Is It Okay To Change Careers After 40?

Most people have a certain path that leads them along with the same career, or at least closely related careers, for most of their adult life. This can cause you to feel stuck in a rut without excitement and change that often coincides with a loss of interest or stimulation in the type of work that you do. When this happens, you may begin to consider changing careers even if you are middle-aged, and doing so can be positive, but there are things to keep in mind before jumping into a major decision like that.

Before looking at some tips for changing careers after 40, it is a good idea to highlight the pros and cons of making a middle-aged career change.

Pros of changing careers after 40

There are some benefits to changing careers after you reach the age of 40 or more. If you dislike your current career choice and feel stuck, bored, or unfulfilled, then changing careers can help you become passionate about your work by choosing something that interests you and fits your skills.

While it may seem late to change careers between 40 and 50, you still have years of working life left if you plan on retiring at 65. At age 40 this means that you likely have more careers left until age 65 than you have already experienced!

Changing a career can positively impact your well-being, relationships, health, and life satisfaction. Staying in the wrong career can be stressful and by age 40 you probably have a clearer idea of what you want to do than you did when you were 20.

Cons of changing careers after 40

Changing careers during middle age can also be challenging for a few reasons. You probably have responsibilities that you didn’t have at a younger age like children, mortgage, retirement savings, and more.

You are familiar and comfortable in the job you have now, which may be part of the reason you want to change, but it can also be overwhelming to leave that comfortable position behind for something less certain and new.
There is the issue of supporting yourself and your loved ones while making the transition that can be difficult. Some switches will be easier than others, but it is critical to have a plan for any gap in employment.

For the career you want to pursue, there may also be training and educational certifications and experience that are required. This can make it hard to suddenly switch and you may have to pursue a new career while still working in your current job, which can take up time and be stressful.

Prioritize

When making a career change after 40, it is important to prioritize the things you want out of work and what you need for your happiness. While financial expectations and needs are important, there are other things to consider like money, stress level, fulfillment, and interests.

There will likely never be a perfect time to switch careers either and waiting for that opportunity can waste time that you can never get back. Because of this, it is a good idea to think about the aspects of work that are most important to you as well as factors that are less important so that you can prioritize.

Leverage experience

Even when your new career is not related to your current career at all, it is still possible to use your experience as a way into the new position. Many of your skills can probably be useful with your new career and employers love proven experience that can offer them something more than other applicants or current employees.

You may also have people in your current network that can help you get into a new field. If not, you can build a network before changing so that you have people in the industry or field that you want to enter. This can also help you learn more before making the change.

Gather information

Learning about job duties, skills, earnings, and other information can help you prepare better for the change to a different line of work. You can utilize this information to determine the specific path you wish to take or eliminate related careers that do not seem so intriguing.

You may discover positive aspects like more flexibility or higher pay that you can weigh against potential disadvantages like uncertainty or limited hiring or locational issues. This can help you make the transition smooth and well organized.

Do it

If you know for sure that you want to change careers, then at some point you are probably going to have to leave your comfort zone and put yourself out there. It is unlikely that waiting will make the transition more comfortable or easier and at some point, you just have to do it. This could be gradual like attending industry meetings, talking to others in a career you desire or learning a new skill or it could be sudden like applying to a position, but it is a step that is necessary for change.

It is also good to have support for these life changes. Tell your friends and family and allow them to offer guidance. This can help you plan in a larger context to ensure your responsibilities will be met. A support system can also help you with doubts or questions that may be difficult to answer.

Conclusion

Changing careers at 40 can be challenging, but it can also be fulfilling and allow you to spend the rest of your working life doing something that fits your skills, personality, and interests better than your current job. There are certainly downsides, but planning ahead, learning as much as possible, talking to others, and prioritizing your needs can all help the change go smoothly as you pursue a new career in a new, exciting field.