By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
In a disruptive economy defined by rapid technological change and shifting corporate loyalties, career reinvention has transformed from a desperate step back into a necessary way of life. The traditional 40-year career ending with a gold watch at age 65 is now a myth. Instead, professionals must prepare for a “60-year career,” with pivoting between roles, industries, and even entire careers every few years becoming the new norm. To navigate this, you must move away from the “employee mentality” and adopt a “firm of one” paradigm, viewing yourself as a consultant providing high levels of value to clients, even in a traditional W-2 role.
The Inside-Out Process: Reconciling the Past
The process of reinvention begins not with a hiring committee but with deep self-reflection—an “inside-out” approach. Most professionals make the mistake of indulging in “job board porn,” endlessly browsing open positions and trying to shoehorn themselves into someone else’s strict job description. This rarely works for remodeling professionals. Instead, the first step is to make peace with your past.
We all carry career baggage: a layoff, a self-destructive career, or the lingering shame of being fired. If these experiences are not addressed, they leave a “virtual chip” on the future employer’s intuitively felt shoulders. The primary tool for this inner work is the daily habit of journaling. Writing a page by hand each morning allows you to connect your conscious and unconscious minds, solve complex career problems, and build the resiliency you need to face a competitive marketplace.
Define your superpower
Successful reinvention requires you to identify your “superpowers”—the unique combination of strategic intelligence, experience, and critical thinking that determines how you deliver results. Professionals often fall into the trap of focusing on technical skills, but in mid- to late-career, “skills are for the kids.” The market values gravitas and strategic vision, not repetitive productivity.
To define this superpower, use the Ikigai framework: identify the intersection of what you like, what you’re good at, what your professional world needs, and what you can get paid for. When building your history, shift the focus from “roles and responsibilities” to “accomplishments and deliverables.” Employers don’t want to know what you were told to do; they want to know what you delivered and the measurable impact it had on the business.
LinkedIn Marketing Center
In the digital age, your LinkedIn profile is your marketing hub, not just a digital resume. Most professionals waste their titles by listing their current job title. Instead, it should be a collection of specific value points—the solutions you provide to your company’s most pressing problems.
Your “about” section is equally important. It should be written as a narrative mission statement in the first person. It should explain your “why,” your origin story, and the specific impact you plan to have next. This narrative approach “stops the scroll” and invites recruiters and colleagues to engage in conversation, establishing a level of trust and authenticity that a dry bullet point list simply cannot achieve.
Build a recommendation community
Since approximately 85% of jobs are filled through referrals, reinvention depends on the “hidden job market.” You have to distinguish between your “network” (everyone you’ve ever met) and your “community” (the subset of people who share your interests and will actually step in to help you succeed).
The most effective way to leverage this community is the 80/20 giving rule: spend 80% of your time providing value to others—sharing articles, making introductions, or offering advice—so you’re entitled to ask for support 20% of the time. Use informational interviews as a low-pressure way to build these relationships. These are not job interviews; They are investigative sessions designed to understand the challenges facing your company and allow you to position yourself as a professional solution.
flywheel of opportunity
The final stage of reinvention is brand building through thought leadership. You can create an “opportunity flywheel” by identifying a few core topics that keep you up at night and sharing your expertise through LinkedIn posts, newsletters, or podcasts. This ongoing public profile establishes you as an expert, ensuring that your professional identity is independent of any single employer and that opportunities will eventually find you.
Managing a career in this new world is like climbing Mount Everest. You may have the right gear, but without a Sherpa to guide you and a group of climbers to pull you up if you slip, you will fail. Reinvention ensures you’re always ready for the next peak in the infinite game of your career.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2026
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About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense job coaching and career advice around the world because he excels at job hunting And get ahead in your career more easily.
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He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 2,900 episodes in over 13 years.
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