At MentorCruise, a thriving community of mentors and mentees, mid-life career coaches can assist you to recognize possible new positions while modeling you on how to go about the switch.
Once you finally attain ages 40 and above, a couple of things can quickly befall your career: You may get that desire to try out that job you’ve constantly dreamed of? Or you may notice that you’re being nudged/forced into a new line of work by an employer.
Doing a midlife career shift can be fascinating yet scary. The average American changes jobs between 10 and 15 times in their lifetime. Millennials have been called the “job-hopping generation” for changing careers faster than the average to achieve their career goals.
If you desire to start a new career, seek mid-life career change ideas, or find the best mid-life career changes, this article is for you.
In this article, you’ll learn a couple of things, including;
- Crucial things to analyze before making a midlife career change
- The best midlife career changes?
- How to make a midlife career change when you’re stuck
Crucial Things to Analyze Before Making a Mid-Life Career Change
A mid-life career change can be a moment to re-evaluate your work-life discretion, decide to chase your passion, or simply try something different.
Although it isn’t an easy decision, we have seen people successfully and happily go through it with mentorship help at MentorCruise.
Below are a few things to consider that may help you determine whether to pull the trigger and change careers in mid-life or hold onto what you’ve got.
1. Find Out Why You Have a Midlife Career Crisis
Before quitting your job and seeking new positions, consider why you’re having a mid-career crisis. Ask why you are unsatisfied with your current work, and try to find out if it’s the industry or the company culture that’s the problem. Is it your day-to-day responsibilities, or is it a combination of these?
Some people love their industry but realize their new position isn’t ideal for them. For example, do you prefer executing creative tasks, or would you instead manage those doing the work? Sometimes, seeking out the help of a mid-life career coach is the best way to figure out the answer to this question.
After starting a new job, most people soon realize that the company they work for doesn’t align with their values. However, a workplace culture trend report by LinkedIn in 2018 shows that 71% of professionals don’t mind taking a pay cut to work for a company whose values align with theirs. If that’s the case with you, you’re looking for a similar job but a different company.
2. Ensure That You Have More Than Just “Passion”
You probably have heard something like, ‘it takes passion to thrive in a career.’ But unfortunately, the reality is that this is only partially true. In addition to passion, talent and hard work have a significant role. Therefore, before you jump into a new career because you’re passionate about it, try to dispassionately analyze your talent level.
Similarly, examine your eagerness and ability to work hard. Beginning a new career demands a lot of input/energy. Are you ready for that? Do you have such a level of energy? Just as critical, would you want to work that hard?
Many people ages 40 to 50 plus have a lot of things happening in their lives—hobbies, family, travel, just to list a few. As a result, you may have to sacrifice some of your quality time to do the hack obligation of establishing a new business or acquiring a new set of skills.
3. Carefully Analyze Your Financial Position
Typically, a mid-life career change includes getting a pay cut and losing privileges. Can you go by that? Do you fancy a contract with the stress of sticking to a fixed budget for an unknown period?
Health insurance becomes a more significant concern than your average salary as you grow older. Insurance is costly, and if you’re moving from an industry program to self-insurance, make sure you’re equipped. It’s no joke for sure!
Besides, if you have children/dependents, you’ll want to reflect on how a sudden financial change could hit them. This is presumably the primary consideration.
Would your finances set your residence, your kid’s college tuition, or your family’s healthcare coverage at risk?
Summarily, if you have to drill into your small savings, request a new debt, or barter non-liquid assets to finance your mid-life career change, you may be making today’s dream the future’s nightmare. Otherwise, you’re good to go!
4. Own an Emergency Plan
You’ll need time to ramp up in a new career. But how much time will be enough? Even with a thoroughly mapped out business plan or assurance from the new boss, things can still have a twist.
If the deal doesn’t work out as planned, will you be able to return to your original career path? If it’s a business you plan on starting, can you sell it if things don’t work out?
Yes! Indeed engaging in mid-life career change is quite stressful. Yet, deciding to avoid a mid-life career change several years later, with no plan, will even be more stressful.
5. Consider Your Motivation
As we grow older, the quality and significance of our job become more valuable. If you’re stuck in your current job, this will massively weigh on you emotionally, mentally, and even physically.
But the truth is, if you’re not in an ideal financial position to change careers, you will undoubtedly be better off psychologically by gripping the financial hit and getting into the job you love. Endeavor to change only when you must have found something you love, not when you’re enduring something you want to escape.
Most times, though, the desire to change careers is often directly linked with the “grass is greener” syndrome. Just don’t forget that every job has its negatives. You also might not want to get into an entry-level position again.
The Best Midlife Career Changes
You need to think creatively about your relevant experiences and job ideas to shorten the process of a mid-career change. For example:
- If you want to become a data scientist or a software engineer, education platforms like Udacity allow you to fast-track these courses to gain certification for jobs in 3-6 months.
