Why Transferable Skills Are Key to a Successful Career Pivot

In 2017, Dawn Choo left her finance role at Bank of America to accept a business analyst job with tech giant Amazon — a move costing 40% of her pay. 

At first, the work felt repetitive, and she questioned if the step back had been worth it. But Dawn quickly spotted an opportunity to automate her team’s workload, pitched it to an executive, and became the lead on a full-scale business intelligence project. Within two years, she’d turned that pivot into success. She now had the experience to finally land the job she’d always wanted, as a data scientist for Instagram. 

Dawn’s pivot isn’t unique. While traditional career paths have been linear, modern workers regularly feel empowered to follow their dreams and change occupations to do something that feels meaningful to them. 

This guide digs into career pivoting in more detail. We’ll explore how candidates can pivot by reframing their existing experience and transitioning into a new industry without starting from scratch. And for recruiters, we’ll discuss the benefits of hiring high-potential talent with transferable skills you can put to great use. 

When is career pivoting a good idea? 

Career pivoting is more common than you might think. Approximately 2.6% of Indeed users switched to new jobs every month between 2022 and 2024, and 64% of those job switchers changed occupations entirely. But is career pivoting always the best option? Let’s consider this from both the candidate and the employer’s perspective. 

For candidates: 4 signs it’s time to pivot 

Made your bed and wondering how long you have to lie in it? Here are four common signs that pivoting might be the best move for you. 

1. You’ve outgrown the role

Pick up the mirror and take an honest look at how you feel and perform in your current role. If you’re treading water and feel bored or unchallenged, then it’s probably time to move on. A pivot opens new paths when you’re genuinely motivated to grow in a different direction. 

2. You’ve already started on your new path

Perhaps you’ve already started pivoting without calling it that. If you’ve been using your spare time to research a different profession or even skill up, it’s a strong sign that you’re committed enough to make the switch more formal. 

3. You’re willing to trade title for trajectory 

If you’ve spent your career so far moving slowly up the ranks, earning yourself one impressive title after another, are you willing to give up the prestige? Many career pivots are lateral moves, or may even involve a temporary step back in seniority or pay. If you’re willing to trade in your titles for the promise of long-term growth, then pivoting is probably the right move. 

4. You want to move away from a generalist role 

Not every pivot is about chasing a new industry — sometimes it’s about going deeper. If you’ve spent years as a generalist, covering lots of ground but rarely having the space to specialise, a career pivot can give you more focus.

Whether it’s automation, data storytelling, or strategy, a pivot can give you the opportunity to hone a specific skill set — one that energises you and makes you more valuable over time. Marketing Recruiting Manager Kelly Gordon describes the benefit of taking a step sideways:

“As a candidate, you need to be aware that the opportunity can give you something else — a chance to jump into a new industry, a chance to sharpen specific skills vs. wear many hats, a chance to be really good at something and give you a boost of confidence. 

You won't stay at this level forever but when you are trying to change something in your career, I urge you to not look at it like a "step back" but more as a chance to learn and evolve your skillset in a new way. Teams take a bet on you as well. Industries actually are different in the ways that they market to their consumers.”

For employers: 4 signs a pivoting candidate would make a great a hire

It’s easy to assume that pivoting is geared towards your employees’ interests. But actually, employers have plenty to gain from hiring a wealth of skills in an adjacent, or entirely different area. Here’s when a career switcher is worth a look. 

1.  Your role needs a fresh perspective 

If your team has been feeling a little “stuck,” constantly going over the same ground without making any headway, a pivoting candidate can introduce new ways of thinking. You’ll be able to draw from their diverse industry experience, which could be especially valuable in innovation or brand roles, for example. 

2. You need core skills more than sector experience 

In many roles, especially in product, marketing, operations, or strategy, what matters most isn’t where someone’s worked, but how they think and what they can do.

If you’re hiring for communication, analytical thinking, stakeholder management, or the ability to drive outcomes across teams, those skills aren’t industry-bound. They’re human and strategic. And they’re often honed more deeply in unrelated roles where people have had to adapt and problem-solve in entirely different contexts.

A candidate moving from finance into a product role, for example, may not speak all the jargon on day one. But they can bring data fluency, systems thinking, and a strong bias toward efficiency that helps your team level up in new ways.

