How to succeed even if life got in the way of your career

I am convinced that some hiring managers feel they should only hire perfect people, people whose life never got in the way of their career. With that bias, they miss great potential from people whose life got in the way of their career.

How do I know? I worked with many of them! Once I helped them see their value and potential, these same people whose life got in the way of their career went on to be rock stars!

What do I mean — life got in the way of their career?

Life differs for each of us and sometimes life got in the way of the goals and dreams of a solid focus on career advancement. It doesn’t mean that you are bad or less talented than the next person but life happens, perhaps you:

• Stopped your career to be a stay-at-home mom or a stay-at-home dad
• Changed career paths because the original path wasn’t rewarding anymore but the new direction wasn’t better so you returned to your original path.
• Had health issues but are now fully recovered and ready to be productive.
• Stopped your career to care for an illness with a family member.
• Ended your marriage in divorce and you needed some time to regroup.
• Transferred to another part of the country but realized that family was essential to your happiness and moved back without a job.
• Victim of corporate downsizing or right-sizing.
• Lost job because of the recession, company closed or eliminated positions.
• Company merged and your position was eliminated or transferred to a different part of the country.
• Stopped to be an entrepreneur but now realize that you prefer working for someone else.

When life got in the way did it make you less valuable?

In my mind, people who made choices that interrupted their careers are normal. In fact it is more common than people who stick to a path. However, because hiring managers are taught to eliminate on the basis of anything out of the norm, they may hit a few walls.

What should you do if life got in the way of your career?

• Be prepared.
• Decide to invest in you.
• Find the best professional resume writer who will market your talents and get you interviews.
• Use the resources.
• Make sure your LinkedIn profile is well prepared as a career marketing tool to attract inquiries from hiring managers and recruiters.
• Build your network and work your network.

You are valuable — life just got in the way!

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