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10 tips for Midlife Career Change
Career change isn’t the same when you’ve got 15 years' experience.
Hal had been working in the same field for upwards of 15 years. He’d seen steady progress in achievement, job titles, recognition and, yes, salary.
All this came to an end during the pandemic. Hal hadn’t been out of work for a long time, but he was confident he could move quickly. He had strong skills in engineering and had worked for a financial organization. He had strong leadership and interpersonal skills. He could write and speak at a level that was well above average.
Hal hadn’t realized his success would make it harder to change careers. Potential employers believed he would come with high expectations.
Friends tried to be optimistic. “It’s an opportunity to start over,” they said. “Maybe go out on your own. Or take a. year off.”
Hal was faced with many tough decisions. He was beginning to realize how a career affects everything: where you live, how you relate to your family, and how healthy you are. Clients tell me they never feel they have enough information. A crystal ball wouldn’t hurt either.
There are no simple answers. Here are ten tips I share with my clients who want to make solid, strong decisions when their world is spinning.
