What are the pros and cons of changing careers in midlife?

As a Career Transition Coach, I am always advocating for professionals to change their career as soon as possible when they identify they are unhappy. Here's why: It becomes much more difficult to transition when we submerge ourselves in our work and make every excuse to stay because it "pays the bills" or "we must stay for one more year because of the resume". When we begin be happy in our careers, it affects our relationships outside of work as well. In addition, I along with many of my clients have actually suffered mental and physical health conditions due to the effects of unhappiness in a career - especially in toxic work cultures.

As a midlife entrepreneur, some days I feel like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple—just a plump, non-descript older lady nosing aroud on the periphery in a large cast of glamorous young go-getters. But just like Miss Marple, older ladies like me have an unfair (and unsuspected) advantage. We can listen, observe, and learn unnoticed. We know how to ignore distractions, and we quietly leverage our decades of experience and ability to connect facts to arrive at the (obvious) solution. A midlife career change is a second act, in all the best ways: it's where the good stuff happens. The plot comes together, the loose ends tie up, and the exciting conclusions take your breath away. Trust me, you *don't* want to leave at intermission!

Through my own experience and then being a partner with clients and loved ones, I've seen a rise in joy, contentment and satisfaction through changing careers. Also, the mental challenges of the change help stretch our brains and build our confidence.

For many midlife is a big change, particularly women. As we go through menopause our life and perspectives may change substantially leaving us asking the question “is this it?”. So it is a great time for reflection. Am I in the job for me? Am I happy in my life? It is not a coincidence that the rate of divorce is highest in the UK for women in their mid 40s

I spent 19 years of my working life being self employed in a small brick and mortar printing business. The rapidly evolving marketplace made my business obsolete, so I formed an exit strategy and went back out hunting for a new career. Despite having many skills that could be applied toward several different paths, I have really struggled to get established, and I find that I’m not being considered for positions due to a perceived lack of experience, despite being highly trainable and possessing a strong work ethic. It’s a vicious cycle that has brought on high levels of stress and anxiety as I keep fighting to find opportunities. I have to agree that the fear of failure is also quite strong as well.

Apart from external barriers, personal drawbacks of a career change include: 1) Priorities. If your career isn't a top-5 priority, changing careers is highly difficult. So what would you need to de-prioritize to make it happen — and is that a good choice for you? 2) Newbie Status. Some folks prefer to be the expert and won't admit when they don't know something. You can reframe this mindset, but if you aren't willing to be humble, a new career will be uncomfortable. 3) Judgment. When you talk about your career change, some will be curious, others indifferent, and others will think it's an awful idea — and they'll probably tell you so. The more confidence you show in your decision, the less impact their unwanted opinion will have on you.

There is a tendency for doubt and frustration to creep in as we change careers, for we're seemingly coming into an industry with less experience. But let's not discount our entire body of work. Our complete experience and our innate talents and strengths are of immense value to whatever industry we're now into.

It amazes me that we overlook the skills that people have and look to job experience. Somebody who is starting a new career may have so many skills they have either honed over the years or newly acquired. They are showing a dedication to growth that people who have been in the same job for years do not usually express. They are coming into a new career with passion and drive and a willingness to learn. Yet somehow that is still not perceived as an asset.

As a Career Transition Coach, I always tell my clients that a shift in career should be first to gain happiness and purpose. It's okay if you want to shift your career for monetary reasons, but it should not be the only reason. In fact, if we transition just for they money alone, we often end up back in toxic work cultures. Another important factor to consider is trajectory. Often, I find professionals chasing after the position that pays well and is demand, however there is no growth opportunities. We don't want to stay stagnant when we are taking the leap to transition. Find growth and a company that not only supports in your growth, but invests in it too!

I mentioned priorities above, and I'd say that's the MOST important consideration in your decision. If you're facing a lot in your life right now, changing careers could add to your stress instead of helping to relieve it. Consider the negative aspects of your current career, balanced with what's happening in your life outside of work and what's most important to you. Assessing all of this can be confusing because there may be lots of overlap. Different pieces of your life will feel equally important; many will feel immovable. Plus, some days are harder than others, which can distort your priorities. You can practice being aware of these ebbs and flows. Over time, you'll uncover patterns that point you in the right direction.

Are your values aligned with the type of work and/or the industry you're in now? Is there another line of work, another industry which more closely aligns to your values and purpose?

Unfortunately for many it is these thoughts that prevent the change. It triggers the “not good enough” thoughts which spiral and affect the rest of their lives. So they settle. They plod, they stop pushing forward and start wondering how they can drop some hours. They are not interested in what they are doing and as a result the company is left with a mediocre employee with experience. It’s a viscious cycle!

As a Career Transition Coach, effective branding is essential. You can not make a transition branded as who you are currently. Instead, you need to brand yourself for the career you are looking to obtain to catch the attention of the recruiter and hiring manager. Next, schedule information interviews with those in your network AND alumni on LinkedIn that are similar careers that you are exploring. Many professionals forget about their strong alumni network once they graduate - these professionals want to help you succeed.

It's common to think about the concrete things you need in order to shift careers: a robust network, additional education or credentials, an updated resume, a strong approach to cover letters, interview skills, etc. And of course, those are all critical when it comes time to apply for jobs in your new field. But before all of that, you need to find your ideal career — and make sure it doesn't lead you back to dissatisfaction in a few years. What does a fulfilling career look like to you? What do you like about your job now, if anything? What do you dislike most about your current career and how can you best ensure those things won't show up in your new path? Your career change is as much about self-discovery as it is about hard skills.

I agree that you need to research the prospective career and it is hugely beneficial to reach out to people already in the industry, but why is this seen as a requirement? We don’t expect graduates to know so much. So why? Can midlife people who are actively seeking change and improvement not be viewed in the same manner?

Support is critical — and I don't just mean having people to vent to. Of course, you can find support in others. Your friends, family, partner, pets, neighbors, community — anywhere you feel safe being you. For some, the best support is someone who listens without giving advice. For others, it's someone to hold them accountable to their timeline. But support can also look like having the right structure in place to keep you moving. Maybe it's a task management tool, a reward system, or a dedicated day each week to make progress without your current job or other responsibilities getting in the way. Knowing what true support means to you is critical to finding the right support during your career transition.

You aren't changing careers because it's fast, easy, or even fun. Instead, you're probably doing it because the thought of staying put for the rest of your working life is terrifying. So if your career transition isn't happening as fast as you'd like, it doesn't mean you aren't making progress. Researching a new industry is a step. Identifying your likes and dislikes at work is a step. Learning from others who've transformed their careers is a step, too. Stopping to celebrate what you've accomplished is a powerful way to keep moving ahead. And even if you're having fun making this change, you're also challenging the limits of what you believe you can accomplish. Not everyone will do this... so start practicing being proud of yourself.