Do you need a career pivot?
Purpose over pivot
Make a career change - with intention.
We've all heard stories of people who completely reinvented their careers. The person who swaps a stable corporate career for self-employment. The parent who returns to study in their forties or fifties. The manager who leaves a large organisation to join a start-up. The side hustle that gradually becomes a full-time business.
These stories can be inspiring, especially when you're feeling stuck, burnt out or unfulfilled in your current role. Perhaps you've found yourself wondering whether that passion, interest or skill you've developed on the side could become something more. Or maybe you're simply questioning whether your current career still aligns with who you are and what matters to you.
But how can you tell if a career pivot is really what you need? And if it is, what might that look like?
Figure out your why
Before you start updating your CV or browsing jobs, spend some time reflecting on what's giving you the itch.
Ask yourself:
What do you enjoy doing?
What's happening during your perfect day?
How does that day look and feel?
What gives you purpose?
What do you want your legacy to be?
How do you want people to describe you?
Another way of exploring this is to imagine you're receiving an award twenty years from now. What would you want it to be for?
Would it be for helping others? Creating something innovative? Building a successful business? Making a difference in your community? Developing future talent? Solving important problems?
Your answer can drop valuable clues about what matters most to you.
Once you've reflected, look for patterns and themes.
For example, imagine your ideal day involves mentoring colleagues, helping people solve problems, facilitating discussions and seeing others grow. The common thread may not be a particular job title, but a desire to support and develop people.
Alternatively, you might find that creativity appears repeatedly. Perhaps your perfect day involves generating ideas, writing, designing or building something new. The theme may be self-expression and innovation rather than a specific profession.
Understanding these patterns helps you focus on what you're really seeking, rather than becoming attached to a particular role or career path.
As Ellen Scott recommends in her book Working on Purpose, keep asking yourself why.
Why do you care about the work you're doing?
Why does that matter to you?
And why does that matter?
Then ask again.
"I want to become a doctor."
Why?
"Because I want a career that makes a difference."
Why?
"Because I want to help people."
Why?
"Because I don't like seeing people struggle."
Why?
"Because I want people to feel better."
The deeper purpose isn't necessarily becoming a doctor. It's improving people's lives.
Another example might be:
"I want to start my own business."
Why?
"Because I want more freedom."
Why?
"Because I want control over how I spend my time."
Why?
"Because I want to work on things that matter to me."
Why?
"Because I want to create something that has a positive impact."
Why?
"Because I want to leave the world in a better place than I found it."
The goal isn't really owning a business. It's creating meaningful impact.
Keep asking why until you notice the same themes appearing again and again. Often you'll find that very different career ambitions are driven by the same underlying purpose which can give you more options than you anticipated.
How much of a pivot do you need?
Once you've identified your why, think about how well your current career is meeting it.
Ask yourself:
Does my work align with what matters most to me?
Am I rewarded fairly for the value I bring?
Does my role support the lifestyle I want?
Do I feel challenged and engaged?
What aspects of my current role do I enjoy?
The answers can help you understand whether you need a significant career change or a smaller adjustment.
For example, if your primary frustration is that you're not being remunerated fairly, the answer may be exploring a pay rise, promotion or similar role with another employer.
If your biggest challenge is work-life balance, do you really need a new career, or would flexible working, reduced hours or clearer boundaries address the issue?
If you're craving more creativity or autonomy, could you seek opportunities to develop those areas within your current organisation before making a more dramatic move?
Sometimes the issue isn't your career. It's one specific element of it.
What's your stop, start, continue?
When you're thinking about your next move, a useful exercise is to ask yourself:
What do I want my career to stop doing?
What do I want it to start doing?
What do I want it to continue doing?
For example:
Stop: Requiring me to be constantly available and firefighting urgent issues.
Start: Giving me opportunities to be more creative, strategic and people-focused.
Continue: Providing financial stability and working with supportive colleagues.
This exercise can help you move beyond a vague desire for change and become more specific about what you're actually looking for.
Do you need a pivot, or a break?
When we're exhausted, overwhelmed or burnt out, almost any alternative can seem appealing.
That's why it's important to understand whether you're genuinely seeking a different career or simply need time to recover.
Personal challenges, caring responsibilities, prolonged stress or a particularly difficult period at work can all create a strong urge to escape.
Before making a major decision, ask yourself:
If I took six weeks off and returned feeling rested, would I still want to leave?
If the answer is yes, there may be something deeper worth exploring.
If the answer is no, what you may need isn't a new career but a holiday, sabbatical, reduced workload or additional support.
Career decisions tend to be most successful when they're made intentionally rather than reactively.
Do a skills audit
Many people assume a career pivot means starting from scratch.
In reality, most career changes involve taking existing skills and applying them in a different context.
Start by listing your skills, experiences and strengths.
A retail manager may not realise that years spent leading teams, solving problems and managing customer relationships could provide a strong foundation for careers in recruitment, operations or account management.
A producer in the creative industries may discover that their experience managing budgets, deadlines and multiple stakeholders is just as valuable in sectors such as healthcare, technology or sustainability as it is in film and television.
As you identify potential career options, ask yourself how they align with your why.
This can help you move beyond simply asking, "What could I do?" and towards, "What would be meaningful and fulfilling for me?"
Can you try it out?
A career pivot doesn't have to start with handing in your notice.
Can you test things out in a low risk way, for example:
Shadow someone in a role you're interested in?
Contribute to a project that gives you exposure to a different area?
Volunteer for an organisation in that field?
Become a trustee for a charity?
Take a short course?
Start a side hustle?
These experiences can help you understand the reality of a role before making a major commitment.
They also allow you to build confidence, develop relevant skills and expand your network along the way.
Key takeaway
A career pivot doesn't always mean changing everything.
Sometimes it's a complete reinvention. Sometimes it's a small adjustment that brings your work back into alignment with your values, strengths and ambitions.
The key is understanding your why, identifying what's really driving your desire for change and making intentional decisions about what comes next.
Before you make your next career move, make sure you're moving towards something that matters, not simply away from something that doesn't.
A career coach can be a great partner in walking you through this process. If you’re looking for your next direction and would like some support, visit my coaching page.
