THERE are people who become dead set on a career path as early as high school, perhaps even earlier. And then there are people who discover their passion and purpose in life at a later time. Maybe that is the reason why some people say that life begins at 40—because at that age you no longer care about what other people would say, and you become focused on what you really want, including what you do for a living.
In midlife, most people think that you should be established already, and that you are supposed to be planning for retirement in the next few years. But life does not always put us in neat little boxes. Sometimes events, people and technological changes push you to rethink your choices in life, evaluate where you are, and ultimately shift careers. There are also times when people just suddenly realize they are not where they want to be and decide to pursue a different career path. Whatever the reason, it is never too late for you to start anew in another career because there is still time to pursue what makes you feel fulfilled. And while that path may be riddled with doubts and challenges, you know you would regret it if you did not at least give it a try.
Before shifting careers, you need to know exactly why you want to do it. There are several reasons why you would think you need to change careers. These include a toxic work environment, a demanding boss, or a general dissatisfaction with where your career is going. Just make sure that you are changing careers to further your personal goals. There are times when a lateral transfer or a change in organization will help you appreciate your own profession. But if these still fail, find the root cause of your dissatisfaction.
Many people go through a midlife crisis because they arrive at a better appreciation of what they are capable of and what they really want out of their life, which conversely leads them to question their life choices, including their choice of career. So, when you are thinking of changing careers, you need to make sure you know why you are doing so and not just because you want to.
Now that you are sure that you really want to shift careers, discover what you really want to do. Experiment and try different things to see what you really want to do for work.
Mark Twain once said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This might be scary when you are in your midlife, but you need to understand that you already have so many skills and abilities that you can use for whatever work you choose. To help you, start with your hobbies and the activities you enjoy doing. These can provide insights into what kind of work fits your personality and skills set.
Once you have discovered something you like, read more about it. If possible, interview people and get to know more about their work by observing them. Or, you can just go right in and try it out yourself. By immersing yourself in the new work, you get a feel of what it would be like and you can make an informed decision on whether to pursue it or not. This will also help you get an overall picture of how it would be when you change careers.
To help make your career shift a little smoother, list your existing skills and look at how they can be used in your new work. A lot of people do not know this but there are so many skills that cut across industries like communicating effectively, managing people, collaborating with different departments, and analytical skills, to name a few. List down what you are good at and identify how you can use those skills in the new work.
You will also discover that there might be some new skills you need to learn to transition effectively into your new career. If needed, take online courses to upskill yourself; if possible, enroll in courses to learn the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in your new work. Once you find your footing, open yourself to opportunities that will challenge and enhance your knowledge and skills to hasten your learning curve. There are industries that require certain certifications and examinations to be part of the workforce, so you need to understand the technical requirements and required experience to be part of their workforce.
As with any venture, prepare for the challenges ahead. The new role will tax not only your own resources but also the people around you. Let them know how it will affect them, especially if you will be needing their financial and emotional support. Starting anew is difficult and you need all the help you can get to be successful. Make sure they understand what they need to do to support your career shift, and they are willing to provide help when needed. If you have a family to support, make sure every member understands how the career transition will affect them, and the steps the family might have to take to mitigate the adverse effects.
Once you start in the new career, focus on what you want to achieve and relentlessly pursue it. Some people do not successfully transition because they are too caught up in their previous career that they spend more time doubting themselves than putting in the time and effort to equip themselves for their new role. Do not second guess yourself and do whatever it takes to succeed. Find yourself a mentor so you can quickly learn how to navigate through the new work and guide you on what you need to avoid.
It is never too late to pursue a new career even if you are in your midlife. There might not have been an opportunity before to pursue what you wanted because of several reasons. But now that you have the capacity and resources to do so, you have the choice to pursue what you want and wherever you want to go. And even if you do not have these, you can always create opportunities to pursue your dream job because the last thing you need is to regret not having done everything you could to achieve it.
Image credits: Iliya Jokic on Unsplash