Does age really matter when making a career change?

Firstly, let’s start with this question: ‘Does age really matter when making a career change’?

What do you think about this?

What do you believe is possible?

Why do you think your age could be a barrier to making a career change?

Who decides the right age to change careers?

I ask you these four questions because how you answer them will determine how you read this article and what you take away and implement.

Our lives change. We change. The world changes.  And it's ok for us to change our jobs - careers evolve, develop, we un-learn, re-learn, grow, and take action.

In my 22-year career working within HR, Recruitment, Coaching and Training, I have seen careers transition, change, and people evolve.  We no longer have a job for life, the world of work has developed into hybrid working, freelancing, multi-passionate work, and remote working.

Why do you think people feel their age is a barrier to making a career change?

• Our environment
• Our beliefs
• Our mindset
• Our self-talk
• Our doubts
• Our age
• Our financial situation
• Our confidence
• We don’t feel it’s possible
• We don’t know others who have make a ‘brave career change’
• It’s overwhelming, it’s scary and you are fearful.
• Lack of experience

As you can see the list can be huge and I could go on and on…

In this article I want to share ways for you to approach a successful career change, and to encourage you to own your personal and professional development and get the job satisfaction you have been looking for - it’s never too early, or too late. The careers advice in this piece is designed to empower you to make the leap no matter your age. 

Changing careers will keep your brain active by presenting you with new challenges. If you feel like you've been stuck on autopilot for a while, maybe it's time to shake things up and take on some new kinds of projects at a totally different job. You deserve a work environment that doesn't stress you and you deserve to be fulfilled and love your work.

Our habits and behaviours are a result of the decisions and choices we make daily.

Life is all about change, change is great but can also be seen as negative.

How do you feel about change?

Career Change – what is this and what does it mean?

Changing career is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly, but whatever your reasons for wanting to do something different, a carefully planned move can turn out to be incredibly rewarding and purposeful. A new career, in a new job role, can put your life on the right track.

If you've got your heart set on changing careers, the first thing you'll need to do is research for your job search. Even if it's for just a few minutes on a day-to-day basis, dedicating some time to proper research will help you pick the right career.

For some careers you may need to consider further study or professional training. It's never too late to retrain in another field or industry - having life experience behind you when heading back to university can work to your advantage in fulfilling career move.

One industry that values life experience is financial advice. When it comes to the financial services profession, there is often a perception that those with a certain level of experience or qualifications gained throughout a previous career are more suited to delivering robust financial advice. In reality, it's helpful to look at the average age of financial advisers as a reflection of the changing demographics and lifestyles of those pursuing this profession:

For example, Zac Cambourne, who transitioned from teacher to financial adviser at age 38, undertook a six-month programme at St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy where he achieved his level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and built up his technical knowledge and advisory skills as well. It was a combination of the skills he acquired from teaching as well as the opportunity to gain qualifications through the Academy that allowed him to pivot his career and set up his own financial advice business.

If you're happy with your current job and work conditions but you'd like a new challenge, you don't necessarily have to change jobs - enquire with your HR department or manager about any available continuing professional development opportunities.

Once you know the path you'd like to pursue, you can start seeking opportunities. Update your professional profiles to clearly state your intention to change career paths or industries and give details of the skills and experience you have that will be well-suited. The benefits of changing careers and finding fulfilling work can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health, your relationships, your self-esteem, and emotional well-being.

Reasons why it could be time for a career change.

There is no set formula when it comes to changing careers – and that applies to age as well. The average person will now change careers five to seven times during their working life according to career change statistics. Whether you’ve just started your working life and are looking to explore new options or you’ve spent significant time working in a particular role or profession and are ready to try something new, there could be a multitude of reasons why a person might decide to switch career paths:

• You are bored and need a new challenge.
• The dream job opportunities in the world/industry/market are available to you.
• Your values have changed.
• You want to focus on other things.
• Your passions have changed, and you want to use your energy differently.
• Health has affected you and you want different things.
• You’re not happy.

The reasons you decide to undergo a career change may be dependent on your age and interests, but the ability to do so is completely up to you, regardless of your stage of life.

