Navigating a Career Change at 40: Confidently Take the Leap
Achieving Goals, Career Discovery, Career Enrichment, Career Transitions, Self Awareness
Despite what you may hear from family and friends, making a career change at 40 is not only possible but can open up a whole new chapter in your life. Even considering a change at this point in your career can enrich your professional life, letting you dream bigger and take control of your career path.
If the idea of a midlife career shift intrigues you, you’re in good company! Many Ama la Vida clients have made the leap, discovering their dream careers in their 40s and beyond. In this article we will cover how they conquered their fears and made it happen, and how you can change careers at 40 as well!
Why Change Careers at 40?
Our priorities change throughout our lives, and a career that fits our needs early on may not be the right option at 40 or even 50. According to the World Economic Forum, the average person has at least 12 jobs before retirement, and the typical career changer is around 39 years old!
These numbers suggest that people feel empowered to seek out better professional opportunities throughout their careers. They are no longer willing to settle for a job that isn’t right for them—at any age.
Still, many professionals stay in roles that aren’t right for them rather than switch careers because they don’t recognize (or simply ignore) the signs. Even more will stay in their current careers because of beliefs that hold them back— they think they’re “too old,” “too experienced or inexperienced,” or believe their “opportunity to make a move has passed.”
Common Reasons for Changing Careers in Your 40s
There are a number of reasons you may be thinking about a career shift, regardless of your age.
Changing Priorities: Life circumstances, such as family or health, might be steering you toward a career that offers higher income, better balance or more fulfillment.
Values Misalignment: Your job may no longer align with who you are or what you stand for, making it hard to stay motivated or feel connected to your work.
Opportunities for Growth: Lack of new challenges or opportunities for advancement may leave you feeling stuck or stagnant.
Fading Passion: Maybe you’re experiencing the nagging feeling that what you’re currently doing is just not your desired career, or you find yourself daydreaming about a new job.
Technological Advances: Rapid changes in your industry, such as automation or new technologies, may make your current role obsolete or less fulfilling, prompting the desire for a career pivot.
Regardless of the specific reasons, career changers who prioritize their needs wind up in careers that better align with their goals and fit their lifestyles.
Why a Career Change at 40 is Actually Perfect Timing
There is some very good news for anyone considering a midlife career change: this might be exactly the right time to make a move. By the time you hit 40, chances are you will have decades of personal and professional experience under your belt that have provided you with incredibly valuable and transferrable skills.
Need proof? According to researchers from Harvard University, employers often value soft skills like communication and leadership over technical expertise!
Benefits of a Career Change in Your 40s
A midlife career shift can be an exciting opportunity to flex your skills in a new field or industry, especially if you’re looking for a new challenge or fresh perspectives. More and more professionals are leaving the traditional path of the corporate ladder behind and reshaping their careers in the form of a spiral, or a “squiggle.”
In their book The Squiggly Career, Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis describe how for many workers, the movement from one role or industry to another actually enhances their skills and effectiveness while bringing more career satisfaction.
If you’re not feeling challenged or fulfilled at work anymore, exploring new areas of knowledge by taking classes or pursuing a certificate or degree will stave off boredom and may even set you up for a new career path. Not only is intellectual growth in your 40s and beyond important for your brain, the joy of learning and discovery can keep you connected to your “why.”
Not to mention that due to your decades of personal and professional experience, you may be less impulsive and better at seeing long-term consequences and opportunities. Those years of experience bring with them the ability to consider various perspectives, and big-picture thinking is a highly transferable skill!
Setting Realistic Expectations for Your Career Transition
Many of the challenges that come along with the career change process are due to unrealistic expectations. This is why it’s so important to make sure that you’re focused on being flexible which will save a lot of frustration later.
A successful career change requires patience and grit. You may need to focus on adding new skills to your repertoire to address any gaps or even pursue further education or training to position yourself as a viable candidate for certain roles.
Rather than jumping into a new job with little reflection or planning, consider what’s really important to you in your career transition. This will help you avoid being in this same place a few years or even months down the line.
Create a Career Change Plan
The career change process can feel overwhelming at times, but a good plan can help!
That’s why Ama La Vida created the ALV Career Method to keep you on track and help you hold yourself accountable to your professional goals.
You can download a free preview of the course and start gaining clarity around your career change here:
Download our comprehensive step-by-step guide to design and land a job you love!
Below we'll break down some of the proven steps to help you gain clarity, set goals and start working towards the right career path for you.
Setting Clear Goals and Objectives
First, identify your big picture goals. To get started, you can ask yourself the following questions:
- What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail? If money were no issue?
- What do I voluntarily spend time on, or happily do without getting paid?
