It’s never too late for a change of career. People do it all the time, at any age. Look at Arnold Schwarzenegger. He went from a bodybuilder, to an actor, to a governor, first getting elected when he was 56! Finding the confidence to make the change is the hardest step.
1. Be considerate!
Are you stuck at your desk, feeling like it’s groundhog day? Take the time to consider why you’re not enjoying your career and what changes you want to make. Perhaps you wish you were out and about more, or had more interaction with people. Revisit what makes you happy and see where this takes you.
Later in your career, it’s natural to question how you will keep up with your responsibilities and if it is worth the risk. Whilst you weigh all of this up, be sure to find some compromises to see if you can make it work.
2. Be courageous!
The only person that can make these changes is you! Often, there is something to trigger the change. It could be something in your personal life like a bereavement, or perhaps redundancy is forcing you to consider your options. Whatever the reason, have courage in your conviction, and do what is best for you.
3. Be committed!
Dedicate time to putting your plan in place, and set yourself mini goals and deadlines. These could include enrolling on a course or volunteering somewhere to gain experience. You will only get out what you put in, so commit to your plan, and results will follow.
4. Be capable!
Once you have decided to make the change, show off your capabilities, update your CV, check out the career routes, and get networking. Ensure you are giving yourself the best chance of success.
5. Be confident!
Once you have considered the role, discovered the courage you need, committed, and uncovered your capabilities, you should have all the confidence you need!
Success Story
Here at Jobseekers, we have helped numerous people make this change!
In 2018, R came to us fed up with his current routine. He had recently gone through a divorce and was looking for a new challenge. His career up to that point was highly sports-oriented; he had worked for a local sports centre, led school coaching and mentoring, and progressed into a management role. Now, reflecting on where he was, he decided he wanted to work in a professional environment. He was very ambitious and driven, so he was seeking a role with opportunity and progression, realistic in his expectations that he would have to take a pay cut for long-term gain.
We sat down with him at interview and spoke at length about his interests and motivations for work and life and helped him narrow down his options. While searching for the perfect role, he found some work via a networking contact, working in a financial services business providing admin support, which he took on a temporary basis to build upon his office experience. He had been working here for six months when a position for a Financial Services Administrator, in another firm, arose with all the opportunities we had discussed. Safe to say he was offered the role and accepted.
Now, five years on, he has worked his way into a paraplanner role and is about to complete exams to become a Financial Advisor. He plans to take on more managerial responsibilities over the next twelve months.
