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How To Navigate Midlife Career Change Without Plunging Into A Crisis

how to navigate midlife career change
Career Tips / Courses / Motivation

How To Navigate Midlife Career Change Without Plunging Into A Crisis

Your career is a big percentage of your life. What you do at your job greatly impacts your social life. Your happiness and fulfillment are dependent on your career. At the mid-stages of your age, it can be daunting to start a new career or even think of it. But, it is possible.  Change doesn’t come easy but is rewarding and worth it. So, do you want to know how to navigate midlife career change without plunging your life into a crisis?

For most people, culture has poisoned our minds that career change only happens at a certain age. But, the truth of the matter is that a career change can happen at any stage in life.

As long you are not happy or fulfilled with what you do, then a midlife career change will work. For the change to happen, there are various factors you should put in mind.

Also read:

5 strategic steps on how to navigate midlife career change like a pro the pro you are

These factors are important as they act as a guide when navigating through a career change. This article gives you an ultimate guide on how to navigate through a midlife career change.

Reason for the change

It is imperative to find out why you need a change. First, find out issues or things that led to wanting a new career change. Why are you no longer motivated at that job? Depending on your answers and the reasons you give will guide and help you understand the decision you are in and the one you need to make for that change to occur.

There could be specific traits or factors about that job that you dislike. For instance, your boss could be rude to you, your workmates, or the pay and the work you do not match. All these are contributing factors for a person who wants a new job or a career shift. Also, it could be that probably you are not satisfied with what you do. Changing that career could open a door for you to do what you’ve always wanted to do.

Find your dream career

Just like when you were in high school choosing careers the same will happen at this stage. You need to find and identify the career you want to shift to. The only difference between and then is that you know yourself better. With the numerous experiences, you’ve gone through, you can identify what is best suited for you.

At this point you are already familiar with workspaces, so you know how to set your priorities right. It is not like when after high school when choosing careers was influenced by people surrounding you like your parents, guardians, or teachers. You have the free will to choose what is best for you and a career that makes you happy.

One of the ways to finding a career change is identifying your personality and if it matches with your career. Personality has a great impact on your life and your job.

Do lots of research

This, of course, is no secret at all if you are seriously looking for how to navigate midlife career change.

After identifying your career, the next step is to take a deep dive into research. It is necessary to do well research about your new career. Everything that you need to know. You need to learn all that comprises your new career. In specific what you are researching or is qualifications, market, and salary.  The education and skills requirement. If a degree is necessary for that career or not.

Also in researching, get to know the job description. If there are any additional skills or courses need to pursue that career. To learn and research about this career you can incorporate the following ways:

  1. Check on LinkedIn the professionals of the career. Note down some of the skills and qualifications needed. Also, while still on LinkedIn you can borrow some of the information used to apply in your new career.
  2. Read as many blogs on the career as possible. This will give you an insight into what to expect and not to expect. Also. In blogs, you will be able to get experiences from professionals on the same job.
  3. Take a free course on any platform to introduce yourself to your new career change.

Upgrade your skills

After all the research, you will have known all the skills required for that career. The next step is to learn them, or rather upgrade them. If you already have some of the skills, you can list them and identify your stronghold. Check on how they can be applied to your new career.

If you don’t have any of the skills required, then don’t worry. It is never too late to learn anything. Enroll in skill learning class and you are good to go. Or rather, over the years you have developed more skills other than the required ones.

You can always transfer these skills.  You will find, the career you want to transfer to the next to have almost the same skills as your last job. All you will do is just transfer them. For instance, you are moving from a corporate job to a journalism career, communication is highly required. You will just use the same skill set that is communication.

Not only will you need to upgrade your skills, but also other qualifications.  Depending on your career change, you will find that you have a big gap in the qualifications needed. That is fine. However, you will need to put in the work to learn all that is required so that to meet the employer’s expectations. For instance, you have a degree in computing, but you want to change your career to a programming career. You can join a programming camp to learn all about this.

Also, while upgrading your career, try and expand your network. Networking in any career is very vital. Through networking, you will able to find that job faster than ever. Furthermore, when you are referred to, there are high chances that will get the job and your salary will be high, unlike the applicants.

how to navigate midlife career change

You can build valuable networks through the following ways

  1. Using your existent contacts- with your contacts, you can always tell them you a starting a new career and they will help you spread the word if they have anyone specific in that field. Through this method, you will find a friend of your friend who is the one helping you through the career shift or change.
  2. Attend events of your new career field- most organizations all around hold events that enable them to connect with other professionals. The events can either be physical or virtual. Either way, that is an opportunity to get to know the career you want to venture into. you will meet with professionals in that career that will help you and will be of great influence to your future. Take advantage and ensure to make it a success.

Launch your new career

After you’ve gone through all these on how to navigate midlife career change, the last step is to launch this new career. Now it’s time to get that job. However, before that happens, there few factors you should consider. They include

  1. Understand your finances- changing a job can be costly. Probably you had to pay for all the skills and the courses. Also, remember, that your salary will be different. If you used to earn more, that will change depending on many factors. You might start with a low entry-level and the startup salary will be low.
  2. Have a strong resume- considering the last time you applied for a job, it is necessary to build your resume all over again. Things change a lot from time to time. There could be new features needed in a resume.
  3. Practice for your interview- with your good resume, the last thing you will need is to have a good interview. You will need to sell yourself for that interviewer and get that job. Be prepared well, and find ways to show your transferable skills in the best way.

Making such a decision at the middle point in life can be hectic. These changes don’t happen overnight. However, it is also not impossible. Change can happen at any time and point in life. With the above steps, your change will become easy.

Besides, if you need a career change and are considering making a switch to the tech fields like data science, data analytics, or cybersecurity, we have a variety of careers for you to take.

And just like that, you now understand how to navigate midlife career change like a pro and keep your peace of mind.