How to turn career curveballs into opportunities

Remember when people had jobs for life? Ha. We face a future full of careers that don’t even exist yet.

If you are a worker in the twenty-twenties, the only certainty is a lack of it. Post-pandemic, we moved straight from the Great Resignation into the Big Stay. Many of us are eying up 2025, wondering what the new new normal will bring.

While we hope to drop the ball on the redundancy era, professional pivots are here to stay. And that’s a good thing.

The career ladder jungle gym

Prolonged professional flux is scary, but it’s also an opportunity. As a Powrsuiter recently said: “I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up!”. We have a level of flexibility our parents could only dream of: we can evolve our careers as we evolve as people. 

That said, not all change will arrive on our terms. The term Gravity Problems describes situations that fall outside our control. Just as we can’t stop apples falling from trees, we can’t always choose the circumstances we find ourselves in.  

If you’re worried that AI will steal your job, reeling from a redundancy, or just feeling uncertain, this one’s for you. We all know the basics (finances, networking, CVs, recruiters etc). But there is more we can control when everything feels like it’s on fire – or before the fire starts.

1/ Own your story (even the messy parts)

Those gravity problems can really bring us down. We swing between anger, despair, fear and frustration and walk right into the Drama Triangle.

Embrace it.

Working through the grief of a big life change is incredibly important. Pull together your professional board of directors, find a therapist, and have a solid venting session. Blame everyone and everything you need while in a safe space. Processing the pain is an important part of getting back on your feet!

Here’s the thing – you need to deal with your emotions; otherwise, they’ll sneak out when they’re not wanted. 

Recently, a Powrsuiter found herself on a recruitment panel. One candidate spent her interview recapping the toxic work environment she’d just walked away from. She explained why she left, the challenges she’d faced, the difficult dynamics she’d encountered… everything really, apart from why she was an excellent fit for the new role. She didn’t get it.

Yes, there’s such a thing as too much transparency.

Owning your story means embracing self-leadership: Recognising that while you can’t control everything, you can control more than you think. Bad stuff happens; life is unfair. Take the time to reflect, work through limiting beliefs, and own your experiences. You’ll wind up in a much stronger position to pivot to your next move.

2/ Craft your story (make sense in the chaos)

Every career curveball contributes to your unique professional experience. So, once you’ve pulled victory a few key lessons from the jaws of defeat, it’s time to get to work crafting (or refining) your story.

We’ve all experienced Death By Powerpoint. When we try to ‘maximise value’ by shoving as much stuff in, we tend to achieve the opposite. As with most things in life, your best bet is to Keep It Simple Stupid.

So focus on the basics: What do you want to convey about who you are and what value you bring to the table? How will you weave this career curveball into a compelling story of you? 

Intentionally plan your answers to the questions you know you’ll get at your next networking event or job interview. Keep them honest and keep them appropriate for someone who is evaluating whether to hire you. And the questions you dread the most? Focus on them.

The more preparation you do, the more likely you are to bring your best self (not your whole self) to these all-important situations. Control what you can control, especially when the outcome is out of your hands.

3/ Tell your story (embrace main character energy)

Nat finished last Friday celebrating someone’s big professional win. It stemmed from a friend of a friend at a Park Run.

And that is the magic of ‘weak ties’. Your casual acquaintances are more likely to connect you to new opportunities than your close contacts are. Not because they like you more (😅), but because there’s powr in numbers. When every person you know has around 150 active connections, people in your outer orbit significantly expand your opportunities.

Connections close gaps, so invest in yours.

No, you don’t need to lace up your runners. Book clubs, school gates, coffees with past colleagues and networking events are all great places to share who you are and why you get out of bed. Want to start small? Post an article (with your insights) on LinkedIn.

Now is the time to tell your story, so get out there and start doing it. Pick and mix elements of your elevator pitch, address (as appropriate) any recent upheaval, and, most importantly, share your ask. 

Hit it out of the park

Love ’em or loathe ’em, career curveballs are a fact of modern life. People love to help, and you are not alone. Own your story, craft your story and tell your story. And you never know. In ten years’ time, you might be pinpointing this as the moment that changed your career for the better. 

Want more? Our 3-part series on getting job-hunting fit:

1/ Before you start looking

2/ Breaking the experience barrier

3/ It’s who you know (and who knows you)