KEY POINTS:
When Andrew Gunn started working at a Baker's Delight store after school and on weekends, it never occurred to him that one day he would become management material. But after nine years with the Australasian baking franchise and an apprenticeship under his belt, Gunn believed he was at
risk of becoming pigeonholed and so 'reinvented' himself.
"I got an opportunity to join Baker's Delight corporate to become a technical baker," he says. When Gunn, who had won a couple of industry awards for baking, was offered a role at head office he stepped up to the challenge and began learning as much as he could about business to keep a step ahead of other people.
A stint managing a Baker's Delight shop added to his people skills and Gunn subsequently took on a role as business consultant, giving advice to Baker's Delight franchisees. Gunn didn't start out in the firm with any particular ambition, but realised he had something to offer at a higher level and could be more to the company than a baker.
"I gave myself edge by asking more questions and looking at the whole company and not just the bit I worked on."
The pre-cursor to reinvention is to know what you want and what is holding you back. If you're stuck in a rut at work, typecast, or exude a fusty aroma in the career stakes then change is needed. Author Charles Handy, writing in The Empty Raincoat, says employees may need to reinvent themselves several times in their career to keep with the ebb and flow of their industry. More of the same won't get you anywhere other than stuck in a dingy cubby hole.
Is what holds you back typecasting or are you simply not producing the goods? It could be your appearance, your mouse-like approach to singing your own praises, your lack of ambition, a reluctance to take on new projects, your dated skills or the fact that you're hanging around with the wrong crowd.
Some people find their career is being held back by their distant past - the deep emotional stuff. If you grew up in a climate of bullying or belittling it may be hard to step above and beyond your background. Private or work-place counselling might help or even psychotherapy if your demons are deep. You also need to be visible. Identify your achievements and make the people that matter aware.
"An employer is not going to read your mind," says Melita Sharp, director of Career Coach Consulting. "Achievements are where you have made a difference to an organisation and added value."
That includes achievements both inside and outside of work. "People who climb corporate ladders put the extra effort in to develop themselves with things like Toastmasters," she says.
"If there are cross-functional teams for projects, get on one of those teams, especially if they report to the CEO or other senior managers. This will help grab people's attention."
Pushing the boat out and coming up with great business ideas should ingratiate you with your superiors. Sharp had one client, an industrial psychology graduate, who found himself stuck driving cabs for nine years after graduating. The young man kept coming up with good ideas for the taxi firm and reminding people how he added value to the business. Eventually he was promoted out of the cab and into a human resources role with the company.
Joining the winning team may mean putting yourself in the position, wherever possible, of moving in your superiors' circles. But beware of brown nosing, says Sharp.
You can also gain the new business skills through voluntary work. Being chairman of the board of trustees at your local school will demonstrate that you have leadership skills.
Even the so-called 'self help' books can be useful, she says, adding that they are often pooh-poohed in society but many of her most successful clients read them by the shelf-load.
If that doesn't work, there are many ways to learn new skills. Often it can be done in-house, by seeking out mentors, or simply immersing yourself in a new job. Putting your hand up to do extra work, or taking on more challenging projects also helps.
If it's the management team you're aiming to join, then an MBA or masters in finance might be the answer. Many employees do these courses part-time or extramurally.
Such study can pay off very rapidly , says Dr James Lockhart, director of the University of Massey's Graduate School of Business. It costs $28,000 to do an MBA at Massey, yet a survey of executive graduates showed that 11 months was the median time after graduating to recover the investment. "You are looking at a group of people who are taking an MBA to reinvent themselves," says Lockhart. "You see significant changes in their ability to think, to contribute, and their ability to be a reflective practitioner. They will challenge what they read or what they are exposed to in a way that they certainly wouldn't have in the past."
As a result many have moved very quickly up the pole to management.
Soon-to-be chief executive of Premier Business Print, Andrew Perrier, saw pigeon-holing written on the wall at a previous job and took the bull by the horns by signing up for a Massey MBA. Perrier resigned his position the day he graduated and made a leap straight up the career ladder to sales and marketing manager at Premier. The broad knowledge of business his MBA enabled him to implement major management process and business changes and take on a competitor head on in a very difficult and competitive environment. It resulted in him being offered the top job at the company. "The MBA gave me the tool box of skills I needed to reinvent myself."
Projecting the right image through your personal style can also pay dividends, says managing director of Career Analysts Anne Fulton. She says it is important to dress and present yourself as someone in the role you see yourself in. It's a good idea to analyse your own brand and see if it projects the right image within the organisation.
Being visible is also about having a personal differentiator, says Fulton. "You need to know what your catchphrase is, such as, 'Give it to me and I get it done'."
Selling a reinvented brand to a new employer is often easier than an old one. Armed with increased knowledge, perhaps some qualifications, new glad rags, and a super sharp CV, you might be able to convince a new employer to elevate you to the next level. If you stay in-house the job could be more difficult. If you're clear about what you want, then you're probably going to have to be single-minded about getting there.
Your New Career
* Work out what you want
* Be proactive and motivated
* Repackage your brand
* Be visible
* Get vocal about your value
* Put up your hand for more responsibility
* Change workplace if you're still typecast
