When Is the Time to Make a Career Pivot?

Yellow road sign with two black arrows against a cloudy sky

Source: Photo by Sebastian Enrique on Unsplash

Whether it’s due to a post-COVID and "great resignation" reckoning, symptoms of burnout, a mid-career reset, a desire for more pay or increased flexibility, or some other reason, lots of people seem to be considering a career pivot right now. For some, this looks like coming back into the workforce after some time away. For others, it might be a slight adjustment. Still others are looking for wholesale change from one industry to another. No matter the reasons, it’s never too late to make a change.

While not everyone had the privilege to consider a career change during COVID (and some were forced into it due to caretaking responsibilities, layoffs, and health concerns), for those who could it was, for a time, a buyer’s market. But that may no longer be the case.

A recent study by Pew found that "from April 2021 to March 2022, a period in which quit rates reached post-pandemic highs, the majority of workers switching jobs (60%) saw an increase in their real earnings over the same month the previous year” (Kochlar, Parker, and Igielnik, 2022). More recently, research has shown that while the number of employees wanting to make a move is increasing—85% versus 67% from the previous year—the perks of increased flexibility and higher wages have eased back as organizations and hiring managers regain some of their power (Chaker, 2024).

Even though the options may not be as plentiful as they once were, you still may find yourself ready for that next step. But what should you consider before you move forward?

When Is the Right Time to Make a Change?

While it often doesn’t feel like it in the moment, the easiest time to make a change is when one is forced upon you. Something in your life circumstances change, or your employer decides they are moving in a different direction, or there is a change in leadership that doesn’t align with your values. While the execution of these moves can feel incredibly painful, you have no choice in these moments but to pivot and move on or risk being left behind.

The more challenging scenario is figuring out the right time to make a change when things are going reasonably well. When do you make a change if you could coast along as you are forever?

These are, of course, very personal decisions and calculations. Much like there is no one right time to start a family, or to get married, or to move across the country, there is no one right time to make a professional change. What works for one simply does not work for all. But the smart professional, the intentional and strategic professional, does not leave their career path up to chance. In fact, while there may be some big moments in your life or your career that indicate it’s time to make a change, I would encourage everyone to always be looking and considering what might be next.

As you do this work, there are various factors to consider, including:

What is your tolerance for risk? Sometimes making a pivot means taking a pay cut or giving up on other benefits. For example, as someone who works in higher education, I have access to tuition discounts for my dependents. If I were to leave to work outside of higher education, I might receive a higher annual salary, but I would have to give up those benefits. Are you willing to risk losing current benefits for potential long-term satisfaction in another field? What about your partner or your family and their tolerance for risk?

What are your goals? What would success look like? Unless you are forced into a change by a shift in circumstances, I’m generally not a fan of making a change for change’s sake. Instead, think intentionally about your goals, your gaps, your needs, and your success metrics. Are you looking for an entirely different path or field? Or are you looking to move into a new organization doing similar work? Are you burned out and needing a break, or are you deeply dissatisfied with your career? What would happiness at work and in your life look like? These are important questions to get clear on before you jump into a new role, organization, or industry.

Can you test some scenarios out? As students we are encouraged to take internships and summer jobs to gain experience and knowledge about what we do and don’t like and where our strengths and interests lie. And then, for some reason, we stop doing that, as if the first thing we pick should be the thing we pick forever. There is great value in trying things out in a low-stakes way. Ask to shadow someone for a day or two. Try out potential roles through volunteer experiences. Conduct informational interviews to learn all you can about other fields and organizations. Gather the data that you need to make an informed decision.

How well-networked are you? The name of today’s job search game is networking. No matter where you think you are headed, it’s imperative that you get to know people and build relationships with them. The time to start doing this work is before you need to ask for other people’s help. Make network-building part of your information-gathering process so that you can make other people part of your career or job search process.

Can you make small changes before making an entire life overhaul? Depending on your goals, try to make small changes before making a big leap. Can you talk with your manager about adjusting your current job responsibilities to align with your interests? Is there an opportunity to discuss increased flexibility or additional pay? Can you recalibrate your relationship to work to diminish the effects of burnout and stress? Just because you want something doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. But it never hurts to ask. And if the answer is no, then that is additional data for you to incorporate as part of your decision-making process.

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Where are the opportunities that align with your goals, risk tolerance, skills, and interests? Finally, it’s up to you to do your homework, especially in today’s world with so much information at your fingertips. Research roles, organizations, industries, and locations that align with your goals, skills, interests, and tolerance for risk. Work on your personal marketing documents (resume, online profile) to ensure that your skills and experiences match the expectations. If needed, seek out the guidance of a trained coach to support your search.­ And always remember that this is your career path. You get to make the decisions about your next steps.