Don’t Let Your Age Keep You From an Exciting New Career  

By Kent Johnson


I sometimes hear from older workers who want to make a career change, but the prospect of leaving the safety and security of their current job leaves them anxious or afraid. Changing careers can be a stressful experience even for younger workers, and those in mid-life or older feel like they have more to lose and less room for error if their career move doesn’t go as planned.

Without a doubt, making a career change later in life does involve some unique challenges, but the opportunity to do the type of work you’ve always dreamed of doing can be well worth the effort. The chance to do the work you love can change your life in many ways, from helping you feel younger to giving you the job satisfaction and fulfillment that many workers never experience. Just be aware of the obstacles you might face, and prepare for them in advance. 

One of the biggest hurdles (real or imagined) that older workers face is the idea that they shouldn’t even consider a career change at their age. This perception is often fostered in the workplace, where younger workers are encouraged to try new career paths, while older employees are seen as “fixtures” in their current positions. And family members may question an older worker who’s contemplating a change, especially one who’s established and successful in his or her current career. 

Another challenge that scares off many older workers from making a career change is the prospect of having to learn an entirely new set of skills. This can be especially daunting in today's fast paced, high-technology economy where entire career fields spring up and are made obsolete seemingly overnight. The answer here is to choose a new career that utilizes at least some of your current skills and knowledge. These are qualities to highlight during an interview. And more than one older worker has left the corporate world completely to become an independent consultant or start their own business. 

Also of concern to older workers is the prospect of having to start off at the bottom of the ladder in a new career. But this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. Most companies will take into account your past experience--even if it was in an entirely different area from the job you’re applying for–-and place you in a position according to your background. Again, you want to make sure and emphasize your work–-and life–-experience during a job interview. 

There are other challenges to making a mid-life career change. It may take some time to find a new position, and then there will be an adjustment period as you learn new skills, adapt to new co-workers and a new environment, etc. And don’t expect a new career to be the magic pill that cures all the troubles in your life. If you have problems outside of work, they will still be there, new job or not.

So view these obstacles as reasonable challenges, decide that you’re willing to take a risk in order to achieve the career you’ve always dreamed of, and take the plunge. If your family cares about you they’ll understand, and hopefully support you as you embark on one of the great adventures of your life.

 

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