Making A Career Pivot at 40!
Do you dream of quitting your current job? Fantasize about following your passions? Aspire to find work-life balance? You are not alone. Not by a longshot. Since the pandemic descended upon us in 2020, 4.3 million people have taken part in the movement coined the “Great Resignation.”
When employees were instructed to work from home until it was safe to return to the office, many found they preferred the freedom and autonomy afforded to them by the arrangement. Additionally, improved work-life balance allowed employees to remember their passions, talents, and hobbies that had long ago fallen to the wayside while they spent long days commuting to offices to do what they now felt was unfulfilling work. Others still found that they have outgrown their careers and felt it was no longer a fit for their interests and skills.
With one-in-five workers still planning to resign in 2022, the workplace revolution continues. But what if you have years of experience behind you? What if you are close to retirement? Is it too late to change careers?
Absolutely not! I would argue that there has never been a better time.
For those that are new to the site you might not know that I have not always been a coach. Previously, I spent two decades working for highly respected global corporations in a variety of roles focusing on P&L responsibility. During my mid-forties, I made the transition into coaching. Of course it was scary and I had second thoughts along the way. But reflecting back - I could not be more proud of myself for having the courage to make the change. I am happier and more fulfilled. Recently the universe corroborated these feelings when I was awarded Singapore 40-over-40. This accolade celebrates women who have taken risks and faced challenges to embark on a new career, try something new, or start a business after her 40th birthday. I was honored.
My experience, and those my clients faced in similar situations, have taught me some key considerations for career changes.
1. Take the time to seek clarity
To make a meaningful career transition, first consider the why, what, and when behind your decision before quitting your job. Though it might feel uncomfortable and uncertain, focusing on what you really want will save you time, effort, and heartache in the long run.
First, take the time to evaluate your current job to understand why you are thinking of changing careers. This decision should not be made lightly. This is not someone one does because they simply feel like doing something different - this is an evolution of self. A lifestyle redesign. A remodel of identity. It is critical to give some thought to your long term goals. Listen to your inner voice and don’t rush the decision.
Take the time to assess your interests, skills, and values objectively. Make a list of careers that might be a good fit for you. Ask yourself:
● What do you like about your current job and what do you dislike about it?
● What type of work energises you and gives you a feeling of ‘flow’?
● Could you work for another company or would you prefer to work for yourself?
● Do you think freelancing or starting your own business would be an option?
Answering these questions should help you determine what direction to take.
Be realistic about when the change will happen. Transitions may not occur in the short term. Set realistic goals within realistic timeframes to avoid feeling like you’re failing.
2. Identify your core skills
One thing that held me back from changing careers was my fear of starting over. The more I stayed in my marketing career, the less I wanted to start from scratch, so I was hesitant to consider anything else. However, over the last few years, I've learned that our skills are much more transferrable than we think. It's true that I'm in a completely different industry now, and I've definitely had to learn and grow, but I'm still using skills from my previous career.
To make the change, it is essential to understand what skills you can draw from your current job experience so that you can apply them to the industry of your interest and be confident in your abilities. It does not matter how different the businesses are from one another, there are always elements you can use to maximise your experience. Make use of the knowledge you've gained in your current industry to make your new career a success.
3. Establish your brand persona
A career change at any age requires an individual to speak with confidence about what they do and how their role benefits a larger organisation or mission. Everyone has an elevator pitch.
When you make a large shift in your career, you will need a support network. To build that network, you need to have confidence in yourself and be able to clearly articulate what you do, how you do it, and the goals you aim to achieve. Only then can others step up to support you.
Write it down, talk to yourself in the mirror, and experiment with your pitch everywhere you go. Once you perfect it, apply that brand persona to all facets of your life affiliated with your work. This may include social media, email signatures, wardrobe, event attendance, budget, etc.
4. Gain experience
Now that you know what you want to do, do you have the skill set to make your career switch? Let's say you want to work as a freelance web developer. Are you proficient in coding? Would you benefit from improving your skills before pursuing a career path? It might be a good idea to take a course in web development and build up a portfolio before making the switch to full-time. There are tons of courses available both on and offline at a wide variety of price points. Consider speaking to contacts in the industry to understand which ones are highly rated to identify which would be the best suited for your needs.
Similarly, consider volunteering in your chosen field or ask for work experience opportunities. Nothing gives you the same level of insight as doing the job on a day-to-day basis and is another great way to understand if there are any gaps in your existing skillset.
5. Take the leap of faith
The biggest challenge faced by many people when changing careers is inertia. They want to change, but they are worried about what their family and friends will think if they leave their current job. As soon as you start acting rather than overthinking, things can change and you can begin planning for the future.
In a great piece from Rachel Botsman, she noted that procrastination is not about actually doing what needs to be done, but rather about the feelings that we associate with the change that prevent us from progressing. There are times when leaping outside of one's comfort zone can be scary, but what will it cost you to stay in the same place you are in right now?
Having coached so many people through career transitions, I've learned that everyone's journey is unique. Even though similar success patterns are found among those who make major career changes, you must decide which actions will enable your particular pivot. The good news is that you're in charge. The decision is YOURS to make when you want to take that chance to pursue something that makes you happy instead of your current job.
Making an effort to pursue more meaningful work, the kind you enjoy, expands your horizons, and fulfils you, is one of the most rewarding things you can do in your career. Every single person I've coached has said doing work that matters more to them has been absolutely worth it, no matter how challenging or prolonged their career change journey has been.
