Tips For A Career Change At 50+
If you are looking to learn how you can change jobs or your career at 50, you are in the right place. It can be challenging to get through a career change at 50+. This is especially true if you have been with the same company for years and even decades. Fortunately, there are many strategies that you can do to make sure you land interviews and end your job search successfully. These are our Tips for a career change at 50+.
Why You’re Making The Change
Job seekers ages 50+ may pursue a different career path for various reasons. Perhaps you have outgrown your role or maybe you are looking into exploring an entirely new career path. These are some of the most common reasons to make the change:
– Reduce stress
– Improve work-life balance
– Advance your career
– Pursue another passion
– Expand knowledge and experience
Potential Challenges Of Changing Careers At 50
If you’re 50 or above, changing careers can feel challenging. Especially if you have been in the same career for most of your adult life. However, there are still many strategies that you can use to overcome any issues you may face while masking a midlife career switch. There are a few common challenges that you may face when making a midlife career change. These are just a few challenges that you might run into while changing your career.
– Possible salary changes that might be lower
– Knowledge and skill gaps
– Assumptions That you are overqualified
Tips For A Career Change At 50+
Regardless of any potential challenges, it is entirely doable to make a career change at 50 or above. In fact, many individuals have successfully changed their careers at 50. You’ve got this! Now, it’s time for some action steps. Here are some tips for making the transition as smooth as possible.
Learn What Has Changed (And What Hasn’t)
For those who have changed jobs in a while, there are a few common mistakes that you can make. Many job seekers over 50 make the mistake of thinking that the job search process hasn’t changed much recently. This could not be farther from the truth.
How Job Searching Has Changed
It’s key that you must keep up with what’s changing on the job landscape. There are a few major areas where the job search landscape has changed:
– There are new job postings that show up online everyday
– Electronic applications — emailing résumés or submitting forms online — have become the norm
– Your resume may be electronically for keywords
– Due to a large volume of applicants, many employers won’t acknowledge receiving your resume
– Video interviews are much more common
– Computer skills are essential to most jobs and they change quickly
– Finding a job is more dependent on who you know instead of what you know
– Despite all the changes, there are two key aspects that remain intact. People are still working with others to interview candidates and make hiring decisions about who to hire. This task is still performed by humans.
Get Support
Since this is a big transition for you, it’s really important to have a solid support system. This could be your family, friends, church groups or clubs – anyone who plays a significant role in your life. Let them know about your plans to change jobs and keep them updated with your progress. They will be able to hold you accountable. Additionally, they will be your cheerleaders in case you start to doubt yourself.
Use Your Relationships
When it comes to finding a job in 2023, relationships are everything. It’s not what you know. It’s who you know. However, instead of building stale, superficial marketing, there is a better way to network. Get on LinkedIn and use your web of genuine connections. At this point of your career, you probably know more people than you think. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them. You never know what opportunities could come up that way!
Even if you don’t have a large web of connections, you can always build more. Get to know people who are doing what you want to be doing. Take them to lunch, talk to them about what they love and don’t love about their job. Who knows, you might end up with a job lead. Additionally, you’ll get some much-needed clarity on what to do (or what not to do).
Update Your Resume
If you are changing careers, now is the perfect time to update your resume. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed at fitting in a laundry list of achievements on one page. The truth is, you don’t have to include 30 years’ worth of experience on a resume, especially if it’s not relevant. All you have to do is focus on the work you’ve done that’s relevant to the job you’re aiming for. Keep it simple and to the point!
Don’t Focus on Age
While you are getting ready for a job interview, you might be hyper-focused on your age, and the interviewer might not even be focused on that at all! At the end of the day, companies are looking for the best person for the job. If the interviewer or hiring manager is younger than you, don’t say anything that hits at being either self-conscious or condescending. Treat it as you would any other interview.
Side note, IF the interviewer brings up your age, you can always reply about how passionate you are about working with the company and how you want to be an asset to them. Be honest about any gaps in employment. Own your skills and don’t stress yourself out.
The Bottom Line
Taking the leap to make a career change at 50 takes a leap of faith. We congratulate you on making that change! It’s essential to continue to apply for jobs, go on interviews and remain positive throughout the process.
About Career Depot Podcast
Career Depot Podcast was launched to address the needs of Americans and their careers. Stay up to date on the latest news and tips to assist you in taking your career too the next level. Take control of where your future is headed. Tune into Career Depot Podcast as they navigate the ins and outs of today’s job market, & workforce.
