Career paths rarely unfold in straight lines. For some, progress looks like a steady climb within a single company. For others, it’s a series of transitions—moving between roles, industries, or even entire career fields. One of the biggest questions professionals wrestle with is this: How do you know when it’s the right time to pursue a new opportunity?

In a recent conversation, a seasoned executive reflected on their own journey across multiple companies and industries. Their answer might surprise you. Instead of chasing roles, they described a career shaped by inbound opportunities—calls, offers, and connections that arrived seemingly out of the blue. But as they explained, these weren’t random strokes of luck. They were the result of seeds planted long before the phone ever rang.

This perspective reveals a deeper truth about career growth: the right time to move often reveals itself after years of preparation. Let’s break down what this means for anyone looking to navigate their own professional crossroads.

1. Opportunities Often Find You, Not the Other Way Around

The executive put it simply: “I’ve never gone looking. It’s always been inbound. The opportunities have chosen me.”

On the surface, that may sound like pure luck. But if you peel back the layers, it becomes clear that inbound opportunities don’t appear out of thin air. They show up because of the reputation, relationships, and results you’ve built over time.

When you consistently deliver excellence, cultivate a strong network, and contribute to your industry, people remember you. Recruiters call. Colleagues refer you. Mentors open doors. The “phone call” that changes your life isn’t an accident—it’s the harvest of seeds you’ve been planting, sometimes without realizing it.

Takeaway: Focus less on chasing every shiny job posting, and more on building the kind of professional presence that makes people want to bring opportunities to you.

2. The Seeds Are Planted Long Before the Call

The executive described their career as “a series of seeds that were planted well before the phone call comes.”

What does planting seeds look like in practice?

• Volunteering for projects outside your comfort zone.
• Building genuine relationships instead of transactional connections.
• Sharing your insights publicly—through talks, articles, or mentorship.
• Helping others without expecting immediate returns.

These small actions often feel ordinary in the moment. But over time, they create a reputation that precedes you. By the time someone calls you with an opportunity, they’ve already seen evidence of your value.

Takeaway: Treat every role, project, and interaction as an investment in your future career, even if the payoff isn’t immediate.

3. Trust Your Immediate Reaction

One of the most striking parts of the executive’s story was their description of how they evaluate new opportunities:

“When the phone call comes, I usually have a pretty immediate reaction—‘Oh, this is right for me,’ or ‘No, this isn’t.’”

This is intuition, but not the impulsive kind. It’s the result of years of accumulated experience. When you’ve done the work of understanding your values, strengths, and long-term vision, your gut can often process complex decisions faster than logic alone.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should jump without reflection. But paying attention to your first reaction can reveal whether the opportunity aligns with who you are and where you want to go.

Takeaway: Before opportunities arrive, spend time clarifying your values and long-term goals. That way, when the call comes, you’ll know almost instantly whether it feels right.

4. You Don’t Always Need to Go Looking

There’s a lot of career advice that encourages relentless searching: always apply, always network, always be hustling for the next step. And for some people, especially at the very beginning of their careers, this is necessary.

But the executive’s story reminds us that once you’ve built momentum, you don’t always need to chase. Sometimes the best opportunities come to you precisely when you’re focused on excelling where you already are.

This doesn’t mean you should sit back passively. It means you should prioritize creating value in your current role while staying open and visible enough for others to find you.

Takeaway: Focus on being so good at what you do that opportunities look for you.

5. The Power of Being “Chosen”

There’s something deeply affirming about being sought out rather than applying cold. When an opportunity comes to you, it often means:

• The organization already sees your fit.
• Someone you respect has vouched for you.
• The role is tailored to your strengths.

Being “chosen” doesn’t mean you should accept every inbound offer. But it does shift the dynamic. Instead of trying to prove your worth, you’re in a position of strength to evaluate whether the opportunity truly aligns with your aspirations.

Takeaway: When opportunities choose you, recognize the leverage and clarity this gives you in making your decision.

6. Redefining What It Means to Be Ready

Many professionals obsess over the question: Am I ready? The executive’s story suggests a different perspective: readiness is less about ticking every box and more about being prepared enough for the right opportunity when it arrives.

By continually learning, stretching your abilities, and planting seeds, you create a foundation of readiness. Then, when the unexpected call comes, you don’t need to scramble. You’re already equipped to step into the role.

Takeaway: Stop waiting until you feel 100% ready. Focus on consistent growth so that when the door opens, you can walk through it with confidence.

7. The Balance Between Intention and Serendipity

The executive’s narrative highlights an important balance in career building: you can’t control when or how opportunities appear, but you can control how prepared you are to receive them.

Think of it like tending a garden. You can’t control the weather, but you can plant seeds, water them, and cultivate the soil. When the rain comes, growth happens. Similarly, when the right call comes, it may feel sudden—but in reality, you’ve been preparing for it all along.

Takeaway: Trust that your consistent efforts will intersect with the right opportunities, even if you can’t predict exactly when.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

The right time to pursue a new opportunity isn’t always something you can plan with precision. Often, it comes as a call, a message, or a chance encounter that feels both unexpected and inevitable.

If you’ve been consistently planting seeds—building relationships, honing your skills, and contributing meaningfully—you’ll be ready when that moment comes. And when it does, trust your instinct. Opportunities may seem to “choose you,” but in reality, you’ve been preparing for them all along.