Six practical ways professionals can embrace learning and unlock new opportunities. 

By Antonia Dean 

Many industries continue to experience layoffs, hiring freezes, and organizational restructuring. Professionals who once felt secure in their careers are increasingly finding themselves questioning their next move. For some, making a career pivot is a choice, and for others, a necessity. 

The good news is that a career pivot is possible even in a challenging market. The key is approaching it strategically rather than emotionally. Below are six best practices on how to do so successfully.

1. Start with curiosity, not certainty. One of the biggest misconceptions about career changes is that everything must be figured out before any moves can be made. When in reality, most successful pivots begin with curiosity. Professionals need to consider interests before creating next steps.

Many professionals become paralyzed because they believe they need a perfect five-year plan before taking action. The truth is that career pivots are often built through experimentation. The goal isn’t to immediately identify the next job title. It’s to identify a direction worth investigating. Professionals looking to pivot should pay attention to the industries, topics, and conversations that consistently capture their attention. Those interests often reveal where the next opportunity may exist. 

2. Conduct a personal skills audit. Before pursuing a new career path, take inventory of existing skills. Too often, people underestimate how transferable their experience truly is.

The first step is to create two lists: skills used every day, and skills enjoyed the most. The overlap between those lists often becomes the greatest career advantage. Not to mention hiring managers increasingly prioritize adaptable talent over candidates who check every box.

3. Build before leaping. One of the riskiest mistakes professionals make is quitting their current role before validating their interest in a new one. Instead, they can create opportunities to test their desired career path while maintaining stability.

This could mean taking an online course, joining industry organizations, attending networking events, freelancing, consulting on small projects, or volunteering for assignments that expose them to new functions. The more exposure gained before making a transition, the more confidence built for when opportunities arise. 

4. Let relationships open doors. Career pivots rarely happen through online applications alone. Many of the most valuable opportunities emerge through relationships. Networking is often misunderstood as asking people for jobs. Instead, approach it as gathering information and building genuine connections.

Reach out to professionals working in the target industry and try to connect by asking thoughtful questions about their experiences. Learn what skills matter most, what challenges they face, and what trends they’re seeing. People are often far more willing to offer advice than employment. And ironically, those conversations frequently lead to opportunities later.  

A new role may come from someone who knows a professional’s potential before a recruiter ever sees their résumé.  

5. Learn to tell a new story. One of the most important parts of any career pivot is learning how to communicate the transition. Many professionals frame career changes as a series of unrelated jobs, causing prospective employers to perceive unnecessary risk.

Create a consistent story that connects past experiences to future goals. Every career move should build upon a central theme. For example, a common thread could be helping organizations grow through strategy, innovation, and market understanding. The industry changed, but the core value delivered is consistent. Résumés, LinkedIn profiles, and interviews should all reinforce this narrative.

6. Embrace learning, not imposter syndrome. One of the most challenging aspects of a career pivot is accepting the process of learning new things in a new environment. Professionals who have spent years building credibility and expertise can struggle with the idea of being a beginner again. However, being new does not mean starting from zero.

This is especially important for professionals who have historically been taught to keep their heads down, work twice as hard, and accept opportunities without fully owning the value brought to the table. When entering a new industry or role, it’s easy to focus on the unknown. But it’s equally important for professionals to recognize what they do know.

Previous experiences, perspectives, and accomplishments don’t disappear simply because lanes have been changed. Fresh perspectives often challenge conventional thinking, uncover new opportunities, and help organizations solve problems in ways that insiders may overlook.

The goal should never be to become an expert overnight. It’s to fall in love with the learning process itself. The most successful career changers are rarely the people who know everything on day one. They’re the people who remain curious, adaptable, resilient, and confident enough to contribute while they learn. In a rapidly changing economy, those qualities are becoming just as valuable as technical expertise.  

A tough job market can make a career pivot feel intimidating. But it can also create an opportunity to reassess goals, strengths, and plans for long-term growth. The focus shouldn’t be solely on finding another job. It should be on building a career that can evolve alongside the world. 

Antonia Dean is partner at Black Operator Ventures (Black Ops VC).