We asked all our readers who made the leap and switched jobs or industries or careers: What was your big career ‘pivot’? How did you make it?
Here are our favorite words of wisdom from people who made the leap — plus some from everyone’s favorite dreamer: Dave Matthews.
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“Own your story. Being a great storyteller is critical for getting hired (especially when it’s in marketing), and it’s up to you to help them see all the value you can add because you took the road less traveled.”
“A creative break of strategic self-reflection can be a beautiful thing.”
“More than likely you are not going to pick a career at age 18, study for it, then work in that same career for 30 years before retiring. The world is much more fluid than that now, and the people that are willing to take risks and try something else seem to be the most successful.”
“Figure out what makes you tick. If you really want to make a change, work at it while you still have your job and try it out. That way nothing is lost (other than time) if you find out you hate it.”
“Changing careers is an active pursuit. Apply to 100 jobs and 1 will bite.
In the meantime, be a rockstar in the dullness of where you feel you’re at.”
“Screw the 5 year plan… it only makes you blind to unexpected opportunities that inevitably come up.”
“Just start doing it. Start moving towards your goal career (or goal life) and put yourself near (or as close as possible!) to what you want to be doing.”
“Trust in and advocate for your own abilities.”
“Give yourself 2 years. Save enough money to hold yourself over for at least 6 months while pivoting. Follow your passion/joss/dreams NOW. Be scared, be challenged. Get your inner superhero on.”
“My favorite quote is ‘Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity,’ which gives great context to ‘make your own luck.’”
“Life is about the company you keep — don’t burn the wrong bridges.”
“If you don’t design your life, someone else will design it for you.” – Nigel Marsh
“Listen to those closest to you, don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself while soul-searching, and don’t chase money.”
“Transition gracefully and be nice to people, you never know who you’ll run into or who you may need a favor from.”
“Don’t be afraid to take the lead when interviewing for a position. It’s important to Illustrate the skills a potential supervisor can’t gather just from reading your resume.”
“Not everyone knows exactly what they were born to do when pivoting. Determining exactly what you didn’t like about your last gig and being honest with yourself can help you narrow down the field you would like to move into.”
“Hold on tight to your principles and persevere. Don’t just take whatever job comes your way, because you’ll just end up pivoting again. Persistence is key.”
“There’s always a million reasons why you shouldn’t do something. Don’t be afraid to pull off the bandaid, and when you do, do it fast.”
“It’s good to take people’s advice, but the most important advice comes from your gut.”
“Life is too short not to enjoy every second. As Dave Matthews says, ‘eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.’”