Why Wait? Right now is a great time to reinvent your career for professional success. Whether you’re looking to re-enter the workforce, change industries or redefine your brand – taking the necessary steps to generate positive change enhances your personal and professional confidence, and allows you to have the freedom to take the wheel and control your destiny.
Reinventing your career goes hand-in-hand with reinventing yourself. The type of career you pursue now may not be the type you pursued five or 10 years ago. Consider working with a mentor or a career coach to reflect upon your current values, interests, strengths and personality. It’s up to you to decide your career destiny. Give yourself permission to dream big. Do your research, investigate opportunities and embrace your network!
Here are some helpful tips to Recharge, Reignite and Redefine your career power:
Recharge Your Professional Role
According to The Conference Board 2014 Job Satisfaction survey, less than half of US employees are satisfied with their jobs. If you fall within the “dissatisfied” bracket, it’s time to reassess your options. Make a list of what you like and dislike about your industry, position and responsibilities, and determine if your current role is compatible with your strengths, professional values and contributions. Maybe another role in the company is a better fit for you, or the same role at a different company is what you need to give your career a renewed boost in the right direction.
Reignite Your Personal Passion
Where is your passion? If your career is leading you into a dead end, that’s not where you’ll find it. As Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” The most powerful and sustainable brands are authentically built from the heart, so find the courage to take risks and follow your intuition. Find the spark that motivates you to do what you love to do and build an empire around your personal passion. Whether it’s baking, crocheting, painting or photography – YOU have the power to inspire yourself and achieve success.
Redefine Your Mission
If you are looking for a complete career overhaul to explore a new field – game on! Take a class, read books and follow professional topics of interest online. Completing a course is something you can add to your resume as evidence of your education and motivation. Volunteering is also a terrific way to learn the ropes and gain credibility in a new industry. Redefine how you see yourself and how the world sees you by learning a new trade, skill or industry trend. The more you explore out there, the more you learn about yourself and realize how much you can accomplish.
We want to hear from you! Have you thought about making a career change? What do you think is the biggest challenge when reinventing your career?
One of the biggest challenges is my own fear. Fear of failing, fear of feeling too stuck in my old habits, fear of getting out of my comfort zone, fear of losing what I already have.
I reinvented myself in 2014. Previously, I worked at Motorola in software engineering for 28 years. Then, I realized I wanted to do something more with my life. After spending time at Seminary and talking with God, I’m now a Christian career coach, and I love my job! I love helping people who are facing the same questions, described in your article. Nice job!
I am in a transition in my career right now. How my resume can help with job interest? Who can help put that interesting, outstanding and capturing content.
Is there any support that would help me find my best loved career? I need a career makeover. Any suggestions?
Hello
Generally I would say that Ive experienced a challenge taking my Program Management skills to a new industry. They generally seem to want to know that I have experience in Health Insurance for example. I didnt think it would be as challenging as it has been because my leadership skills are transferable.
Although I love what I was hired to do and I love the industry I’m doing it in, Administrative in Aviation, Helicopters to be exact; the company itself isn’t very motivating. I leave here with absolutely no sense of accomplishment. And spend my eight hours always second guessing myself; WHICH I’VE NEVER DONE!!
But here inlays the problem as I see it. I am 46 years old and never went to school for this particular occupation. And although I’ve taken to it like a fish to water I still feel that I’m not able to compete with 20 something year olds that have a degree. Also I live and work in California and I am needing/wanting to move back east to pursue a better way of life i.e. find a state that has water.
But there’s that problem again. I know that I can work circles around most of these people and my maturity and experience is second to none, but when a company is looking at resumes…
What would anyone do in my position?
Hoping to change my career…retire from my current position and start again. I’m looking for a career coach.
How timely to read the article Reinvent Your Career for Professional Success, as I’ve recently decided that I need to reinvent mine.
I’m looking to build on my current skills and success and seeking resources, education and mentors to support me along the way.
Rather than simply sign up for one course after the other, I’m looking to develop a plan that allows me to have synergy between the areas that I’m looking to work on – Computer skills, Social Media savvy, Project Management and Leadership development- primarily.
I work for a great company (KAMAN Industrial Technologies) that supports and promotes women and the contributions we make to our Corporation, and intend to further develop my technical and leadership skills to support our mutual future success.
Joining NAPW, utilizing its resources and making time to enjoy new opportunities is among my first steps.
I welcome any advice from other members who have chosen to overhaul their careers.
What would you recommend?
Thank you!
I am currently in my early 60’s but I feel that I would like to make a career change. Is that advisable?
I’m finding the biggest struggle is proving my relevancy to my desired career change, even with relevant experience and industry contacts.
I drastically changed careers over a decade ago or more.
Although it was challenging with alot to learn, I began to feel as tho perhaps my choices were out of order, in that all my “marketable” knowledge n skills , we’re becoming obsolete. Outdated, like Myself, now at 50.
HOWEVER, I’M DETERMINED AND OPTIMISTIC THAT THE RIGHT COMPANY, RIGHT CAREER OPPORTUNITY IS STILL TO COME…..
Sometimes the scariest part is knowing where to start, not feeling alone, and finding the confidence to dream. When I left the corporate world to start my own business I knew what I wanted to do, but I still needed support and advice to help me forge ahead with confidence. Now I work with people who know they want to be transition, but they aren’t sure what or how that might look. Attending a retreat with others in the same situation is very powerful and motivating. This is exactly why I developed “The Leadership Adventure” as a fun, 5 day experience where you can get out of your comfort zone, redefine and evolve your brand, and learn how to DREAM BIG! Our next program is August! https://www.facebook.com/events/1612636455642007/
I left full time employment May 15th and have established a new consultant business (RLinroth Consulting) to pursue a more focused career on improving healthcare transition for persons with chronic, complex care needs by partnering with organizations and facilities who provide medical care. I am in the steep learning curve of starting up a business, setting up a home office, creating a website, obtaining liability insurance, learning about contracts, and marketing. It is exhilarating! I am looking forward to meeting new people, traveling to new places, and learning new things.