People Are Rewriting Their Careers, Not Just Their CVs

By Marianne Schofield   2nd January 2026

January is full of “fresh start” energy. The gyms are packed, planners are shiny, and inboxes are flooded with advice promising career transformation. But many professionals aren’t just looking to tweak their CVs, they’re questioning the very way they work. The bigger question for 2026 isn’t how we work, it’s why.

This shift isn’t a fad. It’s a response to economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and evolving expectations around work-life balance. Professionals are beginning to treat their careers like experiments, designing paths that reflect their values, energy, and ambitions rather than just chasing titles or salary.

The Rise of Career Experimenters

We’re seeing a new wave of career experimenters. These are people who don’t just change jobs, instead they rethink their entire professional identity. Some take on entrepreneurial ventures alongside traditional employment. Others explore entirely new industries or cross-functional roles within their organisations. This isn’t reckless job-hopping aiming for a bit of extra cash it’s a strategic exploration of what really works for them. Balancing financial goals with mental well-being, personal growth, and a sense of purpose.

The trend of “portfolio careers” — where professionals combine multiple streams of income, freelance work, side projects, board seats or part-time roles, is growing fast. According to a Forbes article on portfolio careers, these careers provide both flexibility and security, allowing people to diversify income while pursuing meaningful work.

In a recent FlexJobs survey, 69% of respondents said they had changed or seriously considered changing career fields in the past year. The main drivers? Desire for work-life balance, flexibility, and fulfilment. And a Careershifters report shows that dissatisfaction with roles, misalignment with personal values, and interest in pursuing passion projects are pushing more people toward experimenting with their professional identities.

Put simply: people now see work as something to design, not just endure.

Why January Is a Natural Time to Experiment

There’s a cultural pressure in January to “hit the ground running.” But the best career decisions aren’t made in a sugar-high of New Year optimism; they’re made from clarity. Many successful professionals naturally slow down in January after a hectic Q4 or holiday season. This period can be known as professional hibernation, and it’s not failure, it’s strategic.

Professional hibernation is intentional downtime for reflection, learning, and self-assessment. During this time, you can:

• Consider what truly energizes you at work
• Assess which skills you want to develop in 2026
• Explore potential pivots without committing prematurely

Rather than forcing a drastic change or chasing the “new year, new you” narrative, taking time to reflect allows for more deliberate, informed choices. Career experimentation is most effective when it’s thoughtful, not reactionary.

Micro-Pivots: Small Moves, Big Insights

One of the smartest ways to experiment with your career identity is through micro-pivots. Small, manageable shifts that allow you to test a new direction without burning bridges.

Some examples:

• Volunteering for cross-functional projects or stretch assignments in your current organisation
• Taking on a freelance or side project in a field you’re curious about
• Launching a passion project to test if a new role or industry energizes you
• Attending workshops, courses, or short-term certifications in a different skill area

The goal of micro-pivots is data, not perfection. Each experiment teaches you something about your strengths, interests, and boundaries. Over time, these small pivots compound into a clearer picture of what career moves are worth pursuing, and which aren’t.

Career researchers note that incremental experimentation is safer and more effective than dramatic leaps. According to Harvard Business Review, career changers who tested new roles or projects before fully committing were more likely to succeed and report higher satisfaction than those who jumped without experimenting.

Why Coaching Amplifies Career Experiments

Navigating a period of career experimentation can be exciting, but it’s also overwhelming. That’s where coaching comes in. A career coach can act as your sounding board, strategist, and reality check, helping you design experiments that are safe, actionable, and aligned with your long-term goals.

With coaching, you can:

• Clarify what fulfilment, growth, and impact genuinely mean for you
• Map out micro-pivots that balance ambition with risk management
• Reflect effectively on lessons learned from each experiment
• Gain confidence in your choices, reducing anxiety and decision fatigue

We work with clients who often start January feeling stuck, frustrated, or unsure about their next steps. By exploring small, intentional experiments, clients turn uncertainty into actionable insight and build careers that feels genuinely their own.

Putting It Into Practice This January

Here’s a simple framework that we use to start experimenting safely:

1. Pick one small experiment – a side project, stretch task, volunteer gig, or short course that feels interesting but not overwhelming.
2. Time-box it – three months is enough to learn without overcommitting.
3. Track your reflections – keep a journal or log: what excites you, what drains you, what aligns with your values?
4. Iterate – adjust, drop what doesn’t work, lean into what does.

By the end of the quarter, you’ll have real data, not just aspirations, about what kind of work truly suits you. These insights form a foundation for bolder career moves later, whether that’s a full pivot, promotion, or side business.

Why This Matters Now

The economic, technological, and cultural shifts of recent years have made rigid career paths obsolete. Today, careers are more fluid than ever:

• Remote work allows exploration of global opportunities
• AI and automation change the skills most in demand
• Professional values and purpose increasingly guide decisions

In this context, testing and designing your career isn’t optional, it’s essential. The professionals who thrive are those who actively experiment, learn, and pivot.

Next Steps

There’s no one “right” career path anymore. Whether you focus on one role, explore multiple streams of income, or mix paid work with passion projects, the goal is the same: build a career that reflects you.

If you want support designing your career experiments, testing your strengths, or navigating uncertainty, then coaching will really help. Together, we will help you create a roadmap that turns January’s “fresh start energy” into real, measurable progress in 2026, so your career feels intentional, fulfilling, and genuinely your own.

Reference list:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2025/02/10/portfolio-careers-create-multiple-income-streams-with-job-security/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/flexjobs-report-workers-considering-career-change?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.careershifters.org/research/career-change-statistics-from-the-careershifters-audience?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://hbr.org/2016/05/change-your-career-without-having-to-start-all-over-again?utm_source=chatgpt.com