A change of career doesn’t mean starting from scratch

Traditionally, most professionals expected to have a linear career in the same industry, with a potential second career consulting in their sector before retirement. However, experts predict that Gen Zs entering the workplace today may have as many as seven different careers. This cultural shift towards reinvention is happening alongside an AI revolution that’s making career switches both easier and more necessary.

Davies believes record levels of job dissatisfaction and low productivity could signal “a mismatch between your current role and your hidden talents and passions”, triggering the need for a reinvention.

It’s a view echoed by the career change specialist Intoo. Its research found that 41 per cent of people have career-pivoted over the last three years, often to combat feelings of burnout and stagnation.

Owen Morgan, the managing director, explains: “With longer lifespans predicted, it’s unrealistic to expect people to pick a career path and stick to it until retirement. People are looking for more variety, progression and fulfilment from their careers.”

Intoo’s data suggests third, fourth and even fifth careers are becoming the norm, making it vital for employees to focus on upskilling and training in their current roles, to keep up with the pace of change.

Morgan believes we are “entering a new chapter for employment” which is focused more on the skillset individuals are able to bring to a team than their current or previous positions. This will make it far easier for highly-skilled professionals to move between unrelated industries, providing they demonstrate the right skills for a new role.

The good news is a successful rebrand doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Rather, the key for a successful career switch is to reposition your existing talents. Identify skills you have that are in demand and explore how they can be applied to a new industry or business.

For the 35 per cent of professionals who admit to not having a planned career path, the end of the linear career may feel daunting. However, Professor Ginka Toegel, a leadership expert from IMD Business School, believes the shift is a positive one. She concludes: “Career paths are rarely linear any more, and that’s actually good news.

“Building flexibility through continuous learning, transferable skills and openness to lateral moves positions you to capitalise on opportunities that don’t exist yet and navigate disruptions that are inevitable.

“The question isn’t whether your career will require pivoting, but whether you’ll be ready when the moment arrives.”

Ready to make the move to your new career?

Charlotte Davies recommends thinking about your strengths

LinkedIn’s Charlotte Davies offers her expert advice:

Ask yourself why? Reflect on questions like: What impact do I want to have? Which aspects of my current work energise me, and which drain me? What are my values, and how do they align with my next move? The clearer you are about your motivations, the easier it becomes to identify a career path.

Find your rare skill mix: Your past experience still matters — it just needs a fresh perspective. Think about the things you do really well that make a difference. Focus on these real, tangible strengths to stand out in a competitive job market.

Practise your new career story out loud: Build a story that explains why this rebrand was necessary and how your past experience was the perfect training ground for your future role.

Show, don’t just tell your impact: Listing your job duties doesn’t convey your value. Highlight specific achievements and, whenever possible, quantify them — numbers, metrics, or concrete outcomes.

Activate your network: Reach out directly to your most valuable connections in your target industry and ask their advice. This often naturally leads to opportunities.

‘Each career can build on the last one’

At the age of 43, Gavin Bhudia-Luke is on his third career as delivery director at Intoo UK & Ireland. He spent seven years working in aviation before changing sector to recruitment, then taking professional qualifications to pivot into consulting.

Bhudia-Luke, from Cardiff, said: “Career change isn’t about starting over, but about building forward. Looking back, I can see how each chapter built on the last. Aviation taught me about service and communication; recruitment taught me about people and pressure; consulting has allowed me to apply it all strategically.

“It’s been a journey defined by growth, curiosity and the willingness to evolve. Where I started my career travelling the world and seeing some fantastic places, I now get to travel with colleagues from all over the globe in my latest role.”

Six from the best: how to build a greener career

It’s Green Careers Week and as both a business and eco expert, Matthew Stone is a leader in the field. He pioneered turning biogas into greener jet fuel at Renovare and now, as chief executive of Teysha Technologies, he’s developing renewable, biodegradable plastic alternatives. Here’s his advice to build a greener career.

1. Look for assumptions that haven’t been tested in years and ask whether they still hold true. Progress happens when you question what everyone else accepts as unchangeable. Challenge conventional wisdom.

2. Think beyond what is in front of you, or the walls of your office or laboratory. Learn to evaluate your work through both technical and commercial lenses from the beginning.

3. Innovation thrives at the intersection of different disciplines. Seek collaborators from fields outside your expertise, as their fresh viewpoint often reveals solutions you’d never consider. Cultivate creative and diverse perspectives.

4. Experiment strategically. Whether in research or business, design your tests to maximise learning while minimising risk. Not every hypothesis will prove correct, but each experiment should teach you something valuable.

5. Start by finding a problem you’re passionate about solving and go from there. The most meaningful innovations emerge when you are driven by a genuine desire to address a real-world challenge. This passion becomes your North Star, guiding decisions and sustaining momentum through obstacles.

6. Stay connected to your mission. When the research gets tough, remember why you started. Purpose sustains you through the inevitable setbacks of innovation.

Working week

Success can breed failure

Can too much success at work be bad for your career? New research from King’s Business School suggests employees who experience exceptionally high levels of success are less likely to see their next ideas implemented. The reason? Extreme success can inflate self-confidence and perceived social status, reducing collaboration and teamwork. Professor Oguz A Acar said: “Top performers must not be isolated, their success can inadvertently become a barrier to collaboration, which in turn undermines long-term innovation.”

When AI kills productivity

AI-generated output that looks polished but ultimately drags down productivity is being termed “workslop”. Coined in the US, the phrase is gaining global resonance but a report from Asana, the project management platform, claims the problem lies with lack of training: while 82 per cent of employees say AI training is essential, only 38 per cent have received any. Dr Mark Hoffman of Asana said: “Workslop happens when organisations treat AI adoption as a tech rollout instead of a change in how people work.”

Business models cause burnout

Finance staff face the greatest risk of burnout, with the latest Burnout Risk Index scoring the sector at 87 per cent. Law ranked second at 78 per cent while tech workers were third on 66 per cent. The creative industries have a 62 per cent risk level, alongside education staff on 61 per cent. Hospitality and retail scored lowest at 37 per cent. The study from Personio claims in total an estimated 13 million workers could be at risk. Personio’s Neil Millen said: “It is not a ‘people problem’ — it’s a business model problem.”

Flexible working gets personal

Staff seeking to increase their productivity are trying out a new way of working called “microshifting”. The trend means to work in short non-linear blocks aligned with personal circumstances. The phenomenon is popular with Gen Z, parents, and those with caring responsibilities. Peter Duris, an employment expert from Kickresume, explains: “While microshifts are common when people balance several different jobs, there’s an increasing amount of demand for this level of flexibility in full-time roles. Workplaces aren’t as rigid as they once were.”

Appointment of the week

As an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008, the Climate Change Committee advises the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets and climate risk, and reports to the UK parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change.

There are up to three positions available to appoint new members to the CCC. Members are responsible for developing the work of the committee, determining its strategic direction and providing impartial input into its work. Members also provide expert technical advice towards reports to governments and legislatures, and ensure the committee discharges its statutory duties.

The committee meets 12 times a year, and members are expected to attend regularly. The successful candidates will demonstrate expert ability to interpret complex information, strong communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to negotiate, persuade and build relationships at all levels, an ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and good knowledge of the range of the committee’s work and climate policy both internationally and across the UK.

Apply by December 1 at appointments.thetimes.com