- Job platforms like No CS Degrees have technical job postings for people without computer science degrees across the world.
- Your ideal career change job might not be in an office. In this case, you can look for full-time employment that’s fully remote through AngelList and RemoteOK.
- Change industries, not jobs. If you are employed in the digital marketing department in the culture and arts industry, you can also take these skills and land a digital marketing job in tech.
- Suppose you have a sales marketing or business administration background and want to become a software engineer. You have more chances of hitting above average salary in this new industry by mixing your technical knowledge with your past skills.
Some individuals may choose a more fulfilling career, prioritizing work-life balance above income or status, whereas others will fancy jobs that allow comfort and stability. Where do you fit?
Notwithstanding, the best mid-life career changes that will uniquely suit you depends on the type of skills you have. Typically, you can experience a smoother mid-life career change when you apply transferable skills (from your past or present career to the new one).
Additionally, most of the best second career ideas are further ideally suitable for individuals with preceding career experience. That said, having a degree in marketing or business management isn’t necessary for non-specialist jobs.
Consulting a mid-life career professional who can help you through this process will be the best way to guarantee that you choose the right career and you successfully go through the transition smoothly. You can find help with this here.
Tips for Midlife Change Careers When You’re Stuck in Current Career
Have you ever wondered why your peers suddenly change their careers and find exciting new jobs within a short period? The one thing they surely didn’t go for - was to listen to the naysayers.
If you’re stuck with your current career and desire to update or change your career experience or just retrain, continue reading to learn how to go about it. This may require going back to graduate school, enrolling in an online vocational course, or just investigating the new company you desire to work for.
Are you confused about which one to choose? Ways to calculate the cost, or you’re afraid it might just fail? Whatever the case, don’t bother too much. MentorCruise got your back on this. The association comprises professionals in mid-life career change who can transform your dreams or aspirations into an ideal reality.
Nonetheless, we listed a fantastic 9-point plan for how to make a midlife career change when you’re stuck.
1. Change Your Mindset
The mind is a powerful tool that can convince you of many things. Sometimes, it can make you believe a lie and talk you out of essential things you want to do. That’s why the first step to a mid-life career change is changing your mindset. First, overcome the fear that will hold you back from making the changes you need.
Most people let the belief that it’s too late to begin a new career hold them back. The opinion is that there’s not enough time to make a significant change because of family responsibilities and several other commitments. To make the best mid-life career changes, you must first change this mindset.
You can make progress if you start the process today. Unfortunately, most career changes take time, and you have to fight against the fear trying to stop you continually. Below are the best techniques to combat anxiety and begin the process of a midlife career change today.
- Name the Fear
Be specific in this step. Carry out a self-assessment to identify your fear. It could be worrying about getting embarrassed, failing, or financial responsibilities. Whatever it is, you need to call it what it is.
- Write Down Your Fear
Most people don’t recognize this, but there’s power in looking at your fear on paper. Write down your apprehensions and stare them down. Speaking aloud to your fear also helps. Say out loud, ‘fear is a liar’ to yourself.
- Replace the Fear With the Truth
The best way to silence fear is with the truth. If this is a lie, then what is the truth? If you’re afraid of being unqualified for a new career, look at your skills and experience. It will help you realize that you have all the skills necessary to make a significant mid-life career change, or you can start learning the required skills.
- Repeat the Truth
Now that you know the truth, don’t stop repeating it. Saying it every time you have doubts in your mind will help you overcome your fears. Repeating it often makes it louder than the voices creating doubts in your mind.
When you do this, you’re not just ignoring the fear, which only works to worsen doubts. Instead, you’re addressing the anxiety and dealing with it the best way. Fear will always be a part of the picture as long as you take risks. It’s a healthy process and completely normal.
You’ll never eliminate fear, but you can deal with it in a way that never paralyzes you. Working with a mid-life career coach throughout the career change process can effectively help you deal with your fears.
2. Grant Yourself the Indulgence to Dream the Perfect Job
Once you get hold of the idea to change your career, you may want to be careful with financial responsibilities like house rents, support to the family, buying a car, etc. But, feel free to dream big of a successful career and assess your reasons for wanting to be one of those midlife career changers.
Reflect on what or how your ideal career looks like. Your ideal job title, daily responsibilities, and qualities that would characterize a great boss and or colleague. You may want to draw up a list and refer back to it from time to time as you consider gripping the new opportunities.
3. Understand What You Want in Your Perfect Job
The next thing to do is understand the basics of your new career field so you wouldn’t be exposed to unhealthy surprises later. These include:
- Explore this new field to check for the average salary, pay packages, educational requirements, and programs.
- Identify the relevant experiences you can offer; you may just have more transferable skills than you noticed.
- Your current company might also offer job training packages for professional development, so be sure to take advantage of those. They might also benefit your future career.
- Retain your day job while preparing for your career shift.
- See the work-life balance required in the new career.
