Are you feeling stuck in your current role but not quite ready for a promotion? Perhaps you're seeking new challenges without climbing another rung on the career ladder? You're not alone. As a recruitment consultant who's placed hundreds of professionals across the UK, I've seen firsthand how strategic lateral moves can refresh careers and open unexpected doors.
Key Takeaways:
Lateral career moves involve shifting to a position at the same level rather than pursuing promotion, offering new challenges without climbing the corporate ladder.
Strategic sideways moves can refresh your career, develop valuable new skills, help avoid burnout, and sometimes better position you for future advancement.
Successful lateral movers often gain more rounded experience and greater job satisfaction while potentially transitioning to more stable or growing sectors.
When considering a lateral move, evaluate your current fulfilment, desired skill development, industry stability, work-life balance needs, and passion for the new role.
While there may be no immediate salary increase, the new skills and experiences often lead to greater long-term earning potential and career opportunities.
What is a Lateral Career Move?
A lateral career move involves shifting to a new position at roughly the same level as your current role. Unlike a promotion, you're moving sideways rather than upwards. This can happen within your existing company or by joining a new organisation.
For example, a marketing specialist might move to a similar-level sales role, or a finance professional might transition to operations. While the level and pay often remain comparable, the day-to-day work and required skills can be quite different.
Why Consider Moving Sideways?
When I speak with candidates, many focus solely on climbing the corporate ladder. However, those who make thoughtful lateral moves often end up with more rounded careers and greater job satisfaction. A lateral move can help you gain valuable new skills and experiences you wouldn't encounter on your current path, and a sideways step can help avoid burnout.
Interestingly, sometimes moving sideways positions you better for moving up later. I've worked with numerous professionals who made lateral moves to gain specific experience that later made them standout candidates for senior positions.
If your current department is shrinking or your industry facing challenges, a lateral move can help you transition to a more stable or growing area before it's too late.
Finally, a lateral move might offer better work-life balance, with options for remote work, reduced travel, or simply a change of pace that better suits your lifestyle.
Real Success Stories
My candidate Danielle was an experienced PR professional at Account Director level. But when culture was changing and future opportunity was sparse, she wanted to move to a broader agency that would give her more fulfilment, a different culture and more growth for the future.
Chelsea, an experienced Office Manager, took a role as a business support administrator because she needed a role that she could happily do in work hours, and focus on her hobby and personal coaching in nutrition and fitness. Her new role allowed the perfect work life balance.
Maha, an experienced Senior Marketer who took a lateral move to Head of Marketing because she absolutely loved the product and offering, the passion for it shone through and she had to have the job!
Is a Lateral Move Right for You?
Based on my experience helping hundreds of professionals navigate career transitions, ask yourself:
Do you feel unchallenged or unfulfilled in your current role?
Are there specific skills you want to develop?
Is your industry or department facing uncertainty?
Are you seeking better work-life balance?
Would you enjoy this new role more than your current one?
Take time for honest reflection. The candidates who make the most successful lateral moves have clear answers to these questions.
Potential Challenges to Consider
While I advocate for strategic lateral moves, it's important to understand the potential drawbacks:
There may be no immediate salary increase, though the new skills often lead to greater earning potential long-term. You'll face a learning curve adapting to new responsibilities and possibly a new company culture—one candidate described his first three months after a lateral move as "drinking from a fire hose."
Some professionals worry about how a lateral move might look on their CV. In my experience, as long as you can clearly explain the strategic reasons for your move during interviews, most employers view it positively.
Making Your Move Successfully
If you've decided a lateral move makes sense, here's how to proceed:
Research thoroughly by learning everything you can about the target role. Speak with people already in similar positions to understand daily realities.
Identify your transferable skills—the abilities from your current role that would add value in the new position. Be ready to clearly communicate these connections to potential employers.
Network strategically by letting relevant contacts know you're open to opportunities. Many lateral moves happen through conversations rather than formal applications.
Update your CV to highlight experiences and skills relevant to the new role, even if they weren't your primary focus previously.
Getting in touch with a recruitment agency can help you discover opportunities that you never knew existed, and give you the advice you need to prepare for your job hunt.
Be patient, as finding the right lateral opportunity takes time, especially for specific roles or companies.
How a Recruitment Agency Can Help
Making a lateral move often requires careful positioning and access to opportunities that aren't widely advertised. At Select Recruitment, we help professionals make successful lateral moves by:
Opening doors to hidden opportunities—many companies don't publicly advertise all positions, particularly for lateral moves.
Providing market insights about which skills are in demand, which industries are growing, and what compensation to expect.
Helping you position yourself effectively by highlighting relevant skills and experiences, even if your job titles don't perfectly align with the new role.
Negotiating on your behalf, as even in lateral moves there may be room to discuss salary, flexible working arrangements, or other benefits.
Offering honest feedback about whether a particular lateral move aligns with your long-term career goals.
Final Thoughts
A lateral career move isn't a step backwards or a pause in progress—it's a strategic repositioning that can open new doors and create unexpected opportunities. I've watched countless professionals use lateral moves to build impressive, varied skill sets and ultimately achieve greater career satisfaction and success.
If you're considering a lateral move and would like personalised advice about your options, our team at Select Recruitment Specialists is here to help. With our deep understanding of the UK job market and strong employer relationships, we can help you find the right opportunity to take your career in an exciting new direction. Upload your CV today or reach out to one of our consultants for a confidential chat about your career aspirations.