by Tonya Seavers Evans
A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a friend and Gurl U R Not Alone Co-founder, Abbie Samuel, about making a career transition. We both shared that we could probably write a book on transformations but understood that what we are looking for at midlife looks very different when you are over 40.
You have lots of experience and while success is still very important the definition of success has probably changed and your focus is no longer on the corner office but on the legacy you want to leave. That could mean another step up on the corporate ladder, launching a non-profit or making a lateral move with job responsibilities that are a perfect match for your skill set.
If you are ready to make the leap here are three three practical questions to consider.
- Can you afford it? I know! I hate to be Debbie Downer but if you are making a lateral move or making a move that will cause you to start at the bottom you have to consider the financial impact. Can you afford to make less money in the short term? How long will it take you to reach your goal salary? Consider the financial impact and make sure that your family is onboard.
- What training do you need? Do you have the transferable skills to make this change or will the move require additional education or training? In midlife you want to think about how long you want to work. If your career transition will require years of training, you have to think about how much work life you want to dedicate to your new career.
- Consider the typical age of someone in your dream career. Sadly, ageism is a real thing. Think about the average age of someone in your new dream career and think about the challenges you might face to convince an employer that you are the right fit. This does not mean that you shouldn’t pursue your goal just that you will have to think about your networking and pitch strategies to sell yourself to potential employers.
This week we interviewed Career Strategist, Mary Davids, about the best way to pursue a career change in midlife. She shared unique strategies, and her secret ‘spark joy’ check-in tip. Listen to Gurl U R Not Alone here for our aha moment filled interview with Mary.
For more tips on making a career transition in midlife and why the time is now, listen to this podcast episode of Gurl U R Not Alone.
Tonya Seavers Evans is a South Florida based blogger and influencer. She’s also an active wife, GenX mom and life coach sharing lifestyle inspiration for women over 40. Follow her on instagram here.
