If you find yourself considering a major career change – whether your priorities have changed, your industry is shrinking, or you’re simply ready for a switch in your career – you may be wondering when is the right time to make a big change in your career without having to start over.  

When you’ve built many years of experience in one field, pivoting industries might seem overwhelming, but you can make the change happen. If you plan ahead and use the right strategy, you can bring your transferable and valuable skills with you and focus on what you’re truly passionate about. 

Signs You’re Ready for a Change 

As you’re planning your pivot, you also want to recognize the signs that it may be time for a change: 

Sign #1: You feel stuck: If you’re finding yourself unmotivated and your daily tasks have started to feel a little daunting rather than exciting, it could be a sign that it’s more than just a lull period. 

Sign #2: Limited growth in your industry: Are you able to continuously grow? Are you still finding lots of opportunities? 

Sign #3: Interests and values have shifted: What mattered to you five or 10 years ago doesn’t always align with who you are today. 

Sign #4: Curious about other industries: If you’re looking for jobs in other industries or admiring work in other fields, it might be a sign that you’re ready for a change. 

Steps to Help You Switch Careers – Without Starting Over 

Remember, you’re not restarting, you’re just pivoting into a new industry. Repackage yourself and use the experience and skills you have to get your foot in the door. Here are some steps to help you get started. 

Step 1: Map out transferable skills 

As you start looking for new roles, you want to take stock of all your experience and accomplishments over the last few years in your current career.

Take note of your transferable and soft skills, any managerial experience, accomplishments and success stories, and any problem-solving or conflict resolution experience. You probably have a lot of skills that are useful in any industry of your choosing. 

Step 2: Research target industries 

You will want to do your research and learn about the trends, challenges and required skill sets of the industries you want to get into. Reach out to professionals and thought leaders in the industry for informational interviews and insights. Ask them about their day-to-day and what they enjoy most about the work.

Look for any commonalities that you may have between your current industry and what’s valued in your desired industry. All these insights will help you identify how to position yourself and what the best roles for you may be. 

Step 3: Rebrand yourself 

Next, you will need to rebrand yourself, which means you will need to update your resume and cover letter to make them more industry-specific and focus on relevant accomplishments across sectors.

Make sure to update your LinkedIn profile as well as any professional social media accounts. Formulate a revised narrative for interviews to show your passion for the new industry and how your past experiences will help you succeed. 

Step 4: Fill skill gaps 

Be open to getting a certification or smaller projects to help you bridge any existing skill gaps that could help you get your foot in the door of a new industry.

Building relevant experience will show employees you are serious about transitioning and will also help you brush up your skills and keep you updated about what’s going on in the industry. 

Step 5: Start small 

Jumping off the last point, you can also find a role that may meet halfway between your current role and the new role you desire. This might be an easier way to switch to a new industry without completely leaping into it.

Consider freelance or contract work, or even volunteer opportunities, to give you more exposure to this new field and build your resume. 

Allow Yourself to Grow 

While pivoting industries might feel like a big risk, it can be well worth it—especially if you’re feeling burned out or unmotivated. Making a career pivot isn’t about quitting; it’s about enhancing your professional journey with intention and purpose. Career paths aren’t meant to be linear, and many professionals change industries multiple times throughout their lives.

Keep focusing on growth—your curiosity and willingness to learn will guide you toward the path that truly fits you.