Many people say it is never too late to do things. The same is true for a mid-life career change. You may be a home-based worker who chooses to do other things for a change, or an office employee who wants to get his dream job, or simply someone who needs less stress in life and wants instead a better work-life balance, and new challenges to take on, a mid-life career change is really never too late.
It would be important to know what field you would like to work in. You do this by first identifying the things you dislike most about your previous career and then identifying as well what you like most about it. You can start with this, and just add things you enjoy most or things that interest you. This way, you can move to a different field, but still do the things you love in your previous career. For instance, from being manager at a fast food chain, you can probably make a mid-life career change to become project manager in a charitable institution. This way, you fulfill your interest and love for charitable work, while still honing your leadership and planning skills as a manager. What lifestyle would you want to have? Do you want a home-based career or an 8 to 5 job? Do you want to be able to manage your time, without your boss always nagging at you? These are just some of the important questions to ask yourself when you’ve decided to take on a mid-life career change.
In addition to finding out the field you would like to shift to, you should also identify your current skills because these are vital as well in making that mid-life career change. What can and can you not do? Are you proficient in communications, leadership, web design, software development, science or health? These are referred to as transferable skills, because no matter what field you are in, they can be very useful. You may also identify your talents and knowledge; you might be surprised to land your dream job because of these.
Knowing your interests and skills is not enough; you also need to have even just a little experience in your target job for a successful mid-life career change. You can do some sort of moonlighting, like volunteering for the company you plan to work for perhaps, or working in a part-time job that entails doing the same things as your target career. These are helpful not only in helping you decide if a mid-life career is really the right path to take, but also in giving plus points to your resume.
Changing careers also entails changes in modes of travel, if applicable. Of course, this is not a problem anymore when you shift to a home-based job because you work in the comforts of your home. In most mid-life career changes, however, there may be modifications not just in the site of work but also in the place you live in. Sometimes you need to move to a nearer area for convenience or, more commonly, you change your mode of travel, be it a daily commute by bus, car, train, or frequent air travels.
You also need to consider other variables, like your target salary and potential for career progression. It is a known fact that making a mid-life career change entails hard work and tough times, even doubts from other people. These should not stop you, though, because it is far better to have a career that you enjoy doing rather than forever working in a job where you feel dissatisfied and always stressed.

The thought of changing careers will cross everyone’s mind at some point in time. Yet, not many think that they, confidently, can take that step. While there are many reasons that can be attributed to this noticeable phenomenon, we, for the moment, will confine ourselves to the major reason – lack of confidence.

Lack Of Confidence – A Major Drawback To Successful Career Change

It is not unusual to desire a change in career. However, proper & detailed planning and preparation is essential for a successful change in career. Many times, procrastinating over the matter not just develops the redundancy factor but also creates a sort of fear and hindrance.

10 Steps To A Successful Career Change

Here are the ten steps to changing your career successfully:

1. Preparing To Change: Gather information about your target organizations, job profile, etc. Get additional training and certifications as needed. Get your resume done professionally; highlighting areas to which you can contribute to and your past accomplishments.

2. Expect The Unexpected: Interviewers throw out surprises, sometimes unintentionally, which can catch you off-guard. It pays to know the questions that they might ask. Anticipate even the craziest questions.

3. Consult Those Who Are Already In Your Chosen Field: This gives you a wealth of information on the daily routine, responsibilities and challenges.

4. Changing A Line Of Career Isn’t Unusual: The need for cross-discipline skills is no surprise these days. Get across the point that you don’t lack all the skills required by the new job even you haven’t worked in a similar one. Interpersonal skills, organizational, personal skills are commonly required wherever you go.

5. Brush Up Old Skills And Add New Ones: Comparing your skill set with that required by the target job will tell you the areas you need to concentrate on.

6. Use The Internet: Use Internet job boards to post your resume, which should be carefully crafted specially for this purpose. By crafting, I mean using keywords that are industry-specific jargon.

7. Internet Helps Research A New Industry: Visit websites of organizations, forums or associations in that field which gives invaluable insight before short listing them. Researching job listings by company will definitely help you get an idea of what skills are most in demand.

8. Family Support: Draw confidence and support from your family. When you are down, use them as a sounding board. They may be able to help you come up with new ideas, and they will definitely boost your confidence.

9. Interview, Interview: Even if you are not perfectly suited for a particular position, you should still interview as much as you can. This way, you will know your strengths and weaknesses. It will also help if you do some informational interviewing. This is simply targeting people already working in your field and speaking with them about their jobs.

10. Network. Networking has been the time-tested method for a successful career change. Network with ex-employees and current employees of your target industry. Over 60% of all interviews come as a result of networking.

People have plenty of decisions to make every minute of their lives. What dress to wear, what time to leave home, what color tie to wear, etc. Unlike these decisions, there are some that need a good deal of contemplation.

Everything in life might be going well; you might be able to lead a decent life with the salary you get, the children can go to school and even if your spouse doesn’t work the house still manages on your paycheck. But, deep inside there may be a voice that says something isn’t right. The current job you have isn’t the one you enjoy doing. Listen to that voice, especially if it starts affecting your work and you cannot concentrate.

