A career switch is possible at any age. Quite a large number of people do not dare to take this step when they have already reached the age of 40. Career transition can be made anytime, using existing skills or obtaining additional qualifications in health care, technology, business and other areas. Such a responsible step will allow you to achieve an optimal work-life balance, move up the career ladder, and provide a good incentive for further development.
This article will examine how switching careers takes place and whether it is possible in principle. It is worthwhile to take this step and how to do it properly.
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Changing careers at 40 is more common than it may first seem. It’s a great time to update your CV or LinkedIn profile, make new connections and learn a new industry. Many people after the age of 40-50 have a desire to change careers. According to statistical studies, the average person retires at 61, but changing careers in the middle of their journey is not considered impossible. Many people are thinking about such a decision.
The company Novoresume has conducted its research, in which it was found that 82% of surveyed older people have successfully started new careers at the age of 45. At the same time, 80% of people over 45 have considered starting a new career, but only 6% decided to realise this idea in real life.
Before starting a job seeker, you should decide what you want to do and identify the type of employment and job opportunities. You may want to start your own business, or you may want to work in a completely newly chosen industry that you have yet to be involved in before. There are two most important things to determine first:
Some people who want to change careers at 40 indicate that they want to change their occupations radically. But it would help if you were prepared because then you will have to learn a lot of new knowledge and skills. The best solution in this situation is to conduct a self-assessment. Before taking practical steps, you should first answer the following questions:
You will then be able to understand your values and what is non-negotiable. Career change requires understanding what is taboo for you and what is a priority.
Next, you must decide what skills to change careers at 40 or older. Once the dream job has been decided, you must consider what new skills you need to learn. It may involve taking specialised courses or even going to college. Make sure you research what you must learn to get a job. In particular, you can start by looking at the job description – it often outlines the basic requirements for candidates. It would help if you also worked on your communication skills, as you will have to create a new professional network with completely different people.
Change is always challenging, especially when it comes to professional growth. Changing careers: There are certain advantages to changing careers in your 40s but also challenges.
If you want to start a new career, you should prepare in advance for the fact that you will have to overcome the following difficulties:
Constant work on yourself and readiness for all difficulties will allow you to achieve success. It is worth noting that it is easiest to move to a new job in the same field, as this way you will need to study less.
If moving forward is no longer possible and you are tired of your current position, this is a great career change opportunity. But in this situation, you have to face stereotypes that people over 40 cannot change their occupation. You will constantly have to prove that you are capable of learning, mastering new things and fulfilling professional duties.
Changing careers is most often accompanied by a pay cut. Even if you have many years of experience, you will likely have to take an entry-level position, which implies a more modest salary. It is worth preparing yourself mentally and physically for this. Before you start your next career, you must ensure you are on your feet financially. You must work in your current position before starting a new career.
A potential pay cut is an important enough factor to pay attention to. Career change is a fascinating journey, but be realistic: you need something to live on, pay your bills and support your family. To clearly understand your current situation, you need to ask yourself some important questions:
If you don’t have enough money, that’s no reason to give up on your dreams. Particularly if you feel that you are heading down the wrong path, in this situation, the best thing to do is to work on a clear plan. Develop a detailed financial budget, consider additional sources of income, and make a realistic timetable and deadline for when you can save enough for tuition. It could be better, but the reality is that you will likely have to continue working in your current position for a while.
Before embarking on a career change, you should first think about the pros and cons. Making a career change has many benefits:
It is also worth remembering that changing careers has certain risks – pay cuts. However, this can be avoided if you plan your finances accordingly. For example, you can make a strict budget or stay in your current position while taking training courses. In addition, making a career change can take quite a long time. However, you can speed up the process by earning a bachelor’s degree through online college courses.
In addition, it does not hurt to learn the best careers to start, which people over 40 can easily master. There are quite a few professions for which age is not important. We suggest exploring our ranking of the best careers to start that are in high demand among middle-aged people:
Career options are diverse. After that, you can safely learn skills and start the most important process – job search, which, with the right approach, is sure to be a success.
In many situations, a new career often means saying goodbye to your current network. Making new professional connections is one of the key moments. In this situation, you have to remember everything you had to do more than 20 years ago. But it is also worth remembering that there have been some changes in the process, and you must adapt to the new state of affairs.
In this situation, the best solution is to start talking to people who share your interests and do the same things you want to do in the future. In addition, it is worth talking to hiring managers in charge of recruiting for the position you are interested in.
Nowadays, you can find several people who are involved in hiring workers in a variety of fields. They will tell you exactly what skills and qualifications you need to include in your CV. It is best to exchange messages with recruiters rather than just sending them an application. It is best to contact the hiring manager to tell them about your qualifications and transferable skills. It also doesn’t hurt to include a cover letter.
Also, you want to achieve a successful career path. In that case, it’s worth ensuring you’re plugged into your professional network – let people in your work environment know you’re making a career change. Post periodically that you are looking for a specific job opening. You can only partially say who knows who. There may already be useful people in your current environment who can help you reach the next level.
Hiring managers have recently become increasingly likely to encounter job candidates over 40 years old, which is slowly becoming the norm. Career pivot doesn’t have to be intimidating. Certain aides can help you make this important life transition and do it successfully.
Any appropriate person can be a mentor in this situation:
It also makes sense to gather useful information from potential colleagues, talk to your manager, who will give career advice, and rely on the moral support of friends and family. Make a detailed plan of what you will do to make a career change and achieve your goal.
Don’t be afraid to seek out mentors who can help you master a new career. When approaching potential guides, try to look for similarities you can use to build rapport at the beginning.
Various factors can provoke the decision to change careers: you don’t want to work with toxic management, you are no longer satisfied with your current career, and you want to make drastic changes in your professional life. You are far from alone in this decision, and many famous people have achieved it. Labour statistics indicate that about 4,000,000 U.S. residents leave their jobs every month from 2021 to 2022. This turnover is due to toxic work environments, job insecurity, and other factors.
Even if a very serious reason provokes a career change, it does not mean that this decision is not scary because you will have to leave your comfort zone. Job search is scary at any age. Changing jobs means leaving your past professional network, social connections, reputation and skills needed. When you’re in your 40s, this is all magnified. You may have had a successful career, worked hard, and achieved some financial stability by now. And now you want to change everything. You have to weigh the pros and cons and consider how to provide for yourself and your family. But on the other side of the barricades is a dream career, for which it is worth making certain efforts. The best motivator in this situation will be to read inspiring stories of people who have achieved success.
Midlife career change is a feasible step, and many famous people have decided to take it, thus inspiring others to do something similar. Some of the most impressive individuals whose professional lives are truly inspiring include the following:
There are many more real stories of career change at 40 than the ones presented above. Eventually, you can start creating your own to be seen as an inspiring person.
Career change at 40 can seem exciting, filled with various changes and unlocking your potential. But in this situation, there are several steps and many factors to consider. This situation has its pitfalls. Career change – a thorny path in which you will have to learn new things. You should learn a lesson from each failure and keep moving forward to achieve your career goals.
Changing careers after the age of 40 or 50 is a real possibility. But at the same time, it is worth remembering that using the wrong strategy will only add to the problems. Determine for yourself what career path you are interested in. Talk to people who hold the position you are interested in, identify specific skills to help you succeed, and create a professional network to help you advance.
