If you wish to live a more meaningful life but are dissatisfied with your employment, consider a career change to find new opportunities and people to connect with. However, people typically become less adaptable as they age compared to when they were younger. This is because older people tend to be doubtful and afraid of change. Fortunately, at this age, you’ve been through a lot and have learned to make wiser judgments going forward.
Contrary to popular belief, changing careers is done the same way you would at any other time in your life. It may not be easy, but knowing how to make the transition, with or without a career transition assistance program, will help you succeed in your new career. Read on for a successful guide to changing careers at 50:
Know What You Want
Before making a career move, consider how much time you want to spend at work and whether the new job will enable you to do that. Many people over 50 need a career change to experience a better work-life balance or lessen their stress levels to pursue their interests outside of work.
Before deciding to switch careers, it’s essential to consider how you’d like your career to contribute to your life. Consider the things most important to you in a job, such as a salary, hours worked, office environment, and perks offered to employees. The ideal job doesn’t exist, but if you know what you want, you can achieve something reasonably close.
Acknowledge Your Achievements
While you may desire to leave your current job, it’s essential to recognize your successes since they demonstrate your most important strengths and values as a workplace employee, which you will probably want to carry into your next job. The things you’ve accomplished that you’re most proud of can be a window into who you are and what you value.
When you overcome an obstacle, your methods to achieve success usually reveal your abilities. It’s important to recognize and appreciate these successes to figure out what to do next and how to get there.
Take Note Of Your Skills
Making a career switch requires transferable skills. Transferable abilities are a key differentiator between the career success and failure of older workers who make a job switch. So, identify your best workplace skills and note them all.
These may include skills in managing, mentoring, and leading, as well as teaching, supervising, and public communication. Then, you can evaluate these skills to the requirements of your new career. Don’t forget to highlight these on your resume and cover letters. This could be an essential step in your plan to switch careers.
Seek Help
Also, you’ll want to lean on loved ones when planning a personal and professional switch. Share your plans and ask for their involvement. They may be able to offer advice on how to tailor your cover letter to the needs of older job seekers or introduce you to those who can. You might also find it helpful to have someone there to support you emotionally as you navigate these uncharted waters and land a job you love. However, you may want to check out IntoJobs if you want some extra help and guidance along the way.
Take The Time To Rebrand Yourself
Anybody who decides they want to make a professional switch should be prepared to put in a lot of effort to rebrand oneself. Employers are less likely to dismiss a resume because of an applicant’s age if they see that even minor details have been updated, such as the applicant’s LinkedIn profile photo, the email service used, and how you address the recipient in the cover letter. Doing so can demonstrate to potential employers that you are tech-savvy and open to new experiences.
Try It And See
Wanting a new career beyond 50 isn’t enough; you should give it a shot first. The best approach to find out if a new career path is right for you is to try it out in some little way. This may be through an internship, part-time employment, or another arrangement that allows you to try out your new field. You can learn much about the work and the industry by getting hands-on experience.
Conclusion
If you’re unhappy in your current position but still want to find meaning in your life, a shift of careers may help. But as people get older, they tend to be less open to change than when they were younger. Contrary to what most people think, changing careers is like changing jobs at any other time in your life. Making the leap to a new field may not be simple, but with these pointers in mind, you’ll well be on your way to professional success.
