How to Make One Without Hurting Your Career?

How to Make One Without Hurting Your Career???

Are you feeling stuck in your current job but afraid to take a risk and change careers? A lateral move might just be the answer you’ve been looking for! Many professionals are hesitant to make a sideways shift, fearing that it will damage their career prospects. However, if done correctly, a lateral move can actually enhance your skills and open up new opportunities.

In this article, we’ll delve into what a lateral move is, why you should consider making one, how to know when it’s the right time, and steps you can take to ensure success without harming your future potential. So buckle up and let’s explore how to make a lateral move without hurting your career!

What is a Lateral Move?

A lateral move is a career change that involves moving to a different position at the same level of seniority and pay as your current job. This means you’ll be performing similar tasks but in a different department or area of expertise within your organization.

The purpose of making a lateral move is to gain new experiences, learn new skills, and expand your knowledge base without having to start over at an entry-level position. It’s also an opportunity to escape from feeling stuck in your current role while staying within the safety net of familiar surroundings.

Lateral moves can happen for various reasons such as personal growth, company restructuring, or changes in business needs. For instance, if you’re currently working as part of the marketing team but have always been interested in HR, making a lateral move could help you explore this passion without losing seniority or salary.

It’s essential to understand what a lateral move entails before considering one. It’s not about changing jobs entirely; instead, it’s about leveraging internal opportunities for professional development and growth.

Why Make a Lateral Move?

Why Make a Lateral Move?

A lateral move is a type of career change that involves moving to a position at the same level as your current job. It may seem counterintuitive to make such a move, but there are several reasons why it might be the right choice for you.

Firstly, making a lateral move can provide you with new challenges and opportunities for growth. If you feel stuck in your current role or have hit a plateau in terms of learning and development, taking on something new can reignite your passion for work.

Secondly, a lateral move can help you broaden your skills and experience. By working in different departments or industries within the same level of seniority, you’ll gain exposure to new processes, systems, and people that will enrich your skill set.

Thirdly, making a lateral career move could expose you to different types of projects which would improve upon some areas where there is much needed for improvement like time management skills and communication among other soft skills.

Finally yet importantly since this will give insights into how things are run across various departments within an organization; hence giving an individual an edge when it comes to decision-making prowess.

How to Know When a Lateral Career Move is Right

Making a lateral career move is not an easy decision. It requires careful consideration and evaluation of your current situation, as well as the potential benefits and drawbacks of making a change. So how do you know when a lateral career move is right for you?

Firstly, ask yourself why you are considering a lateral move. Are you seeking new challenges or opportunities? Do you want to explore different areas within your industry? Or are you looking for better work-life balance or job security? Understanding your motivation behind the move will help clarify if it’s the right choice.

Secondly, consider whether the skills and experience required for the new role align with your strengths and interests. You may need to conduct research on the position or speak with those who currently hold similar roles to gain insight into daily responsibilities and expectations.

Thirdly, assess whether there are growth opportunities in this new role that aligns with your long-term career goals. Will it provide new learning experiences that can lead to future advancement?

Evaluate if this move makes sense financially while also providing job satisfaction fulfillment based on what matters most to you such as location independence or schedule flexibility.

Taking time to reflect on these questions can help determine whether making a lateral career move is indeed beneficial for both personal development and financial stability in one’s chosen field of expertise.

Steps to Take:

Making a lateral move in your career can be an exciting opportunity for growth and development. However, it’s important to take certain steps to ensure that the move is beneficial and doesn’t harm your future prospects.

Firstly, research the new position thoroughly. Understand the responsibilities, skills required, and potential opportunities for advancement. This will give you a better idea of whether this role aligns with your long-term goals.

Network with people who have made similar moves in their careers or work in similar roles to gain insights into what to expect from such a transition.

Update your resume and professional profiles highlighting transferable skills from previous roles relevant to the new position. Use specific examples of how these skills were applied successfully.

Be prepared to learn new things quickly as transitioning often means taking on different tasks requiring different competencies than before. Stay open-minded about learning as much as possible by seeking feedback regularly.

Keep up-to-date with industry trends related to both roles so that you remain aware of changes affecting all aspects of your job functions now and beyond!

How to Make One Without Hurting Your Career

How to Make One Without Hurting Your Career

So, How to Make a Lateral Move Without Damaging Your Future

When making a lateral move, it’s important to consider how it could impact your future career path. Here are some tips for making a successful transition without damaging your prospects.

Firstly, do your research on the position and company you’re considering. Make sure it aligns with your long-term goals and values. You don’t want to invest time in a role that doesn’t support where you see yourself going in the industry.

Next, be proactive about building relationships within the new team and company. This will help integrate into their culture faster and set yourself up for success.

It’s also crucial to maintain good communication with your current employer throughout the process. Give them ample notice of your departure and provide clear reasons why you’ve made this decision. This can help preserve any future opportunities with them or potential references.

Continue learning and developing new skills while in the new position. Even if it’s not directly related to your previous work experience, expanding your skillset can make you more marketable for future roles.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that making a lateral move won’t negatively impact your career trajectory but rather enhance it in the long run.

Final Notes

In summary, making a lateral move can be a smart career decision if done with the right intentions and planning. It’s important to consider your long-term goals and how this move fits into them.

Remember that a lateral move doesn’t have to mean taking a step back in your career. Instead, it can offer opportunities for growth, learning new skills, and expanding your network.

To make a successful lateral move, begin by assessing why you want to make the change and what you hope to gain from it. Research potential roles or companies that align with your interests and skills. Build relationships within those organizations through networking events or informational interviews.

Don’t forget about checking in with yourself regularly after making the transition. Evaluate whether the role is meeting your expectations and contributing positively towards achieving your goals.

By following these steps and remaining patient in finding the right opportunity for you, making a lateral move can lead to great success without hurting your career.