Layoffs force tough choices: pivot industries or refine current paths?
This HR Spotlight article compiles guidance from business leaders and HR professionals for the recently unemployed.
Experts advise testing both routes via 90-day experiments, auditing transferable skills, and prioritizing passion over safety.
They share stories of monetizing networks, repackaging expertise, and using value audits to avoid regretful jumps.
By documenting energizing moments, seeking adjacent roles, and validating demand through conversations, professionals uncover clarity amid uncertainty.
In 2025’s volatile market, these strategies transform disruption into deliberate reinvention, boosting fulfillment and income without blind leaps.
Read on!
Tim Johnson
CEO, BIZROK
I’ve been laid off before and made the mistake of thinking it was purely a financial problem when it was actually a direction problem.
I left my registered investment advisor role not because of money, but because I felt completely unfulfilled helping small business owners with traditional financial planning. That misalignment was costing me more than any paycheck could fix.
Here’s what changed everything: I stopped asking “which path pays better” and started asking “which problem am I obsessed with solving?”
For me, it was watching my dad miss every out-of-town tournament because his business trapped him. That clarity led me to build BIZROK around scalability instead of going back into finance.
The pivot made sense because the problem consumed my thinking anyway.
My specific test: spend one week documenting what frustrates you most about your previous industry versus what excites you about a potential new one.
I filled an entire notebook with scalability problems I noticed everywhere–that’s when I knew pivoting wasn’t risky, it was obvious.
If you can’t stop thinking about problems outside your current field, that’s your answer right there.
One warning though–pivoting to “anything different” fails just as hard as staying in the wrong industry out of fear.
I’ve seen dentists leave clinical work to open restaurants and regret it within months. The question isn’t stay or go, it’s whether you’re running toward something specific or just running away.
Solve Obsessive Problems Post-Layoff
David Fritch
Attorney, Fritch Law Office
I’ve been through career transitions from multiple angles–Big 8 accounting firm to running my own law and CPA practices for 40 years, plus 20 years as a registered investment advisor.
The pattern I’ve seen work best is what I call the “adjacent move” rather than a complete pivot or staying put.
Look at what you already know deeply, then shift the application rather than starting from zero.
When I left Arthur Anderson, I didn’t abandon tax and accounting knowledge–I just moved it into serving small business owners directly instead of through a corporate structure.
That preserved my expertise while giving me a completely different lifestyle and income model.
Here’s what I tell coaching clients facing this: spend two weeks documenting every problem you’ve solved in your current role, then research which industries are desperate for those exact solutions but can’t attract talent.
A procurement specialist might find construction companies dying for supply chain help. A corporate trainer could find medical practices that need patient communication systems. You’re not pivoting–you’re repackaging.
The biggest mistake is treating this as binary. Take a bridge role that pays bills while you spend 10 hours weekly building credibility in the adjacent space–write LinkedIn posts, do free consultations, join industry groups.
I’ve watched too many people either jump blindly or stay frozen. Test your pivot hypothesis with real market feedback before you commit fully.
Repackage Skills Adjacent Industries
Dr. Elizabeth Barlow
Founder & CEO, Kinder Mind
I’ve worked with dozens of clients in this exact situation–recently laid off, stuck between familiar and new.
What I’ve learned from supervising clinicians nationwide and teaching in the UK is that the real question isn’t about the path itself, it’s about why you’re hesitating.
Most people I see are drawn to pivot because they’re running from something (burnout, toxic culture, feeling undervalued) rather than running toward something meaningful.
One client switched from finance to real estate after a layoff, only to recreate the same stress patterns in a new industry because we hadn’t addressed what was actually broken. Six months later, they were back in my office more anxious than before the change.
Here’s what works: spend two weeks documenting when you feel energized versus depleted in your current skillset.
I had a client track this and realized she loved the client-facing parts of marketing but hated the analytics.
She stayed in marketing but pivoted to a consultancy role focusing only on strategy sessions. Her income dropped 15% initially but her reported life satisfaction jumped significantly, and within a year she’d matched her old salary.
Test before you leap. Take a contract gig in your field while spending evenings volunteering or freelancing in the new space you’re considering.
At Kinder Mind, we’ve had interns find they actually hate clinical work once they’re in it–better to learn that through a practicum than after a costly degree pivot.
Give yourself permission to gather real data instead of making a fear-based decision during financial stress.
Track Energy, Test Options
I’ve been running Adept Construction since 1997, and here’s what I learned after nearly going under twice in my first five years: don’t abandon what you’re good at just because the market shifts–find a new angle on it instead.
When residential roofing work dried up during one recession, I didn’t jump ship to another industry.
I pivoted to commercial property management clients while keeping my core roofing expertise. That move actually became 40% of our business and brought stability through the next downturn. Same skills, different customer base.
The best indicator? Look at what former clients say when they refer you.
Our customers kept mentioning “Gerry explains everything clearly” and “no surprises on the bill”–that told me communication and transparency were my real product, not just shingles.
Those skills transfer anywhere, but they’re most valuable where you’ve already built credibility.
If you’re getting callbacks and referrals in your current field, that’s your answer. Stay and adapt your approach to serve a different segment.
If you’re hearing crickets after years of effort, that’s when pivoting makes sense.
Adapt Core Skills New Markets
Maxim Von Sabler
Director & Clinical Psychologist, MVS Psychology Group
I’ve worked with hundreds of people navigating transitions like this, and the pattern I see most often is people rushing the decision because unemployment feels uncomfortable.
