Many YPs reach a point where they want to make a career change, dispite still being happy with their present employer. For example, a Finance YP may want to move into Marketing, an Engineer may want to move into Strategy & Finance, or an IT YP may want to move into a customer facing role.

It's easier to make a career change with your current employer than a new employer.

The best place to make the career move is with your current employer. They know you. They know your strengths and development needs and should have a reasonable read on your potential. However, your current employer has probably never thought of you outside of your current functional or operational area. Convincing them that they should train you to move into a totally different part of the organisation will take time. Don't be discouraged. Adopt the strategy of "plant the seed, water it and watch it grow".

This means from the initial discussion with management, don't expect them to say yes. Ask that they think about it. In the follow up meeting, you should ask what would I need to do to demonstrate that I'm ready to be considered for a move. Persist with another follow-up meeting.

If this leads nowhere or the timeframe your employer has indicated looks way too long, it's time to consider another employer. But be ware. Employers recruiting new staff ideally want a candidate who is already performing a similar role at a similar organisation. So it's very inlikely a new employer will hire for example, a YP with a Finance background into a Marketing position.

What they might do is offer you a role that is an 80/20 mix of your current background (eg. Finance) and your preference (Marketing). If you're successful after 18 months in that bridging role, they could then promote you into a Marketing position. But now compare that timeframe to your current employer's offer?