We all travel through ups and downs in our personal and career life, including external issues that nobody could control. Who expected in 2007 that in 2008 the world would be teetering on a major recession, which affected millions of careers?
Faced with the need for reinvention, some people who want to wallow in self-pity and negativity will say it can’t be done. As a career management professional who has coached thousands of people across the world, I say wholeheartedly that yes, it can.
Stay positive
I believe that your attitude can steer you through the difficulties and help you fly high. As Audrey Hepburn said, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”
Sweep away the digital dirt
It has become very easy for disgruntled people to vent their feelings on the internet, and that includes complaints about their peers and bosses at work. Unfortunately, that may mean there are negative comments online about you, and that may be the first thing someone finds when they Google your name.
Then there’s the digital dirt you’ve tracked yourself, if you’ve been using Facebook as a personal site rather than a job search platform (see my tips on how to use Facebook professionally).
However, despite all these issues, nothing is insurmountable. With patience and diligence, you can bury this dirt under sparkling displays of your expertise and personal brand.
Purposeful and targeted social media activity, your own blog posts, and your profiles on active and static website platforms, will all work together to crowd out the negative comments and push them lower and lower in the search engine results. Then your web presence will accurately portray who you really are, and how you want to be seen.
Connect the dots
It costs a lot of money to hire executive talent, with various estimates ranging between $20K and $50K, and hiring authorities go the extra mile to ensure they appoint the right people. Today, more so than ever, they’ll journey far back to the beginning of your career to look for red flags such as gaps or demotions.
Since they may see such a wide range of scenarios and viewpoints throughout your career history, take control of the impression you create today, and the story you tell about how you got where you are and what you’ve learned from your experiences.
Keep your messaging consistent with who you want to be known as now, both verbally (at networking events; giving presentations; during informational interviews, job interviews, and other meetings with hiring influencers) and in writing (resume, cover letter, executive bio, and executive summary; on social media and email).
Yes, you can reinvent yourself
In today’s economy when we’re starting to see a skills shortage, it’s far easier to reinvent yourself and even change careers or industries. That is where you can rely on the guidance and support of a career coach to provide valuable information on the tactics required.
You can reinvent yourself, provided you deliver a powerful and resonating message supported by your personal brand, in all your dealings with people who can open a new door for you.
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