. 7. Network with purpose. Start with conversations, not asks. ✅ DM example: “Hi Alex, I saw your post about transitioning into UX. I’m making a similar shift from content strategy. Would love to hear about your journey, no pressure at all.” Career changes take courage. But they’re absolutely possible. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Now package it with purpose, and go get what’s next.

If I were trying to make a major career pivot in the next 12 months, here’s exactly what I’d do. (And no—it doesn’t involve spending $100K on another degree.) 1/ Revamp your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn plays nicely with Google and functions like its own little search engine. You want recruiters in your next industry to find you, so optimize your profile for the job you want, not the one you have. 2/ Start posting content weekly. Even 1–2 posts a week is enough to build momentum. Share insights related to your NEW industry / NEW career path: trends, case studies, your take on the news, lessons learned, and opinions that show how you think. This is how you start building credibility before you even get the job, so when someone looks you up, they already see you as part of the industry. 3/ Network with people already in the roles you want. DM them. Ask thoughtful questions. Understand what their day-to-day looks like and build real connections—not just cold outreach. Most jobs are filled through networking. Make it work for you. 4/ Tell people what you want. No one can read your mind. You don’t have to blast it publicly if you're still employed, but tell trusted friends, family, mentors, and your network that you’re looking to make a shift. You never know who’s one intro away from your next role. You can compress years of trial and error into one year if you learn how to position yourself for the life you actually want. ---- Thinking about a big pivot this year? I can help you build a personal brand on LinkedIn that attracts the right people and opens real doors. Follow Nicole Sifers for more.

Embracing a new career path after 45 might seem daunting, but it's never too late to embark on a fresh journey. Whether you're seeking fulfillment, growth, or a new challenge, these tips will guide you through the process of reinventing yourself professionally. 1. Self-Assessment: Reflect on your strengths, passions, and values. Identify transferrable skills from your past roles that align with your new career direction. 2. Skill Upgrade: Invest in learning. Take courses, attend workshops, and earn certifications to bridge the gap between your current skills and the requirements of your desired role. 3. Network Power: Leverage your network. Connect with professionals in your target field, attend industry events, and engage in conversations that showcase your genuine interest. 4. Resume Revamp: Craft a tailored resume. Emphasize your transferable skills, highlight relevant accomplishments, and focus on your adaptability and willingness to learn. 5. Volunteer or Intern: Gain experience in your desired field through volunteering or interning. Practical exposure can help you understand the industry better and add value to your resume. 6. Personal Branding: Create a strong online presence. Use LinkedIn to showcase your journey, share insights, and connect with industry professionals. 7. Informational Interviews: Reach out to professionals in your new field for informational interviews. Learn about the industry from insiders and gather valuable insights. 8. Embrace Flexibility: Be open to entry-level positions. Starting from the ground up can provide you with the hands-on experience you need to thrive. 9. Interview Prep: Prepare for interviews by focusing on how your skills and experience align with the role. Highlight your adaptability and eagerness to contribute. 10. Confidence Matters: Believe in yourself. Your wealth of experience and skills are assets. Show your potential employers that you're a valuable addition to their team. Remember, a career change at any age is an opportunity for growth and reinvention. Embrace the journey with enthusiasm and tenacity. Your wealth of life experience can be your greatest advantage on this new path. Have you successfully navigated a career change? Share your story and inspire others!

3 powerful tips for a successful career change: Pause. Consider. Investigate. When we decide we want a career change, it's tempting to jump right into applying for opportunities. Taking time upfront to deeply consider the possibilities pays major dividends. Use the IKIGAI framework to clarify your criteria: - What do you WANT in your next role? - What skills/experience do you have that the world NEEDS? - What are you truly GOOD at? - What can you realistically get PAID for? One way to refine your possibilities is by networking with people in the types of roles you think you want. Ask about their real experiences, challenges and advice. Not everyone will give you their time. But for the ones who are willing to take a chance on you, don’t ask them for a referral or for an interview, ask for their perspective. Build a relationship. The clarity and insights you'll gain can help you figure out what you don’t want and get closer to what you do want. Building these relationships might also help you begin to develop your frame of reference on the industry and the role you seek. By investing this time upfront, you'll enter your search laser-focused and well-informed, ready to do the hard work required to land the RIGHT next opportunity.

