Turning the Page: Career Change at 40 – Steps to Success

A career is something that you pick in your twenties and stick with until you’re ready to ride off into the sunset, right? Actually, not quite. Although there seems to be the perception that your college degree or first job determines what you’re going to do for the rest of your life, that’s not the case. It’s possible, and some might even say advisable, to make a career change to do something more personally rewarding, especially if you’re an experienced employee at 40.

When it comes to making a career switch, the statistics are quite clear: most people think about it. According to one study published on Zippia.com, more than 50% of the American workforce has considered moving into a new career since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most people consider a new career path, but not everyone knows how to go about making that happen. It can be scary to let go of the safety and comfort you feel in your current career and wade into completely new waters. If that’s where you are, we’re here to help you out. In this article, we’re going to show you exactly how you can make a career transition at the age of 40.

Is It Common To Change Careers at 40?

Yes, it is becoming increasingly common to make a midlife career switch. This is prompted by a variety of circumstances, such as wanting a more satisfying professional life, having to deal with added financial responsibilities, and the desire to revisit a dream career that was put on the back burner.

Career Change at 40: Benefits and Difficulties

A career change can lead to greater career happiness, professional growth, and even a more rich personal life. But it can also be a tough process that takes you way out of your comfort zone. Let’s get to know both sides of that coin a little better.

Benefits

Here are a few of the upsides that come with making a successful career pivot at 40.

Greater Professional Satisfaction

A lot of people end up in the wrong careers for a lot of different reasons. And finding yourself in a professional environment that doesn’t reward your abilities or foster your skills can be deflating. If that’s where you find yourself, then a career change can help you find a role that leads to greater job satisfaction.

Higher Earnings

Opening yourself up to new career ideas means that you can pick a more lucrative career to work in. If your career of choice isn’t helping you meet your financial goals, then a career change can be the boost you need.

New Skills

A new career means that you will have to work on gaining a whole new set of skills. And that’s an exciting prospect for many. Not only will you get to pick up those new skills, but you will also get to work with others who are passionate about it and see how they go about their work.

Difficulties

There are also challenges that come with being a career changer that you need to be aware of. Let’s take a look at what they are.

Picking a New Lane

Not everyone knows exactly which new career they want to pursue right away. It’s possible that you have several career ideas and don’t have one that calls out to you strongly. In that case, it can be tough to choose between your options and make decisive steps toward just one of them.

Starting From Scratch

Perhaps the scariest aspect of planning a new career is the knowledge that you will, in many ways, be starting from scratch. That means meeting the new education requirements, building a portfolio, and possibly going on a job search for an entry-level position. These are things that might seem onerous from the cushy job that you currently have.

Creating a Financial Cushion

Moving into a new career can be a process that takes time. And that can be a period of time during which you’re investing in new skills and aren’t making a regular salary, or are making less than what you’re used to. That can be a scary proposition when you’re 40 and have all kinds of responsibilities. So you’ll have to plan how to set yourself up for that.

Although these challenges are real, combating them can lead you to the career of your dreams. Let’s find out how you can deal with some of those difficulties and navigate your way toward exciting new career trajectories.

How To Choose a New Career at 40

Below are some of the things that you can do to ensure that you’re doing your career change the right way and for the right reasons.

Why Are You Considering a New Career?

Like all those TED talks and self-help books have implored you to do: start with your why. It’s evident that there are benefits to moving into a new career if you have the sense that your current one isn’t cutting it. But it’s essential that you clearly articulate your reasons for making that move. Figuring this out will help you feel sure about what you’re doing, and might even help you pick a new career.

List Your Current Skills (Technical and Soft Skills)

Self-awareness goes a long way in making the right decisions when moving into a new field. So spend some time reflecting on and listing your skills. Make sure to include both technical and soft skills.

Don’t do this exercise in the same way that you would list skills on your resume. The idea is to really reflect on what your strengths are and how they can be used. Also, try to identify transferable skills that can easily be applied from your previous career to your new one.

Consider a Career Move Into a Related Field

Speaking of transferable skills, the easiest kind of career change to make is into a related field. Let’s say you already have a job as a UX designer. You can now easily switch to working in interaction design or graphic design. Moving into a related field means spending less time acquiring new skills and having an easier time finding jobs since you already have a lot of relevant experience.

Take a Holistic Look at Potential Careers

Here are a few things that you should take stock of when considering a new career option.

Educational Requirements and Other Prerequisites

One of the most effort-intensive steps to moving into a new career is gaining the requisite education. Make sure to check whether the job that you’re moving into requires any specific degrees. Also, do your research to see if there are any other prerequisites, such as certifications or tools, that you need to learn for the job.

Average Salary

There are two major reasons to check what salaries are like in your target career. The first is that it will help you decide if the new career is worth all of the effort that you’re going to put into it. That research will also alert you to market rates and help you when you reach the negotiation stage of your interview. 

