Not everyone knows what they want to do with their lives when they leave school. Or even in their 20s or 30s. With the retirement age increasing each year, currently around 65 years old, even a career change in your 40s can enable you to follow this path for 20 years or more.
But did you know it is never too late to change careers? In fact, there are many advantages to changing your jobs as you get older. Nothing can replace the life experience you will have gained over the years, which can finally put you in a great position to get the career of your dreams finally.
Still on the fence? Read on to discover the benefits of changing careers later in life.
You will have a better idea of what you want.
One of the most significant benefits of getting older is finally knowing who you are and what you want out of life. Life experience can tell us what we do want and what we don’t want from life. And you will likely be in a better place to make this happen.
This type of wisdom is more commonly found in those reaching their 30s, meaning that if you are looking for a career change, you have a better chance of finding the role you want, and it will give you more career satisfaction. Why is this important? It means you are less likely to waste your time choosing to change careers and be specific about your abilities and desires before pursuing any changes.
Whether this is a desire to join the medical profession or change job roles within your field, such as finding Occupational therapy jobs after retraining, or if you want to start your own business and will be starting from scratch to build your new empire. You can be confident in your choices and know they are right for you.
You will have life and career experience.
It may seem like a disadvantage to change careers in your 40s or 50s since you have more experience than someone just out of school. But the reality is, the more life and career experience you have, the better off you are.
You don’t have to start from scratch and learn on the job. You can use your life and work experience to find a new path in a field that you are passionate about. This can be an attractive quality for many potential employers. Your knowledge and outlook on life can be advantageous when applying for new job roles or reentering education to gain any formal training you require.
You will be more dedicated.
A common misconception is that people will lose their motivation and enthusiasm for their careers after they change careers. However, research shows that people who decide to change careers later in life are more committed to their job. They have considered their choices more carefully before committing to a new career. Furthermore, this commitment also means they will be more likely to stay in the industry longer, leading to a greater chance of success.
If you are unsure if you will have what it takes, remember, the first step is always the hardest and if you really want something enough, your dedication to reaching the goal can help you make your dream a reality.
You will be enthusiastic.
The most significant benefit of changing careers later in life is that you will be more enthusiastic.
It can be easy to get stuck in a job you don’t love, which becomes your career. Many people have been working for years but would rather be doing something else. This is common for people who start working at a young age and have never had time to explore other opportunities.
But when you change careers, you will have the chance to find your true passion and pursue it wholeheartedly. It doesn’t matter if this takes some time or even a few attempts to get it right – the important thing is that you enjoy what you are doing.
You will be more reliable.
If there is one thing changing careers later in life can afford you, it is reliability. You will likely have worked hard on this skill over the years. Younger employees can often get a bad reputation for being unreliable and flaky due to their personal lives. But as you get older, you respect relationships more, both personally and professionally and are aware of what is at stake. This means you will be more reliable and dependable as an employee both during any training or in your new role.
You will be more fulfilled.
How many times have you woken up and dread heading to work? If this feels all too familiar, then looking to switch things up by changing your career is the right decision. Even still, there will be something holding you back.
However, changing your lane as you get older can offer you the chance to exit the rat race that is grinding you down and forge a career in a new path that helps you be more fulfilled and happier in your work. Take Occupational therapy jobs, for example; once you have completed your training, you can work with people to help them when they need it the most in a range of different settings. This allows you to get more from your employment, feel valued and helpful, all while doing some good at the same time.
Conclusion
While it can be scary to seemingly throw away everything you have worked on so far in your career, if the thought of this being it for you is even more terrifying, then changing your career later in life can be the right decision. If you need the push to make the change, look at what you want for yourself and what you are prepared to do to make it happen; you can then set the wheels in motion to make a change and start living your life in a more positive and rewarding way.