- What is the big change that needs to happen in my professional life? My personal life?
- Finish this sentence: “I would love going to work if only…”
Use the information you uncovered through these questions to reflect on some bigger picture career goals. Don't worry about them being "realistic" or "within reach" at this point. Allow yourself to dream big for a moment and imagine your ideal career situation.
Once you have an idea of your big, audacious career goals, you can start to break them down into smaller, more digestible goals that are specific, measurable, and achievable. Start by asking yourself these questions:
- Considering my answers to the above, what are the first steps I can think of?
- What are some immediate actions I can take to create more of what I want in my professional life?
- What are some key milestones I want to work towards along the way?
You may need to alter smaller goals throughout your career transition process based on elements out of your control, so be flexible about the details.
Take those smaller goals and action items, put them on your calendar and create a tentative timeline for getting started. Check back in on your plan and timeline regularly to keep them top of mind.
Identifying Your Passions, Values and Strengths
While it may be very tempting to run straight to the job boards at this point, the next step in finding a new career is to take some time to look inward. Finding a new career that is truly right for you will involve reflecting on core values, passions, and strengths, then using that knowledge to inform your career decisions.
Start by compiling an exhaustive list of all your previous experience and projects, regardless of whether or not it was part of your role. Where in your career did you exceeded expectations? Which accomplishments are you particularly proud of? Which projects did you enjoy the most? Look for patterns in your list to identify passions and strengths.
Consider what kind of impact you want to have on the world around you. What values are important to you professionally? Feeling connected to your values and purpose will bring more joy and fulfillment to your career path.
If you’re still feeling unsure of your values, passions, and strengths, our free downloadable career plan worksheet will help you dig deeper.
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs About Career Change
The process of changing careers at 40 comes with its own special set of mental hurdles that can trip up even the most confident job seeker. Identifying and addressing these internal obstacles is essential to a midlife career change, so that you can present your best and most confident self to future employers. If you don't believe it's truly possible, it probably won't be!
We've outlined some of the most commonly held limiting beliefs below, along with suggested shifts in mindset that highlight your potential rather than limit it.
"I’m Too Old to Start Over"
While it may seem like every employer is searching for someone fresh out of school, the truth is that experience often comes with age, which offers huge advantages to employers. More experienced employees making a career change later in life bring a wealth of diverse skills and valuable lessons learned throughout their careers.
If you can connect the dots between your existing field, knowledge, and experience with the new positions of interest, your age will feel like more like an advantage than a liability.
"I Only Know How to Do One Thing"
With the exception of highly specialized jobs, most career paths actually rely on a similar set of “soft” skills that are highly transferable across roles and industries. Focus on highlighting and enhancing the skills you already have, and then find out if they are transferable to another industry or role. Spoiler alert: they probably are!
There may be some new skills you need to pick up on your way to your dream job, but upskilling has become easier, more affordable and more convenient in recent years. Don't fear additional education or training. There are a variety of options available to suit your needs (from YouTube Videos to online certifications) that may be more accessible than you think.
"It’s Too Risky to Leave My Current Job"
Based on the high rates of burnout— according to a survey from Deloitte, 77% of workers are experiencing burnout at their jobs— you may be taking a greater risk by staying in your job. But if you start your career change strategically while in your current job, there are ways you can decrease the perceived risks.
Start small: explore other professional options through continuing education and even try out new skills and expertise through volunteer work or a side hustle. Saving a little extra to create a financial safety net will also help decrease your sense of risk. With enough savings in the bank, you will feel more confident dealing with the ups and downs of the job search if they happen to come your way.
"I’ll Have to Start From Scratch"
When you leave a job, you don’t leave behind all of the skills, knowledge, and experience you acquired. Starting in a new industry doesn’t mean starting at the bottom if you can leverage what you already bring to the table.
Professionals transitioning careers can make lateral moves or even step into senior roles by reframing this belief and trusting in their own experience and abilities. If you truly believe in your professional value, it will be much easier to show a potential employer why they should give you an opportunity.
Exploring Lucrative Careers That Align with Your Income Goals
Financial concerns are a very common reason for changing careers at 40 as many workers consider when, and sometimes even if, they will be able to retire comfortably. Luckily, smart and strategic career moves can definitely help increase your earning potential.
If you feel like you’ve hit a pay ceiling at work, or are concerned about slow or nonexistent growth in your chosen industry, now is the perfect time to seek out other job prospects. This might involve positioning yourself for a more senior position, making a lateral move to a different employer, entering a new field, or even becoming your own boss by starting a small business.
