I get a number of calls every month from people in their late 30’s, 40's or 50's who want to know what kind of process I go through with clients to help them change careers. They’re all revved up about possibility and change. Some of them sign up for the adventure while others, sighing as they hang up the phone, do not.
Changing careers after 10 or more years is an incredibly daunting task. It’s a complex process that takes a whole lot of energy, creativity, persistence and work. And chances are you are already engaged in a life that requires a whole lot of energy, creativity, persistence and work.
I was interested to read this useful piece that sums up the process of changing careers in mid-life. If you’re thinking about it, I recommend you check it out.
Here is an overview of the steps, with my editorial comments:
- Assess yourself (There are 468 ways to do this, including written exercises and various tests.)
- Know what’s important to you. (Pay, hours, tasks, challenge, industry, people contact, etc.)
- Find out what’s out there (Research online and/or use a career counselor or coach.)
- Narrow down career options. (Between two and four options is manageable and not overly limiting.)
- Talk to people in the field (informational interviews, attend professional association meetings).
- Volunteer, work as a temp, or moonlight to try something out first while minimizing risk.
- Engage your existing network of people to assist you. (This is one of your biggest advantages over younger career-changers, so use it!)
You've heard about all of these steps before - none are difficult to comprehend. A big challenge for most people is deciding exactly how and exactly when and exactly with whom they are going to accomplish the steps.
But perhaps the most daunting challenge is keeping up the interest, momentum and sheer stamina it takes to change careers, while at the same time navigating the ever-changing currents of the river called My Life Right Now.
Just because you're in the midst of engineering a career change doesn't mean you can't go through a re-org at work, or the dog won't die, or your teenager won't test your limits, or your spouse's mother won't need to move into assisted living, and so on and so forth.
It can be tempting in the face of such distractions to give up on your career change plan altogether. But with a little patience, and a caring person in your life to nudge you, you can do it.
I'd love to hear: What made it possible for you to change careers?
