| The phrase "reinventing yourself" seems to be | | | | necessary, seek the objective opinions of others. |
| popping up all over lately. Just a few days ago a | | | | Claim what is truly yours then describe it in |
| friend asked me how he could do it without | | | | who-what-when-where-why-how detail and |
| starting completely over. His concern was, "How | | | | practice condensing your description into a |
| do I move in a new career direction without | | | | 60-second story. Note how related talents and |
| sacrificing all the skills and experience I've worked | | | | gifts seem to cluster around passion themes. This |
| so hard to achieve?" The underlying question is, | | | | is not coincidence, but a sign pointing the way to |
| "Is this even possible?" | | | | your life's purpose. |
| Yes, it is possible to start fresh without starting | | | | 4.) Use all the data you've collected about yourself |
| over! Here's how: | | | | in Steps 1,2 and 3 to brainstorm a list of jobs, |
| 1.) Take inventory of the skills, experience, | | | | careers, employers and industries that match and |
| credentials and achievements you've built into | | | | make positive use of your skills, experience, |
| your career to date. Know your strengths and | | | | credentials, achievements, values, talents, gifts |
| weaknesses, your assets and your liabilities. | | | | and passions. Use career professionals and |
| Recognize your transferable skills and how to | | | | reference materials such as the Dictionary of |
| market them. Describe the breath and depth of | | | | Occupational Titles and the Occupational Outlook |
| your work experience. Understand the value of | | | | Handbook to assist you. Shorten, refine, |
| your credentials. Match power verbs, specific | | | | categorize and prioritize your list. |
| nouns and quantifiable descriptors to your | | | | 5.) Develop a stellar self-marketing package to |
| achievements and practice telling stories about | | | | match each cluster of jobs, careers, employers |
| them. | | | | and industries you want to market yourself into. |
| 2.) Clarify your values. Dig deeply enough into | | | | Create multiple versions of your resume and |
| yourself to know which values are yours and | | | | cover letter to cover a series of related titles, |
| which are your parents', mentors', employers', | | | | career paths or industries. Use the key words |
| culture's, society's or faith community's. Claim | | | | associated with each profession. Distribute your |
| yours and release theirs. Look again at any value | | | | resume and cover letter package to employers |
| regarding money or security: What you think is a | | | | strategically via ads, online postings sites, |
| value may not be a value at all, but a mask | | | | networking, recruiters and targeted mailings. |
| covering a cluster of values. For example, | | | | It really is this simple! Yes, these steps are dense |
| "money", "benefits" and "security" often mask | | | | with all kinds of "to do's", but if you do everything |
| values such as lifestyle, adventure, independence | | | | suggested, you will get to where you want to be. |
| and safety, so record these values as the latter, | | | | The worst mistake you can make in career |
| not the former, if you hope to actually live them. | | | | reinvention is to believe it you can't do it. Aren't |
| 3.) Identify the talents, gifts and passions that | | | | you worth that hope? |
| drive you. Be honest and real with yourself and if | | | | |
