Midlife career reinvention is more common than you think, and highly successful people like Jeff Bezos didn’t start their new path until well into their 30s and 40s.
Forging a new path later in life is terrifying for some, but a little bit of planning or starting a new venture can make it easier.
Time for Self-Assessment
Considering a career switch past 40, or even 30, is a big move. Because of this, it must be realistic while fulfilling, which is more likely if it is related to your interests. For example, fast-tracked PT courses are preferable over college degrees for career paths related to wellness, strength, and helping others. However, this relies on identifying what motivates you, the skills and experience you can bring to the table, and what you want from your next role.
Mid-Life Career Reinvention Planning
You don’t need to be afraid to change career direction for the better. According to the AIER, 82% of people looking for a career change past 45 do so successfully. However, you can get off track without proper planning. It takes time and effort, but a good plan begins with the following:
- Explore different paths by researching other industries, roles, and job markets.
- Plan for your changes with goals and a timeline for transitioning into a new career.
- Look into whether you will need extra education and training for a new role.
Expanding Your Network and Connections
Connections are among the most vital parts of careers and business success. It takes a long time to build a network, but it is well worth taking the time to do so over the course of your professional career. Contacts within a professional group or shared interests are usually the strongest. You can use social media and industry events to expand this list. However, mentorship is also a powerful way to guide someone into a more fulfilling career role.
Building a Usable Skill Set
Everyone has skills, and these are divided into two categories; soft skills and hard skills. Hard skills are skills learned from training, education and experience such as operating a specific machine. Soft skills can also come from experience, but mostly relate to the personal and interpersonal, such as communicating effectively. Knowing what you are good at and what needs work is a powerful first step to mapping a skill set you can expand and use for new roles.
Experimentation for Mid-Life Career Reinvention
It can feel too late to change direction at 40 and beyond. However, mid-life career reinvention can be just what you need. The average person changes careers between 5 and 7 times in their lifetime as they seek fulfillment. Women and men can turn a hobby into a career for happiness.
Explore roles with low-risk
Side projects and minimal hours within a role allow you to try out different skills and explore whether they are right for you. If not, you can move on with peace of mind knowing you tried.
Update online profiles
Something like a LinkedIn profile is a magnet for recruiters these days. However, a stagnant profile can be a turn off, so ensure you update it often with skills and experience for a role.
Take a proactive approach
Applying for jobs is a tried and tested method. However, there is no reason you can’t reach out to potential employers. A proactive approach demonstrates initiative for making yourself known.
Trying new roles allows you to find something you really enjoy and can see a future in. However, a single profile can be generic, and updating them dynamically for jobs applied for can help. And why leave it to employers to come to you? Recruiters prefer candidates eager for a role.
Reflect on Yourself and Adapt
You must know yourself to progress in life, and you can get a better understanding of yourself with reflection and adaptation. Every now and then, it helps to make adjustments based on evaluation, such as amending goals. To achieve this, you must be open to new challenges and learning new skills. However, nothing of this magnitude happens overnight, and patience is essential. Making the required changes may take some time and needs effort on your part.
Know how to Leverage Experience
A lifetime of experience is worth a lot more than you might initially think. Even entering a new role with hard skills you don’t have is made much easier with soft skills like time management. When mapping out a plan, highlight the experience, perspectives, and skills you can bring to a specific role. Of course, it also helps if you believe in yourself and the potential you can offer to a new employer or yourself if you plan on going down the route of creating a new business.
Mid-Life Career Reinvention with Business
Further to establishing a new business, this can offer the freedom you need. Although it varies, a Harvard Business Review study found that 45 is the average age of new business founders. So don’t be afraid to chase your dreams. Of course, there are also practical benefits, too:
- Experience in a specific niche makes starting a business much more accessible.
- A new business venture offers flexibility and growth without work-related stress.
- You can call upon others within your established network when beginning a venture.
Don’t Be Afraid to Change Direction
Taking the decision to change direction the first time is pretty hard. But it is a necessary part of aligning personal life and career goals. However, it could be the case that it doesn’t work out the way you expect. When things don’t feel right, you may need to course-correct once more. Reinventing your career is a process, and processes aren’t always straightforward, so don’t be afraid to adjust your plans or goals as required to meet your career fulfillment needs.
Summary
Making time for self-assessment will help with mid-life career reinvention past your 40s. However, it can mean experimenting with various roles, updating profiles, and being proactive. While on this journey, you may also need to correct your course to align with dynamic goals.
