Career Experimentation—Embrace the Scientific Method to Professional Growth

Career growth often follows a structured path: setting long-term goals, assessing the present, and mapping out a detailed plan to bridge the gap. While this approach can work, it often feels rigid and ill-suited for the unpredictable twists of life, as well as our constantly changing and evolving world of work.

For many professionals, careers unfold less like a linear journey and more like an exploratory quest. Embracing this reality has led to a concept I call career experimentation. By applying the scientific method to career development, you can embrace uncertainty and uncover rewarding possibilities.

The Need for Career Experimentation

Traditional career planning focuses on clarity and certainty. The complex, interconnected, and constantly changing world of work we experience today poorly and rarely cooperates with this rigid blueprint. For over a decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of professionals who have navigated their careers in surprising ways. Some successfully followed structured plans, but most thrived through an exploratory, winding, and adaptive approach.

What if instead of stressing over having all the answers, you approached your career with curiosity and experimentation? What if, instead of fearing uncertainty, you leveraged it to grow and learn? This mindset shift can transform how you approach professional development.

What Is a Career Experiment?

A career experiment involves testing ideas and opportunities to learn what works best for you. Much like a scientific experiment, it revolves around forming hypotheses, testing them, and drawing insights. This process encourages adaptability and self-discovery, reducing the pressure to commit prematurely to a single career path.

Career experiments allow you to try, fail, and refine. By experimenting, you replace the fear of getting it “right” with the freedom to learn through action. This approach is especially valuable in a world where industries evolve rapidly, requiring agility and openness to new possibilities.

The Four Steps to Career Experimentation

Step 1: Forming a Hypothesis

Every experiment begins with a hypothesis—a belief or assumption to test. In career terms, this could be a hunch about a skill you might excel at or an unexplored strength. For example:

• “I think I’d enjoy project management because I’m naturally organized.”

• “I believe public speaking could help me advance in my field.”

Your hypothesis doesn’t have to be certain or fully formed. It simply needs to spark curiosity and align with your career interests.

Step 2: Designing the Test

Once you’ve identified your hypothesis, design a test to explore it. This might include:

• Curiosity conversations: Chat informally with professionals in a field you’re exploring to gain insights.

• Role expansion: Take on new responsibilities at work that allow you to test your hypothesis.

• Side hustles: Experiment outside your main job by pursuing a freelance project or a passion initiative.

• Shadowing: Spend time observing someone excelling in a role you’re curious about.

Your test should be practical and achievable. It’s about gathering real-world data to inform your decisions.

Step 3: Taking Action

A career experiment remains theoretical without action. Set a timeline for your test, giving it enough time to yield meaningful results while remaining short enough to pivot if needed. For instance:

• Dedicate a month to learning a new skill.

• Spend a week shadowing a mentor.

• Allocate evenings to a side hustle for six weeks.

Commit to the process and be open to surprises—career experiments thrive on real-world feedback.

Step 4: Reflecting on Results

Reflection is the most critical phase. After completing your test, take time to evaluate your experiences. Consider these questions:

• What did you enjoy most about the experiment?

• What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

• Did the experience align with your strengths and interests?

• How can you apply what you’ve learned to your career?

Documenting your reflections can deepen your insights. Writing your takeaways helps clarify what’s next: continuing down the tested path, exploring a related area, or pivoting to a new hypothesis.

Career Experiments at Any Stage

Career experimentation isn’t just for early-career professionals—it’s a tool for growth at every stage. Whether you’re seeking a new role, bored with your current path, or preparing for a career pivot, experiments can guide your next steps. By taking action, you open yourself to progress and transformation.

For example, a mid-career professional might test their leadership abilities by mentoring a junior colleague. A seasoned expert could explore consulting through short-term projects. Career experiments can adapt to your unique circumstances and goals.

Action Drives Progress

Planning often feels productive but yields little until action is taken. Like scientists proving theories through experimentation, professionals grow through hands-on exploration. Action leads to progress, insights, and unexpected opportunities.

Rather than waiting for certainty, embrace experimentation. Let curiosity lead you to the next step. Incredible opportunities may lie beyond your initial expectations.

Start Experimenting Today

There’s no perfect moment to start a career experiment—every stage of your career is an opportunity to learn and grow. Begin with a small test that excites you, and let it guide your path. By embracing uncertainty, you’ll find clarity and open doors you didn’t know existed.

Let the experiments begin. Your next career breakthrough might be closer than you think.