Why now is the time to start a career in change management

Change management is a concept of growing importance in today’s business world, thanks to the complexities of the modern business environment and rapid societal shifts. 

This is where Change Managers step in. They are professionals tasked with helping organisations navigate transitions and adapt to changes affecting their operations.

Now is an opportune moment for professionals to pursue a career in change management, as businesses are, more and more, seeking advice on how to navigate these new landscapes.

Learn about: 

• why the demand for Change Managers is higher than ever
• the most sought-after skills of a change manager
• common change manager career prospects
• tips on launching your change management career

Overview of change management careers

High demand for Change Managers

For those asking themselves, “Is change management a good career path?”, listen up:

The demand for Change Managers is higher than ever, and this is largely due to a) high levels of global uncertainty and b) the fact that organisations now—in retrospect—have a clear understanding of how damaging poorly managed change can be.

Whether they’re addressing the rise of remote working or the integration of new technologies, Change Managers are becoming highly sought-after to help companies meet the needs of today’s workforce and increase commercial resiliency.

Some typical scenarios that Change Managers are hired to address are:

• transitioning to hybrid or remote working models
• easing the integration of AI and cloud computing in organisations
• navigating challenges with supply chains
• increasing business’ resiliency in the face of economic uncertainty
• fostering teams’ productivity levels

Most sought-after change manager skills

Flexibility and adaptability are the name of the game in a change management career, and professionals working in this area must live and breathe these traits. Beyond that, some of the most highly sought after skills of professional Change Managers are:

1. leadership and management
2. strategic thinking
3. planning and coordination
4. organisation
5. communication
6. emotional intelligence
7. business acumen
8. improvement mindset

It may also be helpful for Change Managers to gain specific certifications relevant to their jobs, such as the Prosci Change Management Certification.

Change Manager career prospects

Change Managers often gain highly transferable skills which can set them up for seamless transitions into other career paths. Some common career prospects for Change Managers could be:

• change analyst/coordinator
• change management consultant
• organisational development manager
• project manager
• HR director
• learning and development manager

How to launch your change management career

Feeling inspired to launch your own career as a Change Manager? This dynamic, exciting, challenging job requires a blend of professional experience, niche skills, and industry-specific qualifications.

Those looking to enter the change management game would be well-served in pursuing formal training—be it a university degree in a field like psychology, HR, or management; or an online course or certification.

Not everyone has the capacity or resources to enter into formal education, and thankfully, that’s not the only way to prepare yourself for a career in change management. Many key pillars of knowledge relevant to change management can be self-taught, such as Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model or McKinsey’s 7-S Framework.

Additionally, would-be Change Managers should prioritise gaining experience in jobs and projects that will hone their communication, management, leadership, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. HR and project management roles will come in use when it comes to tailoring your CV and applying for change management jobs.

Discover change management career opportunities

Now that you’ve got a baseline understanding of the field of change management, why not start looking at careers in change with Marks Sattin?

With 30 years of experience, we specialise in the recruitment of professionals who are skilled in the area of change management—particularly as it relates to finance and tech. 

Start browsing our open roles for Change Managers now and discover your next exciting career move.