For example, Rachel Stewart had a 15-year career in law before pursuing her own business as a financial adviser. Working within both law practices and in-house, Rachel was dedicated to the career that she studied for at university, but after a time, she realised that she lacked fulfilment. “Working in law I found myself sitting behind a desk often doing work for other people which I felt didn’t deliver a huge amount of purpose. I couldn’t always see the benefits of the work I was doing. It was easy to feel that I’d been put in a box and unable to spread my wings in this career. Having my two children gave me the impetus to change career direction again.”

Being able to identify the potential shortcomings of your current career will help clarify your next move.

It’s also important to consider industries

How can you own your career development?

It’s one thing deciding to make a career change: the next obstacle is actually doing it. Being proactive in your development – even if it can feel rudimentary to go back to basics and learning something new! – is key in ensuring you are ready for what comes next.

Start with self-reflection. Get to know your values, what matters most to you, and what kind of work brings you joy and satisfaction.

Self-develop, read, and listen to podcasts to develop your thinking.

Think of your career as a process, not a ladder

You are the driver of your career - be proactive!

Mentors and Coaches are invaluable; seek them out. Coaches help you to stay in a state of belief, they believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself.

Career change considerations - volunteer to test out whether this is an option for you.

Learn new skills to embrace your natural talents.

9 ways to develop your career.

1.      Embrace your strengths.

2.     Identify your talents, skills, and career timeline from your life so far to present.

3.     Get to know your authentic self (the inner you: “you can never establish a personal relationship without opening up your own heart”).

4.     Know your skill gaps and get to work on them (develop yourself).

5.     Map out your career development plan.

6.     Create the consistency with your actions to develop and evolve your career plan.

7.     Take action and be intentional with your career development plan.

8.     Use positive affirmations to help you challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. Using them often, repeating them will help you believe in them. You can start to make positive changes.

9.     Filter your thoughts, feed your thoughts, fight through your thoughts, focus on the present.

 

Lead with the heart, and the career change will follow

A career change does not just impact your professional life, but your personal one too. If you’re early on in your working life, it can be nerve-racking to launch a new venture that could impact your career for years to come. If you’re a seasoned careerist, you might be apprehensive to steer away from a profession or role that you are comfortable with. However, changing careers should never be a head-vs-heart decision: moreover, it is important to address how you really feel about a career change before taking the leap. Remind yourself:

• It’s ok to start again.
• It’s ok to start late.
• Be unsure.
• Act differently.
• Try and still succeed.
• “Life is a product of personal adventure; what you do today determines where you end up tomorrow”.

Let’s break it down

Considerations. What could your options be, what do you need to consider, the courage you need, and confidence to create the change.

Actions and what will your approach be? Big journeys begin with small steps. Do you need to save, financial plan, succession plan, create specific actions to make this career change happen? What could it be? What sacrifices do you need to make?

Research. What research do you need to do? Job boards, qualifications, volunteering, retraining.

Energy. Ensure you have the right energy levels. physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional.

Employability. The career change needs to be employable, whether it’s for employed or self-employed work.  Looking at all the options, understanding your career history, your career timeline, and what skills you have developed uptown and what you need to do differently for the career change.

Relationship building. Networking and developing relationships to understand what you can do to create the ‘right action for you’ to create the career change. Leverage your contacts and connections. You don’t know who you will meet on the way up in your career, the way down and sideways. Always develop strong relationships.

So, does age really matter when making a career change?

In short, no. It doesn’t matter if you’re old or young – a career change can be a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to take control of their own professional development. What does matter, however, is the following:

What do you love?

What are you passionate about?

What type of lifestyle and workstyle do you want?

Who are you?

What do you want?

What do you stand for?

Who do you know who has done what you would like to do – how do you think they did it?

 

Once you have reflected on what matters to you, you are in a far stronger position to decide what you want, and how you want to get there:

Decide on what you want
➵ Commit to the vision and plan
➵ Focus on every single step
➵ Succeed

To everything there is a process.
Always an opportunity to learn.

The Top 10 Steps to Success

1. Try, try again, Try once more,

2. Try it a little differently
3. Try it again tomorrow
4. Try and ask for help
5. Try and find someone who has done it
6. Try to determine what is not working
7. Try to determine what is working
8. Just keep trying
9. Try again
10. Try once more

Resources:

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