How Do I Switch Careers?

Hello Friends,

Welcome to the third installment of March’s #MondayMusing on tough career questions people are asking! As always, we would love to hear your thoughts on these subjects, so be sure to share them in the comments after you read through the article. 

Let’s get into it.

Today’s question is one that has become increasingly common in recent years and we've heard quite a bit during mentoring sessions at Konseye:

“How do I switch careers?”

For many people, the idea of changing careers can feel both exciting and terrifying at the same time. Exciting because something inside you is calling for change. Terrifying because the moment you say the words “career change,” your mind immediately jumps to worst-case scenarios.

Do I have to start over? 

Will I have to take a huge pay cut? 

What if I’m too old to pivot?

Let me start by challenging the biggest myth about career pivots.

When you switch careers, you are not starting over. You are repositioning.

That distinction matters more than you might think.

Many professionals imagine a career change as wiping the slate clean and beginning again at zero. In reality, most people bring years of experience, knowledge, and capabilities with them into their next chapter. The key is learning how to identify and reposition those assets in a way that makes sense in a new context.

Here are some strategies to help you along the way. 

1. Think About Transferrable Assets

The first step in thinking about a career pivot strategically is identifying your transferable assets.

Transferable assets are the skills, experiences, and capabilities that remain valuable regardless of the industry or role you are in. These are the things that are always with you. 

For example, someone working in marketing may decide they want to move into product management. At first glance, those roles may seem completely different. But when you look more closely, you may find several overlapping skills: understanding customer needs, analyzing data, managing cross-functional projects, and communicating ideas clearly.

Similarly, a lawyer who wants to move into policy work or corporate strategy may initially feel like they are abandoning their legal career. In reality, they are carrying forward analytical thinking, negotiation skills, risk assessment, and strategic problem solving. Those capabilities are highly valuable in many spaces.

The point here is this: before you assume you need to start from scratch, take time to identify what you already have.

Ask yourself:

1. What problems am I particularly good at solving? 

2. What skills do people consistently rely on me for? 

3. What experiences have shaped my perspective in a way that could be valuable elsewhere?

   
   

These are your building blocks.

2. Bridge Roles Could Be Helpful

The second concept to understand when pivoting is the idea of bridge roles.

Many people assume that a career change must happen in one dramatic leap. In reality, most successful pivots happen through intermediate steps. A bridge role allows you to move closer to your desired field while still leveraging your existing experience.

For example, someone working in finance who wants to transition into sustainability might start by focusing on ESG reporting or sustainable investment strategies. A communications professional who wants to move into public policy might begin by working on advocacy campaigns or stakeholder engagement within policy-focused organizations.

Bridge roles give you the opportunity to build credibility in a new space without abandoning the expertise you have already developed.

3. Skill Stacking Is Your Friend

Another important strategy to consider is skill stacking.

Skill stacking is the process of deliberately building complementary capabilities that make your professional profile more unique and valuable. Instead of relying on one core skill, you develop a combination that differentiates you from the pack.

Think about a professional who understands data analytics but also has strong storytelling and presentation skills. Or someone who has technical expertise but also understands strategy and stakeholder management. These combinations are powerful because they allow you to operate at the intersection of multiple disciplines. We discussed skill stacking in an earlier edition of the #MondayMusing newsletter - https://www.konseye.org/post/skill-stacking-your-unique-edge-in-a-crowded-field

If you are considering a career pivot, ask yourself what additional skills would strengthen your position in the direction you want to go. That might involve taking a course, gaining certification, volunteering for projects that expose you to new areas, or even creating your own opportunities to practice those skills.

This is where another important strategy comes into play: building your portfolio while still in your current role.

4. Build Where You Are

Too often people believe they must leave their job before they can start preparing for a new career path. This is a mistake. In reality, your current position can be one of the best platforms for experimentation and growth. 

Look for opportunities to take on projects that align with the direction you are interested in. If you are curious about strategy, volunteer for cross-functional initiatives. If you want to build expertise in communications, offer to lead presentations or develop internal messaging. If you are interested in leadership, look for opportunities to mentor junior colleagues or lead small teams.

These experiences become part of your portfolio. They demonstrate that you are already developing the capabilities required for your next step.

It could also be that where you are does not offer these options and that's okay. You may also want to consider volunteer or pro bono opportunities that align with the direction you would like to grow. Because you are still receiving a paycheck from your current role, there is less immediate pressure for these opportunities to generate income.

Instead, they can serve as a valuable space to build expertise, gain exposure, and test your interest in a new field. This allows you to focus on learning, developing your capabilities, and expanding your experience without the added weight of needing the work to pay your bills right away.

5. Lateral Shifts Are A Hidden Gem

Another option to consider is a lateral shift within your organization. Lateral moves are sometimes overlooked because they do not immediately come with a promotion or salary increase. However, they can be incredibly valuable for expanding your exposure, learning new skills, and positioning yourself for future opportunities.

A lateral move into a different department or function can give you insights and experience that make a future pivot much smoother. It can also allow you to test whether a new field genuinely interests you before committing fully.

The key is to think about your career as something you design intentionally over time rather than something that must follow a straight line.

Career paths today rarely move in perfect upward trajectories. They move sideways, diagonally, and occasionally backwards before moving forward again. Each step adds perspective and capability.

Bringing It All Together

Before I wrap up, I want to leave you with a few reflective questions to consider if you are thinking about making a change.

1. What transferable skills do you already have that could apply in a new field?

2. What bridge roles might help you move gradually toward the work you want to do?

3. What skills could you begin developing today that would strengthen your positioning for a future pivot?

4. And finally, how can you start building a portfolio of relevant experiences without leaving your current role?

   
   

Remember, clarity rarely appears all at once. It often emerges as you explore, experiment, and reposition yourself over time.

Switching careers means leveraging everything you have learned to move toward something new. 

So count as all joy all that you have learnt and developed so far. 

Have you ever made a career pivot? What helped you make the transition successfully, and what lessons did you learn along the way?

Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation going and learn from each other.

Until next Monday, remember: With The Right Network Anything Is Possible.

Have a great week!

Adejoke

Team Konseye