5 lessons from helping 60+ professionals transition into high-impact careers 💡

Over the past 1.5 years, I’ve supported over 60 experienced professionals pivoting into a high-impact career.

Here are five lessons that come up a lot - and how I've seen them work in action! 🔍

1. Show your skills

If you’re coming from outside the high-impact space, your potential might not be immediately visible. Show it! Write a short piece applying your expertise to a pressing global issue. Volunteer with a high-impact organisation. Share your thinking publicly. All of these can help you demonstrate your skills and get useful feedback along the way.

🔍 In practice

After volunteering with a high-impact organisation on a technical project, the leadership team was so impressed with both the results and collaboration that they offered them a contract.

2. Networking is crucial

Getting stuck in the initial application black hole is frustrating and happens a lot. Often, what makes the difference is a warm introduction or someone advocating for you internally to help your application stand out.

🔍 In practice

After months of long and ultimately unsuccessful application processes, one well-timed introduction led to the straight advancement into the interview stage of another role.

3. Run cheap tests

Before quitting your job, try a low-cost test. Write a blog post. Interview someone in the field. Run a small project. You’ll learn a lot in a short amount of time and might just save yourself from pivoting into a role you don't enjoy.

🔍 In practice

After trying out the career advising as a facilitator on our Impact Accelerator Program, they transitioned into full-time advising role at another high-impact organisation.

4. Build a community around you

Rejections are part of the process. What makes the difference is having people who cheer you on, pick you up, and help you keep perspective. Because it is so much easier to see the positive side from the outside than while staring at the latest rejection email.

🔍 In practice

With the support of an accountability buddy (a connection they kept for months after the Impact Accelerator Program) and by staying active in the community, they eventually landed a role in a high-impact organisation. Without that support, they say they would have given up before they got the offer.

5. There’s no one-size-fits-all path

There's a common misconception that you can only have high impact by working in a non-profit organisation. Not only are there a limited number of open roles, joining a high-impact organisation simply isn't the right path for everyone. Thinking outside the box can lead you to a path where you can have the biggest impact!

🔍 In practice

I've seen people on the Earning to Give path while encouraging their co-workers to donate more effectively, launch start-ups to donate a percentage of their exit money to high-impact organisations ("Founding to Give"), and join boards of high-impact organisations. There are a lot of paths to high-impact careers.

Everyone’s path is different. If you’re exploring your next step, I hope these lessons help you find the one that’s right for you.