Being adaptable in your work choices and job search gets results, writes Paul Slezak.

The employment landscape has undergone a pretty major shake-up in the past 12 months. But what has been most encouraging (in career development terms) is hearing how many people have embraced the situation as a way to start afresh.

However, many have been unexpectedly derailed from their carefully plotted career paths and are now being forced to re-evaluate their future and choose between getting work, finding a job or, in fact, having to reinvent their career altogether.

The concept of work, job or career can mean something entirely different depending upon whom you ask. Likewise is having a need to work (to simply pay the bills) versus a plan of work (for the rapid climb up the corporate ladder).

Consider the following: a client-services director from a leading advertising agency falls victim to the global financial crisis (without a significant redundancy payout).

He has two children and a mortgage. His immediate thought is "I just need work" and so takes a part-time position in a call centre to pay the bills. Meanwhile, a call centre operator who has had her hours reduced (cost-cutting measures) suddenly finds herself having to find extra work to make ends meet, taking on shifts in a local cafe.

Then there is the recent graduate who has been working shifts in a cafe throughout his time at university, who is looking for a job in a call centre seeing it as part of his career path to ultimately joining the client-service team of a big-ticket advertising agency.

The shifts in the cafe, the role in the call centre and the position in the ad agency are all viewed differently, from each perspective. On the flipside, it is unrealistic for the university graduate to expect to become the client-services director without gaining experience with customers (initially in the cafe and then the call centre) before securing an entry-level position in the ad agency and eventually climbing the ranks.

The point here is whatever situation you may find yourself in, first and foremost be realistic in terms of your approach. While you may have held a senior role previously, right now supporting your family is your number-one priority.

You could have obtained a masters degree recently but, with the number of postgraduate opportunities being drastically reduced, now need to continue with your casual or part-time work. Some of my clients have been out of the permanent workforce for nearly six months.

It has been interesting to watch them recalibrate their lives as they come to appreciate the need to perhaps find work while maintaining a search for their next career move.

Most thought being between jobs would be a passing phase, however when reality hit they had to lower their salary expectations and even apply for contract work.

Some have even decided to totally repackage themselves and take on volunteer work to contribute their expertise where it is truly appreciated and feel valued again.

Now could also be the perfect time to get in touch with your true passion and what you really want to do. Sure, you may be a chartered accountant working for one of the big guys but you may also have a love for animals and a desire to follow that dream.

To make the transition, think laterally and undertake a two-step shuffle (or knight's move for any avid chess players out there). Perhaps there is a vacancy for a part-time accountant at the zoo.

You could then study zoology and be in the perfect position when another opportunity at the zoo arises. Or perhaps you previously headed up the marketing department for a major financial services company but really always wanted to be an interior designer.

Your two-step shuffle could have you initially doing some marketing or PR consulting for a homewares store, learning the trade on the go, thereby giving you industry experience and pointing you in an entirely new career direction.

Basically in this time it pays to be more creative and think of alternative ways to get there. Whatever your reasons for your search, it's important to remain motivated and keep focused on what it is you want to achieve.


Paul Slezak is co-author of 21 Things to Do to Get a New Job Now!, available as an e-book ($US11.95/$12.85) or in paperback ($US19.95) at lulu.com/content/paperback-book/21-things-to-do-to-get-a-new-job-now/7584069. For a chapter extract, visit mycareer.com.au/extract. Are you flexible enough to cope with the GFC? Tell us at mycareer.com.au/vote.