#CareerChangers: SKIP the resume revamp - for now. You've got bigger fish to fry. Focus on these 5 pivotal steps FIRST: ❶ Silence self-doubt: Those nagging thoughts telling you it's too late, too risky, or simply impossible to switch careers? They're lies. Confront them head-on before they become roadblocks in your journey. ❷ Clarify your values: What are your must-haves in a job? What's absolutely non-negotiable for you? Your next career move should enhance your life, not complicate it. ❸ Discover your interests: Think about what made past jobs a dream or a nightmare. Figure out WHY. Understanding what you like and dislike is crucial at this stage. ❹ Identify your skills: Want to pivot into a new industry? Understand how your skills can solve their problems. Know your impact and your influence - that's your secret weapon. ❺ Streamline your search: Narrow your search to 2-3 roles that truly resonate with your values and passions. This will make your search more effective and less overwhelming. Once you've gone through these steps, ↳ THEN you can focus on your resume. These are the steps I walk my clients through before we even THINK about applying for jobs. Skipping steps 1-5 means missing out on aligned opportunities. If you're serious about planning an intentional career transition, DM me "PIVOT" to schedule a consultation. In 60 days, you'll be job-search-ready and moving in alignment. #NadejiahSpeaks

You can’t get that pivot to click despite seeming qualified. Make sure you're using the right vocabulary. Terms carrying weight in one sector may not translate or resonate the same elsewhere. Different fields have specialized language describing their work, problems and solutions. Without grasping this language, critical context gets lost. Even if you have transferable skills, simply using familiar phrasing from your current industry signals outsider status. Hiring managers tend to filter out “misaligned” applicants missing their lingo. Do your research beforehand: 1. Review job descriptions- what is the common terminology used? 2. Have informational interviews- what key terms show up? 3. Translate your old terminology to the new one. Nail the language to allow your value to be seen clearly. ---- Found this helpful? Share or tag someone who needs to hear it.

𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁𝘀 A career pivot is a slight shift in career trajectory — not a full career change or reset, but rather a slight shift in direction. For example, moving to a different industry while highlighting functional experience <<or>> moving to a different functional area while remaining in the same industry. These smaller moves are often faster than a full career change, especially when you to highlight transferable skills, and by making smaller moves, you can often avoid restarting from ground zero. With the increased interest in fresh ideas and the cross-pollination of innovation across industries, we are seeing a lot more creativity on the hiring side. This means those interested in pursuing a career pivot may find themselves in a prime market for exploring new possibilities outside a linear career path — yes, even at the executive level. To execute a career pivot, keep the following in mind: 1. Leverage transferable skills Determine your areas of experience and skills that remain relevant through your pivot. These are your primary talking points in the resume and LInkedIn profile. List these topics first and highlight them if possible in keyword banks, subheadings, and more. 2. Identify (and fill) experience gaps Pursuing a career pivot probably means you’re lacking or less experienced in a few areas. You can round out your expertise by taking courses and / or joining professional organizations to learn more. List these activities on your career collateral to showcase that you can adapt easily and learn quickly. 3. Lean on your network Your network may be able to provide insights and introductions to smooth the path to a new role. Activate your current network asking them to recommend connections and target organizations. Reach out to people who work at your target companies and invite them for a quick chat, either online or in person. Identify people who have executed a similar career pivot and ask for advice. Career pivots can take a little longer than pursuing a lateral move or level up on your current trajectory, but they can also open up a whole new world of possibilities! _________ How do you signal that you are industry agnostic in your career collateral? How do you indicate you are ready for a change without sacrificing the career progression you’ve worked so hard to achieve? _________ My name is Erica Reckamp 🔺Writing Executive, C-Suite & Board Resumes, LinkedIn Profiles & Bios that elevate your brand 🔺Accelerating job searches, amplifying impact Want to find out more? Ring the 🔔 on my Profile 🔝 Connect with me #CareerChange #ExecutiveJobSearch #JobSearchLikeAPro #Resumes #Careers

