A Midlife Career Change?

Explore the possibilities!

A midlife career change can be challenging, exhilarating, scary, inspiring, daunting and the best thing that ever happened! I know. I felt all that and more...

It took me about eight months to find my ideal career. Through the process, I clarified key elements that would make it fulfilling. I wanted my career to make a difference in peoples' lives, be creative, and have a flexible schedule.

A tall order? Perhaps, but I felt that if I didn't at least explore my options, I would always regret it.

What about you?

You can simplify the process by using the following short exercise. Uncover your purpose, values, skills and other essential criteria for a midlife career change.

Purpose

What's your underlying purpose for changing careers?

Is it because:

• You feel dissatisfied with your current job and want something more?
• You wish to use your skills and experience in new ways or in a different environment?
• Your responsibilities have changed due to company re-organization?
• You are nearing retirement and want to supplement your income?
• Something else?

Your answer is important. Knowing the purpose behind your career change is the first step in making it fulfilling.

Values

What do I mean by values? Your values are a reflection of what's most important to you. They are like a compass pointing to what it means to be true to yourself. Building a career around your values, will make it satisfying and rewarding.

Career Values

To help you uncover your career-related values, imagine you are in your ideal job. Think about what makes it ideal:

• Where are you working?
• What are you doing?
• Who are you working with?
• What's the focus or purpose of your job?
• What makes it so special?

From your answers, distinguish the underlying values that make the job satisfying. Examples of my own career values are - contribution, making a difference, freedom and independence.

Skills and Experience

To make the most of your midlife career change, be sure to use your experience and talents in ways that are satisfying to you.

Consider what skills and talents you want to use. It may not be the primary skills from your previous career. I'm a great organizer, but using my creativity and people skills is more rewarding.

From the vision of your ideal career, consider:

• What skills do you need?
• What current skills do you want to use?
• Are there new skills you wish to learn or that need upgrading?
• Do you have a natural gift or talent you wish to enhance for additional income?

You have the essentials for a midlife career change, but you may have other considerations.

Other Criteria

What other criteria are essential for you in your new career? Consider:

• Travelling
• Working from home
• Working in your neighborhood or commuting
• Working in a team environment or on your own
• Working outside in nature
• Opportunities for continued growth and learning
• Anything else?

Now that you have distinguished your purpose, values, preferred skills and key criteria of your midlife career, there is one more thing...

Yes, buts

Have you noticed any "yes, buts" coming to mind when you think of making a change? You know what I mean - "Yes, but it's too late", "I'm too old", "It's not the right time", "It's too risky", "The company will never go for it", "What will my spouse think", "It's unrealistic". Any others?

When I thought of changing careers, "I'm being unrealistic" was the "yes, but" I heard most often. From myself and from others.

Don't let the "yes, buts" stop you from taking action and moving forward.

Explore your options for a midlife career change. Who knows what opportunities are waiting for you.

Want support in getting started? Contact me for an introductory coaching session. Coaching is done by telephone and is confidential.

Check out the results others have achieved with coaching.

Changing careers may be the start of a new chapter in your life. For on-going support, subscribe to the monthly newsletter "Active and Alive!". As a bonus you will receive my free e-course "Simple Self-Care Strategies".