Reinventing Yourself for Job Search Success

@Jane H, You don't have to move to a new place to change your profession, but you're absolutely right about meeting new people and trying new things. It's important to seek out environments and hobbies that put you in contact with people in your target industry. You don't necessarily have to do formal networking, but you can look for new social groups (through organizations such as Meetup), join business/trade organizations, take a creative class or college course, and go to workshops and seminars related to your target industry. And of course, volunteering is always a way to get exposure to other industries before making a leap.

I've had friends try to reinvent themselves and end up going back to their old line of work. It seems to me the principal mistake they made was to keep all the same friends, live in the same place, and maintain the same routine. Do you think that if a person is failing frequently, as your article mentioned, that it would be helpful for a person to pick up and move to a new town and get a completely new start, not just a new job?

Thanks for the comments and the differing viewpoints. @Duncan I agree that taking a break from the job search can actually hurt you. I have found, in my own experience, that if I apply for several positions, that my phone will start ringing. But, once I stop, even for a week, the phone stops ringing. @Mike I agree that all social media accounts are important. Employers are very tech savvy these days and they will view your social media accounts - depending upon the type of job, of course. Turning them off during the job search truly can hurt you because employers will wonder (1) what you are hiding and (2) maybe you are too antisocial for the position and/or the organization. I have found that it's much easier to just keep my social media clean right from the start so that I don't have to scramble and go through everything prior to applying for a job. Just my two cents worth. Anyone else want to chime in here?

It's true that even the shortest break from the job market can actually alienate you in manner that you may never have thought of before. That's why the idea of making your comeback count through proper and rigorous networking is a wise one. I believe getting in touch with those currently in the marketplace will give you a lot of confidence to approach employers in the new fashion of professional presentation.

That's ironic, Catherine, because that's the part I MOST agree with out of the article. Social media (especially Facebook) is absolutely vital, and restricting yourself to LinkedIn isn't a great idea. A lot of times you know somebody who knows somebody who needs an employee, and without that middle connection you'd never run across one another. Additionally, if your "social circle" knows that you excel in a particular area, they are more likely to bring new opportunities directly to you!

I disagree with the point about the necessity of having social media accounts for successful job searches. I think having a LinkedIn account is probably recommended, but other social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram can often be very detrimental to job applicants because they display personal opinions, unprofessional behaviors and often vanity and egotism. When I am applying for a job, I make sure to shut down all my social media accounts except for LinkedIn.

@Shannon everyone would respond differently to your question. For me, if I faced rejection, I would probably brood for a day or so and then pick myself back up and move on. Not everyone can do that I understand. You know yourself better than anyone so you know how you would react.

I love that the article stresses the importance of resilience. Job seekers, in general, have to develop thick skin and be able to bounce back when faced with rejections. What are some strategies, techniques or practices you would recommend to make the most out of rejections or resistance job seekers face?

I love that you incorporated creativity into this post, Nancy. I think of it as an “energy generating” technique that carries a powerful, forward-moving momentum. Maybe it’s creating a mosaic flower pot, puttering in the garden, or power walking while singing way too loudly to your iPod shuffle (my favorite creative acts!) Although seemingly unrelated to the job search, there’s a real generative magic in creative acts that can set many unexpected and fortunate events into motion.

@Hema your best bet is to have a LinkedIn account - at a minimum. Make sure that the message in your LinkedIn account reflects the same thing in the resume that you sent to the hiring company. If you have other social media accounts, check them out and make sure that there isn't anything on them that might cause a prospective employer pause.

A presence on social media can help in a job search, but how many social media accounts should you have? Anyone who’s looking to join the workforce after a break might become overwhelmed with all the social media platforms out there. Is there any way to find out which platform might be the most useful for a specific job search?

I fully agree with the tip about pretending you already have the job. When you engage an interviewer from this perspective, they get a first-hand look at what you'll be like to work with, and what kinds of ideas you'll bring to the table. You basically offer your skills to the interviewer on a platter, and make it nearly impossible for them to resist you.

@William, Writing a blog a day or even a few days a week is an excellent idea. This doesn't just help you feel like player, your writing can actually attract the attention of recruiters and other influencers in your field. A blog or portfolio of web writing is almost essential in today's job market and can help to make your CV a standout. So my advice would be to write what you're passionate about and you can't go wrong with it.

Creating something every day doesn't have to revolve around something as huge as a business plan or seeking a promotion. It can be something as simple as writing a blog for 30 minutes a day or making that new pasta dish you read about on a cooking website you follow. When you create every day, you learn what makes you tick and how to turn that passionate creativity into a career.

@Abbey there are many ways to find networking opportunities. Many larger cities have networking opportunities all of the time. Try doing a search for industry type networking in your city. Once you find some, see if you can register with them and then you can receive emails for upcoming networking events. Other ways to network would be through contacts you have made in other companies, other positions, in school, in church, in your community and the list goes on. They don't have to be with people that you already know. Get out and meet some new people. Take the bull by the horns so to speak and walk up to a stranger and strike up a conversation. You might be amazed.

What are some of the rules of networking? I understand the more contacts you have, the better off you are, but how do you find these people? Should they be people with whom you've interacted in the past, or can you really strike up conversations with random people in hopes of making a new connection?