How to Change Careers

I finished my graduate degree ready to take on the world. And my first job was in Operations Management. Every day - donning steel-toed boots and a hard hat – I managed a team of 50 people in a warehouse using scanners, pick-trucks, and conveyors to get thousands of items from trucks to shelves. It was loud and fun and challenging...until it wasn’t.

Five years in, I had a baby and decided I was ready for a change. I wanted to shift from warehouse management to Corporate Human Resources.  Friends and family wished me luck…but gently told me not to hold my breath. “That’s a real 180, Rach” I remember a cousin saying.

But I did it. I made the pivot and I’ve never looked back. It took some focus and intention on my part. And today I’m going to deconstruct how I made it happen, offering you a roadmap for your own career pivot. 

Step #1: Mark a clear destination

There’s a world of difference between running away from and running toward something. When I decided to leave Operations Management, my quest began with a need to walk away – from the intensity and the demanding schedule of the job. I was, after all, a new mother, and my needs had evolved.

But I wanted my next career to be born out of intention – not desperation. So I took a beat and really reflected on what pieces of the Operations job I loved, and which I was ready to leave behind.  

And for me, it was about the people. My success as an Operations Leader had little to do with my expertise in conveyor technology or logistics, but rather in my ability to recruit, train, and develop the right talent whose expertise in those things would deliver results. And this reflection pointed me in the direction of Human Resources.

Being mindful of what you’re striving for will help you craft a clear path forward. So begin here. You may know what you want to leave behind, but are you clear on where you want to arrive Consider your current role. List out the things – activities, responsibilities, projects, and tasks – that give you energy, and those that don’t. Maybe for you, it’s the writing, the mentoring, and the educating clients you love most. Have you considered a transition into education?

Really invest in this upfront reflection. It will serve you well later on.

List out the things – activities, responsibilities, projects, and tasks – that give you energy, and those that don’t.

Step #2: Focus on continuity 

The on-the-page job descriptions of an Operations Manager and a Human Resources leader are pretty dissimilar at first glance. One focuses on physical safety, logistics, transportation, and managing large teams...

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