25 Feb Career pivoting is a psychological journey not a logistical task

A few weeks ago I met one of my former colleagues from the drawing class I used to attend last year. We started chatting in the supermarket queue and we carried on chatting for a while as we were walking our way back home.She explained the amazing career pivoting journey she navigated on her own when she decided  to move from her consolidated lawyer´s career into graphic design and illustration. Professionals that have shifted from one career path to another that is completely different are powerhouses of resilience  and motivation. 

Moving into the unknown requires more than just a new resume—it takes courage, a long-term strategy, and the grit to face:

•  Imposter syndrome and mental blocks
•  Financial restructuring
•  Lack of support from inner circles
• The “sunk cost” fallacy of past degrees

Career pivoting can be all different sizes and types but all of them require leaving the comfort zone to jump into the unknown.

As a career transition coach I have embarked this journey many times, I also shifted from law into social and cultural anthropology and then specialized in human resources management ending up working as a career coach and intercultural trainer. Leaving an expertise where you have invested a great part of your resources, time, money, or network might be seen as crazy at first but deeply liberating in the end.

I can see it happening more often, there is the need for career alignment as our self-awareness grows and priorities in our life changes.  

However, making that transition can feel really overwhelming because we need not just to handle our inner pressures but also external ones- which are greatest as we age and acquire family, life and finances responsibilities.

Some tips and recommendations that can help you:

• Be compassionate: Highs and lows are part of the architecture of change.
• Avoid the “Magic Pill”: There are no short-term fixes for a long-term life shift.
• Find your tribe: Connect with like-minded people who understand the “Hero’s Path” of rediscovery.
• Growth isn’t found in the comfort zone, but it is found in the true self.

If you are currently navigating this career jump what has been your biggest obstacle so far? For me career pivoting or career change has become something much more natural, seeking the right support, resources and information to make it happen it´s also vital part of the career change journey.