7 Successful Procedures for a Career Change at 40

  If you ever dreamed of changing your profession, you are definitely not alone.  A career change at 40 can be a time to reassess your work-life balance, choose to pursue your passion or just try something new.  If you are considering changing careers after the age of 40, this guide will help you identify potential new jobs while modeling how to make the change.

 Choosing the right career path can improve your chances of achieving your goals, and this list contains plenty of ideas for sectors in which you can succeed in your 40s and beyond.  Your choice of new job depends on your qualifications, experiences, and interests.  But there are some careers that are suitable for those who change direction in their 40s.

Is it worth changing careers at 40?

 Yes. In-fact, some people choose a more fulfilling profession, prioritizing job satisfaction over income or status while others want to focus on jobs that provide comfort and stability.  Sometimes external forces are the drivers of change, such as the need to transition or change circumstances.  Deciding to pursue a new career at a time like this can be the perfect way to give you a whole new start.

Many of us think there is only one profession that is best suited to us, but there are actually many which may be good options.  The secret is to identify those professions in which you have high potential for success and happiness.  As a college student, whether your career goals are accounting, theater arts, or environmental sciences, there are general skills that will be required regardless of the profession you pursue. 

These skills include the ability to read, write, arithmetic, think critically, and communicate effectively.  For the most part, these skills are developed and / or refined in general education courses.  These skills, combined with effective career planning techniques, and the ability to deal with ambiguity in a changing environment, will enable you to overcome obstacles throughout your work life.

  Do you find yourself flipping this question in your mind all day long?  It is common to reevaluate your current situation when you reach a prominent birthday, such as your 40th birthday.

  If you find that you haven’t checked out professionally, you have the time and power to make a change.  However, instead of rushing through the process quickly, give yourself time to process how you are feeling.

Is it harder to get a job after 40?

  Navigating a career change at 40 can be daunting and exhilarating at the same time.  It might sound especially intimidating if you are going through a professional reinvention at the age of 40, 50 or later.  The good news is that it can be done.  You don’t have to feel sluggish in your current job anymore.  You can take steps to overcome your fears and self-doubt so that you can achieve your goal of changing your career.

  The challenge of changing your career is not knowing where to start.  This feeling of exhaustion and fear of uncertainty is what keeps most people from moving forward.  To help you successfully change your career at age 40, follow these tips.

Successful Procedures for a Career Change at 40

1.    Select your goal

  Once you know what you want to do, be clear about your goals in relation to your new career.  Are you ready to move to a new job, or do you need to stay where you are?  How much money do you want to earn on an annual basis?  Are you willing to continue education or training to accommodate the requirements of a new profession?  Set actionable, specific, and not vague goals to avoid making decisions you ultimately don’t agree with.

2.    Determine your resources

  Changing careers may require accepting a lower salary, returning to school, or investing in training or certification.  It is important to know what resources you have available before deciding to change careers to ensure that you can accommodate any financial requirements that a new career may entail.

3.    Write a career action plan

  Now that you have defined your goals, you will need to determine how to reach them.  A career action plan will help guide you as you strive to achieve your short and long term goals.  The first step to creating your business plan is to list all of your goals.  Once you have listed your goals, you should write down the concrete steps you will take to achieve each goal.  You will also need to write down any potential barriers preventing you from achieving your goals.  Having this information can help you prioritize actions needed to achieve your primary goal – which should be finding a job.

4.    Do some research

  Spend some time learning about the requirements of the profession you want to pursue.  For example, do you need more education?  Do you need a specific certificate?  The research will equip you with the information you need to successfully change jobs and prepare you for your next career.

5.    List occupations to explore

  See job listings created through your use of self-assessment tools.  It will likely be long, so you’ll want to come up with a much shorter list, of 5-10 jobs.  Circle or highlight occupations that appear on multiple lists, as well as occupations you might have previously considered and find attractive.  Write these occupations on a separate list titled “Occupations to Explore.”

6.    Network

  When you are ready to start applying for jobs, consider reaching out to contacts you already have to see if there are any job opportunities in the field you would like to pursue.  Getting a recommendation may be easier to get the hiring manager’s attention rather than just applying online.

7.    Practice for your new career

  Changing your career may mean that you have to undergo some training, but you may also have transferable skills that you can use in your new career.  Before embarking on any training, find out what skills you already have and which skills you need to acquire.  Learning new skills can take the form of earning a degree or certification, undertaking an internship, or taking online courses.

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   Reasons for Career Change at 40

• Job Satisfaction

  If you are not satisfied with your current job, it is never too late to make a change.  You can use your current set of skills, workplace experience and career network to help you land a new job that excites and challenges you.  It is possible to find happiness and satisfaction in a situation you would never have considered in your early twenties.  The pursuit of happiness is a good and exciting reason to look for a new job.

• Better schedule

  As your personal and professional schedules develop, you may become dissatisfied with your work / life balance.  If your current job requires a lot of your hours or your schedule conflicts with that of your social circle, you may decide to pursue a career with a schedule that better suits your current lifestyle.  If you have 20 or so years of professional experience, you may be in a position to negotiate more ideal hours with a new employer.  Securing a schedule that allows you to prioritize the things that matter most to you is an impressive reason to pursue a career change.

• Achievement of goals

  If this is a related concern for you, then you can take these unfulfilled goals and use them to guide your career change.  If your goal is to make a tangible impact on society, you might consider civil service jobs.  If you want more recognition among your fellow professionals, you may decide to return to school to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree.  Feeling that you still have untapped potential is a common motivation for those seeking to change careers in middle age.

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