Making a Lateral Move: Pros and Cons to Lateral Career Moves

A lateral career move is when a person leaves their current job for a new job of a similar title, position, or pay grade. People can make a lateral move to a new company or at their current company to a different department. While a lateral job move is not a promotion, it is not always a step backward.

Often career development means changing up the scenery and applying to new positions that will come with new opportunities, even if the move isn’t a step up on the corporate ladder. A lateral move may be a viable option for you if you want to learn a new skill set, integrate into a new corporate culture, shift career paths, or have a better work-life balance.

Although a lateral move is not a promotion, there are a number of potential advantages that can accompany a lateral career move.

1. 1. Meeting more people. Making a lateral career move means that you’ll be shaking up your team and your boss, which can be a good thing. A lateral move within a company to a new department can expose you to different supervisors and customers within your organization. This can show different people within your organization your versatility and collaborative skills.Taking a position at a different company means interacting with different clients and customers, cementing your role.
2. 2. Negotiating better compensation. Making a lateral move means you have more experience directly related to your job, making you a more valuable candidate. You can use this to negotiate a higher salary when you’re applying to similar positions at new companies. A lateral move can sometimes also come with better benefits, such as health insurance and better retirement plans.
3. 3. New skill set. Switching to a new company or taking on a new position at your current company will expose new sides of your business, meaning that you’ll learn valuable skill sets that can make you a more capable employee.
4. 4. Job security. Some may choose to make a lateral move if they feel that their current position is tenuous. If your current company is making layoffs, it may be a good idea to explore a similar role at a new organization to save your job.
5. 5. Change in leadership/workplace culture. Some find it important to seek out bosses with complementary personalities. A lateral move is a good option to have if you are looking for a new team more suited to your working style.

A lateral move can be the right thing for you if done correctly at the right time. However, there are some potential disadvantages to taking on a lateral move.

1. 1. Stagnating your career. Starting over from square one in a lateral position may mean that you’ll have to wait longer for a promotion. A lateral move can sometimes mean stifling your development.
2. 2. Starting new. Beginning a job at a new company can be a shock, and it takes time and energy to integrate yourself into a new work culture. Before you make a lateral move, consider the time and effort that will come along with learning new systems, meeting new people, and acclimating to a new work culture.
3. 3. Deviation from a career path. While it’s often a misconception, a lateral move can be seen by some as a deviation from your ultimate career path. It may be seen by future employers as a failure to take on more responsibility, or a lack of clarity.

A promotion is considered a career advancement and is generally awarded to employees for good performance. Promotions will usually come with added benefits and pay, as well as more responsibility. A lateral move, on the other hand, is a job change with no real difference in authority, pay, or title. A lateral move within a company may involve a different department and skills, but is not considered to be an improvement to your current position.

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