Before Linda Tripp and Ken Starr entered her world, Monica Lewinsky was headed for a public relations job at Revlon. She would have been one among many attractive young women climbing the corporate ladder, anonymously.

Nowadays, Monica can't just show up in an employment agency as an ordinary job applicant. Corporate jobs are closed to her. She lends her name to diet products, talks to the media, and pitches her line of handbags on the internet.

You probably have nothing in common with Monica Lewinsky's life, but you may find parallels with her career. If your job brings you money, visibility and status, you will face unique challenges if you are displaced and forced to start over.

Rick called six months after he had been fired from a high-profile, high-status, high-paying job, after twenty years of non-stop success. For the first six months he had alternated between heavy introspection ("What do I want to be when I grow up?") and frantic bursts of activity (hiring a resume-mailing service).

"I'm ready to move!" Rick said.

Rick wanted a high-paying job with benefits and autonomy. He had no idea where to begin and was astounded to learn that his job hunt might take a lot longer than the six months he had budgeted.

Rick's success would depend on his own networking skills, not his resume. He had to identify executive search firms who are well-regarded in his industry and who are accustomed to dealing with people like himself. He needed to communicate directly with firms that could benefit from his skills and experience. Most of all, he needed a way to avoid asking for a job from a one-down position.

The secret? Start a business. Even if your ultimate goal is to be one someone's payroll, you have a cover story when you interview. You bring business cards. You have anecdotes and stories of success to share. You convey the energy and excitement of a busy, goal-oriented professional, not the desperation of a job seeker who's been unemployed for six months.

Ideally, when you start a business, you begin with a plan: Who is your target market? Who is your competition? However, some people get overwhelmed by these steps. They begin slowly: networking, handing out business cards, and offering complimentary services to charities and non-profits.

Rick's business may take off. He may decide he really likes being his own boss. Or a job may appear. Regardless, Rick can take back ownership of his career by proactively taking charge, not waiting for a magic phone call to make everything all right again.

Employers want to hire people who fit their molds. The challenge will be especially great for high-profile, high-visibility professionals who have been displaced by forces beyond their control.

Even if you are not high profile, you may have an easier time getting clients than getting a job. You may be competing for increasingly rare senior or specialized positions in your field. You may be a maverick. You may have made choices that get you labeled as unstable or unmotivated.

For some people, a job hunt means pounding on closed doors. A recent book, The Free Agent Nation, shows that many people are getting the message.

Starting a business can be frustrating and exhausting, even if you are living a dream. People often begin their journey with anger. Why can't they just get a job? Why does it have to be so hard? Along the way, they get hooked. And now they're entrepreneurs, far too busy to reflect on what happened before.

Bottom line: Avoid jumping ship into an icy sea. Stay on board as long as possible while you build your own boat. But if you are thrown overboard, don't wait to be rescued by an ocean liner. Build a raft, stay afloat, and realize you are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.

**********************************************

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Consultant, Speaker
*When Career Freedom Means Business*
http://www.movinglady.com
Ezine: http://www.movinglady.com/currnews.html
cathy@movinglady.com
505-534-4294