Take action - reinvent yourself in a new career

By Lynda Reeves
Senior Career Consultant & Strategist, Graham Management Group

So, you are not happy with your current position and you want out! You are not only looking for a change, but also at reinventing yourself. In this wildly fluctuating and uncertain economy, you are not alone. In fact, as you consider what your ‘new career identity’ might be, you probably have already run the gambit of fear, uncertainty, intimidation, impatience, and – perhaps – even anger and agitation.

Don’t over-think things. At this stage in your life, a bit less introspection and more action is what you need. It is actually very simple to employ activity towards your goal. Getting moving on your career change is not unlike the concept behind giving CPR in an emergency. Doing something is always better than doing nothing at all.

Let’s assume for a moment that you are an executive who has built a career on promoting products or developing businesses with a solid profit margin, but you get the feeling that you would really rather be somewhere else – like working for not-for-profit entities. What can you do to make this happen?

Volunteer your services: Assuming there is no immediate opening that appeals to you, volunteering to become a member of the board for one or two organizations that particularly interest you is a great way to begin your progression. As a board member, you will learn the undercurrent of issues and the organization’s vision. This inside role will allow you to check that newly acquired data against what you believed was appealing about heading in that direction in the first place.

Join a relevant association: Look up professional, or even informal, organizations related to your target. Even if you select a strictly online community, there will be a forum for you to offer ideas, make suggestions, and ask your questions. You may make links with “people who know people who...” Well, you get the idea. This is an easy approach to networking that also provides you with a trial experience.

Build a business case: Volunteering not fast enough for you? Then take your updated professional portfolio and start setting up meetings with board members or the leadership of the organization. Ask questions about what their key challenges are, then take those away and build a business solutions scenario. After you’ve created your business case, touch base with your contacts to tell them exactly how transferable your current skills and expertise will meet their needs.

What if you want a change that is more nebulous? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to write a novel or become a painter. Whether that is the case, or you simply want to increase your visibility in a well-defined new stream, here are some more ideas to consider:

Create value samples: Get writing. Offer articles of interest online - in a blog, your personal website, or as a contributor to an association that fits the job or line of work you think you want. Send along outlines of your proposed topics to newspaper and magazine editors – or give them a free abbreviated version to tweak their interest. Make a contract with yourself to write something (big or small) in your target area every day.

Perform research: If you are someone who goes cold at the thought of research, remember that it is still an activity. Far too many discount the value in it. When you start digging – whether at the library, online, or by asking others where they think you might find more material – you are gathering information. The more data you have, the better your chances of augmenting your knowledge and strengthening your future position.

Take courses: As you learn more about your dream role, you may realize that you are missing a key element and that you can get it by enrolling now in a community college, university, or other program. You may also discover short-term training opportunities in your own community’s activity calendar. If you are keen to move from your current locale, look into institutions and training nearer your destination.

By now, you have probably thought of many other strategies not touched on in this brief overview. The more you try out for yourself, the better prepared you are going to be. You will open more doors to un-posted or “hidden” opportunities. Of greater importance, is that you will be able to evaluate your new career direction while you are taking action. You will be able to ask yourself: Is it right for me? Do the strategies I’m implementing make me feel energized and even more determined to head in that direction?

Ready to get going? Then do it! Over-thinking can be your greatest enemy if you are serious about reinventing yourself with an entirely new career focus. It can lead to a passivity that causes a loss in momentum. You can do all your thinking and analysis as you implement steps. They are risk-free and always worth the effort you invest.

Lynda Reeves is an award-winning, master certified resume strategist and career consultant. As senior consultant for Graham Management Group, Lynda assists executives, managers, and six-figure professionals, leveraging extensive experience spanning resume writing, human resource consulting, coaching, and training. You can contact Lynda and find further information and articles directly at www.GrahamManagement.com.

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