Once discouraged, wholesale career changes are now increasingly common — especially as navigating a global pandemic has accelerated ideas about the future of work for both employees and employers. While the record-setting rates of workers quitting or changing jobs are well documented, tracking the number of people who have pivoted to entirely new professions in the last few years is more difficult, but there are indications it’s a growing trend.
According to a 2021 Pew Research study, 53% of U.S. adults who quit their jobs last year didn’t just transition into a similar role with a different company. Instead, they decided to embrace an entirely new occupation or field of work. And it’s not just mid-career workers who are making pivots; 52% of Gen Z and Millennials are likely to pivot in the next year according to a recent annual study by Microsoft.
This sea change is affecting the way forward-leaning companies view career-changing candidates. Now, 70% of employers are willing to hire and train the right candidate, one with transferable skills and a good cultural fit.
Why workers are making career changes
Most of the reasons people change occupations during their careers are consistent regardless of a pandemic, but after the last few years, more workers are inspired to pivot because of:
- Burnout and the opportunity to reduce stress
- A desire to have aligned values with an employer
- The opportunity to have more fulfilling work
- Increased flexibility offered with remote or hybrid schedules
- Industries and roles that offer more compensation.
Why employers are seeking career-changers
In today’s tight job market, one tactic hiring managers are embracing is to actively recruit career changers instead of dream candidates who check all of the boxes on a job description. Not only does this substantially increase the talent pool, but hiring career changers offers many intrinsic benefits to employers, including:
- Motivated employees who want to be at your company
- A more diverse workforce
- Employees who are eager to continue learning
- New ideas and fresh perspectives
- Seasoned hard and soft skills that are transferable
Advice for employers who are seeking career-changers
Evaluating and adjusting your hiring practices may be necessary to loosen strict requirements that can discourage candidates from applying for your open positions.
For example, although new opportunities are equally enticing to both genders, research shows that women feel they need to meet 100% of the criteria to apply for a job. While men typically apply if they meet about 60% of the criteria. Employers who want to attract a wider talent pool might:
- Audit job descriptions and postings to make sure the requirements aren’t too narrow
- Use inclusive language on job postings that encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply
- Focus on transferable skills — like leadership experience — over a specific degree
- Emphasize soft skills — like a growth mindset — which can have positive impact on your culture
- Offer flexibility to help potential employees balance work and personal responsibilities
- Loosen pay structures built upon rigid frameworks tied to specific job experience and tenure
- Offer robust training and professional development opportunities
- Partner with a professional recruiter who can help you identify transferable skills across a wide range of jobs and industries
Advice for candidates who want to make a career change
The most important question to ask yourself as you consider changing your occupation is whether you are dissatisfied with the work or the current job you’re in. Many workers get to the point of burnout in a dysfunctional job and blame their occupation or industry. But if you truly aren’t fulfilled by the work you’re doing — even if you were with a different company — then a career change might be the right step. Here are some suggestions for navigating a career pivot:
- Assess your skills from a distance instead of tied to your current job and industry — these are your transferable skills
- Research careers and roles where those skills are needed
- Rebrand yourself by updating your resume and LinkedIn profile to focus on your transferable skills instead of a list of jobs you’ve held
- Be realistic in your expectations of what you’re qualified for
- Develop new skills and obtain certifications relevant to the new career you want
- Consider a paid internship designed with a return-to-work program, like this one at Morgan Stanley
- Connect with professional recruiters who can provide coaching and encouragement
- Keep it positive when describing why you’re changing careers with potential employers
