Extra Credit -- What Color is Your Parachute? --Pivot toward your desired career

Before reading What Color is Your Parachute?, I looked at how I wanted to pivot my career, and what I had already done to begin this process. I am a salesman presently, but what I really desire is to join my company's marketing team. When I started with my company, I believed sales was my vocation, and I still love sales and all of the interpersonal relationships and skills I've acquired. However, I started to soul search toward the end of 2021 after a few failed attempts at promotion. I began to look at different ways to set myself apart from other promotion seeking peers. I decided school and a company sponsored leadership program were things that would help. Continuing to learn more about myself along the way allowed me to see I needed to use my creativity to be truly satisfied in a career. I am an English major with a minor in Fine Arts. I enjoy creating and helping to promote events and new ideas.

But how does someone make this pivot?

Once I read What Color is Your Parachute? (and taking Todd Kelsey's marketing course), I found I needed to get involved more with marketing, practice my marketing with local companies, and get a Google Ads certification. This type of growth will allow me to showcase my personal work in my interview(s) for my desired career goal. Additionally, practicing with local companies as well as a Google Ads certification can evolve into a lucrative side hustle, as I wait for my career goals.

What I am trying to show you, dear reader, is sometimes you may have to make an industry change, or a job title change in order to get your desired career (sometimes both). I may not get my marketing experience with my company, but I can grow my experience outside of it to build my skillset. This way I can apply for the promotion I desire with the ability to say I have the experience required. 

Finally, if you want to make both an industry and job title change, I (as well as Richard N. Bolles) suggest you pivot in an industry, or a job title change first, then do the other. This allows you to build the required experience in order to get your end goal. It may sound hard and time consuming, but it is your end goal.

Best of luck making your pivot or pivots!