It can feel very daunting to consider a career change by the time you reach the age of 45 but if you’ve grown tired and stale in your current profession or you’ve been doing the same thing for so many years it all seems like a bit of a blur, then a career change can not only be exciting, it can give you a whole new perspective on life and a renewed zest for living.
Many people think by the time they’ve reached middle age, that they’re simply too old to try (or risk) doing something new. This is simply not true and nothing more than a limited way of thinking. That’s not designed to be critical, just to state the truth. Unless there is some specific reason you couldn’t possibly try something different, to believe you’re too old to change careers at 45 is nothing more than a mirage.
A midlife career change could ultimately be the best thing you ever do. Let’s discover why you’re never too old and some of the benefits.
Why 45 Is Not Too Old
For starters, you’re middle-aged and not that old. In fact, many people in their forties still feel like they are in the prime of their lives. The body and mind still work well and there’s no logical reason to suggest you can’t try a new career path.
If you believe that if you take the chance on doing some training and trying to land a job in your chosen direction that employers are going to shy away from hiring someone of your age, that’s erroneous as well. In Australia these days, employers are focused on workplace diversity and that includes hiring people of a more mature age.
And why not? An employee in their forties is probably not going out partying every night. They tend to be a lot more stable and reliable and are mature enough to focus on their everyday tasks with a minimum of fuss. Middle-aged workers also have a tendency to take fewer sick days, are often more punctual and have developed a respect for their bosses and coworkers.
Your past experience, while it may be in a completely different field, will also prove to be a bonus. You’ve already demonstrated, for many years, that you can work and achieve goals, meet deadlines and so forth. Employers understand this and place a high value on this kind of experience.
One of the main stumbling blocks for people wanting to change careers when they are mid-forties is simply just fear; fear of the unknown. Sometimes, it feels easier, and safer, to stick with what we know but the problem is we can become stale and unfulfilled without personal growth and pushing the boundaries.
The Benefits of a Midlife Career Change
There can be numerous benefits to changing careers in your forties and some of those benefits have already been mentioned.
There is nothing worse than feeling stuck, simply going through the motions of a job you no longer have any passion for. There’s also no law that says you have to stay there.
The old cliché “a change is as good as a holiday” is absolutely true in this instance. Packing away your former work life and embarking on a new career adventure will be filled with excitement and new possibilities. You’ll probably find that you feel more motivated in other areas of your life as a result. This could be motivation to lead a healthier lifestyle, exercising more often, paying more attention to your personal relationships and so on. It’s not just about the work, but your entire lifestyle.
Changing jobs will take you out of your comfort zone, you will learn new things and develop new skills, you’ll achieve things maybe you never dreamed you could achieve and so much more.
If your desire is to ignite more passion in your life in every way, then starting a new career can be the catalyst to achieve that goal.
A career change could be exactly what you need to revitalize your work and personal life. If you never take a chance and give it a go, you will never know. Who wants to always be wondering: What if?