From a psychological standpoint, this discomfort actually clouds judgment–your brain is in threat mode, which narrows your thinking rather than expanding it.
Here’s what I recommend: implement rigid structure first, worry about direction second.
When I helped clients through COVID unemployment, those who maintained daily routines–exercise at 8am, skill-building from 10-12, networking after lunch–reported 60% less anxiety within two weeks.
Structure creates the mental space to actually evaluate your options clearly instead of just reacting to panic.
Use this forced pause to test both paths simultaneously in small ways. Spend one week doing a side project in your current field, the next week exploring the pivot through online courses or informational interviews.
Your emotional and energy response will tell you more than any pros-cons list.
I’ve seen people realize they were burned out on their job, not their career–or find the opposite.
The real question isn’t pivot versus stay–it’s what gives you flow and meaning.
Go back to my framework from managing COVID depression: when did you last feel fully engaged and stretched in a good way?
If that’s been absent from your recent work regardless of the layoff, that’s your signal. Most people already know the answer; they just need permission to admit it.
Structure First, Decide Later
I’ve owned Uniform Connection for 27+ years, and here’s what nobody tells you about career uncertainty: the skills you already have are more transferable than you think.
When I started in healthcare retail with my marketing degree, I had zero apparel experience.
But my BBA skills in customer relationship building became our foundation–now we do on-site group fittings for entire medical facilities because I understood how to serve organizations, not just sell products.
Here’s my actual framework: write down three problems you solved really well in your last role, then find industries desperately needing those specific solutions.
I was good at making purchasing decisions easy for busy people. Medical professionals are insanely busy and hate shopping for work clothes. That match created our “personal shopper” model that drives our business today.
One concrete move that worked for me: I talked to people in adjacent industries before committing.
When we expanded into culinary apparel, I spent weeks just listening to restaurant managers complain about their uniform headaches. Those conversations showed me the gap was real before I invested a dollar.
Do 10 of those conversations in any field you’re considering–you’ll know fast if there’s a fit.
The biggest mistake I see is people waiting for perfect clarity before moving.
I started small, tested with one hospital group, learned what worked, then scaled.
Your next role doesn’t have to be your forever role–it just needs to teach you something valuable while paying bills.
Transfer Skills, Test Demand
Christian Daniel
Video Editor & Web Designer, Christian Daniel Designs
I got laid off from a stable corporate gig early in my career and faced this exact decision.
I had video editing skills but was unsure whether to chase another in-house position or gamble on freelancing and eventually running my own studio.
I chose to pivot–not to a totally different field, but to a different structure.
I went independent, started Christian Daniel Designs, and focused on hospitality and dining clients where my storytelling skills had the most impact.
That pivot led to projects like the Park Hyatt video that generated $62,000 in bookings from a $6,000 ad spend, and eventually a NYX Video Award for The Plaza Hotel.
Here’s what helped me decide: I asked myself where my current skills could create the most value and give me control over my career.
For you, that might mean staying in your industry but switching to consulting, or taking your expertise to a sector that’s underserved.
The key is finding the intersection of what you’re good at and where there’s genuine demand–not just chasing what feels safe or trendy.
If you’re unsure, test both paths simultaneously. Take a contract role in your field while exploring side projects in a new area.
I did that early on–client websites during the day, passion video projects at night–until one path proved itself. You don’t have to burn bridges to explore new territory.
Test Both Paths Simultaneously
Charles Blechman
Founder & Coach, Manhattan Coaching Associates
I coach tech leaders through exactly this crossroads, and here’s what I’ve learned: the decision isn’t about the market or the role–it’s about alignment with your values.
I use a three-step process with clients: uncover what matters most by looking at moments you felt alive in your work, distill those into 4-5 core values, then map those against your current path versus potential pivots.
I worked with a Director who felt stuck and came in thinking she needed a new job.
Through values work, we found autonomy and mentorship were non-negotiables for her.
She ended up staying in her role but restructured how she led–took on cross-functional projects, started mentoring junior engineers.
Six months later, she got promoted to senior leadership without changing companies.
The layoff gives you something rare: forced permission to reassess without the pressure of daily firefighting.
Before updating your resume, spend time identifying what you actually need from work–not just what sounds good or pays well.
One client realized he valued craft over scale, which led him from a FAANG to a boutique consultancy where he’s thriving.
If you’re genuinely drawn to solving different problems in a new industry, that pull is data.
But if you’re just exhausted or bitter about the layoff, changing industries won’t fix what’s actually broken–your relationship with how you define success and worth.
Align Values Before Pivoting
R. Couri Hay
Co-Founder, R. Couri Hay Columns
I’ve reinvented myself multiple times over 40 years–from Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine to becoming a publicist, then royal commentator, and now columnist.
Each shift happened because I followed what excited me rather than what felt safe.
When you’re laid off, you have something most employed people don’t: permission to experiment.
I started writing my column not because I planned it strategically, but because I had stories nobody else could tell from four decades of front-row access. That authentic expertise became my differentiator.
Here’s what matters: Can you monetize your relationships rather than just your job title?
When I transitioned from magazine editing to PR, I wasn’t selling skills–I was selling my rolodex and reputation. Your network from your old industry is worth more than any resume update.
Test both paths simultaneously for 90 days. Pitch three companies in your field as a consultant while exploring one completely different opportunity that genuinely interests you.
Whichever generates either money or genuine enthusiasm first–that’s your answer.
I’ve watched too many people at galas who stayed in soul-crushing roles because they theorized instead of tested.
Experiment Both Paths 90 Days
The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing these insights.
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