To complete a career pivot after 40, is to recreate a professional life that aligns with your own passions, values, and skills.
By the time you hit your 40s, you have already been in the workforce for more than 22 years. And, the thought of simply changing careers can feel like standing on a nice edge. But, a career pivot at this stage of life can also be one of the best decisions you have ever made. By this point in your life, you have gained years of experience, built amazing resilience in the workforce, and figured out what you value most in life.
Sure, there are plenty of challenges when choosing to shift gears and complete a career pivot. But, with the right planning and a little bit of courage, you can transition to any career that better suits you. Even while you’re balancing responsibilities like family and bills, you can transition to a career that follows your passions and goals.
Why A Career Pivot in Your 40s Can Be Empowering
One of the biggest reasons why people don’t want to start a new career have 40, is the fear of change. You worked years to build your career to the point it is now. But, the career that you started back in your 20s may not be what you really want in life. After all, by the time you have reached your 40s, you should have a much better understanding of what you want in life.
I had worked for more than a decade in the call center industry. Working the third shift at a young age was great, and the income was more than what I needed. But, there are so many disadvantages to working in the industry, such as stress, bad eating habits, and terrible sleep patterns, that make it impossible for someone in their 40s to live a happy and healthy life. So, I made a shift and started a whole new chapter in my life.
If you are like me, then you probably have found yourself in the same industry for decades. You are also probably starting to feel a little bit burned out. At the same time, you may also have come to the realization that your career no longer aligns with your individual values. When you choose to hit it at this stage, it gives you the opportunity you need to align your professional life with your own personal growth.
Yes, there are still many hurdles. And, ageism is a real thing. You will have to return to the world in student mode and learn all new skills. But, one thing that you have now that you didn’t have in your 20s was experience, maturity, and work ethics. These are huge assets that you can use to your advantage.
Step 1: Reflect on Your Current Career
Of course, before you take that big leap you need to take a closer look at your current career. You will want to take an honest inventory of where you are now so that you can make better decisions regarding your career pivot.
What’s Working—and What Isn’t?
In order to take an inventory of where you are now, you need to ask yourself what is working and what isn’t. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself:
- What about your current job brings you joy?
- What part of your daydreams or energy?
- What part of your current job leaves you unfulfilled?
Right this information down. Sometimes, simply seeing it on paper will make things a lot clearer. Think about it this way if you are at the point in your career where you completely dread Mondays, and you find yourself counting down the seconds till the end of the day on Friday, then something will need to change.
Identifying Transferable Skills
Next, you will need to identify what type of skills you can bring with you. Over the decades, you have built a treasure trove of skills, and some of those can actually apply to a new industry or role. Let’s take a look at some of the top transferable skills:
Communication
Hopefully, by this point in your life, you have overcome your shyness. You should be able to lead meetings, or even get up in front of large crowds. You should also have developed different skills when it comes to writing reports. These communication skills will set you apart from the competition.
Problem-solving
One good skill that is highly transferable is problem-solving. Do you love living in a crisis situation? Or, do you have a passion for finding solutions to complex issues? If you are good at problem-solving, then this is a great transferable skill.
Leadership
At the same time, by the time you’re in your 40s, you should already have had the opportunity to mentor others and manage teams. Leadership skills are always in need. And, not everyone has them. While some people can be leaders at a young age, leadership sometimes takes years to develop properly.
Step 2: Define The Goals For That Career Pivot
As we move on to step two, we need to take a closer look at what your future might look like. Remember, clarity is the most important aspect. And, before you take the huge leap, you need to figure out what you actually want in your new career.
What Lights Your Fire?
When we do something that we love, it’s not really a job. You should think about your passions, interests, and lifestyle goals. Not only should you do something that you love, but you should look for roles that offers you the flexibility to align with your individual personality. When defining your new career goals, consider these questions:
- What industries excite you?
- What type of work makes you lose track of time?
- What does your ideal day look like?
Research, Research, Research
Of course, once you have narrowed down your ideas, it’s time to dig deeper. Here is where the 5-Whys can really come in handy. Then, it’s time to start looking up potential industries to apply in. In order to do this, here are some tips:
- Look up job descriptions
- See what skills are required
- Research industries with growth potential
- Talk to people working in those fields
Step 3: Acquire Necessary Skills and Education for the Career Pivot
Let’s face it, when pivoting from one career to another, not all of your previous skills are transferable. As a result, you will need to brush up on new skills. But, this does not mean you need to get a whole new degree.
