🌱35: Mindset shifts that helped me land a dream job

without applying to a job board or taking a pay cut

Over a year ago, I made a life-altering decision. I walked away from a senior position in the Oil & Gas industry.

My motivation?

A desire to redesign my life with intention.

My son was barely 4 months old and I was adjusting to this new thing called parenting. I didn’t want to have to physically go into an office every single day or have to dash out and commute through Lagos traffic. I just wanted to watch my baby grow and have my body heal from the amazing miracle of pregnancy and childbirth.

I also wanted to do work that mattered, where I could clearly see measurable growth and impact. At the time, my work was no longer appreciated and it felt like I was doing task-oriented activities rather than those driven by tangible results, so I resigned (with nothing in sight).

Surprisingly, it took less than three months to land my dream job in tech (which I absolutely love), all without applying through a job board and without taking a pay cut.

As a serial career pivoter, I’m always excited to talk about switching careers and my journey so far. I’ve pivoted career paths five times - starting off in frontend development, pivoting to consulting, business operations, strategy/business transformation, and now in product partnerships.

Each career pivot has brought me closer to professional fulfillment, it’s also made me comfortable in making decisions that are seemingly unpopular - my last being my most courageous transition.

So how did I do this?

Three Mindset Shifts!

Believe in yourself

Square pegs can belong in round holes.

When I first thought about switching careers from energy to tech, I was worried about fitting in. Although I started my career in tech, I hadn’t exactly been a tech sis and I wondered if I could find a role that aligned with my diverse experience.

I reminded myself of all the amazing work I had done. I also believed in my skills, my impact, my value, my voice and my person. I deserved to be happy professionally, and that was all that mattered.

When I started at my current job, I realised that I already possessed the majority of the skills I assumed I lacked, and I am so grateful I found the courage to transition into a career I love. Everything about doing meaningful and impactful work with like-minded people absolutely warms my heart. Sometimes, I wonder why I didn't make the switch earlier.

Stop undermining your skills or previous experience

Experience is recyclable and transferable. No knowledge is lost.

There was a time my varied experience used to trouble me. In the past 10 years , I have worked in networking, e-commerce, coding, tech consulting, IT audit, risk assurance, data analytics, business transformation, project management, operations, sales, sales planning, vendor management, etc.

In 2020/2021, I was steadily applying to remote, onsite, relocation roles. Although I had some interesting interviews with YouTube and Bolt, none of them panned out. Despite being interested in these roles/companies, I constantly felt like I wasn’t skilled enough because I had such diverse experience. I constantly had to rework my CV to align with roles that interested me. It was so draining and overwhelming.

Then in late 2021, I started to think differently. I decided to view my meandering career as rich rather than inadequate. I realised my experience was recyclable and transferable and I saw myself for who I truly was - an asset. And I positioned myself as that.

Then companies started reaching out on LinkedIn.

First, it was Glovo, followed by Interswitch, then Herconomy, then KPMG, and finally, Jumia.

I didn’t even apply. These organizations saw in me the potential to contribute meaningfully, not in spite of my diverse background but because of it.

Face your Fears

“Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from experiencing a life greater than you have ever known.” - Jeff Mcclung

Looking for something different in your career, but don’t know where to start? 

I know how you feel.

When I tried to transition, I faced fear and uncertainty, with many questions flooding my mind. But I also know the rewards and satisfaction that await you on the other side, if you can just take a bold step forward.

I got my current role through a long-time friend just by sharing that I was open to exploring certain opportunities, and the rest is history.

But before securing my current role, I had already started interviewing with KPMG. I chose to decline continuing with the KPMG interview process, because it just wasn’t the best way I wanted to use my skills.

While that was a seemingly unpopular decision to make, you know what made it easier - I knew my why. I was very aware that my aspirations were much more than just a job title, and decided to give myself a chance at a tech startup.

I know it takes courage to make a career change. My journey has taught me that making a career change isn't just about the destination—it's about embracing the path, understanding your value, and having certain mindset shifts to move forward.

So, I've compiled the methods I've used into a comprehensive resource — The Career Pivot Workbook.

The workbook is a practical guide to help you navigate career transition with clarity and confidence. It’s the same playbook I’ve used to guide several clients on their own career journey.

It’s filled with thought-provoking yet simple exercises and prompts that will help you:

• Discover your why - who you are and what you value in a career, so that you can form a clear vision.

• Evaluate your current role, strengths, development areas, and fears, so that you can leverage your skills and identify gaps.

• Create action plans that will keep you on track to achieve your career goals.

With The Career Pivot Workbook, you will have an actionable roadmap for a successful career change, whether you’re switching jobs, roles, or industries.

Ready to take control of your career? Get The Career Pivot Workbook!

As a loyal newsletter subscriber, you get 20% off the Career Pivot Workbook. But this discount is only for the first 20 people. Grab yours now. Use PIVOT20 on check out.