Within your career, you might have difficulty figuring out how your background can help you pivot from one area to another.

For example, if you identify as an engineer, you might start off your job search by entering “engineer” into the keyword search box. When asked at networking events to describe who you are, you might rest on convenient labels such as “software developer,” “architect,” or “data analyst.”

But what if you want to pivot into a new role, a new identity? All of a sudden, the convenience of the label you have taken on may start to feel limiting and restrictive. Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to atomize your background.

at●om●ize (verb): reduce something to small, distinct units

How to atomize

Continuing with our example, you may have always identified as a software engineer, but you might also have a unique blend of a body of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other attributes that support the work of a software engineer that can support other types of work as well. You might have knowledge in coding best practices or logic. You might be skilled in a variety of programming languages, such as Java, Python, or C++. You might have abilities to modify code, analyze a problem, or assess database performance. Being a software engineer is a combination of a lot of smaller pieces, like atoms, that you can take, recombine, and reconfigure to fit a variety of new directions.

Hidden in your background might be other skills and competencies as well. Serving in a leadership capacity for a student organization might have yielded leadership, budgeting, management, marketing, collaboration, or other interpersonal skills.

Even these might be able to be broken down into smaller units, such as the skills you needed to manage the budget or what tools you used to market events.

If you are uncertain how different occupations can be atomized, take a look into the Occupation Information Network, or O*Net. This database covers over 1,000 different occupations, breaking them into different tasks, skills, knowledge bases, and more.

Using your “atoms”

Once you start to identify your atoms, you can start to leverage them in new ways. Here are just a few ideas to help you begin crafting your career pivot:

Job searching

Use your atoms as keywords in conducting your job search. Rather than searching by a job title or industry, search by your skillset, your degree program, or other attribute about yourself that you think aligns with the opportunities you see yourself doing in the future.

Keywords work best if they are specific and well-defined, so be aware that sometimes this process may yield more potentially irrelevant jobs for you. However, this might also help you become more open to new directions or possibilities that may help you with your pivot.

Interviewing and networking

In your introductions or descriptions of past experiences, you might have relied heavily on convenient labels such as your degree program or job title. Now, you can think about the different attributes you possess that might support you going forward and promote those in whole or in part.

Let’s say you are interested in pivoting away from engineering; you could combine multiple atoms into a “professional with a comprehensive understanding of mechanics, design, and fabrication.”

These smaller atoms may also help the people you are connecting with see various ways your background can support their needs.

Resume, CV, and cover letter writing

When attempting to increase the relevancy of your application materials, it can be helpful to atomize the job description to which you are applying.

Break it down into keywords and phrases. These can be technical jargon, or as simple as the verbs that are used. Any words that resonate with you, or reflect your background or experience, should be words you ensure are included in your application materials.

Then, by coopting the language, you connect more closely with the individuals reviewing your materials. This might even help you overcome issues with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Moving into the future

Your unique blend of knowledge, skills, and abilities are going to continue to grow and develop with time.

As you seek out new professional development opportunities, think about ways you can invest in yourself to help you grow in depth or breadth to continue to increase your flexibility around your career.

You can also think about how you can recombine your attributes in novel configurations to place yourself into a variety of roles as you progress through your career.

Regardless of how you atomize, it is important for you to think about how you meet the needs of the individuals and organizations you connect with. Take time to reflect on your past experiences, your skills and abilities, and align them with the types of work you are seeking. It’s in this moment that you truly need to become the subject matter expert on your background and think of ways to recombine its elements into new configurations.