From guest contributor Matthew R. Kerchner, Associate Academic Advisor, University Division.
Many students come to IU with a “Plan A” and a “Plan B,” with “Plan A” defined as one specific major and “Plan B” a second.
One alternative approach, however, would be to define “Plan A” as strategically cultivating a mindset of flexibility and a willingness to embrace the best opportunity as experience is gained and circumstances unfold. This is called tactical (an action plan) adaptability (ability to change to suit different conditions), or what is more commonly called pivoting.
A student interested in a career in finance who has a pivoting mindset would not arrive at IU thinking “I want a career in finance and to do that I have to be a Finance major in Kelley,” but instead “I want a career in finance and I will strategically navigate the different paths I can take to reach that goal as I gain experience through coursework and knowledge of the wider field of finance and the variety of ways people enter that sector of the business world and the many roles that can be played in it.”
Identifying multiple paths to achieve the same goal regardless of unfolding circumstances helps avoid limiting tunnel vision. Pivoting fosters a talent for not only seeing the “larger picture” but also the ability to identify the distinctive strengths and benefits various approaches offer.
This openness to pivot is one that employers require in job candidates. Embracing change is at the heart of innovation. It’s an absolute necessity when companies develop new product lines, find new customer bases, reorganize, relocate, rebrand, utilize new software applications, or make other significant (and often unexpected) shifts in their operations. Your future employers won’t know what challenges their organization are going to face, and because of this, adaptability and flexibility are ‘must have’ qualities when they seek new team members.
Students who adopt this perspective and put it into practice can tell future employers “Throughout my time at IU, I cultivated a talent for exploring the most advantageous paths to achieving my academic goals and activating these alternative strategies for maximum benefit. Being ready and open to pivoting has always been my ‘Plan A,’ and I look forward to bringing that enthusiasm to this position.”
Leave a Reply