{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Are Lateral Career Moves Good for Your Career?","description":"Career growth is not always vertical. For a long time, professionals were told to climb the corporate ladder, stay loyal, take the promotion, and keep moving up. But that advice does not always reflect how careers actually evolve today. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre explores the value and complexity of lateral career moves. She explains why some professionals resist them, why a move without a higher title can feel risky, and how lateral opportunities can quietly build long-term career leverage. A lateral move may not look impressive right away. It may not come with a promotion announcement or a bigger title. But it can expand your business understanding, strengthen your relationships, build transferable skills, and make you a more adaptable professional over time. Julia also explains when lateral moves can create confusion, especially if your career story becomes hard to explain. Nonlinear career paths can create leverage, but only when you can connect the dots clearly. This episode covers: \u2022 Why professionals resist lateral moves \u2022 How the corporate ladder mindset still shapes career decisions \u2022 When a lateral move can strengthen your long-term positioning \u2022 Why cross-functional exposure matters for leadership growth \u2022 How transferable skills support career mobility \u2022 When nonlinear moves create confusion \u2022 How to evaluate a lateral opportunity strategically \u2022 Why career decisions based on optics can limit future leverage If you are considering a lateral move, a career change, or a role that does not look like an obvious step up, this episode will help you think about the bigger picture. Sometimes the move that looks sideways now creates more options later. Read The Blog: https:\/\/ridethetidecollective.com\/2026\/06\/09\/are-lateral-career-moves-good-for-your-career\/ Explore all episodes: https:\/\/ridethetidecollective.com\/podcast\/ Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/juliakrussell\/ Visit the website: https:\/\/ridethetidecollective.com Get career resources: https:\/\/ridethetidecollective.com\/free\/ Remember, you control your career. ","author_name":"Control Your Career: Career Growth and Strategy for Ambitious Professionals","author_url":"https:\/\/www.ridethetidecollective.com\/","html":"