Are you looking for a new career at mid life? No doubt, a midlife career change is for you. Changing career at 40, or even 50, is possible. Even though making a mid-life career change is a lot harder than making a career change at early career, the reward of the right career is long term joy and job satisfaction.
Whether you’re facing a fading occupation or just tired of your current job, you are no different compared to those who are experiencing similar midlife crisis. If money was not an issue you are starting to build a more meaningful second half of your life. The pressure of social status and meeting the expectations of significant others are no longer your highest concern.
Unfortunately, because you have already achieved some success you might have made some excuses for staying in a job you did not like. You know that you want to get a second chance; however, you don’t want your situation to become worse, at least financially. Don’t worry, there is always a way out and I will show you how to make your career change a success.
Reviewing your financial resources should be the first step to a successful midlife career change. The more savings you have the more ready you are for a career transition. Do you have more than twelve months of salary in your savings account? This reserve is what you need to cover your monthly expenses during career transition. Make sure your savings are also sufficient for financing your training and courses. Once you budget all of your expenses, take an action to accumulate more money so that you’re financially ready for a career move.
Have you found your ideal career? If you haven’t, take some career tests and make a self assessment. Your values, personality, interests and aptitudes as well as your overall qualifications are useful for two reasons. Not only will these help discover your perfect career, these will also help uncover your true reasons for switching to a new career.
Once you find the career that matches your overall background check out the gap between the required qualifications and your competencies. Does the field require a specific training and education? If so, it can range from self-study, specific courses, additional formal education, volunteer work, part-time job and everything in between.
While you are taking qualification training and courses start networking with people in your new industry. As a start, for example, you can find a person who will help you in your career change through the industry association in your local area. Make sure you build a positive rapport with the person as he or she will refer you to prospective employers. By demonstrating unique personality and potentials you will promote yourself to your target employers long before you want the job.
