Mid-Life Career Crisis: How to Change Careers at 50
Posted December 8th, 2015
Older professionals face a common dilemma – they have been in the same career for years and have achieved enough success to build a comfortable standard of living. But at the same time they have been doing the same thing for so long that they feel bored, disengaged, and possibly even burned out. They must choose between the stable path and the exciting path, and it’s not an easy choice to make. If you’re over 50 and you’ve decided to try something new, use these tips to help you transition smoothly into a new career.
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Leverage Your Experience
At this point, your career may have spanned 30+ years. In that time you have picked up a lot of skills and had a ton of meaningful experience, both good and bad. You can use that deep professional history to your advantage. Stress to potential employers that you have seen it all and done it all before and managed to be successful in the process. That gives you a powerful advantage over younger recruits.
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Move Up
Leaving a stable job can produce a lot of anxiety, which often leads older job seekers to jump at the first opportunity that presents itself. Just remember why you made this switch in the first place. You are looking for something better, not just something different. If possible, commit to a longer job search whose goal is to find a new position/employer that you’re really excited about.
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Look Past Money
It is always tempting to judge the quality of a job based on the level of compensation offered. But at this point in your life, do you really need to make the most money possible if it means working long hours, contributing to projects that bore you, and spending time with co-workers you don’t like? Look for a job that will make you happy first and worry about compensation second.
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Go Independent
Now may be the perfect time to start your own business. You have learned a lot over your career, and you probably have the broad and deep industry perspective necessary to be an asset to other businesses. Consider becoming a consultant, independent contractor, freelancer, or service provider. Many business owners cite their entrepreneurial success as one of the proudest achievements of their lives.
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Stay Positive
Most people these days work past the age of 65. And some work well into their 80s. Remember that it is never too late to start over and never a bad time to be bold. You may experience some low moments during your job search, but in the long run you’re going to be glad you made this big decision.
If it has been years or even decades since you last looked for a job, you are likely a little rusty. Learn everything you need to know about a 21st century job search by contacting Bayside Solutions.
