Don’t be surprised if you need to fill in gaps in your knowledge and expertise.
You may need a course. In this case, there are no shortage of classes, workshops and webinars. A lot of prestigious colleges and universities are also offering free online content, adds Kane. Sometimes you can do a pro bono project so you have a win in that area.
“Reinvention is a process of adding to your tool box,” says Mitchell.
Kane admits that most jumps do not entail 100 percent reinvention. It’s easier to change jobs within your company or switch industries but stay in the same function.
“That said, I’ve seen plenty of people who have been in business operational roles become the chief HR officer, because they have exhibited very strong people management skills,” she says. "It is possible."
Entrepreneurial Option
For some, the entrepreneurial route can be the way to go. Many people who have had trouble finding full-time jobs are offering their services to companies as consultants, where they exist and get paid as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). Here, you work with one client for a period and then they move on to another.
However, if you’re thinking about starting a business doing something brand new, you need to explore and evaluate your idea as well as the industry.
“Some people come to entrepreneurship because they want to make a million dollars or they don’t want to work for someone else. Those are the wrong reasons,” said Zill.
You have to have a product or service for which there is a need in the market place but is also in line with your interests and talents.
If this all scares you too much, start with a mini-reinvention.
“You can reinvent yourself within the same job. It doesn’t always mean leaving your life behind and doing something completely different," says Mitchell.
A lot of it is about getting more creative about what you are doing and trying to pull in different things.
The good news: Once you understand the skill, you can take yourself anywhere. If you are not perpetually reinventing and building your personal brand, you are not setting yourself up for career success in the near or long term.