How to Make a Mid-Career Change

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By Althea DeBrule
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Article Rating: (16 Ratings)

Are you in the midlife of your career, and looking for a change, either to a new career or to add more excitement, energy and boost to your current one? Mid-career change has become more socially acceptable these days, especially if you have a good sense of what you like to do, know what brings you pleasure, and can quickly adapt to new roles. Any search for a new career must involve not only matching you to the work, but work-life integration as well. To get started on your search, take these 12 steps when considering a mid-career change.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Analyze your current situation—specifically any changing desires, unanticipated events, aging, mid-life crisis, expectations of others, stress, burnout, and anything else that is affecting your current career.
Step 2

Assess interests, values, and skills. Explore your passion, hobbies and any other interests that can be developed into potential career opportunities.
Step 3

Identify the three most important priorities for changing your career. Obtain information about career opportunities and determine what kind of new career to start.
Step 4

Develop a Career Roadmap™ to ensure a successful mid life career change. Write down career goals, gather information about prospective careers and make necessary decisions to pursue opportunities that may arise.
Step 5

Establish an action plan that is built upon realistic expectations and which draws upon available resources.
Step 6

Identify and overcome resource barriers.
Step 7

Turn personal contacts into career stakeholders.
Step 8

Experiment, learn, take risks, and network to create new career structures.
Step 9

Learn how to deal with doubt and uncertainty as the new career unfolds.
Step 10

Implement actionable strategies to achieve new career goals.
Step 11

Invest in re-training programs that will build on your existing expertise and knowledge.
Step 12

Look at mid-career change realistically to manage emotions such as fear, anxiety, or a sense of loss.

Comments

admiller said

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on 4/14/2009 It's important to assess interests and values. If I had done this in the first place, I would not be making a career change now. Devoting time to discovering my passions has really helped me put my career change in perspective. Thanks for taking the time to put these tips in writing.