Work-Life Balance

When thinking about a new career, consider the work-life balance that you have now and how that’ll change with your new path. The best way to do so is by meeting people in the field and talking to them about what their workday looks like.

Future Outlook

Is your job still going to be around in five years? How many new vacancies are going to be added in your field in 10 years? Which new industries are going to require your skills in the future? These are all things that you should find out about the career that you’re moving into. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is a good place to start your research.

Narrow Down Your Career Options

Once you have a good sense of your skills and what you’re looking for in a new career, it’s time to narrow down your options. Prioritize fields that you feel most passionately about. Being interested in what you’re doing will go a long way when you have to spend those long days learning new concepts or have to go through a rigorous interview process.

Do Your Research

Even after you’ve picked a single career option, there are a few more things that you need to research. That includes: 

• What are my options to pick up skills in this area?
• Are there any hard educational requirements in this field?
• Who are the major employers in this industry? Are they located near me?
• What are the most commonly asked interview questions for the job I’m applying to?
• What is my job going to look like within a larger team and organization?

Career Change at 40: 9 Ways To Position Yourself for Success

Moving into a whole new field at 40 can be a challenging proposition. Here are a few things that you can do to make the transition a winning one.

Make a Concrete Plan

If you’re going to move into a whole new field at this stage of your career, you’re going to have to commit to it. And the way to commit to a decision as big as this one is to come up with a concrete plan for how you’re going to do it.

When you come up with your plan, make sure that your goal is time-bound, specific, and achievable. For example, you would say something like, “I’m going to land a job in sales within the next year.” From there on in, you can work backward and determine how much time you have to pick up new skills, make connections, build a portfolio if you have to, and so on.

Have an Emergency Fund

Creating a whole new career takes time. There will be courses or degrees to complete, and you might have to complete an internship, as unsavory a prospect as that might be for someone at 40. The job hunt might end up being a lengthy process depending on what the market looks like. 

Those are all things that take time, and this is during a period when you might not have a salary coming in. So make sure that you have an emergency fund, which should ideally cover your basic expenses for at least six months. This will go a long way towards freeing up the cognitive space that you need to focus on your new career.

Look Into Different Educational Opportunities

The great thing about pursuing a new career these days is that you have so many ways to pick up new skills. Here are a few options to take into consideration.

University Degree

Even if you already have a degree, you might consider going back to school to get a degree in whatever new field you’re pursuing. And while this can be a way to do a deep dive into that field, it’s a costly and time-intensive option.

Bootcamps

Perhaps your best bet when it comes to educational options is a bootcamp. These are intensive, job-focused educational experiences where students get a classroom experience without burdensome college fees. An added advantage is that a lot of bootcamps offer students a job guarantee.

Courses

There are plenty of online courses that you can take advantage of as a midlife career changer. The advantage of doing a course is the flexibility you get with how you want to complete it and what modules you want to focus on.

Free Online Resources

You can also learn about a new field with free online resources. Remember—when you choose this educational path, there isn’t as much accountability or guidance here as you would get in a bootcamp or college degree course. So make sure that you find ways to give yourself those things.

Try It Out Before Committing Full-Time (and Build Practical Experience)

Here are a few ways to get some hands-on experience in your field before applying for a job.

Internship

An internship probably isn’t what you envisioned doing at 40, but don’t let that mental block stop you. An internship is as good an option as any to learn how your new field of work is in the real world. Some companies even allow employees to shadow people from other teams if they’re interested in making a lateral move internally. That’s an option you can explore with your HR department.

Freelance Work

Working as a freelancer gives you the flexibility of choosing your projects and delivering them outside the pressures of a conventional office environment. You can find freelance roles on most job boards these days.

Volunteer Work

Volunteering is a great way to make new friends in your local community and work on your newfound skills. Contact nonprofits in your area to find out if you can volunteer your time with them. Most will be open to someone who seems genuine about wanting to contribute in a meaningful way.

Build a Strong Network

As a professional in your 40s, you likely already have a professional network in your own line of work. Here are a few ways you can grow your network in your new career.

LinkedIn

A LinkedIn profile is a must-have for any professional. Make sure that you update your profile to reflect your new career trajectory. It can be a way for others in the industry to find you and potentially lead to recruiters reaching out to you.

Online Communities

Regardless of whether there are people locally who work in your field, there are definitely online communities full of people passionate about the same thing. So make sure to scour the Internet a little for communities that cater to your industry. For example, if you’re interested in a career in data science, then get involved in data science communities.

Conferences and Meet-ups

If you want to quickly get an idea of what’s hot in your new field, then a conference is a great way to get up to speed. These events feature speakers who are at the cutting edge of their industry. Attendees range from managers to recruiters. Visiting meetups and conferences is a surefire way to grow your list of contacts.

Ask for Professional Help

Personalized help can be a huge boost when you’re trying to make a career change at 40. Here are a few avenues where you can get that.

