Thinking About a Career Change? Start With These 5 Questions Before You Make the Leap

The smartest career pivots start with the right questions.

BY JENNIFER KNOWLES, FREELANCE WRITER

Illustration: Getty Images

I realized it was time to pivot my career when I was halfway around the world in Singapore. I was facilitating a leadership workshop when I knew something had to change. My 2-year-old was sick. I was 9,000 miles away from him and unable to give him a hug. In that moment, the cost of my career became clear. 

That experience forced me to rethink what I wanted from work and led to one of the biggest pivots of my career. 

Career paths aren’t linear anymore. 

Career pivots are more common than you may think. The average professional will have five to seven career changes throughout their lifetime. Also, 30 percent of workers change careers or jobs every 12 months. What once looked like a straight ladder is increasingly becoming something different. 

Today, many careers resemble what experts call a zig-zag career ladder or a squiggly career. This is a non-linear path where professionals move across roles, industries, and responsibilities as they build new skills and opportunities. 

How Anthropic's Claude AI Became a Co-Founder

Why career pivots are becoming more common 

Career pivots aren’t just about chasing dreams. Research analyzing 93 longitudinal studies found that career transitions are increasingly common across a lifespan. Career changes also often play a role in improving career satisfaction, adjustment, and long-term success. For me, that realization led to a major pivot, from developing leaders in a multibillion-dollar organization to returning to school to earn a PhD and eventually building a new chapter in my career. 

If you’re considering a pivot of your own, the decision doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Sometimes the most helpful step is asking the right questions. Here’s what to ask before making a career pivot:

1. Which parts of your work energize you and which drain you? 

Instead of looking only at job titles, pay attention to how your work actually feels. Think about the moments when you felt most engaged and the tasks that consistently drained your energy. Career pivots often become clear when you identify the work that gives you energy versus the work that takes it away. 

© Inc.com