This month we are going to discuss an opportunity many job seekers are choosing to embrace: reinvention of their career path.
Reinvention of a Job Seeker
This month we are going to discuss an opportunity many job seekers are choosing to embrace: reinvention of their career path. Quality, talented, hard-working professionals daily face the reality that the career that has identified them for so long is no longer an option for their lives. Perhaps reentry into the field will not provide sufficient income, or the particular trade is no longer in demand. Often, job loss opens a door for professionals to fulfill a dream or pursue a degree or certificate they have always wanted to obtain. Job seekers can tire of a lengthy, stressful job search and instead opt to move in a direction that will place them in a job more easily.
Regardless of the reason, the opportunity to reinvent your professional life is an option for many and can be an exciting one. Today we are going to meet two gentlemen who opted for reinvention…and are so glad they did!
Mr. Steve Alexander had 39 years of experience in sales and marketing, industrial distribution, manufacturing, and consulting. After operating as a manager, vice-president, and ultimately a president of various corporations during his career, he found himself unemployed when his position was eliminated. At 62 years of age, he still needed to reenter the workforce but quickly tired of being told he was "overqualified." So he went back to the drawing board by evaluating his assets and resetting his objectives…and thus began his reinvention. He found that sharing his knowledge and life experiences, as well as remaining actively involved in others' lives, was much more rewarding. On a whim, he took up his daughter's recommendation to begin substitute teaching…and, five years later, still does so very happily! He enjoys working in several school districts as a sub, a para-educator, a driver, and a tutor. His new work schedule now enables him to travel on mission trips, which are fulfilling and meaningful to him and to his family.
Mr. Abel Hernandez had a rewarding career in the United States Air Force and upon retirement made his home in Beavercreek, Ohio. He led the training division for a corporate office of FedEx and later became the performance manager at CareSource, headquartered in Dayton. While at CareSource, Abel identified a need within the company and developed a proposal which he presented to his VP. He championed the concept of "one-stop shopping" for performance management process, education, philosophy, and protocols. While he was instrumental in creating the job requirements, he still competed with external candidates and ultimately was selected for the position! Abel is also a corporate and career coach within CareSource. He has worked with more than 300 internal clients, helping them define their career goals and guiding them on the techniques of getting the job they want. His success working with internal clients prompted him to start his own business. He has been very successful working with those that either know the position they desire and want to build a competitive advantage over their competition or those that are seeking a career change but are having difficulty identifying a specific career path. His business enables him to help people differentiate themselves in this competitive job market. Abel teaches emotional intelligence for leaders at the University of Dayton on a part-time basis. He engages with the Veterans Administration and the Dayton Right to Life as a volunteer career coach. Abel's willingness to "think outside the box" now enables him to follow his passion for helping others every day. You can reach Abel via his business email: Careerleadershipcoaching@yahoo.com
Career reinvention comes in all shapes and sizes. If you are struggling to find your niche in your present career field, it may be time to head in a different direction. Consider talking with a career counselor, outplacement specialist, or trusted professional connection about options for your career future you may not have previously considered. One of those options may just be a perfect fit for you after all!
Next month's topic: Library resources for the job seeker