Career Coaching

Career coaches provide a structured service guiding early career professionals. If you’re someone who doesn’t have a mentor or large network yet, you can engage a career coach to quickly get clarity on career decisions you should make and the ideal job for you.

Mentorship

A mentor, unlike a career coach, doesn’t usually offer their knowledge in the form of service. Rather, a mentorship is a personal relationship usually offered because a senior professional wants to help those coming up the ranks.

You can ask people you’ve worked under or experienced professionals in your industry about mentoring you. Make sure that you clearly articulate your ask and are flexible in accommodating their availability and style of mentorship.

Professional Associations

There are various professional associations that cater to specific industries. For example, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a popular one among engineers. Similarly, you would join the Association for Information Science and Technology if you’re in the software field. Joining these professional associations can give you quick access to professionals in your industry and opportunities to interact with and learn from them.

Coffee Chats

The easiest way to get an experienced professional in your industry to say yes to spending some time answering your questions is to ask them out for coffee. It’s a relaxed environment where you can learn about your newly chosen career without having to worry about a structured engagement.

Work Towards the Job You Want

Oftentimes, a career change involves incremental steps. Here’s how to make that happen.

Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile

Your resume is what gets recruiters to sit up and take notice of your profile. So make sure that you customize your resume for your new field and include only information that is relevant to the jobs that you’re applying to now.

Your LinkedIn will often act as a proxy for your resume. Don’t forget to update your profile and rewrite your header so that recruiters know that you’ve made the transition to a new career and are looking for vacant roles.

Prepare for Each Interview

Remember that you need to prepare for more than just technical questions when you’re headed to an interview. Do your research on the company, be cognisant of your body language and how you dress, and prepare for the personal and HR questions that you’ll be asked.

Ask for Feedback

Getting turned down by recruiters can be a downer. But something good can come out of it: quality feedback. If you get turned down by a company, don’t be afraid to respectfully ask why you weren’t the right candidate for the job and if there’s anything you can change about your approach to interviews. Many recruiters are happy to take some time out to provide feedback to candidates, and their insights can come in very handy in your job hunt.

Seek Support From Family and Friends

A career change can often be a tumultuous process. It’s a time when you leave the comfort of the career you knew for one that is promising but unfamiliar. In such rocky professional times, make sure that you lean on your support system as much as possible in your personal life. Don’t be afraid to open up to close friends and family and use them as a bouncing board to think about important decisions that you need to make.

Be Kind to Yourself

Here we’ve laid out a process by which you can do your career the right way. Remember that you don’t need to do all these steps perfectly. It’s okay to make mistakes and take more time than you initially planned. The most important thing is that you show yourself kindness and allow yourself the emotional room required to get through this process.

Career Change at 40: Careers To Consider

Looking to make a career shift? Consider these careers.

What Are the Best Jobs To Consider for a Career Change at 40?

Below are some options that you should consider if you want to create a new career at 40. These roles have been chosen based on the ease of picking up new skills, earning potential, and availability of jobs.

• Web developer
• Project manager
• SEO specialist 
• Video editor 
• Event manager

What Are the Best Careers To Start at 40 Without a Degree?

The following are industries that you can break into without a degree:

• Digital marketer
• Front-end designer 
• Copywriter 
• Technical Sales Specialist 

What Are the Best Careers To Start at 40 With No Experience?

Here are a few industries that you can break into at 40 without any prior experience:

• Real estate agent 
• Mobile app programmer 
• Copy editor 
• Customer sales representative 

What Are Some Fields To Avoid for a Career Change at 40?

Now let’s take a look at some fields that are tough to break into if you’re making a career change at 40. These are listed because they require an extensive educational background, a large portfolio of work, or vast experience in the field:

• Forensic security 
• Quantitative analysis
• Medicine
• Economics 

Career Change at 40: Real-Life Examples To Inspire You

You don’t get a lot of role models when you are making a career change at 40. But there are people who’ve done what you want to do successfully. Here are a couple of people you can look to for inspiration.

Leo Teokhin

Leo Tokhin tells the story of how he managed to leave academia to forge a career in data science consulting. The post covers a lot of key points about perspective shifts that you need to make when moving between vastly different fields.

Laura Sheehan

Laura Sheehan has worked in seven different countries in a career spanning over a decade in multiple industries. So it’s clear that she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to making a career change. Sheehan’s TEDx appearance has been viewed over a million times and features some cannot-miss tips on the questions you need to ask yourself if you’re switching careers.

FAQs About a Career Change at 40

We’ve got the answers to your most frequently asked questions.

Since you’re here…
Were you one of the tens of thousands of workers impacted by this year’s tech layoffs? Springboard wants to help. Our new Career Reboot Scholarship is intended to assist job seekers from tech looking to upskill, reskill and stand out in a competitive hiring environment. Get $1,000 off any Springboard bootcamp in software engineering, data analytics, UX design, cybersecurity, tech sales, and more. Visit this page for eligibility requirements and to apply.