If you have worked for a company for more than five years you may find the transition to new company can be as challenging as your journey to get to that new position.  People are creatures of habit, and your old work work habits may be completely out of place in a new work environment.  To make a successful career transition you must be able to adapt and adapt very quickly. 

Many people tell me that they are dumbing down their resume and understating their qualifications in order to get a job.  I have yet to meet anyone that has won a job by dumbing down.  First off, if you feel you have to dumb down to get a job the job is absolutely wrong for you. Second, everytime you dumb down you lose confidence and the respect of people you meet.  Third, stop wasting time pursing opportunities that won't work. 

In this economy people are taking jobs just to make ends meet.  Flipping a burger doesn't make you dumber, it just helps pay the bills.  There is dignity in work and do what you have to do to survive financially but never sell yourself short and lose site of where you need to be.  Throughout history people have lost everything and rebounded stronger than they were before they lost everything.  So it is your choice, do want to dumb down and continue to lose everything you worked so hard for or do you want keep moving forward?  I learn something new everyday, all my negative experiences have made smarter and stronger.  The challenge is to keep getting smarter!

One of the most important questions everyone needs to ask themselves is "What is Making me Un-Employable?"  This question applies to both working and non-working people.  There are many mid to senior level managers who are on the path to elimination because they demonstrate attitudes and behavior that are making them Un-Employable.  Many people were already let go and now are in the career search fell victim to their own un-employable attitudes and behaviors.  Yes, it is easy to blame it on the economy, but truth be told when push comes to shove in the elimination process the most un-employable people will be let go first. 

If you want re-establish your career and get back on track you must evaluate your personal Employability Quotient, (EQ).  Unless you are ready take a good hard look at your your EQ you may never get back on the career path of your choosing.  For those of us in the 40 plus crowd we progressed and were taught management principles methods that in large part make us un-employable.  In large part old school management is built on management by fear and intimidation, "I don't mind and you don't matter, so shut up and do your job!"  Bullies are not welcome in the workplace.  You can also add to the list the "we have always done it this way" crowd.

The world of business is all about moving forward.  If you are not moving forward then you are moving out, it is that simple.  Your experience may provide the foundation for your success but if does not translate to adapting to change then you will be out in the cold looking in. 

Ask yourself the hard questions, evaluate your un-employablility behaviors and make the changes you need.