Recently on Career Communique Radio we interviewed Nic Riccuiti from 'Reinvent your Career' and he gave us his 10 steps for reinventing your career - I have listed these below.

To listen to the show simply click on the link below;

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/careercommunique/2009/06/28/Reinvent-y...

To read the whole article and find out about Nic's work go to:

http://www.reinventyourcareer.com.au

Have a fantastic week

Cheers

Keith Keller - Career Coach

http://www.careercommuniqueradio.com

Reinvent your Career in 10 easy steps

1. Change (The Paradigm Shift)

There are many reasons why people change careers. Realising or acknowledging you need a change is the first step.

The paradigm shift is to become vocationally intelligent. In other words, open your mind to reprogramming your knowledge base around the opportunities that actually exist in the current workplace.

2. Reflection - SWOT analysis

If you are looking for a change to advance your own career then the SWOT analysis is an excellent tool for getting an accurate view of where you are right now. Consider:

- What are your Strengths?
- What are your Weaknesses or development needs?
- What are the Opportunities for development within your chosen career?
- What Threats are you facing?

SWOT can help in clarifying career choices, such as whether to move into another role within your current organisation or to exit the organisation.

3. Wheel of life - get the balance right

A week consists of 168 hours. Measure and reflect over the past 3 months and estimate the time you have spent on the following eight aspects of your life.

Business – Career progression activity
Finance – Investments and other monetary activities and responsibilities
Family – Partner, kids, parents, relatives
Spiritual – Worship, community, volunteering
Physical – General exercise, competition or activity participation
Mental – Reading, self learning, formal education
Social – Friends, outings, movies, having fun
Rest – Sleep, "me time", massage, holidays

4. Decide on your career roadmap - get professional advice

To maximise the return on investment in yourself, visit a professional Career Development Practitioner. They can assist mapping out the steps and changes necessary for you to go forward towards your career of choice. They do charge fees so shop around. For a complete list you may like to visit the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) website or Google career counselor in your area.

5. Learn new skills or have your experience formalised

When you were working full-time you probably did not have the time to update your skill set. Why not take the time now to learn a new software application, read the latest business books, or learn a foreign language? Acquiring new skills can only make you more valuable to a potential employer. More importantly look for companies who are keen to offer 'on the job training' where you can learn new skills or upgrade your educational qualifications.

6. Make your resume stand out

Condensing all your experience into two pages can seem daunting. But it is an essential part of reinventing your career. To make sure your resume stands out:

- You need a clean design that grabs your readers’ attention
- Use action words: "managed", "directed", "developed"
- Include outstanding referees who can back your best work achievements

Your resume should be accompanied by a cover letter that reflects your suitability and interest in the role advertised. It should be concise and to the point, link your experience to the job, be no more than four paragraphs long and end on a positive note.

7. Networking - Market your reinvented self to the 'hidden job market'

70% of jobs never get advertised. People mainly become aware of job vacancies via word of mouth and referral. So, open your mind to new industries or go face to face wherever possible. People often underestimate the importance of networking. It can be a wonderful opportunity to meet people and develop contacts within your chosen industry to gather as much information you can. More often than not, people are happy to help.

8. Prepare yourself for interviews

Interviews can be intimidating, but there are ways you can minimise your nerves:

- Read as much as you can about interview techniques
- Research the company and its products and services
- Make sure you are as informed as possible about the specific industry
- Prepare for your interviews in advance. Although it may be difficult, try to anticipate any questions they may ask you and practice your responses beforehand
- As you are approaching say to yourself: ‘I’m the best, I can do it, I like myself’
- Lastly, smile and be confident!

9. Maintain a routine

While you are in the process of finding a new career, try to maintain a routine. Get up early in the morning, research jobs and careers opportunity requiring your skill set continuously wherever possible, network and don’t forget to exercise. It will keep you feeling energized and positive about the future.

10. A fresh start - express gratitude

If you follow these steps, you’ll soon be on the path to your new and exciting future. When you do get the job of your dreams, congratulate yourself on all your hard work and don’t forget to thank all the people that supported you along the way.