Identify Skill Gaps
In the previous step, you should have been able to identify skill gaps. You would have already looked up job descriptions in the industries with the most growth potential and determined what qualifications you have, and what you need to move into the new position.
Affordable Learning Options
In the old days, you have to sign up for a class at the local community college in order to develop new skills. But today, there are countless options available to you.
Online Platforms
The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to developing new skills are the numerous online platforms. While some of these will require payment, others are completely free. However, even those that require payment are generally very affordable. Here are just a few:
- Coursera
- Udemy
Community Colleges
Head on over to your local community college. You can check out local courses that are available at the college, or even sign up for certification workshops. Remember, you don’t have to get a whole new degree. Sometimes all it takes is just a certification.
Bootcamps
Then there are boot camps. These are short-term, highly intensive programs that are perfect for building technical or creative skills. These programs are usually a little pricier, but they cover a whole lot of ground in a short period of time.
Step 4: Network Strategically for Your Career Pivot
By now, you should have come to the realization that it’s not just about what you know, rather it’s also about who you know. When it’s time to pivot careers in your 40s, you should be able to rely on friends or family to help get your foot in the door.
Leverage Your Current Connections
Your first step should be to start with your existing network of friends and colleagues. Let them know that you’re exploring a new path in life. Tell them what you want out of your new career, and see if they have any helpful insight or connections that can help you.
Join New Communities
From there, you can join new communities. There are a number of different communities that can help you get your foot in the door. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
LinkedIn is a unique social networking site. Although there are quite a few social networking sites that are dedicated to family and friendship, LinkedIn is purely focused on careers and businesses. Go ahead and sign up for an account if you don’t have one, create a profile, set up your resume, and start following companies and leaders in your desired field. LinkedIn even has a future to mark that you are interested in applying to new companies, and businesses actually search the site for potential candidates.
Industry Events
But don’t just stop with social networking. You want to meet up with like-minded professionals in the industry that you are seeking to join. In order to do this, you should start attending seminars or webinars. Sign up for groups, and join clubs. You would be amazed at the amount of support you can find from like-minded individuals.
Peer Groups
Believe it or not, there are also peer groups that are specifically catered to career changers. Start searching for support groups that cater to people wanting to pivot their careers. Maybe one person wants to leave the industry that you want to join.
Step 5: Update Your Personal Brand
In the old days, you simply updated your resume. But today it’s a lot different. When it’s time to start applying to new jobs, you need to re-develop your personal brand. Make sure that the materials you use for your resume match what you want to reflect to the world.
Refresh Your Resume
Of course, you still need to update your resume. But, at this point in life, you need to highlight your transferable skills and accomplishments. And, you should use language that speaks to the industry that you are specifically targeting.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
As discussed before, you will want to optimize your LinkedIn profile. You should have an entire work history already updated on your profile. And, you should have uploaded copies of all of your certificates and diplomas. If you already have an existing LinkedIn account, it’s time to update your headline in order to reflect your new goals. While you’re at it, why not author a few articles to show that you understand the industry you are targeting?
Step 6: Prepare Financially for the Career Pivot
Yes, in most cases when you pivot to a new career, you will lose some of your income. When I left the call center industry, I tried to find a position in a new company that would pay me roughly the same. But, I also lost certain benefits that I had with my previous position. At the same time, I also gained some benefits because my new job was a lot closer to the house. When you choose to shift to a new career, make sure you plan ahead for the change.
Budget for the Gap
Before you begin the final transition, make sure that you prepare financially for it. Look at your own finances, and build up some cushion. Start by cutting back on nonessential expenses. And, spend a few months saving aggressively before you resign from your previous post. Even in the current economy where unemployment rates are at their lowest, it can still take a while before you see a return on your investment.
Supplement Your Income
So, you may also need to supplement your income in the process. This is the time when you should start exploring various side hustles. And no, side hustles alone do not count as a career pivot. You can freelance work, or offer consulting services. You may even want to consider some type of part-time role in order to bridge the gap while you train or look for a new job. Remember, these are short-term sacrifices that can lead to long-term gains.
Completing A Career Pivot After 40 Is Possible
In the end, pivoting careers in your 40s is an excellent idea. It provides you with the opportunity you need to create a professional life that aligns with your own passions and values. Yes, it will take time, planning, effort, and a little bit of bravery. But, the reward for those efforts is that you will find yourself in a career that feels more meaningful and fulfilling. So, embrace the journey with confidence as well as curiosity. And remember, it’s never too late to start something new.
