How To Pivot Your Career
Lovelies, buckle up for I’m about to go on a rant…
The pandemic seems to have inspired a lot of people to reassess their careers and lives, which is great. I know, because several times a week now I speak to women who wants to pivot their career. We both get excited about their plans, and then they give me a variation of: “But if I transition from [field X] into [field Y], I will have to take a pay cut, right?” or worse “I’ll have to start at the very bottom!”
For the love of all thing holy: why oh why would you?
Why do employers and (future) employees alike think that when you go into a new industry, suddenly you let go of ALL the experience you’ve gained so far? Why would you suddenly be at an equal footing with someone who has only just started working in general?
Have you not just spent YEARS learning a variety of transferable skills? Haven’t you learnt to communicate with a range of stakeholders? To collaborate with different people? To navigate the corporate world, to influence the right people, to make thins happen? To deal with whatever has come your way in your job?
And please don’t tell me “but this particular role requires very specific knowledge and expertise!” Sure, there’s a number of jobs where you actually need in-depth knowledge on a certain topic. Brain surgery. Rocket science. I am undoubtedly missing a few more.
But the vast majority of roles – listen to me here! – DO NOT REQUIRE SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERTISE THAT ACTUALLY NECESSITATE YOU STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN.
In fact, I’d argue that you coming in from a different background actually helps you kick ass in this new field. You see things with different eyes, you bring a different angle, you have experience that adds to the depth of your understanding of this new gig.
So being paid less or even starting at the bottom just because you are starting in a different field? Don’t buy into the myth, ladies.
It’s a fallacy.
If you want help to communicate your potential and your worth, whether it is in your current job or in a new field, my program might be able to help you (if it’s not, we’ll tell you too!). Let’s jump on a call to see if there’s a fit: https://womeninnegotiation.org/apply.
Book a call with my team for a free coaching session and let’s see what we can do for you!