Are you dreaming about making a mid-life career change? Maybe you think it’s impossible. Or that you’re almost at retirement age so what’s the point?
Even people at retirement age continue working on their passions and interests and they make good money with it too. It is possible to either start a new career or take a totally different turn in your job route. It’s even more common than you think!
There are several reasons someone who is older would like to change their careers.
It could be that:
- After 25 years working at one place you’ve become totally bored and want a change.
- Your skill sets or line of work have become obsolete.
- Physical jobs start to become more challenging as you age.
- You’ve always wanted to write a book!
- You’d love to start an independent online career and travel more.
Whatever the reason may be, starting a mid-life career change can be exciting and challenging. But well worth it.
Some things that might hold you back from pursuing a career change is that you may have to take a cut in pay as you start out. And you may feel awkward changing from being an experienced person in your previous career to the least experienced in a new career.
In other cases, you may seem overqualified to an employer.
But the unemployment rate for workers 55 years of age or older is very low. Companies are more open to hiring someone who is an older professional and well experienced.
Here are a few tips on how to make a mid-life career change.
Timing Is Important
Take the time to plan your next step. If a career change has been stirring in you for a while, you don’t want to just up and quit your current job without having a general plan that will take you into your next career move.
For example, if you want to start a consulting business or profession that may have to do with the current industry you’re in, start by planning who you want to work for and what industries would most benefit your type of consulting. Your knowledge is valuable so you may also want to chart out exactly how you want to start a consulting career and what you’d be offering.
Switching careers doesn’t have to be an impulse decision. You may have grown tired of your current job, but take the time to figure out your next move.
Your Experience Goes With You
You’ve gained a lot of experience in your current career. There are so many qualities you have now that you didn’t have when you started working years ago. These qualities and experiences can be applied to a new career even if they aren’t directly related to the new field you want to go into.
So even if it seems a little scary to make a mid-life career change, you have a lifetime of integrity that employers need in an employee. List out all the transferable skills you can use in your new career path.
Admin skills, consulting skills, personal character skills, writing skills, researching…the list goes on. Your experience can help you find a new career that you will love.
Promote Your Strengths
Take pride in your skills and the background you have under your belt. Starting a new career in your 40s or 50s (or older) means you’ve accumulated a variety of valuable skills.
With maturity comes confidence. You have the confidence to understand what your employer’s needs are and how you can help them. This can help you when you’re in a new job interview. Show that you’re willing to learn the things you don’t know by demonstrating how you’ve learned new things in the past.
You probably built up a network of people you connect with. Use those connections when applying for employment opportunities. Many of your contacts may be able to give you great referrals. Testimonials from a variety of people can showcase your strengths and make you even more valuable.
Related: Need A Career Transition? What Is Stopping You?
You Need To Brace Yourself For Challenges During Your Mid-Life Career Change
You’re never too old to learn something new and start over in a new career, but there may be some challenges that come your way.
Some employers will embrace your maturity and others will think you’re too experienced and fear that you may not last long in a lower-level position. This all depends on where you’re looking for.
Another challenge may be the possibility of taking a pay cut at first. You can plan for that by setting aside an emergency fund to help you make a job transfer possible. If the change in your career will be beneficial to you in the long term, don’t be afraid of taking a pay cut at the beginning of your transition.
Because of your past experience, it won’t take long to prove to a new employer how skilled you are and you may find that your pay scale will increase faster than it did when you were younger.
Be Open To New Learning
If you’re planning to make a mid-life career change into a completely new area than what you’re in right now, you’ll have to take some courses. Taking courses online is a great way to learn new skills that you’re interested in and will help to qualify you for working in a new field of interest.
You can learn online or get a college degree. There are several higher education institutions that cater to adult learners. College classes are continually growing their numbers of adult learners. They are either career changers, retired people or grandparents, or all of the above. It’s becoming the new norm to start a mid-life career.
Focus On Your Passion, Not Your Age
Don’t assume that age is against you when changing careers. Your focus should be on why you’re the best person for the job regardless of your age.
Let your enthusiasm and passion come through as you talk to a prospective employer. Let your confidence shine and avoid making comments about your age. Be energetic in your interview and upbeat. If you’re the type of person they want to have to work for them, they will hire you!
Take The Next Step
If you find you’re not happy in your current career, making a mid-life career change can be the best thing for you. If you’re in your 50s you don’t have to spend the next two decades doing something you don’t love or don’t make you happy.
Many people are planning to work past retirement age into their 70s. Take the next step and start exploring your interests in a new career.
If making a mid-life career change has been on your mind don’t be afraid to take the steps to make it happen. It may take courage, but it will be worth it. You could end up working and enjoying life 100% better into your 70s if you follow your dreams. You’re never too old to start something new.