Aspiring to become a project manager? It's a dynamic and rewarding career path that requires a blend of skills and experiences. Here are key areas to focus on to successfully pivot into project management: 📚 Education and Certification: Start with foundational knowledge. Master project management principles + methodologies (Agile and Scrum). Consider pursuing certifications like the PMP or PRINCE2. 🛠️ Develop Technical Skills Familiarize yourself with project management tools. Ex: Smartsheet, MS Project, Trello, Asana, or Jira. Proficiency in these tools is essential for executing projects effectively. 👥 Build Leadership Skills Project managers lead teams and manage stakeholders. Develop your leadership skills by taking on team lead roles Or volunteering for initiatives that require coordination and direction. 🔄 Gain Experience Look for opportunities to manage projects. Take on Small/gap projects or components of larger projects in your current role. This hands-on experience is invaluable and demonstrates your capability to manage tasks, timelines, and resources. 💬 Enhance Communication Skills Effective communication is crucial in project management. Practice clear + concise communication, active listening, and stakeholder engagement. Strong interpersonal skills will set you apart. 📊 Learn Risk Management Understand how to identify, assess, and mitigate risks and change. These skills are a key aspect of project management. Learn and apply proper strategies in your current projects/role. 📈 Focus on Time Management Managing your time and priorities efficiently is crucial. Practice setting deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and keeping yourself and your team on track. 🌐 Network and Mentorship Connect with current project managers. Join professional organizations, and seek mentorship. Learning from experienced PMs can provide insights + open doors to opportunities. 🔍 Stay Current Project management is an evolving field. Stay updated with the latest trends, methodologies, and tools by attending workshops, webinars, and reading industry publications. Check PMI for much of the above. Pivoting into project management requires dedication and a strategic approach. Focus on building a solid foundation, gaining relevant experience, and continuously improving your skills. Your efforts will pave the way for a new opportunity in this growing field.

But How Do You Actually Make a Career Pivot? It’s a question I get asked a lot . There’s an assumption that I had this grand plan. A five-year vision board. A tidy story that ties it all together. No. None of that What there was… was a growing restlessness. A whisper that said, This isn’t it anymore. And then a louder one that said: What next? In my experience, the biggest barrier to pivoting isn’t your resume. It’s your mindset. (I wrote about that yesterday) My resume does not follow a straight line. My experiences don’t check all the “typical” boxes. I learned to stop trying to fit a mold If you’re standing at a crossroads, longing to be in a role that doesn’t quite “match” your past, here’s the 3-step framework I use to quiet my fears and anchor my confidence: 1. Audit the role. Look past the job title. What are they actually hiring someone to solve? Get curious about the value behind the position. How can you help? Get clear on that. Then ask, what experiences have I had that make me the right person to solve those problems? 2. Connect the dots. Instead of downplaying your background, map how you align with it. Then, draft a cover letter spelling it out. Mine starts with a wink of humor, pointing out that the reader may not get the through line from just looking at my resume 3. Try it on for size. Say it out loud. In the mirror. To a friend. In an application. Try on your new story until it starts to fit. If you’re not comfortable telling your story, it will be hard for others to believe it. Confidence starts in the mirror. You don’t need to wait until it all makes sense to make a move. You need to move, so it starts to make sense. Hope this helps someone. If you’re in the middle of a pivot, or dreaming of one, I’m all ears. #Day2of30 #Ship30 #CareerPivots