4 Helpful Tips to Change Careers While Staying in Your Expected Salary

Photo by Christina on Unsplash

Today pivoting careers and job-hopping have become common. On average, employees stay with their companies only for about 4.2 years before they move on to a new job. While the idea of starting in a brand-new field may seem exciting, pivoting careers has its own challenges that you need to take into account.

With jobs becoming less linear and more flexible, changing them could mean having to deal with substantial pay cuts. You may very likely have to start from the bottom, and not everyone can afford to do that, especially with a great deal of financial uncertainty and emotional instability involved. However, there are a few ways you can change careers while making sure that you stay in a relatively “experienced” salary tier.

Use Your Existing Skills To Your Advantage

If you are thinking of changing your career, the expected demands and requirements at your new job may scare you at first. It may very well seem like a nightmare at first – thinking about how you will restart from the bottom and develop a whole new set of skills suitable for your new line of work.  Know that this is a completely normal reaction to a new situation but remember not to panic. When you’re starting out in a new field, everything can seem difficult or challenging. Your strategy here should be to identify the areas you are already good at and identify those where you need to improve.

By doing so, you will be able to find ways to use your existing skills to your advantage in the new field while knowing exactly what you need to do to improve. Start by finding ways how you can fit your expertise within your new role. Let’s suppose you’re a practicing attorney and want to shift your career toward teaching at a law school. Since you have practical knowledge of the field, you can opt to teach subjects that demand fieldwork or require examples from them thereby allowing you to use your experience as a lawyer to your advantage. Trust yourself, and your skills, and find alternative ways to tackle the problems that you may face in the new field.

Determine Whether You Need Additional Training & Invest in Getting that Training

If you pivot your career with a focused and planned effort, you will reduce the overall amount of time it takes for you to become an experienced professional in your new field. When starting a new career, evaluate your existing skills and expertise and figure out what additional skills you will need to acquire to ensure a smooth transition. Preferably, do this evaluation and work to fill the gaps before leaving your current position, so when you make a change, you ensure that you have an arsenal of marketable skills that can use to negotiate your salary at your new workplace.

Depending on the skills you need to acquire, make a plan regarding all the additional courses or classes you may have to take. Try and pick up more volunteer freelance work, that aligns with your career goals. Think creatively and be willing to invest in the process as much as you can.

Let's suppose you intend to move into a digital marketing role, and you need more social media experience. Volunteer to manage a social media campaign for some local small businesses. If you feel there is some gap in your educational background, take courses, or see if you can attend workshops. This will ultimately improve your marketability as a job candidate and allow you to join your new field thoroughly prepared. A diverse skill set will increase your chances of getting a higher salary when you make your career change.

Your Unique Professional Background Is A Strength

When you start applying and giving interviews for a new job, don’t be discouraged by focusing on the skills that you lack. Instead, acknowledge the areas where you lack and think about what you can bring to the table, preferably things that other candidates cannot. Think more broadly about what you can bring to the role, apart from transferrable skills.

Most companies are looking for a person who can bring a different perspective, a creative mind, and a self-motivated attitude to fight out their current business challenges. Due to your unique background, your experience will be taken as a benefit. It is up to you to top up your strengths well, so the company understands your importance and compensates you for that accordingly.

Negotiate & Ask for More

Once you have navigated the interview process and have successfully landed yourself a job offer, you should negotiate to avoid taking a pay cut. Do your research to see the pay range for the position and review your strengths and skills, which the employer values. Do not let the fear of a salary cut keep you from pivoting careers.

Do a little extra work to enhance your marketability. Be confident while discussing your salary with your employer and point out the reasons why you think you are deserving. Remember, your confidence is just as crucial to your success as the skills you’ve been hired for. So, negotiate with confidence.

Pivoting careers takes determination and patience. Be proactive and try to be one step ahead. There are always ways to start from midway instead of starting from scratch, provided that you’re willing to put in the effort and the work.  

Tyche Tips

• When pivoting in your career, take advantage of your established skills.
• Make your professional experience your strength.
• Invest in polishing your talents and be willing to learn additional skills.
• Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary at your new workplace.