Have you ever had one of those bad days that turned into years?  I have and it is not fun.  Life’s too short to be doing work you wish you weren’t doing.

Employment issues in the mental health profession are far too commonplace.  But, whether you’re stuck in a dead end position or scraping by to make ends meet I’m here to tell you there is a way out.

Making the Decision to “Get Sticky”

First and foremost, I must tell you that the old way of moving up the ladder is just that — “old”.  In the past, options were limited because there were an awful lot of gatekeepers and a hell of a lot of rules.  I believe that as markets become more accessible we have an obligation to do more.

If you’re looking to expand your career possibilities in a different way I suggest you begin launching a personal marketing campaign designed to do one thing – brand yourself.

The good news is that now is a great time to launch such an endeavor.

The Power of Transparency

Consumers, hiring managers, colleagues – they all are seeking the truth.  Something that is genuine and real.  Now is your chance to offer them just that by simply choosing to share what you know, love and are passionate about. One of the most powerful ways in which you can accomplish this is through social media.  You may not buy into the model just yet, but you will soon enough.

Consider this true story.  There is a friend of mine who dedicated his entire 13-year professional career to one organization.  He enjoyed his work and was seen as a star performer with a lot of talent and a whole heck of a lot of skill.  Then, unexpectedly, he was “let go” when the company downsized.  Unfortunately, because he dedicated all his time and energy to one organization his options were limited.  He had a very small network and had not built up much of a name for himself outside his former company.  The result – his job search was not simply floundering, it had become a dead end.

Having a good resume and a good skill base is not enough in this marketplace.  “Traditional” mental health jobs are just too hard to come by.  In many industries resumes are becoming a thing of the past altogether.  They have little relevance and offer no distinguishing factors.  Employers are looking elsewhere to find people.  They’re hoping to learn more about you beyond what you list in a resume.  They want to know what you have to say about a mental health topic, they’re interested in knowing if you have any colleagues or clients willing to give you a recommendation on Linkedin, they’re looking to see what work products you’ve produced.  They, like everyone else, want transparency.

But what if, years ago, my friend decided that he liked his job but he needed an outlet to grow professionally?  What if he chose to start a conversation online?  What if he spent time growing You Inc.?  He might have built up quite an impressive network across the country and beyond.  In fact, he might have left his job years before because opportunity may have knocked in the form of business partnerships or job offers.  And if he did get fired chances are that once he announced his status change on Twitter or Linkedin he would not be unemployed for very long.

Building – You Inc.

Recently, Susan Giurleo PhD, a colleague and business partner of mine recommended a book called “Crush It!” by Gary Vaynerchuk.  The book title alone was enough to turn me off.  It sounded a bit patronizing, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for the work Susan does so I decided to buy the book.

I tell you this because in next week’s post I am going to introduce you to Gary Vaynerchuk’s step by step process for building relevance and opportunity online.  Who knows, I might be able to get Susan to offer her input since she is living many of these steps as we speak!  I will use mental health examples to help illustrate my point but if you want all the details and resources you’ll need to buy his book.

Stay tuned for next week’s post and if you live in the U.S., have a Happy Thanksgiving!