5 Expert Tips To Make A Successful Early Career Pivot

• 52% of recent four-year college graduates are underemployed within a year of graduating, and are struggling to find employment that matches their education level.
• For individuals not originally trained in STEM fields, learning quantitative skills like data analysis or statistics could lead to more stable and higher-paying jobs.
• It’s important to continuously learn and adapt, regardless of whether the career pivot is to a different role within the same company, or to an entirely new field altogether.

More than half of college graduates may be feeling buyer’s remorse. 

Although college graduates generally do better in the labor market than those with only a high school diploma, many still don’t secure the jobs they expected to after spending a lot of time and money earning their bachelor’s degree.

Despite the inherent promise of greater economic opportunity that a college degree offers, many graduates today find themselves in jobs that do not require their acquired level of education or skills. In fact, 52% of recent four-year college graduates are underemployed within a year of graduating — struggling to find employment that matches their education level, according to a report by the Strada Education Foundation and the Burning Glass Institute. 

This high level of underemployment is not just a short-term issue, either. That figure remains high even 10 years after graduation, with 45% still underemployed.

This has long-term financial implications that negatively impact early-career trajectories. The study reveals that underemployed graduates typically earn only about 25% more than those with only a highschool diploma. 

The data show that if they are able to find a job that actually requires the degree they earned, they would be making 88% more than high school graduates. 

For early-career Gen Z and young Millennials who aren’t willing to settle for underemployment, one viable alternative would be to pivot into another career field or switch to another specialized role within their current industry.

Various economic uncertainties and a desire for more fulfilling careers have led many young professionals to explore alternate career pathways. Here are five expert tips for how to successfully make an early career pivot.

1. When Planning a Career Pivot, Use Professional Networking

Making a career change can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to break into a new industry or shift roles within a competitive job market. However, career expert Octavia Goredema, CEO of Fire Memos and host of the Audible Original Series How to Change Careers advises one of the most effective tools for navigating this transition is professional networking.

“I made a pivot early in my career in public relations when I moved from public affairs to a consumer PR focused firm,” Goredema said. “That opportunity arose because I told a former coworker what I was interested in exploring next. The lesson I learned from this is don’t shy away from starting career-focused conversations. The more people you talk to, the better the odds you’ll uncover opportunities, resources or even roles that align with your goals.”

For professionals considering a career switch, Goredema stresses the importance of exploring connections across the entirety of one’s professional network, even if the connection is only an acquaintance. 

“In 2022, a study co-authored by MIT researchers demonstrated the power of so-called ‘weak ties’ when it comes to finding career opportunities,” Goredema said. “The researchers ran an experiment using data from 20 million LinkedIn profiles, and it showed just how much we rely on weak ties — meaning people we only know slightly — to land new jobs. Their study showed that it’s often our casual acquaintances, rather than our closest friends, who turn out to be our most useful connections in job hunts.”

Strada’s report also suggests that building professional networks through alumni associations, industry events, and social platforms can further help in opening doors to job opportunities. Additionally, mentorship programs can provide early career guidance and support that helps recent graduates pursue their career paths more effectively. 

2. Pursue “Stepping Stone” Jobs and Other Practical Experiences

While planning that perfect career switch, it’s also a great idea to keep gaining professional and practical experience.  

“Sometimes it’s necessary to pursue a ‘stepping stone’ job to gain necessary experience or fill a certain skill gap that is required before you can pursue your dream job,” Amanda Augustine, TopResume career expert explained. “Informational interviews can help you identify the appropriate stepping stone jobs, certifications, or other professional development opportunities necessary to become a more attractive candidate in your target field.”

Strada finds internships also offer valuable real-world experience, allowing students to apply their knowledge in practical settings while developing industry-relevant skills and gaining insight into professional environments. 

This hands-on style learning not only boosts appeal to employers, but also prepares candidates with the confidence and capabilities needed to thrive in a modern workplace.

3. Take Note of All the Skills You Have

While persistent networking and practical experience are huge factors in successfully making a career pivot, it’s also important to take note of what existing professional skills can be brought to a new job. 

Many career experts, including Augustine and Goredema, share that it’s important for individuals to make a list of all their skills and strengths before committing to a career pivot. 

“[T]he great news is it’s more than likely that you already possess several transferable skills that you can use to your advantage,” Goredema said. “Start by reflecting on your past experiences. Think about your academic projects, internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work. What did you enjoy doing? Where did you excel? Identify the skills you consistently used and the areas where you performed well. This will help you recognize your strengths and the unique qualities you bring to the table.”

It’s often hard to list out what we are good at — or, admittedly, not so good at — so career expert Augustine suggests, if “you’re unsure of your strengths and abilities, ask those who know you well, such as your college advisor, a mentor or professor, your former classmates, friends and family members, as well as former coworkers and managers.”

While doing some skill searching, Augustine also suggests looking at job postings and seeing if any of your current skills match with potential job descriptions. This is a valuable tip because it helps you identify transferable skills that you may not realize are applicable in other fields and roles. 

By comparing current skills with job postings, one can gain insights into how their skills align with different career paths — which may open up opportunities they hadn’t considered. 

This approach also allows professionals to pinpoint specific skills that are in demand, which helps them focus on areas for further development to make you a stronger candidate in your desired field.

4. Consider Pursuing An Advanced Degree 

Strada’s report found that fields requiring strong quantitative skills — such as engineering, computer science, and finance — have lower rates of underemployment (less than 37%). 

“Graduates with degrees in public safety and security, recreation and wellness studies, or general business fields (e.g., marketing) tend to face much higher levels of underemployment (i.e., 57 percent or higher),” according to the report. 

The research suggests the future of work will increasingly favor roles that demand technical and data-driven skills. For individuals not originally trained in STEM fields, learning quantitative skills like data analysis or statistics can also lead to more stable and higher-paying jobs. 

While advanced degrees are not always necessary to learn these skills, pursuing advanced degrees can also build upon job qualifications and provide a competitive edge in the modern job market. 

Even for current college students pursuing careers in less quantitative fields, taking additional courses in statistics, data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) or related technical areas can improve job prospects. However, this should be carefully considered against the potential debt and further time investment required.

5. Develop a Resilient and Adaptive Mindset

Today’s job market is challenging, and the path to finding a fulfilling career is never the same for everyone. For recent college graduates and those facing underemployment, it’s important to stay resilient and open to change. 

In many cases, a career pivot could also mean finding a new role within a company where one is already employed.

“If you’re interested in staying at the company, consider sitting down with your manager to discuss a change to your workload, the possibility of taking additional projects, or other professional-development opportunities that could lead to a promotion or a pivot to a different role within the company,” said Augustine.

As industries change and new technologies like AI emerge as mainstream, the skills that employers value can change quickly. It’s important to continuously learn and adapt, regardless of whether the career pivot is to a different role within the same company, or to an entirely new field altogether.

“As a first step, find out if there is an option to ‘test out’ this new career path as a volunteer, a project, or a stretch assignment,” Goredema said. “Every year, there are scores of professionals who changed careers within their companies and started new paths in accounting, human resources, marketing, operations and more.”

The struggle of recent college graduates to find appropriate employment highlights the need for strategic career planning. By gaining practical experience, building quantitative skills, professional networking, and carefully considering advanced education, Gen Z and Millennials can better align themselves with the demands of the job market.