3. You’re hiring for potential

Some hires are about immediate fit. Others are about long-term value. When you’re building for the future, especially in roles with room to grow, pivot candidates can be your best investment.

These are people who’ve chosen discomfort. They’ve left something familiar to pursue something new. That often means they bring high levels of motivation, humility, and coachability — qualities that are hard to teach but powerful in a team.

4. You’re committed to offering long-term career growth 

People who’ve made a bold career move tend to stay longer and grow deeper. You took a chance on them, and they’re happy to return the loyalty, as long as they keep learning and moving forward.

It’s a win-win that aligns with today’s retention priorities: 88% of companies are concerned about hanging onto their talent. According to LinkedIn, the top strategy they’re using is offering more development opportunities. Invest in their growth, and they’ll invest in yours.

How do transferable skills support a career change?  

People interested in career pivoting aren’t a blank slate. They’ve already built up a deep bank of skills, competencies, and expertise across one or even several different occupations. And they’ll likely be able to take some of these transferable skills into their new profession. Hiring Hub’s CEO Mark Rothwell explains: 

“Transferable skills are more valuable than people realise; communication, problem-solving and resilience cut through industries. The key is telling your story in a way that connects the dots for the hiring manager.” 

Whether you're switching from teaching to project management, or HR to marketing, your career doesn’t need to follow a straight line — it just needs skills that travel well. Let’s explore this in action, based on four common transferable skills, but be aware there are limitless other skills that someone might repurpose, too. 

Communication 

Communication covers everything from storytelling and presenting ideas clearly to managing stakeholders and translating complex concepts into actionable insight. 

Example: A customer service lead could pivot into UX design by drawing on their ability to empathise with users, identify pain points, and advocate for improvements. 

Problem-solving 

Problem-solving includes a heap of analytical thinking and structured decision-making. Anyone who has a knack for this essential life skill can use it comfortably across a range of roles and industries. 

Example: A finance analyst could pivot into a product role by using their experience with data analysis, trend forecasting, and process optimisation. 

Resilience and adaptability

Being adaptable allows you to roll with the punches, while resilience means you bounce back from them. These qualities show up in someone who’s adept at navigating uncertainty and learning on the fly, which is exactly what most career pivots demand.

Example: A teacher moving into project management already knows how to juggle competing priorities and stay calm under pressure. These are skills that translate directly into managing timelines, teams, and expectations.

Leadership and initiative

Leadership often shows up before it’s formally recognised. Candidates who’ve driven change, influenced decisions, or improved processes — even without a leadership title — are already demonstrating the kind of initiative that fuels successful pivots.

Example: At Amazon, Dawn Choo automated a repetitive task that no one asked her to touch. She pitched the idea, built the solution, and turned it into a team-wide project. That single act of initiative helped her break into data science and eventually land a role at Instagram.

4 tips candidates can use to start their pivot story

Nearly half of UK employees are tempted to change careers, with one in five spending time each week thinking about how to make it happen. If you’re in the same boat, here are four tips you can use to reposition yourself into a new career. 

Audit your skills 

Before you do anything else, take stock of the skills already in your toolbox. Not just those you’re using today, but perhaps other underlying strengths you’ve developed across your career. 

From here, Mark Rothwell urges you to ask: “Can your skills still be seen as useful? For example, if you’re moving from finance or accounting into something completely different such as a creative role, what can you bring across with you?”

That’s the essence of pivoting: recognising your value in a new context. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking your experience has to be hyper-specialised to count. Audio producer Jon DeLeon, describes, 

“I think most of us grew up being told to specialise and focus in one area, but it’s my diverse experience that has taught me the most valuable skills.” 

To complete your audit, make a list of what you’re good at, and begin matching those competencies to industries or roles that need them, even if they’re outside your original field.

Tap into your network 

Networking is often the single biggest driver of pivot success, because it gives you access to insider knowledge, hidden opportunities, and informal advocates. And it doesn’t have to feel as cringey as attending a networking event. As Mark Rothwell puts it, “most career pivots happen through conversation.” 

Reach out to former colleagues, friends in other industries, or people in roles you admire. Ask how they got there. Ask what they’d look for in someone breaking in. You might be surprised what opportunities are available. 