4. Figure Out Your Next Steps
You don’t want to hate your new job when making career changes. Therefore, research to ensure you know the industry and role you’re looking for. Look out for a job that allows you to do what you do best, what matters to you, and what you love doing.
The best way to find this job and explore the best mid-life career change ideas is by asking yourself the following questions.
- What are my talents, and which of them am I most passionate about?
- Which talent makes me feel alive and gives me energy?
- Which group of people am I looking to help?
- What problem would I love to solve for these people?
- Which solution can I provide for people?
When you reflect on these questions, you’ll notice a pattern. These patterns are pretty important because they indicate what your dream job is. If you need help answering, seeking out mid-life career change counseling will help you get a clear idea of who you are. We offer this service at MentorCruise.
Research the job once you answer these salient questions and know the type of role you’re looking for. Stay open-minded throughout your search. You might find positions within your locality or beyond. Sometimes, moving to a new state is worth it when you find the right opportunity.
5. Retrain, Reskill, and Accept Help
Look into digital certifications, advanced degrees, continuing education courses, online programs, or even graduate school to gain the necessary skills for your next career goal. As career changers, a good plan is to ask someone within the industry that you want to get into about how it works.
At MentorCruise, you can ask someone in the field you want to enter for expert guidance on navigating it or even some advice as a career coach on the very act of shifting careers. Then with them, create a career road map that has a set of goals to achieve.
Of course, you shouldn’t neglect the soft skills required. Assess your natural abilities, communication skills, etc.
6. Imagine Yourself as a Professional Matchmaker
Investigate the job postings for the perfect job in your career field and a tier, two, or three below that, if it demands that you work your way up. Then think of ways by which you’ll adjust your abilities to the new job’s obligations.
Imagine that you are a professional matchmaker and do well to design a match between yourself and a possible employer. Point out and promote those traits that will make you the most desirable for the position. Then, understand how to put your best qualities forward.
Give relatable instances. Effective verbal communication and unswerving integrity are two excellent skills with specific relevance to careers in finance.
Beyond that, it is often a fabulous idea to understand that every job involves associating with people. Therefore, people skills are always in search.
Typically, you will ideally match your skills with what’s required at your perfect job. Therefore, be sure to describe the skills you already have and put a plan in place to acquire the ones you do not possess.
7. Create a Way of Mastering New Skills
Interestingly, the ever-changing nature of several industries can work in your favor.But, before diving into any program, be sure to ask colleagues for recommendations, check out reviews by previous students, and thoroughly read through the course descriptions. You may want to take online courses, continuous education courses, or enroll in career training programs.
8. Pull Notice by Smart Networking
Besides gaining the required skills, you’ll want to step out by ramping up a robust networking crusade. Unfortunately, the greatest percentage of jobs never reach the open market in an online listing. The reason is that positions become filled already before they can even go public.
Once you network, that is, reach out to employers and employees for your dream job, you improve your likelihood of learning about the position long before it ever hits the open market.
Smart networking means networking with a purpose. Hang out in relevant professional communities, go on social media, and look at relevant LinkedIn profiles. Cold email potential companies you want to work for. Create meaningful connections in this new industry. Get out of your comfort zone.
Once you start learning new skills, you’ll likely make new meaningful connections in the industry. Some other ways to network and make new connections are:
- Informing your friends and family about the new career you’re looking to pursue.
- Asking your inner circle if they have connections in your chosen industry
- Finding contacts in your neighborhood, church, gym, and other places you frequent.
- Reaching out to your new network and sharing your desired future; you can also seek advice from them.
Opportunities will start coming your way once you start networking and making meaningful connections with people in your new career line.
You might get accepted for part-time work that can later become a new career. Job hopping isn’t the solution, but you need to set your foot in the door.
9. Win the Interview Process
The final step to making a significant mid-life career change is applying for jobs. Of course, once you start looking for jobs, the goal is to win the interview. Below are some steps to ensure you ace the interview process.
- Update Your Resume: You need to tailor your resume to your new career path. For example, if you learned new skills, ensure it reflects in your resume. Additionally, ensure you add a referral from one of the connections you made while networking. This information will set your resume apart.
- Prepare for the Interview: Another step you need to take is preparing for upcoming interviews. Interview preparation breeds confidence which leads to winning. Get ready to explain why you’re changing your career and your passion to interviewers. Ensure you research the company’s culture and history to confirm it aligns with your goals. Additionally, learn the STAR/CAR interview technique to ace every question in your interviews.
- Follow Up: Another way you can stand out is to follow up after the interview. Sometimes, it is the only step you need to seal the deal and get an offer.
Get Mentorship at MentorCruise
To conclude, throughout your career transition or change, you’ll be working to efficiently prove that your skills are the excellent skills that your dream industry needs.
Make that change you’ve always desired now! If you are not taking any steps now, the probability is that you will never make your goals happen. So, whether you want to shift careers and become a computer programmer, a data scientist, etc, MentorCruise is there for your mid-career mentorship needs.