Career Pivot? Everyone’s Suddenly a Job Search Expert (Except You)

Have you ever noticed that the moment you mention considering a career pivot, everyone suddenly becomes an expert on what you should do next?
 
“Pay for a good resume writer – the right resume will open doors like magic.”
"Apply to as many jobs as possible, and something will stick."
"Get a job, any job, to get your foot in the door."
"You’re too old to switch careers now."
"Don’t quit until you have another job lined up."
 
Well, I didn’t exactly follow that last one. I’ve quit four jobs in my life without having the next one lined up—because I wanted the summer off. And I’ve never regretted it. I had my priorities just right.


With age and experience comes more confidence to navigate career changes…but then came the pandemic. The world shifted, but maybe, so did we. Midlife job hunting is a whole different animal. The economy and job market aren’t what they used to be, and the higher the salary you’re aiming for, the longer the process takes.


When people come to me, they’re often desperate, frustrated, and burnt out.
“I’ve always been able to land a job on my own. Why is it so hard this time?”
Because you have changed. The market has changed. And with every level up in your career, it takes more time, more intention, and a smarter strategy.


Let’s talk about where most career pivots go off the rails—and how you can avoid those traps.
 
Waiting Until Crisis Hits
Most people wait until they’ve hit rock bottom before they begin exploring what’s next. They wait until layoffs happen, burnout peaks, or their job disappears.
Don’t wait.
Start when you feel the first signs of discontent. When the layoffs are still just rumors. When you sense the shift before it becomes a shove.
Invest before the crisis.
Explore your options.
Map out your values, needs, and non-negotiables.
And if you want a guide through the fog--Let’s connect!
 
The Spray-and-Pray Job Search
Mike, one of my clients, was working full-time and firing off a dozen “Easy Apply” clicks on LinkedIn each week.
He was interviewing regularly and that felt like progress—until the screening interviews turned out to be with bots, or recruiters who didn’t have a real opening. Worse, he was burning out just trying to keep the search hidden from his boss.
Once we got clear on what Mike actually wanted (consumer goods, no direct reports, room to grow), everything changed. He applied less, interviewed less, and landed a job that gave him a 15% raise and aligned with his goals.
The lesson? You don’t need more applications. You need better strategy.
  
Ignoring Your Network
Christine believed her network couldn’t help her. “Networking is awkward,” she said. “I don’t know people with connections in high places.” Sound familiar? Turns out, Christine did have a network, she just hadn’t activated it yet. Once she got clear on what she wanted and practiced how to talk about it, her confidence soared. We also updated her LinkedIn, making it easy for new contacts to connect and follow up.
One of my clients, after a five-year caregiving gap, had been searching for over a year. I asked, “What’s the closest you’ve come to landing something?” She told me about a chance encounter with her brother’s neighbor. “We connected in the driveway one evening and the conversation turned to my career search.” This neighbor handed her resume to the hiring manager at his company, and she got through two rounds before a hiring freeze hit.
That is the power of a network. It's not about who you know. It's about who you’re willing to connect with and how clearly you communicate your value. You never know what connection is going to lead to your next opportunity.
 
Underestimating LinkedIn
Let’s talk about that youthful profile pic from 2015. Many clients I work with haven’t touched LinkedIn a decade or more. “I lost my password.” Others think it’s only for tech people or a huge distraction.
But LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools you can use in your pivot. It removes the gatekeepers. It puts you directly in touch with decision-makers. And it’s a platform where your next opportunity is watching.
Use it to connect, comment, share ideas, and engage with companies that inspire you. Your profile is your digital billboard, make it work for you. There is no end to the creative ways that you can utilize LinkedIn to help you make this next career pivot. One enterprising unemployed person posted “I will give $10,000 - to the person who makes the connection that leads to my next role.” Bet he has no shortage of leads to chase down!
 
There’s a lot of bad career advice out there. What’s bad for one person might be gold for someone else, but here’s what’s universal:
If you’re feeling stuck in your career pivot, your next best thing is out there.
It’s not about luck. It’s not about timing. It’s about clarity, strategy, and action.
Every month without a plan = lost momentum, confidence, and income.

What are you going to do to move forward this week?
You don’t have to do this alone.
Let’s find your next best thing—together.
Grab your free Career Connect call here: https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session