The offer of a new job can be exciting but stressful at the same time — especially if you’ve been offered a position that sounds interesting, but involves a lateral move. How can you decide if it makes sense from a career perspective? “When it comes to lateral moves, I think it’s time to ditch the traditional view that upward is the only direction worth considering,” says Chris Sorensen, CEO of the sales dialer company PhoneBurner.
“Instead, think of your career as a mosaic rather than a ladder. A lateral move could be the piece that adds unexpected value to the bigger picture.”
Focus on growth potential is the advice the business pros I reached out to offered.
That can be more important that the immediate title or salary, according to Lissa Poirot, head of content atJoy Wallet, a publisher network focused on financial education.
“A lateral move might not seem like a step up, but it can open doors to new experiences, networks, and skill sets,” explains Poirot, who suggests considering if the new role offers exposure to different aspects of the business or allows you to develop skills that are in demand in your industry.
“For instance, if the position involves working with new technology or managing a different type of project, it could set you up for future advancement that wouldn’t be possible in your current role,” Poirot says. “Think long-term: If this move can broaden your expertise or position you for a more strategic role down the line, it’s worth considering.”
David Primrose, president ofMetal Marker Manufacturing, echoes Poirot’s advice.
“Zoom out and look at the big picture. Think about how this new role fits into your career roadmap,” Primrose suggests. “Will it help plug some holes in your skill set or give you a peek into parts of the business you haven’t explored yet? Sometimes, taking a step to the side can actually fast-track your career by making you a more well-rounded pro.”
There are myriad examples of people who have taken a lateral move that turned into a positive career step. Sorensen shares one with which he is personally familiar.
“One of the most successful professionals I know made a lateral move from engineering to customer support, which at first seemed like a detour,” Sorensen says. “But the deep understanding he gained of customer pain points led him to develop a game-changing product feature, catapulting his career forward in ways he hadn’t anticipated.”
The key, he adds, is to stay open to where these lateral moves might lead.
“They might just unlock the door to the next great chapter of your career that you didn’t even know was there,” he concludes.