How To Start a New Career at 40, 50, and Beyond
The opportunities are waiting for you.
Switching gears is always a little scary, but when you’re over 40, it can be downright terrifying. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth your while to initiate a career change at 40. After all, life is short, and spending your time doing something fulfilling is as important as anything else.
Are you ready for something new? The time to start is now.
Is 40 too old to start a career?
Do you crave more control over your work? Maybe your industry changed, and you no longer feel satisfied. Perhaps your kids grew up, and you now have time to pursue something new. Whatever your reason, it’s never too late to start a new career.
Though many of us were programmed to believe that people remain in the same career until retirement, it’s no longer the norm. The ever-changing landscape of life and work created more room to switch gears and change jobs more frequently.
Plus, people work longer than before, with around one-third of Americans working into their 70s. That’s plenty of time to develop more than one career!
Embracing career change is less about your age than your willingness to push outside your comfort zone. If you’re ready to learn fresh skills, experiment with your choices, and immerse yourself in new settings and experiences, you can change careers whenever you please.
What is the best career to start later in life?
The short answer is that it depends on what you want from a new career. For some people, a new career means more money, freedom, or fulfillment. It might be about following passions or taking more control over your life, like starting a business.
For example, say you have decent pay and good job security but hate the traditional hours and lack of vacation time. You probably want something with the freedom of a contractor position. The flexible work hours would give you time for more trips, pursuing hobbies, or spending precious time with family and friends.
As you explore potential careers, avoid one of the major pitfalls that come with a career change. It’s easy to assume that starting over means being back at the bottom of the career ladder. That isn’t true.
During the past few decades of work, you gained valuable experience that likely includes some transferable skills. Leveraging those can help you land a more senior role, even in a new field.
5 Steps to change careers at 40 (or older)
Knowing something is possible and doing it are two different things. A career change at 40 may seem like a daunting task, but it helps to break things down into manageable steps.
Find direction
What if you know you want a change but have no idea where to pivot? A personality test is a good place to start because it can assess your strengths, weaknesses, and preferences.
Remember to be brutally honest with every response to get an accurate assessment. The person you are now is starkly different from who you were 20 years ago, so you might be surprised by the results.
Your answers can point you in the right direction and help you hone in on specific jobs. Research the field to see what skills you might need.
Build a transferable skills list
Armed with your list of required skills, consider your history and what you bring to the table. Include your strengths, passions, and skills, even if they don’t seem relevant.
You never know how you might apply your knowledge to a new position, especially regarding communication, finances, and management expertise. Don’t forget to consider intangible skills, like adaptability and emotional intelligence, that could make you a valuable contributor.
Get an outsider’s perspective
Staying in a job that makes you miserable can negatively impact your mental health and other aspects of your life, especially interpersonal relationships. You might be surprised at how supportive loved ones can be when it comes to career changes that could make you a happier, healthier person.
We also don’t always see ourselves clearly. It’s easy to miss talents and abilities that we take for granted. Ask your friends and family what they think you’re good at. Not only can loved ones highlight attributes we undervalue, but they can also give us insights about interests we might have overlooked.
Network
Put yourself out there by attending networking events. Mixers and happy hours let you meet people from various businesses, meaning you can learn a lot about different job possibilities.
While it’s not unheard of that a job offer could arise from a networking event, it’s not the goal of attending one. Focus on making connections and learning as much as you can to see what sparks something inside you.
Apply to jobs
Applying for jobs can be the most telling part of the process because it highlights any gaps you need to fill.
For example, you want to be a freelance graphic designer but every application requests links to your paid work. If you haven’t had that experience, you’ll have to find a way to fulfill that request. In this case, it might require some creative thinking to craft a portfolio.
Attending interviews is another way to gauge whether or not you’re on the right track with your new career. Interviews are never comfortable or fun, but they are the fastest path to finding the perfect fit.
You can gain valuable insight into what a position might look like based on interview questions and how interviewers describe the role. While you don’t want to dismiss a career based on one bad interview, a string of them could indicate you need to switch gears again.
Is it time for a career change?
Between living longer and working past retirement age, career changes are more common than ever. While a career change at 40, 50, or later might seem like a gamble, staying in a position that doesn’t fulfill you or makes you miserable is not smart either.
Whatever your reasons for heading in a different direction, it’s better to work through your fears and try something new that could improve your quality of life.