Think of alternative jobs that you could do instead of your present one. The career change you decide on can turn out to be the most exciting in your life.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts to keep on mind when changing your career:

Do’s

-Planning a career change is difficult and it is best to have a plan. Think long and hard before making any decision, as this will affect your career in the long run.
-Since you are making a change, consider a job that is not similar to the present one. Also consider careers which make optimum use of your interests and skills.
-Network with people through friends and business associates. This is the best way of finding out about the industry you would like to join.
-Consult a friend or someone who has knowledge of the industry and can act as a mentor, advising you and helping you to focus on your goals.
-If your chosen field requires additional qualifications, think of ways you can do it and the course you could opt for.
-If possible, try to work part-time for the job you want. This can help you understand the intricacies of the new job.
-When you start working on the new job you should take time to adapt to the new surroundings and system of working.
-When you quit a job, leave on a positive note. Keeping good relations with your past employers will help you in the future.

Don’ts

-Don’t have too many expectations from the job; you could be disappointed if things don’t turn out the way you thought.
-Don’t discuss your plans for a change of career with your office colleagues until you have a solid offer in writing.
-Don’t be dazzled by the glamour and big money that some jobs offer. What you should to look for is job satisfaction and a secure future.
-Don’t expect a career change to be instant; it might take more time than you expect.
-Don’t leave your current job until you have another one in hand. You never know how long finding the job of your choice will take. If it takes longer than expected, you may have to consider paying bills from your savings.

Do away with all your inhibitions about making a successful career change. Your job and how you perceive it has an effect on you, your family and your future.

A career is not only your livelihood but must also satisfy a person’s emotional and intellectual wants and needs. Very often, people cannot take up a career of their choice due to financial problems or other constraints. However, after a point of time, it becomes difficult to continue working on a job that you do not enjoy. A job change in the same career stream might not be the right solution. Hence, a change in career may be your only alternative.

People tend to change their career when they are bored, fed up, or unhappy with their current one. They prefer looking for a more rewarding profession, one that aligns better with their skills, interests and values.

As changing careers is a major decision, one has to seriously look at the possibilities and opportunities ahead before making a change. A smooth transition between careers is essential or else it can become traumatic. Keeping in mind a few tips will make the transition simpler and lead you in the right direction.

Make A Self-Assessment

This is the most important step to establish a workable career plan. Evaluate your experience, skills and interests in reference to work history, hobbies and volunteer experiences. Examine your likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, and areas of interest. This will help you to discover the direction you want to move in the future. Take online career assessment tests that help you discover the area of interests that you might not have been considered before.

Reason For The Change

After assessing yourself, try to find out why you need the change. There could be various reasons such as dislike for the employer or supervisor, limited growth opportunities, or just boredom of the job. If the problem is rectifiable, then the necessary measures should be taken; otherwise, a career change is necessary.

Create An Action Plan

Carefully map out a detailed action plan. Do not rush into a career change without giving proper thought and due consideration to aspects such as:

-Do you need more education?
-Do you need additional financial resources?
-Would an intermediate job or part-time job be necessary?

A Successful career change requires patience, as it sometimes takes a great deal of time to switch from one career to another.

Set Goals And Objectives

Discover your goals and objectives for the future and set a positive goal for your new field. Consider the possibilities for advancement in achieving your goal.

Make A List Of Possibilities

List careers based on your desires and skills. Seek advice from family, friends, colleagues, and career management professionals. Narrow the list down to a few and begin research on them, as this can give you a better perspective and understanding. Consider the pros and cons of each career type to get a specific choice to pursue. Examine your qualifications to see if you fit into the career you have decided upon.

Learn About The Desired Field

Learn more about the field that interests you. Read magazines, attend conferences and talk to people in the desired field. Find out whether the desired industry has growth potential.

Influence

Do not let others influence you to change your career. Take the advice of other people, but make your own decision if you are choosing a new career.

Choose somebody to help you with the process of changing your career so that you have help when you get discouraged or confused. Preferably, look for a professional who can keep you focused and upbeat. These professionals can help you in identifying new fields and applying for new jobs.

You should keep in mind that you might have to compromise on your salary or job title. Hence, you should be flexible about employment status, relocation and salary.

Changing your career can be an exciting and self-awakening experience, and can help you realize your true potential.

A career change can be riddled with mistakes and ambiguity for many people, even those in mid-career. This, as a consequence, relegates them to where they are despite additions to their job and personal skill sets and the larger market scenario. This small but indicative list of career changes Dos and Don’ts will help to make things clearer.

Career Change Don’ts

-Never come out any job before you have another one. Don’t quit a job on impulse, only when you have a solid plan. Leaving a job too early will have obvious negative effects. You could easily find yourself without a job with no leads in sight.
-A career change cannot be spontaneous but must be the result of a well-planned and well thought out decision. Do not plan to change your career in just minutes.
-Don’t change your career just for the sake of big/instant money or glamour; rather, give some real thought as to whether you are really interested in switching to another career. Sure, the new career might seem great at first, but will you still enjoy it after several years?
-Don’t have unrealistic expectations from the career that you are going to choose.
-Don’t pay attention to rumors or gossip or even react to them during your job change process.
-Don’t spread the word about your leaving the job until it is confirmed in writing.
-Don’t leave your ’safe’ job until you know where and how you will be compensated.
-Don’t leave the job for until you have ensured that you will not have to pay your monthly bills from your savings
-Don’t ever spread misinformation about your past employer

The Dos of Career Change

-While still in your current job, you can gather information or rather work part-time for the career you have chosen. It will give you some idea of the scope and nature of your target job.
-While still in your present career, learn as much as you can and plan to take that knowledge with you.
-List your strengths and qualities in fields you that you already excel. Identify your need for a career change.
-If it is sheer frustration or stress and all other aspects are fine in your present job, then target these two problems rather going for a career change.
-Maintain a positive relationship with your present organization and leave the job on a positive note.
-As soon as you join your new employer, get down to business without wasting time; you will have lot to learn in a new environment.