It is common amongst job seekers to feel that every time you move jobs you have to make a move upwards, especially in terms of job title. However, a lateral move can sometimes be one of the best ways to develop your knowledge and experience and ultimately lead you to that managerial position.

Other factors to consider are: the size of the organisation, team structure, line management and how the role interacts with the business. All of these elements play a big part in your development and will change when you move to a new organisation and environment.

I assisted a candidate with a lateral move and it was a good example of how successful this type of career shift can be. The candidate in question had begun her career with a small firm which gave her a great opportunity to learn the logistics of an HR team and build a solid foundation of HR knowledge. However, after four years she felt she was ready for more but was not yet ready for a HR manager role. Therefore, she made the proactive decision to move to a much larger organisation and HR team where she was able to expand her knowledge base. After two years in that HR advisor role she felt 100% confident to move up the ladder to HR manager and felt that she had made the move at the right time.

I encourage professionals to consider that career progression is not always defined as a salary increase or a change in job title. More importantly, it can be  an opportunity to develop your skills and get more exposure in different areas of your field, or even working within a more established or more commercial team.

Career advice, career direction, career progression, changing jobs, making a lateral career move