Pulling together all of your transferable skills can also help you identify new career paths and industries. As job markets continue to quickly evolve, there is a growing need for professionals with effective communication and leadership skills. Many employers prefer to hire for these soft skills and then train employees on specific technical knowledge.
Finally, if you have developed industry-specific knowledge throughout your career, you may consider a pivot towards higher education and/or training and development. If you enjoy sharing what you know while empowering others, there may be opportunities to teach at a local college or university or conduct training and mentoring for new employees.
Positioning Yourself as a Strong Candidate
Regardless of where your career moves take you, you can start to position yourself as a strong candidate before you even begin the job hunt by focusing on aligning your personal experience and brand with the path you want to pursue. Begin by identifying your transferable skills like communication, critical thinking, writing skills, and leadership experience. These skills will set you up for success in many positions, regardless of industry or role.
How to Identify Transferable Skills That Open Doors
Many years in the same industry and/or role can make it difficult to identify skills that would be valuable outside of your current career. Start by listing all of the work you do in a typical day or week, then ask yourself what skills are required to complete that work.
It is easy to take our own skills for granted or underestimate their value in new fields, so be sure to make your list as comprehensive as possible. You can also ask yourself what comes naturally to you, what others compliment you on at work, or what others ask for your help with. And according to Forbes, making note on that list of the skills that bring you joy can even point you towards a more fulfilling career path!
Optimize Your Application Materials and Online Brand
Ensure that your resume is updated to reflect your current ambitions, and begin shifting your online branding on LinkedIn to reflect your career change as well.
Get Interview Ready
The next step is to gather examples that highlight how you’ve successfully used these skills in your previous positions. These examples will become part of your interview toolkit, and you can begin to refine your interview skills by practicing talking about them in detail.
One essential interview skill is the ability to use specific anecdotes and examples that show off your unique skills and talents, even if you’re changing industries.
Balancing Work-Life Harmony During Your Transition
Making a career transition later in life can cause stress, which means it’s more important than ever to maintain a healthy work-life balance and take care of yourself. Managing the commitments in your personal life and current job while exploring new opportunities can take a lot of time and energy, so getting enough rest and downtime is essential. If you are really unhappy at your current job, consider using some vacation time to slow down and focus on your needs.
You will also want to consider your mental health: spending time outside, meditating, and with loved ones can help refill your cup, relieving some of the anxiety and frustration that can come with a career change.
Get Support with Your Career Change
One of the biggest misconceptions job seekers make, regardless of age or occupation, is to believe that they need to go through this process alone. Getting support from your network and from a Career Coach can streamline the career transition process, saving you a lot of time and helping you avoid unnecessary stress and frustration.
Your Ama La Vida coach will guide you through the career transition process, from gaining clarity around your next steps to updating all of your application materials to ensure that you’re marketing yourself successfully. They will also help you master networking to make strategic connections that get your foot in the door at your target companies.
And when you’re ready, they will work with you to ensure your interviewing skills are top-notch so that you can tell your story in a compelling and memorable way.
Inspiring Stories of Career Changers in Their 40s
Whether you’re just starting to think about a career shift or are deep in the process, you are not alone in wanting to make a change. Read on to find out how some career changers in their 40s linked up with a coach and created a path to a new fulfilling career.
Kirsten: When her youngest child left home, Kirsten knew it was time to get back into the workforce after many years as a stay-at-home mom. But she was worried that it might be too late, and that her many years at home meant she had lost all of her professional edge and skills. With support from her coach, she combined all of her previous work experience with the volunteer and committee work she did as a mom, and was able to rebrand herself to pursue a new career path. She is currently a Business Development Coordinator and really enjoys the work; however, Kirsten knows there is even more for her ahead, so she is also strategizing her next career move!
Patrick: After climbing the ladder for decades, Patrick was feeling isolated in his corporate position. He longed to use his tech skills in a different context where he felt he was making a difference. After taking a deep dive into his values, priorities, and dreams, he identified employers and roles that aligned with his vision. Because he had built a financial safety net before leaving, Patrick was able to take the career change process at his own pace and focus on other elements of his life in the process. He got involved with local politics and community organizations, developing a strong network of supporters outside of his corporate career. He recently accepted a position at a small, mission-oriented company and is excited to get back to work.
Embrace Your Career Change Journey
The key to a successful career change in your 40s is having the right mindset and a solid career plan. Set aside your concerns about age and start to see this shift as pure opportunity!
A new career is a strategic move that can increase your earning potential while boosting personal and professional fulfillment. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to make a change, you have the power to achieve success on your own terms and to shape the next years of your career.
Your dream career is within reach, no matter your age. Book a free consult to discover what’s possible.
