4 Common Career Pivot Pitfalls to Avoid

You can revamp your CV, apply to hundreds of job postings, and network like there's no tomorrow.

At the end of the day, all these are just door openers and conversation starters. 

These all may or may not help. . . It all depends on the premise on why and what they were built on.

 Career pivoting is hard. It's even harder when it's done reactively or without forethought.

Below are the 4 major pitfalls I've seen in people when they are trying to pivot in their careers.

Overly Optimistic, Unrealistic Goals.

"I want to be X".

 It's impossible to pivot without a strong foundation to where you want to pivot to. Simply, you can't be X if you don't have A, B, C to begin with. Failing to consider your core values and current skillsets will result in unrealistic expectations.  

Case in point: Everyone seems to vie the MSL role these days. Do you know what specific skillsets are needed for those roles? Do you know what skillsets you currently have to make you successful in those roles? How do you validate your assumptions that you are indeed ready and an attractive candidate to make this career pivot? What is your timeline?

I say this because I have many come to me (eg,  medical writer, sales, new grads) and want help to get an MSL role. Is it possible? Maybe - it may not be anytime soon and would require planning, building and multiple pivots to get there.  

The Faulty Linear Thinking

• "I will do A, as I soon as I do B".

• "I will be ready once I complete A, and then I can do B"

• "I need this . . . . I need that . . ."

All these are precursory requirements, conditions or qualifications that people place on themselves. These are time and resource suckers that just delay people from their ultimate goal.  

I have seen people sign up for training, certifications, etc. that are outside their 'core' experiences so they can be more attractive candidates for particular roles. I understand the intent. However, while these are all great for development, if the goal is to get a job within a year, do you really think a manager would look at this and say, "Wow, you learned that"? Put it another way, how would you speak to this training and knowledge during your interviews? You won't. It's because you will talk about your work experience and the value you bring to the table instead.

In my opinion, no one gets a job simply because of some online training or certification. Everyone and anyone can get those. These are simply icing on the cake. But the cake itself, YOUR CORE, is what will set you apart  - your unique set of skills, background and experience.

Bottomline is - be clear on what your goals are. Then, look at what you have, who you are and what you have already built ALL THESE YEARS and PIVOT from that place of strength - whether it's your therapeutic specialty, prowess in research, leadership and people skills, medical writing, etc. Nothing can trump that.

Lack of Focus and Commitment

"Let me think about it" 

These are the killer of dreams. The dizzying exercise of reading more, learning more and analyzing more, and leading into more rabbit holes.

For us in the medical or scientific fields, we are so guilty of this. We are so focused on the HOW, rather than the WHY & WHAT, ie, the ultimate goal. We end losing sight of why we even started. 

We need to think more entrepreneurial, as nothing is without risk. If every business has to calculate every risk, the budget, sale projections, etc. before they even open up and start that business, we won't have any businesses at all. Why even invest in stocks or index funds knowing the inherent risks associated with them? Why even slave through school, be in debt and not really know whether or not we will even pass the boards to practice -- yet, we all do it, right?

The only way to move forward is to develop a simple plan and JUST DO IT. If something doesn't work, then at least you will know that. Figure out a way to tweak and test the strategy again or find another one that eventually will. Put up the courage. Have faith. Start somewhere. You will learn a lot more piloting, taking small calculated risks, than simply, 'thinking about it'.

And then periodically re-evaluate, "Is this taking me to my ultimate goal? What worked? What didn't? What other resources do I need to help me get there?" Always remember your WHY you are doing this in the first place - a better work- life balance? Growth? More money? Stature?

Always be clear on your 'Why'.

Being Reactive

"I am good, until I am not" 

There's a saying, "Change is the only constant."  It's either we become proactive about change, or be forced to change. In any case, it's smart to be prepared and welcome change.

I see so many get stuck in their careers because they haven't proactively managed it. Barely putting the time, effort or money to care. Where they are is convenient, constant, and it pays the bills.

Then one day, change is forced upon or there's impossible or unsustainable situation they are in. Desperation sets in, and everything becomes acute and an emergency. Years of neglect or being in 'career autopilot' subsequently and unfortunately, also limit the options for career shifts. Technology has changed how we work. You won't believe how many people still struggle with using basic things like Outlook, Powerpoint or writing a cohesive email to communicate with another colleague. I've seen it. It's very sad. No one should ever be at the point, and yet, here we are.

Growth is the only way forward. You may as well take care of it and be intentional from the start. Be in the mindset of change. Be in the mindset for curiosity and growth.

Conclusion

Successfully pivoting in a career requires proactive planning, resources, commitment and focus. It requires a mindset for growth, building your core and pivoting from a place of strength.  

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