For centuries, people earned names that described what they did for work: baker, butcher, bricklayer, carpenter. They probably chose a career, kept it for their entire lives, and worked until they couldn’t.

A generation ago, parents; and grandparents, for that matter; went to work for a company and probably stayed with the company for life. Jumping looked bad on a resume. My own father worked for the same company for thirty years, as a dedicated engineer. Unfortunately, coinciding with his retirement, his company was sold to a large conglomerate and his retirement salary was reduced from comfortable to pennies on the dollar.

Today the children have learned their lesson: take care of yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you. And that’s the new norm. Seniors and baby boomers may struggle with the concept of moving from job to job, but after getting burned out once or twice, being laid off from a company that benefited from its prime years, that view could change. .

Loyalty to the company went out the window with the 2008 bailout and financial failures. People lost their way, along with their jobs and their homes. So if resumes and references are still dusty relics of old job searches, and loyalty to a company is no longer rewarded, what are the new rules? Ask any successful entrepreneur, you create yours.

So how can you proactively manage your own career in the new job market?

Expand your knowledge base – Don’t become complacent with your current abilities. Keep looking for training in and outside of your area of ​​expertise, much of which is available online. There are many certifications in all professional fields, obtaining one can open many doors.

Always answer the call – you never know where your next opportunity will come from. I never say no to listening to a recruiter, a previous colleague or a previous client. There is no obligation to chase the opening, but you may find your next big concert unexpectedly.

Self-promote – With today’s technology, there are many new ways to easily get your name out there. Post your resume on job sites, create your own website or Facebook page. Join networking sites like LinkedIn and keep networking even when you have a happy job.

Know when it’s time to go – sometimes people simply cannot move beyond their current position in the same company. Some people get stuck because of where they started, a shortage of new openings, or because they are critically needed in their current role. You must recognize that to get that promotion or higher pay raise, you may need to start over elsewhere.

Take the entrepreneurial step – Many people are forced to reinvent themselves due to layoffs and find that they are successful at something they enjoy doing. If you want to be your own boss, look for opportunities where you can start a business or career part-time, so that you minimize the risk of having to be profitable from day one.

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