Top Tips for Changing Careers at 40

You may think that your days of trying out a new career are well and truly a thing of the past – but you shouldn’t put yourself in a box simply because you have hit the middle-age mark. The average person switches jobs between 10-15 times throughout their lifetime and staying in the same position until retirement is pretty much never heard of today. With this being said, what are some of the best tips for changing jobs when you hit the age of 40 and over?

1. Get some education

In the modern world, it’s hard to go anywhere or do anything unless you acquire the relevant training or certificates. There may be jobs that require little or no training at all, but they are far and few between. When you are looking to change career paths completely, consider whether you should be signing up for additional education. This can be difficult when you’re a parent and have several other responsibilities to manage, but it is possible. To become a driving instructor, for example, you will undergo intensive 1-to-1 training, but there are opportunities for this to be fully funded. Luckily, there are resources online about becoming driving instructor Smethwick to help you gather the information you need about this path.

2. Be sure you get family support

Switching careers isn’t an easy choice to make, and it can be even harder when you haven’t got your family backing you all the way. Before you decide on packing in your current job, be sure to talk to your spouse and children about whether they believe it’s the best move for you. They may have other ideas that will make you think differently. For example, if the job is lower paid, you may not have as much disposable income to play with to do the fun things you’re used to doing. Sometimes, sitting down and talking it through is the very best way of moving forward.

3. Think about how long it will take to become established

If you’re used to being at the top of your game, you may like to do a bit of research into how long it will take you to reach where you want to be. Some fields may be more willing to give promotions than others, depending on the experience you have under your belt already. However, if you’re starting from scratch, it may take longer to get where you want to be. Think about how long you’re happy to stay in a lower-level position before working your way to the top.

4. Feel happy with the typical age bracket of people working in the field

It may not be an issue for you at all, but some people prefer working with others in their own age range, rather than those who are far younger. Some start-up companies prefer to hire new young workers who can progress with the company over several years, while most of the mid-age employees already hired are in more senior positions due to working with the company for a long period of time.