Not all career moves need to fit the traditional standards of “progress.” Racing up the company ladder to an executive title is a clear and prestigious track, one that many strive for. But what if that department, or even entire industry is no longer fulfilling? Sometimes, a change of scenery is enough to refresh enthusiasm and uplift new levels of passion.
Making a lateral career move can feel like a big gamble, especially when having several years of experience in a particular field means those higher titles are even more within reach. But in the midst of The Great Resignation, as more individuals reassess personal goals, these concerns don’t always come out on top. A study from HR company Cornerstone OnDemand showed that 89 percent of survey respondents would consider making a lateral career move with no financial incentive. Unsurprisingly, key reasons include finding greater personal satisfaction, pursuing an entirely new career path and taking up new professional challenges. Clearly, fulfillment is an important factor in career sustainability.
Isabel Canter, director of operations at Alt, knows this all too well. She made the switch to tech after four years in finance. For her, changing industries meant careful planning and a lot of preparation.
“Transitioning to tech unlocked a world of mentorship, sponsorship and inspiration that I didn’t experience to the same degree in my finance roles,” she said.
In following her curiosity, Isabel has learned important strategies for making a major career change. She shared her advice for those considering a new path, her experiences leading up to her lateral move, and the new opportunities it has opened for her long-term professional potential.
Making a lateral career move can feel pretty scary. How did you know it was the right move for you? And what steps did you take to make it happen?
Four years into my career, I made a switch from finance to tech. This turned out to be a pretty major shift for me that changed the complexion of my career. I knew going into my first investment banking job that finance was not going to be a long-term career path for me. I wanted to start in that field as a launchpad to build a solid foundation for whatever I chose to do next.
Through my finance job, I became really interested in the concept of “big data” and wanted to better understand how companies were using data to make decisions. While working, I enrolled in night classes to learn more about data analytics, visualization and data-driven decision making.
I’ve always followed my curiosity, and I ultimately found a role at a large tech company that blended what I had learned about data analytics with the knowledge base I had built while working in finance. When the opportunity presented itself, I had the confidence and conviction to pursue it. That’s not to say there wasn’t a learning curve — there absolutely was. But I had been making incremental steps along the way that prepared me for the move, and I think that’s ultimately what helped me make the leap.
I now rarely view challenges or ways of doing things as immutable, nor do I view myself as having a fixed quantity of knowledge.”
When it comes to your career trajectory, professional growth or general passion for your job, what has transitioning into this new role unlocked for you?
Transitioning to tech unlocked a world of mentorship, sponsorship and inspiration that I didn’t experience to the same degree in my finance roles. I certainly did have some of that, and still have some mentors and friends from my finance days. But when I joined the first big tech company I worked at, I found myself surrounded by incredibly smart, ambitious and gracious women who supported me and lifted me up and really helped catalyze my professional development and growth. This has motivated me to do the same for other women coming up in their careers.
Moving into tech also helped me develop a growth mindset. I now rarely view challenges or ways of doing things as immutable, nor do I view myself as having a fixed quantity of knowledge. In tech, you have to think this way, because the name of the game is innovation. I’m a naturally curious person, and adopting this way of thinking has made me more effective in my career and more excited to solve new problems.
What advice do you have for other people who are considering making a lateral career move?
You have to help people connect the dots. Good storytelling can really help with this. If you’re moving from a seemingly very different industry or role you have to help people understand the common threads between what you’ve done and what you’re looking to do next — and there are always common threads! I ended up working in the financial services vertical within the sales organization at a large tech company, focused on consumer data analytics. My finance background provided relevant industry knowledge. I took night classes to supplement required technical knowledge, and I had amassed a number of analytical and “soft” skills that proved highly transferable.
Once in the role, continue to lean on your transferable skills and don’t be afraid to embrace a growth mindset. It’s OK to say, “I don’t know, but I’m excited to learn” and run full steam ahead at building a new body of knowledge.
Lastly, remember that your diverse experiences are an asset to any organization. You’re uniquely positioned to help the team see things differently.
