Changing Careers in the Second Half of Your Journey

Although it could be daunting, changing careers in the second half of your professional journey may be just what you need to find enjoyment and meaning in what you do every day. If you are feeling burnt out or stressed in your current job, a new career with more fulfillment and emphasis on your passion may be what you need. If you’re considering making a shift, there are a few things you want to consider and steps to take to be successful!

Pros and Cons of Changing a Career at 50+

A career change is a chance to change your routine and experience something new. If you feel burnt out at your current job, a career change is a great opportunity to branch out and try new things, as well as continue being a lifelong learner.

If your current job is putting a strain on your mental wellbeing, you may notice that after making the career change, your anxiety and stress levels reduce. Changing your career can let you find more time for fun things in your personal life. Remember that your future self will thank you for making your mental health a priority and creating change in your life to benefit your overall wellbeing.

Your life and previous work experiences are also a big pro that many employers are looking for because it means that you know how to adapt to change and be flexible. If you need some encouragement, remind yourself that you’ve already had years of experience and learned skill sets that other applicants don’t have.

On the other hand, it’s also important to be prepared to experience ageism. Even if you have years of experience and all of the skills a job requires, ageism can still happen, but there are ways to overcome it. Ageism is illegal in the United States, and workers over the age of 40 are considered protected workers by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. To learn how to successfully combat ageism in the workplace, check out this article from Flexjobs.

Knowing How to Rebrand Yourself

A career shift is a great time to reevaluate your resume and how you want to market your skills. Make sure to include skills on your resume that show you are familiar and comfortable with tech platforms, such as Zoom, Slack, G Suite, Microsoft, and any other platforms that you have experience with. Also update your LinkedIn profile to include those skills and have your colleagues endorse you. It’s also important that you update your profile picture to a more current and professional headshot.

Your cover letter is a fantastic place to tie in your life experiences with your professional experience. Talk about the times that you stepped into a leadership role in a volunteer position, or dealt with conflict management, and how that relates to the role you are applying for. Remember that you have skills and experience from knowing yourself and building relationships with others, which are valuable and should be highlighted in both your resume and cover letter. 

It is Never Too Late to Learn

Embrace your accomplishments and build on your experience, but remember that it is never too late to keep learning. High-growth and well-paying job industries want to know that you are adaptable and value lifelong learning.

The first step you can take is to identify your accomplishments and transferable skills through SkillUp Coaching. Next, access resources on SkillUp like how to become a tech savvy senior, find training programs, and learn what hiring managers are really thinking in the current job market. 

Build your confidence and get ready for a big change that can lead to opportunities you didn’t even expect or know existed! A career change in the second half of your professional journey is exciting and gives you a chance to prioritize what is most important in your life.

Learn more about SkillUp and our training catalog here.