Write a Pivot Ready Resume — The HBCU Career Center

Dr. Marcia F. Robinson is a senior certified HR professional, diversity strategist, and curator of TheHBCUCareerCenter.com. She advises organizations on building inclusive talent pipelines and improving diversity recruiting outcomes.

Headlines about how AI will reshape the workforce are everywhere — and they are not subtle. 

As McKinsey & Company notes, “activities that account for up to 30 percent of hours worked across the U.S. economy could be automated by 2030.” 

Meanwhile, World Economic Forum reports that “44% of workers’ skills will be disrupted in the next five years.” That alone is enough to have anyone thinking about a pivot.

Pivots are necessary, and not just because of AI. Layoffs, burnout, and a growing demand for caregiving are also reshaping careers. According to Pew Research Center, a significant share of U.S. adults now provide unpaid care to family members, often while working full time. Translation: more professionals are navigating change and being forced to pivot, whether they planned to or not. 

If you’re seeking alignment with a new career path, you don’t just need a resume. You need a pivot ready resume.

I’ve worked with many pivoters, and I can tell you that strong pivot ready resumes share three things in common.

First, you need to highlight a clear transition factor — a “hinge.”

Your resume must show the connection between the past and your future — what I will call a “hinge.” For example, if your hinge is experience with event planning (even as a volunteer) you can use that to transition into a new type of role that encompasses more of that skillset. Event planning, should be visible and intentional on your pivot ready resume. Ask yourself: what’s the specific hinge that is going to propel me into this new career? Recruiters should not have to guess where the pivot began. Show them. 

Second, in addition to your hinge, identify your suite of transferable, in-demand skills.

Identify three to five skills that travel across industries. These are skills that are in your toolkit, no matter where you are. For example, think of broad skills like communication, data analysis, or project management. Highlight and support them on your resume. A functional or skills-based resume format can help you elevate what you do best instead of where you did it.

In my career, I pivoted from aviation to corporate travel, and then to higher education.  When I look back, I can see the invisible thread of skills, interests and training that connected all of my work. For me, leadership, project management, people development and innovation are at my core. They go everywhere with me and I can demonstrate them in a resume.

Third, write a forward-looking summary. This could take a while. 

Too many pivoters overload their resumes with the past and hope that a recruiter spots the hinge and connects the skills and the dots for them. Don’t. A strong pivot ready resume includes a statement about the future such as: “Interested in roles where my X, Y, and Z will be an advantage.” Be explicit and specific in that top 35% of your resume. Give the recruiter context for everything else that is to come on your resume. Stick to what is relevant. No need to be sharing skills you have, but don’t want to use.

Career pivots are no longer optional. They are part of how we will work moving forward. You may not know when your next pivot will come—but you can be ready for it.