Best Jobs For Former Specialists [2026]

Best Jobs For Former Specialists in 2026

As the labor market evolves, many specialists are reassessing their career paths. The confidence of specialists has been shaken, prompting a significant shift toward new opportunities.

While the number of degree programs aimed at preparing individuals for specialist roles remains steady, interest in pursuing these careers has declined. This raises an important question:

What career paths are former specialists pursuing now?

To uncover the answer, we analyzed the resumes of individuals who transitioned out of specialist roles. Our research focused on the top 100 jobs that they moved into, revealing some fascinating trends.

Best Jobs For Former Specialists

While each job varies in terms of appeal and responsibilities, they certainly stand out as noteworthy options for those transitioning from specialist roles.

For a comprehensive overview, see the complete list of jobs below.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former Specialists

Rank	Job Title	%
1	Customer Service Representative	2.09%
2	Sales Associate	1.21%
3	Administrative Assistant	1.15%
4	Team Leader	0.68%
5	Manager	0.67%
6	Sales Representative	0.67%
7	Assistant Manager	0.67%
8	Project Manager	0.58%
9	Consultant	0.54%
10	Cashier	0.53%
11	Office Manager	0.51%
12	Server	0.5%
13	Internship	0.49%
14	Supervisor	0.43%
15	Account Manager	0.4%
16	Analyst	0.4%
17	Substitute Teacher	0.37%
18	Operations Manager	0.36%
19	Owner	0.36%
20	Store Manager	0.36%
21	Coordinator	0.36%
22	Account Executive	0.35%
23	Teacher	0.35%
24	Associate	0.34%
25	Technician	0.34%
26	Volunteer	0.34%
27	Security Officer	0.31%
28	Customer Service Trainer	0.3%
29	Case Manager	0.3%
30	Billing Specialist	0.3%
31	Office Assistant	0.29%
32	Medical Assistant	0.27%
33	Human Resources Coordinator	0.26%
34	Administrator	0.25%
35	Receptionist	0.24%
36	Operations Specialist	0.23%
37	Registered Nurse	0.23%
38	Accounts Payable Clerk	0.23%
39	Program Manager	0.23%
40	Technical Support Specialist	0.22%
41	Sales Consultant	0.22%
42	Sales Specialist	0.22%
43	Business Analyst	0.22%
44	Certified Nursing Assistant	0.22%
45	Senior Specialist	0.22%
46	Sales Manager	0.21%
47	Support Specialist	0.21%
48	Instructor	0.2%
49	Service Representative	0.2%
50	Assistant	0.2%
51	Project Coordinator	0.2%
52	Systems Administrator	0.2%
53	Machine Operator	0.19%
54	General Manager	0.19%
55	Family Specialist	0.18%
56	Legal Assistant	0.18%
57	Graphic Designer	0.18%
58	Driver	0.18%
59	Owner/operator	0.18%
60	Representative	0.18%
61	Service Specialist	0.17%
62	Recruiter	0.17%
63	Pharmacist Technician	0.17%
64	Customer Service Specialist	0.17%
65	Systems Engineer	0.17%
66	Maintenance Technician	0.17%
67	Field Service Technician	0.17%
68	Teller	0.17%
69	Data Analyst	0.17%
70	Material Handler	0.16%
71	Research Assistant	0.16%
72	Expert	0.16%
73	Engineer	0.16%
74	Senior Analyst	0.15%
75	Accounting Clerk	0.15%
76	Customer Service Associate	0.15%
77	Finance Analyst	0.15%
78	Assistant Store Manager	0.15%
79	Human Resource Specialist	0.15%
80	Information Technology Specialist	0.14%
81	Licensed Practical Nurse	0.14%
82	Executive Assistant	0.14%
83	Human Resources Manager	0.14%
84	Network Engineer	0.13%
85	Warehouse Associate	0.13%
86	Delivery Driver	0.13%
87	Accountant	0.13%
88	Accounts Receivable Specialist	0.13%
89	Customer Care Representative	0.13%
90	Processor	0.13%
91	Office Administrator	0.13%
92	Paralegal	0.13%
93	Loan Processor	0.13%
94	Program Coordinator	0.13%
95	Network Technician	0.13%
96	Business Development Manager	0.12%
97	Director	0.12%
98	Technical Support Technician	0.12%
99	Operator	0.12%
100	Adjunct Professor	0.12%

Most Common Jobs For Former Specialists

These positions represent a diverse range of opportunities, each leveraging skills that former specialists possess. They can also serve as valuable stepping stones to new and exciting careers.

How We Determined the Best Jobs of Former Specialists

We utilized data from a comprehensive database of over 7 million resumes that included individuals listing specialist roles in their work history. From this data, we identified which jobs were most frequently taken after leaving specialist positions and ranked them accordingly.

To identify the most intriguing job opportunities, we sifted through the ranked list to highlight positions that:

Appeared in fewer than 1% of all job transitions
Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs in our database

This approach ensures that we provide a well-rounded view of career pathways for former specialists in the evolving job market of 2026.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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