Today’s blog is written by Sara Perinola, a client of mine who has been working through her own career change and is building a business using her experience in marketing to write copy and content for small businesses, and improve their search engine performance.
Here she shares her top 6 tips for making a career change after 40:
Are you 40 with a good job but still find yourself unhappy and unsatisfied?
Are you feeling stuck in a job that isn’t you?
Are you asking yourself – Am I too old to start a new career?
Maybe you’ve struggled on and off for years to change, without making any progress, and now you feel trapped – “How can I risk the security of my job when I have a mortgage and a family to pay for?”
But as time passes by, you don’t want to set the stage for regrets, “what if…”, and “if only…”? So, you finally take the risk to fail and go against people’s negative opinions…
Does this sound familiar?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and the good news is there are plenty of people who made a successful career change at the age of 40 or after. With preparation and planning you can do it too!
These 6 tips will get you started on a successful move:
1. Make sure you really want a career change
What do you like about your work, and what don’t?
What’s driving your decision?
Are you bored, or sick of the people you’re working with?
Tired of your bossy manager?
Answer to understand if you want a career change or simply to do the same job at another company.
2. Evaluate why you want to change career
Are you not fulfilled?
After a better work/life balance, or more money?
Knowing the reason can help you prepare for the next career.
3. Research, research, research
If you are not sure what career to pursue:
- Do personality tests and read books to understand who you truly are.
- Do career quizzes to analyse what job you love.
- Get an understanding of the potential new career by speaking to people and researching on the internet.
If you instead know what your dream career is:
- Check qualifications/courses you may need to take.
4. Plan and get organized
Whether you know what career is right for you, or you don’t – you’ll need time and dedication.
Throw in your other commitments (work, mortgage, childcare to name a few), it’s essential you get organized:
- Use planners, calendars, diaries, to-do lists, and negotiate time and space to study with those around you.
- Work out the best time of day to study and stick to a routine (i.e., study after the children are in bed when you’re unlikely to be disturbed).
5. Prepare financially
Taking steps to prepare financially is critical as in the early days of your new career, your income my drop slightly or even significantly.
Examine your expenses to cut down on any unnecessary spending, and ideally set aside at least 6 to 12 months of living expenses to build up a cushion as you ramp up in your new career.
6. Be brave and believe in the process
A career change at 40 requires courage and a certain degree of faith to face your own fears and negativity from others.
- Let go fear of failure, of not being able to maintain current financial responsibilities, and of what other people think. Best if you meditate and ask help to a career coach.
- Get ready for negativity. Many people will impose their belief systems on you.
So, rest assured that you can still take the path to happiness, even if family and society might have pushed you in the wrong direction.
Furthermore, we are no longer living in a culture where a job is “for life” thanks to the internet and the fluidity of the marketplace.
Don’t wait any longer, start your new journey to fulfilment and happiness with the short course Kick Start Your Career Change.
If you’d like to connect with Sara, you can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-perniola-a8683611/