‘Negotiate the Pivot Points in Your Career With a Leap of Faith’ — Crafting Your Own Career Path

In her over 30 years at Robert Half, Diane Domeyer's role has changed countless times. She started at the company as a finance accounting recruiter in Iowa and has since held a variety of corporate and field roles. “Every role was a new challenge and new opportunity,” Domeyer reflects.

She’s made these pivots by realizing that some of the best career opportunities occur at times of significant transformation — both on a personal and company-wide level. By using her ‘see a need, fill a need’ philosophy, Domeyer has been able to be part of many early-stage changes.

For instance, Domeyer recalls a time when, while her career was still a priority, she needed to spend more time with her family and reduce her travel. “When that happened, it coincided with Robert Half undergoing a period of significant business transformation,” she tells us. “So, I wrote a job description and pitched the idea of heading a new organization at the company that is focused on technology and digital strategy. This role would bring the needs of the business and our customers into IT. The role filled a need and required less travel, yet still functioned at an executive-level position and broadened my experience and expertise significantly.”

Due to her quick thinking and flexibility — as well as Robert Half’s support — Domeyer’s suggestion was accepted, and she took on the role she proposed. “As a result, I was able to grow professionally and spend more time with my family,” she tells us. 

When you consider this example of a successful career pivot, it boiled down to adaptability and Domeyer being aware of both the company’s needs and her own. You need to be “okay with where you’re dedicating your time and energy”, Domeyer explains. “And, if you’re not okay with it, you need to find a way to change what you’re doing.” In essence, “being able to adjust and evolve requires intentional effort!”

Thanks to her adaptability and awareness, Domeyer is now the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Managed Creative Solutions. In this position, she oversees the practice that offers strategic project solutions to address clients’ marketing, digital and creative initiatives. In this position, her varied experience and skills from her career journey have resulted in amazing opportunities.

“I have had the opportunity to speak at events such as Adobe MAX and HOW Design Live and have been interviewed by publications such as Adweek, Business News Daily and Fast Company,” notes Domeyer. “I am honored to have been named to the Staffing Industry Analysts' 2018 ‘Global Power 150 – Women In Staffing’ list and awarded ‘Forever Influential’ status on the San Francisco Business Times' ‘Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business’ list.”  

As for the biggest benefit of her journey, Domeyer says that it is, “the personal enrichment from the collective experiences and the people along the way that have been a part of my journey.”

Here, Domeyer shares her best advice for others who are looking to take charge of their career journeys, as well as how Robert Half has supported her on her own path.

What are your best pieces of advice for other women who are thinking about making a career pivot?

I can say with confidence that you need to negotiate the pivot points in your career with a leap of faith, recognizing that there are opportunities where you can do meaningful work or pause completely for personal reasons. In the scheme of your whole career, a few years isn’t a lot of time. So, focus on what decision is best for you now because in a few years you’ll likely have different opportunities and priorities, like I did.

And you don’t need to be a parent to experience these shifts in your career. Everyone has personal priorities that will require adaptability in the workplace — a move to a new city, a partner’s career changes, an aging parent or an illness can all cause a pause or reprioritization of your goals and ambitions.

No matter how, where or when you face career changes, be sure to rely on your personal compass for guidance. Deep down, you’ll know what direction is best for you, whether you’re looking to forge a different path in your current organization, find a new opportunity elsewhere or re-enter the job market after time away from work.

Also, make sure to reach out to trusted peers, mentors and other valued resources for insight and encouragement. Your adaptability is vital to your career journey, but so too is professional and personal support from those who want to see you succeed.

Moving on, you’ve spent over 30 years growing your career at Robert Half. What are your favorite things about the company?

Our people! Leadership through every level in the organization is approachable, skilled, knowledgeable and wonderful to work with. As a “people company” and talent solutions firm, we demonstrate our expertise by hiring amazing people that you learn from every day. There is also an unwavering commitment to creating career opportunities and pathways that match the desired trajectories of our people. Performance is rewarded, and there is room to develop and grow on the job in real time.

Robert Half’s development and programs are reflective of our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and are integrated throughout our corporate culture and core values. As an executive sponsor of our women’s employee network group, I see firsthand how Robert Half is developing a fully global community of women participants by providing a community and network for informative, empowering and educational discussions and programs. Our employee network groups creative supportive environments in which global corporate and talent solutions employees can share ideas, offer support and grow professionally and personally.

Overall, what do you find most rewarding about working at Robert Half?

We are an organization that is in the business of changing lives. We tailor and innovate solutions to best match what an organization needs to transform their business and be ready for the future of marketing, creative and digital. By focusing on Innovation, transformation and technology through the lens of the customer, we impact the customer experience through our service offerings. Our strategic consulting solutions are changing the world!

Robert Half also creates pathways for career trajectories that evolve because of personal life changes. As I transitioned to being a wife and a mother, I was given the chance to reduce travel by shifting into a position that allowed me to be present with my family. Robert Half continues to support me personally and professionally.

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