‘Reinventing You’ by Dorie Clark

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted economies around the world and many of us find ourselves out of work, whether temporarily or not.  The upheaval and uncertainty have created an opportunity to evaluate where you are professionally and where you’d like to go next.

Dorie Clark is a branding expert. With this book she provides practical guidance in assessing your strengths, developing a personal brand and determining the next contribution you want to make.

• Nail down your starting point
  • Tap your network for a 360 review
  • Arrange a focus group
  • Review your online presence -what is it saying about you?
    • Make sure to google yourself
  • Pick out patterns in past performance (job reviews)

• Research your destination
  • Make a list of people you know who do interesting things
    • Take a breather
    • Research industries and jobs that interest you
    • Find relevant books and read them
    • Setup informational interviews
      • Be clear about why you’re asking to talk
      • Be organized with questions
      • Ask for more names of others to talk to
      • Keep the connection open
      • Follow-up

• Test drive your path
  • Apprentice
  • Volunteer
  • Job shadow

• Develop Skill You Need
  • Push the boundaries of current job by asking for additional assignments
  • Create a side gig
  • Go back to school part time or full time

• Find a mentor or create a personal board of directors
  • Accountability will move you forward
  • Develop your own curriculum
  • Give back where you can – post positive feedback for example

• Leverage your points of difference
  • Identify what you have that others don’t
  • Build your list of transferable skills

• Build your narrative
  • Explain where you’ve been and what you bring
  • You can’t be who you aren’t
  • Believe in yourself

• Reintroduce yourself
  • Send the right signals
    • Social media/website
    • Voicemail message
    • wardrobe
  • Shift your behaviour, create a new network
  • Ask others who know you to validate your skills on your social media
  • Build your portfolio