How To Pivot Your Career To A New Industry

As seen on Forbes.

Do you sometimes find yourself thinking, “Am I really going to do this work for the rest of my life? Is there a better opportunity out there?” If yes, you are not alone. According to a survey from Resume Templates, 56% of workers were looking for a new job or plan to start in 2025. Many want to explore a totally different industry for reasons like career satisfaction, better pay, or greater flexibility.

Major life events, like starting a family or moving abroad, can also push you to choose a different career path that aligns with your needs and goals. While the urge may be there, it’s normal to feel unsure of where to begin or whether you can make it.

As a former head of talent development and management consulting and now a career coach, I can confidently say that you can do so with excellence. Here are five practical ways to help make a successful career pivot outside your industry.

Be Clear With What You Truly Want

Not everyone has the privilege to pursue what they want, and many accept jobs just to get by. But if you finally have the courage to make a pivot, take time to reflect on what you truly want. For instance, what parts of your previous projects did you enjoy doing? What tasks did you find challenging but fulfilling?

What kinds of environments let you thrive best? Write out all the things you like and the options that you think would be great for you. Determine your non-negotiables and the areas where you are willing to compromise. Do you only want remote roles, or are you open to hybrid ones? Are you willing to take a pay cut in exchange for gaining new skills? This way, you remain realistic while prioritizing your wants and needs.

Narrow Down The Different Options

The way to kill your dreams is to have 50 different ideas and try to chase everything. Instead, choose two to three options, and then go all in. Among your prospects, which roles or industries are you most drawn to? Which of them fits the most based on your current resources and life situation?

For instance, you may want to shift away from marketing to virtual assistance, content creation, or talent acquisition. These may sound like totally different fields, but you can maximize essential marketing skills, such as communication, creativity, organization, research, and time management. Narrowing down your choices allows you to make targeted actions that can help you land a role outside your industry.

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile, highlighting relevant skills and experiences. As your job search gets more focused, you will know what keywords to highlight and what tools and resources to maximize.

Connect With People In The Industry

According to a Boterview survey, while only 6% of all job applications include referrals, they account for 37% of all hires. This only shows how powerful networking can be, especially when you’re trying to make a career shift.

If you find networking tedious and overwhelming, start small. Connect with family, friends, schoolmates, mutual contacts, former professors, mentors, and colleagues. They can give you insights about the industry you are aiming to enter and share best practices. Even if they may come from another field, they can help you connect with the right people.

To help you feel more comfortable when attending conferences, workshops, and industry events, prepare some conversation starters. Authenticity is everything in networking, so never hesitate to share your story, including your interests, goals, and even your struggles. Build genuine connections by actively listening to their stories, too, and sharing your knowledge, skills, and resources.

Understand Your Transferable Skills

Aside from the fear of rejection or failure, many worry about having to start from zero when switching careers. But this is not always the case. The key is to understand your transferable skills and see how that can translate to the new role you are eyeing.

For instance, if you are a restaurant worker who wants to be a product manager, you are already equipped with the skills necessary for your new role. Here are some of them.

• Problem-Solving: You have handled customer complaints, wrong or delayed orders, food quality issues, and staff shortages. As a product manager, you will also address different challenges throughout the product life cycle, such as time and budget constraints, negative customer feedback, and conflicting needs of stakeholders.
• Collaboration: You have worked with the service crew, kitchen staff, and managers to provide the best service possible. Similarly, you will collaborate with different departments, including design and engineering, to offer the best product for users.
• Time Management: As a restaurant worker, you are used to juggling multiple tasks while ensuring quality. As a product manager, you will also need to follow strict timelines and ensure a successful product launch.
• Emotional Intelligence: You know how to empathize with customers and other restaurant workers. You can use this skill in product management to understand the pain points of users while also satisfying business needs.

Highlight these transferable skills in your resume to show recruiters that you are a great match, despite the difference in industry or role.

Grab Any Experience You Can Find

Starting in a different industry does not have to be grand right away. You just have to take advantage of every opportunity available. For instance, engaging in volunteer work can give you a preview of the ins and outs of the industry or role you aim for. Part-time opportunities can also help you blend in with the environment and prepare for a bigger or more permanent role.

Join contests, take free online courses, and explore related project-based opportunities. The more you expose yourself to your chosen field, the less scary the change becomes. Your small but consistent efforts will help you land the career that you truly love.

Making a career pivot is a bold but rewarding move. You may feel a little lost before you even begin. But with the right approach, like focusing on what you want and maximizing your transferable skills, you can surely make a mark in an unfamiliar and intimidating industry. Get started on pivoting your way to success today. Rooting for you!