CNBC.COM
People seldom find success by following a linear career path, says Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman.
"It's not really a straight line or ladder," Wacksman tells CNBC Make It. "It's often taking on new assignments that stretch you in new and different ways that lead to the most growth."
In Wacksman's view, most people would benefit more from taking unexpected jobs or out-of-wheelhouse projects, rather than tying themselves to a strict, linear career path and never deviating. Let yourself pursue a path more akin to a "career jungle gym," he says.
You can take a non-linear career path without leaving your industry, or even your company. Wacksman uses himself as an example. He initially joined Zillow as a vice president of marketing, but around the time he took the job, Apple launched the iPhone and its app store. Despite having no experience with mobile apps, he was tasked with spearheading his company's mobile real estate shopping efforts, he says.
"Zillow had no mobile anything," says Wacksman. "We were a desktop-only search engine." Though he had no experience with mobile apps, he had to "go figure it out," he says. "That was not the job I was hired to do, but it was a huge opportunity to learn and to take a little bit of what I'd done in my career, apply it in a new space and figure it out with smart people."
DON'T MISS: The leadership skills that can help you stand out at work
Roughly nine months later, in April 2009, Zillow announced the launch of its mobile app. In 2010, following the app's launch, Zillow became profitable and users collectively looked at homes 20,000 times per hour using its app, according to the company. As of November, it's the most visited real estate app in the U.S., according to data from the company and analytics firm Comscore.
Zillow's stock hit a year-to-date high point of $68.85 per share on Jan. 26. The company, which celebrated its 20-year anniversary in February, has a market capitalization of $9.78 billion, as of Tuesday morning. But it has struggled in recent months, with its stock price dropping to a current $40.63 per share.
Some of the drop followed guidance issued by Zillow for investors on Feb. 10, and real estate investors are cautious about artificial intelligence-driven industry disruption, analysts say. Buyers and sellers alike have also exited the housing market amid economic blowback from the Iran war, CNBC reported on April 7.
Playing it 'safe' isn't safe anymore, experts say
Being open to new, unexpected detours on your career journey can be a smart strategy, career experts say. A predetermined plan may feel like a safety net, but it can also hinder your success, says Gorick Ng, a career advisor at Harvard University and author of the 2021 book "The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right."
"Just because a career path is deemed 'safe' today doesn't mean it will stay that way forever," says Ng. "Given how quickly the world is changing, the career you'll love might not even exist yet; the more you keep your head down, the more opportunities you might miss."
Students and early-career professionals should especially embrace unexpected opportunities, Ng recommends. Otherwise, you may start chasing your dream job, "only to realize the career is nothing like what we were sold," he says.
Terry Jones, a New York City-based career and executive coach agrees: You can prepare for these out-of-the-blue career opportunities by taking full advantage of the role you're already in, he says.
Ask yourself, "What can I learn here? What skills can I develop? What kind of [networking] relationships can I build here?" says Jones. Show up in excellence every single day as much as you can, recognizing that the more seasoned you become in your career ... the relationships are going to mean a lot."
Of course, none of this alone is reason to turn down a direct promotion to the next linear step up in your career path. To gauge whether any move is worthwhile, ask yourself, "Is this getting me closer to my personal definition of success?" Ng says.
"If so, go. If not, think twice before sleepwalking into a life you didn't intend," he adds. "For most people, it likely is the right move. But never put all your eggs in one basket. Don't let one path be your be-all and end-all. Always have a side project — a passion project, community service, or an Employee Resource Group — to build skills, acquire knowledge, meet people and de-risk your next career move."
Want to lead with confidence and bring out the best in your team? Take CNBC's new online course, How To Be A Standout Leader. Expert instructors share practical strategies to help you build trust, communicate clearly and motivate other people to do their best work. Sign up today!
