Many people were confronted with challenges they hadn’t faced before – “What is my goal now that there are so few jobs in my field?” “How do I develop a resume for the new job search environment and harness the power of the Internet to support the job search?” “What do I do to tap into the hidden job market?”
What did Bob do with his skills?
He shaped a new career that uses his skills and interests in a creative way. He proceeded to develop and implement a project with the same degree of professionalism he utilized as a Senior Project Manager for a Fortune 500 company. Bob and his wife bought an historic B&B that needed extensive renovation. He developed the property into a high-end lodging with every amenity, including data ports in every room
(what else would you expect from a high-tech professional?!). He used his skills on a daily basis and had the satisfaction that came with being his own boss.
Bob’s solution was to leverage his transferable skills in strategic and tactical planning, management, and on-time, on-budget project management. In transitioning to a radically different industry, Bob is not alone. Research shows that people have, on average, three distinct careers in a lifetime. Many people make less dramatic transitions by retaining the same role but in a different industry.
Whether you try to land a job within your current industry or transition to something different, you are the owner of your own skills. Another way to look at it is that you have a personal brand that is yours alone and that travels with you wherever you go. Making everything you do enhance your personal brand gives you a sense of autonomy and fundamental security that even the most benevolent employer cannot offer!