7 Tips for Transitioning into a New Role at the Same Company

In the dynamic world of life sciences, where innovation and advancement are the norms, career transitions within the same company can offer exciting opportunities for growth and development.

However, whether you’re moving from a laboratory position to a project management role, or from regulatory affairs to business development, internal career transitions may present their own unique challenges.

In this article, we provide 7 tips for transitioning into a new role at the same company, helping to ensure the move is right for you, and that you’re well prepared for it.

Understand Why You Want to Move

Whilst it might seem obvious, taking the time to understand what is really motivating you to seek a new role is an important first step. Make sure that the driving factors are to do with your current role, responsibilities, and career goals, and not things do to with other people, the company, or culture.

Factors that may confirm that you want to stick with your current employer include:

• Wanting more responsibility
• Seeking the chance to develop new skills
• Looking to advance your career
• Following a desire to move into a different field
• Seeking new challenges and learning opportunities
• Obtaining a better work-life balance
• Finding a role that closer aligns with your personal values

Other factors that could indicate a wider issue with your current employer include:

• Escaping a difficult relationship with a manager or team
• Finding that your career is stagnating and there are few opportunities for learning and growth
• Feeling like you aren’t being heard
• Wanting to escape the culture of your team

Although cultures and dynamics often do vary between different teams and departments, it’s important to take the time to work out whether what you’re experiencing in your current role is reflective of what happens across the company, or if it really is down to the culture that roles like yours create. For example, there might be a higher level of competition in a sales role compared to a finance role. Don’t immediately assume that the grass is greener elsewhere!

Learn as Much as You Can About the New Role

Once you’re clear on why you want to move, work to gain a comprehensive understanding of the new role by conducting research and speaking with colleagues who are currently in similar positions. Gather information about the responsibilities, challenges, and expectations associated with the role, as well as the skills and competencies that are most valued in the role.

If you’re moving to a new department, try and figure out what the culture is like too, and what sort of person would thrive in their environment.

Complete a Self-Assessment and Set Your Goals

Once you’re clear on what the new role would entail, conduct a personal SWOT analysis to understand your strengths and weaknesses and identify any areas you can improve in to enable your transition.

Again, don’t be afraid to reach out to those already working in the role/department you want to move into, as ultimately, they’ll be the in the best position to help you evaluate your skills and experience, set new goals, and establish a timeline for your career progression. These objectives will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the transition.

Communicate Your Intentions

Transparent communication is crucial when transitioning into a new role within the same company. Inform your current line manager about your intentions and discuss your career goals, ensuring you prepare for the conversation beforehand to allow you to communicate clearly and confidently.

Schedule a meeting with your line manager to ensure you’ve got enough time to dig into your goals. Clearly articulate your goals, and how the transition would align with your long-term objectives.

Showcase Your Transferable Skills

When it comes to applying for a new role, highlight your transferable skills, emphasising how your existing skills and experience are relevant and valuable. For example, if you’re moving from a laboratory position to a project management role, emphasise your organisational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage complex tasks.

In addition to this, communicate how you’ve conducted research on the new role, and that you understand what you’ll need to do in order to make a smooth transition. Highlight what you’re already doing to expand your skillset and reinforce your commitment to learning for the new role.

Acquire New Skills and Knowledge

Prepare yourself for the new role by expanding your skillset and knowledge. Take advantage of any company-sponsored training programs or online courses, volunteer for cross-functional projects or initiatives, and request opportunities to shadow colleagues in the new role to gain firsthand insights into their tasks.

Doing this before you’ve even started will prove your proactive approach to learning and development, as well as your commitment to the company. It will also demonstrate that you’re serious about the career move and that you’ve put a lot of time and thought into it.

Seek Feed and Continuous Improvement

As you transition into the new role, seek feedback from supervisors, colleagues, and mentors. Constructive feedback will help you identify any areas for improvement and guide your professional development. Be open to feedback, and actively work on enhancing your performance.

You might want also to keep a work diary to log your progress, recording both big and small achievements, as well as any new tools and platforms you’re using. You can refer to this in any progress meetings or 1-to-1s, and even in future job applications.