Top 5 Tips for a Mid-Life Career Change

Changing your career in the middle of your working life can seem like a daunting task. You have to extract yourself from the environment and tasks you have gotten so used to and start from the bottom in your new field. Use some of the top tips to prepare yourself for the change and increase your chances of making the switch smoothly and successfully.

Have Reasonable Expectations

People who are dissatisfied with their current careers often see a career change as the thing that will solve all of their problems. However, there are sure to be downsides about the new career as well. Before getting too set on the change, meet informally with several people who are working the type of job you want and ask them about what their days look like and what they like and dislike about their jobs. This will help you get a better sense of what you are getting yourself into and evaluate whether you really want to make the change.

Discuss With Family

Making a career change is likely to put stress on yourself and on the people who you spend the most time with. Talk about your wishes with your family, especially your spouse if you are married. Get their feedback and impressions on the situation and make sure they are willing to support you throughout the process of changing your career. Particularly if your career change will result in an initial pay cut, plan with your spouse as to how you will manage the bills during the transition time.

Consider Future Desires

When you change careers in the middle of your life, you need to be looking ahead to retirement. Ask yourself whether your desired career will be something you see yourself enjoying as you near retirement. In particular, consider whether you will remain physically capable of doing the job as you age. If you want to work part-time as you transition into retirement, consider whether there are part-time positions in your career path.

Get Part-Time Education

If you need further education for your new career and can't afford to become a full-time student, get your degree and any required certifications before even thinking about quitting your job. You can work on your degree part-time while you hold your current job to avoid disrupting your household's cash flow too much. Enroll in evening classes or online courses that you can work on anytime, including during your lunch break at your current job. After you line up your new position, you can quit your job and make the career switch.

Update Your Resume

The resume you have used in your current field might not be very relevant for the field you are planning to enter. Rather than listing your employment chronologically, which highlights the particular positions you have held, consider making a skills-focused resume. This is one in which you use particular skills that are relevant in your new field as your heading. Under these, list accomplishments and responsibilities from your previous jobs that demonstrate these skills. List your particular positions only at the bottom of the resume, where it draws less attention to them and helps the employer see your best side first.