I’m six years post-grad. Nine years into my career. (Internships count if you ask me). I’ve held a lot of titles since then - corporate baddie PR pro, talent, entrepreneur, property manager, influencer mami, blogger, freelance/independent contractor - the list goes on. One thing about a job imma have it.
In this next phase of my career, I’m pivoting. I love Public Relations for all the skills that it honed inside of me - research, outreach, relationship building, management, crafting compelling narratives, media training, etc. But I’ve reached my ceiling. Communications and media will always be my pride and joy but there are so many other avenues that I’m looking forward to learning about. Professionally, I want to try something new. I need a challenge. So now I’m thinking, how can I use all of the things I’ve done in the last 10 years to craft how my next 10 will look?
Transform The Hustle and I have tapped in with two remarkable women in business, Jenae Keith and Milena Toro, who have unique experiences transitioning between jobs and industries alike and they shared insights on seizing fresh opportunities and how their backgrounds propelled them into current leadership roles.
I once had a professor task the class with writing our own eulogies and present them to the class. I thought that was the darkest shit ever, but once everyone started to present it all made sense.
We have the power to shape our own narratives. Part of the reason I started this blog was to do just that. The way in which you chose to speak about yourself represents who you are in the world.
In regards to career pivots, I read a Forbes article that said, “you have to believe you’re uniquely qualified precisely because of your unique background, not in spite of your unique background, so you can move forward with confidence.”
Formerly in risk management consulting, Jenae Keith is now a Senior Manager at Door Dash in Strategy and Operations.
After pivoting from consulting to strategy and operations at a tech company Jenae felt imposter syndrome, however “after about 3 months I realized I was crushing it, and it wasn’t because I was doing anything noteworthy or extraordinary. I was being myself and I was doing my job.”
Your transferable skills will make room for you. When pivoting, it's important to do the work to understand what you have done, where you're going and identifying the bridges between the two so you're able to communicate your value effectively.
“I was leveraging a lot of the foundational skills I’d spent years honing and iterating, and although I was using the experience differently than before, I realized I was still more than capable of applying them in a new way,” said Jenae..
As a career changer and during your job search. Invest extra time and effort in crafting your career narrative so others can understand the connection between your past experiences and future ambitions.
Stretch your time horizon
Anything worth having, unfortunately, takes time and changing careers or industries is no small feat. Difficulty is an inevitable part of any worthwhile change journey.
It's easy to get frustrated with the process, especially in the current job market, and rerouting a career or interviewing and looking for jobs can literally feel like another job. “There is definitely a time investment,” said Jenae, "Whether it’s reaching out for coffee chats, reworking a resume, interview prep, case study assessments, etc. there’s a lot of time and effort involved.”
Some people might also decide to go back to school or participate in programs to gain more expertise in areas that they want to pivot into. “However the journey looks for you, it definitely holds true that it will take a lot of time, in addition to your day job, to reach your end goal.” said Jenae.
“Time is always of the essence and especially when it comes to jobs, money and your livelihood. But time is also a concept. Take a year off to really figure out what you want vs. spending 5 years doing something you absolutely hate. Career math. ”
Rerouting
The reroute may look jagged. You might go up, down and around before you end at the final destination. While you're on that journey, there are still ways to put your work into practice.
Milena says, “don’t wait for anyone to give you a job to do the work that you want to do. We have so many resources available to us now. Newsletters, iPhone for camera and photography, social media, etc.”
Milena Toro is a creative strategist at IBM, but her passion for empowering creative minds extends beyond her professional role. Milena is also a Creative Wellness Coach, helping creatives set goals and overcome roadblocks.
If the opportunities are not available to you, make them. Dont give up on your dreams just because others can’t see the vision. “If your portfolio isn’t stacked, don’t let not having your dream job (yet) be the reason. Transform your hustle, see what I did there?” Said Milena.
In life, change is the only constant. Figuring out how to not just adapt, but thrive in an ever-evolving career landscape is critical to professional and personal growth. Stand on business.
Why? Because I said so
xoxo Amanda
Transform The Hustle is a Black-owned and led cultural consultancy with an aim to increase access and representation for black corporate professionals and independent creators through brand collaborations, job opportunities, philanthropic initiatives, and innovative programming. They focus on creating impactful and inclusive spaces for the community and breaking down barriers that often limit opportunities for Black professionals and independent creators.
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