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"There are so many reasons why you may need to reinvent your career. Maybe you\u2019re looking to reenter the workforce after staying home raising your kids. Or you might have lost your job after twenty years with the same company. Or perhaps the thought of going into your job just one more day makes you want to do a Jerry Maguire. No matter what your age or motivation, it\u2019s not as impossible as it may seem to reinvent your career. Here\u2019s how.\nDecide what you want to do. Now more than ever is the time to really, truly figure out what you\u2019d like to do in your professional life. Just because you\u2019ve toiled away as an ad exec doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019ll continue on that career path until retirement. If you\u2019re clueless as to what the next phase in your career will be, simply look to your hobbies. Discover what gives you joy in life, then determine a way to find work in that field. \nEstablish a timeframe. Once you decide which direction you want to take your career in, you\u2019ll want to get there \u2014 now. But you\u2019ll need to take the time as you carefully lay down the foundation for your career. Do some research to learn of potential jobs in your area of interest and to also get an idea of how long it might take before you can start working in your new profession. Depending on where you are in life, you may need to find a remote job or one that offers flex. So be sure to look for these job characteristics when job hunting.\nGet guidance. If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll already know people who can help you as you begin your new career. If all of your contacts are from your former industry, you\u2019ll need to find a potential mentor for your new career. A great way to gain new connections is to request informational interviews with companies that align with your new career goals. Not only will you get an in-depth look into this potential job field, but you\u2019ll also get to meet industry heavy-hitters who, if you form a connection with, can possibly mentor you along the way.\nBuild new skills. It may seem impossible to marry your old professional life with your new one, but there\u2019s a great chance that you already possess some of the skills you\u2019ll need in order to make your new career a smashing success. So take a look at your previous work experience and write down all of the skills you\u2019ve utilized in those jobs. Then assess the skills you\u2019ll need in order to get work in your new career. Redesign your resume to highlight those skills, and see if you can take a class or attend webinars in order to build skills that can help you moving forward.\nBe flexible. Starting out in a new field may mean that you\u2019ll start out in a lower position than you\u2019ve previously held. It may also equal taking a financial hit by earning a lower salary than you\u2019re used to. Just keep in mind that these are all just mere milestones as you work towards gaining footing in your new career \u2014 and a happier, healthier work life balance.\nReinvention at any age can be scary but it can also be an exciting time as you challenge yourself to find a position \u2014 and a career \u2014 that you truly love. \nMashable Job Board Listings\nThe Mashable Job Board connects job seekers across the U.S. with unique career opportunities in the digital space. While we publish a wide range of job listings, we have selected a few job opportunities from the past two weeks to help get you started. Happy hunting!\n\nDirector, Interactive Marketing and New Media at Miami Heat in Miami, Fla.\nMedia Hacker, NBC News at NBCUniversal in New York, N.Y.\nDirector of Community at ModCloth in San Francisco, Calif.\n\n\n\nImage: iStockphoto, Topp_Yimgrimm"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/09/01/reinvent-career/>