By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Al Gorriaran, Core Faculty, School of Business at Capella University
Reading Time: 5 minutes
A career change at 40, 50 or beyond can draw on decades of experience. It also deserves careful planning. These six steps can help you explore a new direction, test it and make a transition that fits your life.
Begin with the work that gives you energy. Think about the problems you enjoy solving, the strengths others rely on you for and the impact you want to make. Your goals may have changed since you chose your first career and that is reason enough to take a fresh look.
“Start by looking in the mirror,” advises Al Gorriaran, Core Faculty, School of Business at Capella University. “Then walk outside and look at the stars and ask yourself, ‘What was my dream starting out? Is that still my dream? What did I always want to do with my career but didn’t because of money, family or other circumstances?’”
Write down several possible directions. At this stage you’re looking for patterns, not committing to a new job title.
It’s reasonable to wonder whether employers will value your experience, whether you need another credential or whether you can afford a change. Put those concerns on paper. Then identify what you need to learn about each one.
“Believe in yourself,” Gorriaran says. Confidence does not require ignoring the risks. It means taking your ambitions seriously enough to investigate them. Your background may present challenges, but it also gives you knowledge, judgment and perspective that a new field may need.
Research the qualifications for roles that interest you. Look at job postings, speak with people who hire in the field and check whether a degree, license, certification, portfolio or specific experience is required. Compare the cost and time involved with your finances, schedule and family responsibilities.
Include pay in that assessment. An entry role in a new field may offer less than your current position, while a related role may let you carry more of your experience forward. A sound plan accounts for both the opportunity and the transition period.
“The important thing is not to go into a major life change without doing your due diligence,” Gorriaran says. “Keep your enthusiasm but make sure you are setting yourself up for success.”
An informational interview, job shadow, short course, volunteer project or limited consulting assignment can show you what the work is like day to day. Ask professionals what they find rewarding, what they find difficult and what they wish they had known before entering the field.
After leaving the Armed Forces, Gorriaran pursued police work because he expected his military experience to transfer naturally. Within three months, he realized the work differed from what he had expected and left the field. That experience illustrates the value of testing an assumption early: skills may transfer even when the role itself is a poor fit.
A new career can change your routine, professional relationships and sense of identity. Give yourself room to adjust. You may be learning new practices while drawing on leadership, communication, analysis or problem-solving skills you have used for years.
Be specific when explaining what you offer. Instead of saying that you have “transferable skills,” describe a problem you solved, the people you worked with and the result. That helps others see how your experience applies in a new setting. It can also help you recognize that a career change does not erase what you’ve accomplished.
A career transition does not have to lead to one permanent destination. Your first new role may confirm your choice or reveal another path. As you gain experience, revisit what you enjoy, what you want to learn and what your life requires.
“You could become an author, a business owner, a professional speaker,” Gorriaran says. Those are possibilities, not measures of success. The goal is to build a career that makes good use of who you are now and gives you room to grow.
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