by Sharon Bishin, Corporate & Employability Trainer

The experts are making it very clear; this is what we must do:

Reboot.
Earlier this month, the Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies (AJFCA) and the International Associations of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS) wove a theme around their joint annual conference on the topic of “Inspiring Creativity in a Changing World”. Recognizing that today’s world moves at a much quicker, technologically-driven pace, they are challenging us all with the question: what are we going to do with this moment? How are we taking charge of our future? Are we embracing the new possibilities and tools?

Reframe.
Louisa Jewell (www.louisajewell.com) runs a quarterly Positive Psychology Think Tank and much of her work concentrates on getting beyond self-doubt and building self-confidence. Her next Think Tank will feature Susanna Halonen, who will talk about how to bring greater passion into your life. Make sure your internal dialogue is positive – that takes work!

Re-examine.
Cannexus, a national career development conference, reminded us that jobs we know today did not exist five years ago and we cannot even begin to guess at jobs that might exist in five years, so we have to embrace creativity and entrepreneurship to examine skillsets anew. As keynoter Rich Feller put it: “Change doesn’t destroy opportunities, it relocates them.”

Renew.
The seasons are supporting us. Now is the time to take a cleansing breath and recommit to the challenge of job search. Remember:

1. You are never starting at zero; articulate the transferable skills you have acquired at previous positions (working with a variety of people/synthesizing information/strengthening personal qualities such as decision-making, conflict-resolution or mentoring)
2. Take it slowly, but embrace the world of technology and social media. LinkedIn and even Twitter are valuable resources to showcase your skillset and connect you with some key networking possibilities.

Looking for work is challenging at best and often overwhelming. Look for ways to bring a fresh perspective to what you have to offer and where you are looking to find a new opportunity.