Overcoming the Confidence Gap in Career Pivots

For those of us who have jumped between sectors (and back again, in my case), we know the biggest hurdle isn’t a skills gap—it’s a confidence gap.

The popular hashtag #FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) perfectly encapsulates what has held many a career pivoter back. Don’t let it. You've got this. Seriously...

Real talk: Bridging the public vs. private sector divide isn’t brain surgery—unless, of course, you’re actually pivoting into brain surgery. Take it from me, if a long-time international development wonk can hop over to the private sector (which I did) and learn that Slack isn’t a bad work habit, Toggl isn’t the latest Gen Z gaming trend, and HubSpot shouldn't be confused with Hootsuite, pretty much anyone can make the leap, and even excel.

The truth? Reinvention happens all the time. Look at The Rock, Martha Stewart, David Chang, John Grisham, Vera Wang—heck, Colonel Sanders started as a lawyer before pivoting to fried chicken. His secret? More than just 11 herbs and spices—it was knowing his transferable skills (okay, I have no idea if he actually thought about his transferable skills, but let’s roll with it).

The Power of Transferable Skills

At the end of the day, employers don’t just hire résumés—they hire problem-solvers, communicators, strategic thinkers, and leaders. Sound like anyone you know?

So, what are the most in-demand transferable skills employers are looking for in 2025? With a hat tip to my “assistant” ChatGPT, here are four that stand out:

1️⃣ Communication & Storytelling – Essential for leadership, sales, marketing, and collaboration. Strong communicators thrive everywhere.

2️⃣ Problem-Solving & Adaptability – Companies need people who can navigate uncertainty and pivot when needed. Sound familiar?

3️⃣ Leadership & Team Management – Even if you’re not the boss, great leaders drive productivity, innovation, and engagement.

4️⃣ Strategic Thinking & Execution – The ability to set long-term goals and turn ideas into action is a game-changer in any field.

I ran a poll asking which of these skills people rely on most when making a career move—check it out and weigh in! Do you have any of these? All of these? If you've worked in international development, you know that skills transfer...and then some. We have amazingly unique skillsets and experiences, we often speak multiple languages, and have lived and worked all over the world. Who wouldn't want to hire someone like that?

Ready to Make the Leap?

So, if you’re eyeing a career pivot (or being forced to eye one, let's be honest), don’t let FUD hold you back. You already have the skills—now it’s about framing them in a way that employers understand. This will take some time, some trial and error, and hopefully some solid advice from friends and colleagues, but you've got this.

Parting Thought for Hiring Managers, Job Posters, Recruiters, HR Teams

If you’re hiring, please for the love of all that is good and decent, look outside your industry—there’s untapped talent waiting to bring fresh perspectives and battle-tested skills to your team. More on this topic to come, so be on the lookout for my next article, “The Unusual Suspects: Why Hire Int'l Development Pros,” where I break down why hiring outside your industry (and especially from mine!) is a power move for companies—and a game-changer for job seekers.

In the meantime, pass that resume onto the next round and give some of these amazing professionals a chance to wow you. Oh, and if you could expedite things a bit (we know you can), or even just reach out with encouragement (however minor), it sure would help. Asking for a friend...a few thousand friends.