The nature of work is transforming at a dizzying pace. A career path that once felt rock-solid might now seem shaky. For many of us, the idea of pivoting careers feels overwhelming—especially if you’ve sunk years into mastering your field. But here’s the reality: AI is reshaping industries, companies are outsourcing to global talent pools and societal demand is quickly evolving. To keep from falling behind, you have to be proactive and strategic.
Over my years in HR, corporate recruiting and career coaching, I've studied these market shifts extensively. In this guide, I'll help you evaluate your career's outlook and give you concrete options if you're in a vulnerable position.
A poor career outlook refers to a job or industry experiencing declining opportunities, dropping wages and jobs being replaced by technology.
Think bank tellers. Because of banking apps and online banking, the number of these roles is expected to drop by 15% between 2023 and 2033.
To get more specific, below are the top three signs to pay attention to in your industry.
If your industry’s job growth is below the national average—or worse, shrinking yearly—that’s a big red flag flapping in the wind. Search your role or industry’s growth rate at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to check.
The numbers are important, but also keep your ear to the ground. Are notable companies going under? Do new job postings seem to be dwindling? Are there frequent mergers and acquisitions without many new companies entering the space?
If so, then it might be wise to prepare for a pivot.
Even if the stats don’t show it, you can look at specific industries and predict whether they're vulnerable to AI replacement.
As a stark example, even though current numbers don’t necessarily suggest a threat to rideshare services like Uber, it doesn’t take too much imagination to predict that self-driving car companies like Waymo could one day replace professional drivers.
If it seems like AI could replace your job in the next five to 10 years, start planning your next move.
Can your work be outsourced to other countries for cheaper?
U.S. companies have outsourced customer service, IT support and manufacturing jobs to lower-cost countries like India, the Philippines and China for decades. And with platforms like Upwork, it’s easier than ever.
If jobs in your industry seem to be snatched up by more affordable employees from different countries, then it could be time to make a move.
Do any of these warning signs ring a bell? If so, don’t worry. You have plenty of options. It just starts with being proactive.
If you suspect it’d be wise to improve your career outlook, here are the options I’d consider.
Best for people who like their current role but want to stay competitive.
If your industry isn’t in immediate danger but you see things are quickly evolving, here’s how to stay ahead.
Instead of jumping ship, future-proof your career by learning rare, valuable and durable skills. Skills that make you a more valuable asset. For example, you could learn UX if you’re a graphic designer. Or if you’re a data analyst, you could hone your public speaking skills.
Best for people who like their role but need a better industry.
If your industry sputters, you can move laterally into a more stable field while keeping a similar job title.
The idea is to leverage your existing experience to rebrand yourself. For example, if you’re a sales manager in retail, shift into healthcare. You don’t need to start over—apply what you already do in a more viable industry.
Best for people who want to shift careers with as little retraining as possible.
With this approach, you’re building skills to pivot to an adjacent field or expand into a new role. Your previous experience and knowledge are still relevant; you’re just jumping from a dying role to a thriving one.
For example, let’s say you work in print advertising. That’s a decaying field. But you could jump into digital marketing. You already know the principles of ads and marketing. You just need to learn the ropes of the digital industry.
This option is for people who know they want a full-on career change and are ready to put in the work.
It can be refreshing to say goodbye to the old and start something new.
You will likely need new credentials, education or experience. That might mean:
• Enrolling in training (e.g., getting certified to become a life coach)
• Joining a boot camp (e.g., completing a coding boot camp to become an app developer)
• Going to grad school (e.g., getting an MBA)
• Gaining experience (e.g., freelancing as a writer to break into content strategy)
There’s no sugarcoating it—this will be a big lift. But if it’s undoubtedly time for something new, it’ll be well worth it.
This option is for people who feel lost, burned out or uncertain about their next move.
You might want to step back from work entirely to do some soul-searching. Take a sabbatical, travel or attend a meditation retreat. You might also consider working with a life coach or therapist.
Instead of forcing yourself into a career that’s not a good fit, sometimes you need to take some space to move forward feeling aligned with yourself.
If you know you need to take action but feel overwhelmed by where to start, consider reaching out to a career coach or counselor to help you take a step back, examine your options and make a game plan.
