Do you love your job? It’s never too late for a Career Change
It’s never too late for a career change.
Many think it’s risky to change careers over 50. But that’s no longer the case. We live 100 year lives, and retirement age is constantly getting later… why stick with a job that you don’t love?
My skills are out of date
I’m scared of change
I can’t compete with young talent
I don’t know what job would suit me
My CV is dusty and out of date
All things I’ve heard a lot of lately from my coaching clients. It’s as if the age of 50 is a barrier to having a job you love! Of course that’s not the case.
- Your skills are not out of date. You may just need to package them differently to sell to potential employers! Think about your Transferable Skills – and the wealth of experience that you have.
- Don’t be scared of a career change. The only thing to be afraid of is working another 20 or 30 years in a job that doesn’t excite you!
- You can compete with the young talent. You have what they don’t have – experience. Perhaps not in the exact same role or industry, but soft skills are relevant in all careers.
- Now is the time to find your ideal career. Don’t put it off any longer! Pick up the phone and call me, and I’ll help you to find a job that will excite and motivate you – by identifying what makes you tick.
- Update your CV. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just up to date. Don’t just list your qualifications and jobs and try not to overuse bullet points! Focus on highlighting your transferable skills, and how you’ve overcome challenges in previous roles. Once you’re applying for jobs, use the job descriptions to tweak your CV and make sure you’re appealing to the employer by reflecting their language.
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Socrates.
Career Change doesn’t need to be scary
If you’re considering changing career, don’t rush. It’s important to get this right! Here are some tips that I give to my clients.
Don’t try to change everything at once.
If you hate your current job, it may feel like the best solution to jump out with both feet, but something this big does require a degree of planning, and a calm, considered mental state. Do the necessary research / training before making a clean break.
Seek help.
Discuss things with others who have either previously switched career, or are in the process of doing so. Swap tips and encouragement; this support will really spur you on. Go to network events so that you meet new people and get a different perspective. Use professional career support to ensure that changing careers is what you really want and how to make that move.
Invest in yourself.
It’s remarkable how many people will make superficial purchases but won’t invest in the most important commodity of all – themselves. Think about courses, qualifications and professional coaching, which will provide more structure to the whole career change process.
Re-write your CV.
CVs are all different and a ‘good’ CV doesn’t necessarily follow the same format. Don’t be afraid to be creative on your CV; employers are starting to think differently and are increasingly interested in motivation and attitude. What’s interesting about you?
Keep going!
It can be challenging, however all the hard work, setbacks and stress will ultimately be worth it. This quote from Helen Keller is particularly apt:
“Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere, and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles — a delight in climbing rugged paths, which you would perhaps never know if you did not sometime slip backward — if the road was always smooth and pleasant.”