Follow These Steps to Reinvent Yourself

Professional reinvention is an inevitability for many workers, especially when the economy takes a turn for the worse. Whether you're bored with your current career trajectory or faced with a sudden job loss, finding a new path can seem intimidating — if not impossible. By approaching the process of reinventing yourself with a thoughtful plan, you can reduce stress and increase your chances of success in a new field.

Choose a Path

The first step in reinventing yourself is choosing a new direction. This process may be easy or difficult, depending on your level of clarity and motivation. Once you determine your new dream career, identify the jobs that stand between you and the ultimate goal. Look for job openings for each position, and find the gaps in your education, experience and training. In some areas, your existing experience may be adequate; in others, you may be starting from zero.

Fill the Gaps

Choose one or two skill areas in which you are currently lacking, and find ways to develop the abilities you need to succeed in your new career. Take an evening class at a community college, for example, or volunteer at a non-profit organization to gain experience. Use small, gradual steps to test the waters and decide whether reinventing yourself is the right option. If you are personally and financially ready for a complete professional reinvention, consider going back to school full-time to obtain a degree that can help you achieve your new goal.

Seek Out Guidance

When you are reinventing yourself, it is crucial to find people who can provide guidance along the way. Before you quit a job and enter a new industry, take time to find mentors. Join a professional organization, or reach out to your contacts for introductions. Find a person who can answer your questions, examine your resume and make recommendations. A mentor can offer an objective assessment and help you identify the most effective steps as you transition to a new career. This insider insight is an invaluable, time-saving part of the reinvention process.

Plan Your Story

During a major career reinvention, you must be prepared to explain your choice to every new employer and professional contact. Each of these conversations is an opportunity to market yourself and make new connections in your new industry, so preparation is key. Practice telling a story that explains why you are reinventing yourself at this stage in your career. If possible, summarize how your unusual work history makes you a great hire. This short elevator pitch can act as an icebreaker, an introduction and a personal brand statement.

Reinventing yourself is a long process, particularly if you have extensive experience in another industry. By working gradually toward the end goal, you can create a new professional persona and build the skills to succeed in a new field.

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