Be realistic about the industry and companies you’re targeting 

While transferable skills open doors, not every door is easy to walk through. Some industries, like nursing and software development, remain highly credential-driven or closed off to outsiders. In fact, 66% of people moving into nursing and 55% moving into software development already worked in those fields. 

That doesn’t mean you can’t break in, but it does mean you need to approach certain professions strategically, and possibly target companies more likely to invest in cross-functional talent. “I knew a very well known brand would not really want to take a chance on me because they had so, so, so many qualified people to choose from.” says Kelly Gordon, reflecting on joining a smaller company when she pivoted. 

Target companies known for growing talent internally, or ones actively hiring from outside their usual pipelines, and be ready to prove what makes you worth the bet.

Speak to recruitment specialists 

One of the most overlooked resources in a career pivot? Recruiters. But instead of blasting your CV out broadly, Mark Rothwell recommends that you “speak to recruitment specialists in the sector you’re moving into. They can give real insight on how to position yourself and where your skills might best fit.” 

A good recruiter should also help you reframe your experience in a way that makes sense to hiring managers.

4 ways recruiters can spot pivot potential 

Not every candidate wanting to pivot is a great contender. Some may have a history of flitting around, never really engaging fully in their current occupation. On the other hand, those with fresh thinking and a hunger to grow could be an excellent fit for your next open vacancy. Here are four ways to spot them.

Look for evidence of skills beyond the CV

The best pivot candidates don’t always shine on paper. They might not have the “right” job titles, but they could bring exactly the kind of creativity and problem-solving your team desperately needs. Look for signs of:

• Initiative: Have they launched a side project, automated a process, or driven change in their current role?
• Outcomes: What did they actually build, fix, improve, or influence?
• Learning mindset: Do their job descriptions suggest cross-functional work? 

Where the CV falls short, tools like skills assessments or even simple, practical tasks can spotlight the talent traditional applications miss. This is where a recruiter’s insight really matters — translating what’s listed into what it suggests about a candidate’s potential.

Spot patterns of adaptability and growth  

Behavioural patterns are one of the clearest indicators of pivot potential. Ask yourself:

• Has this person navigated change before?
• Have they successfully moved across functions, teams, or industries?
• Do they take on roles with increasing complexity or scope, even if they aren’t perfectly aligned on paper?

If a candidate has a history of jumping into ambiguity and figuring it out, they’re more likely to thrive in a new industry.

Look for learning agility in their track record

Pivot-ready candidates are often self-taught or self-directed learners. These are people actively investing in themselves and there are real signals you can watch for:

• Certifications or courses unrelated to their formal background (e.g. a finance graduate taking a coding bootcamp)
• Side projects or freelance work in their target industry
• Participation in hackathons, meetups, or community events, even without formal job experience

Use interviews to uncover hidden potential 

The best questions can reveal far more than credentials. Use interview prompts designed to highlight curiosity and self-direction. For example:

• “Tell me about a time you stepped outside your comfort zone — what did you learn?”
• “Have you ever improved or automated something repetitive in your work?”
• “What’s a skill you taught yourself recently, and why?”

And don’t forget to pay attention to how they frame their story. Pivot candidates who’ve done the work will explain their transition with clarity and purpose. They won’t just tell you what they did; they’ll also be happy to explain why it matters now.

Pivot smarter with Hiring Hub 

Career pivots are increasingly common, but they don’t happen by accident. Whether you’re a professional hoping to reposition your experience in a new industry, or a recruiter keen to spot skills that aren’t tied to a single job title, the key is knowing how to connect the dots.

That’s where Hiring Hub comes in. We connect employers with vetted recruitment agencies that understand niche markets, emerging talent, and the power of transferable skills. By using Hiring Hub’s intuitive platform, you gain access to expert recruiters who can help you:

• Navigate non-traditional candidate profiles with confidence
• Discover untapped talent from outside your usual hiring pipelines
• Fill roles faster with candidates who bring fresh energy, agility, and long-term potential

Ready to hire smarter? Book a demo with Hiring Hub and find out how our network can help you place bold, brilliant career pivoters into roles where they’ll thrive.