You Can Change Careers Later in Life

When you decide on a career change, a ton of questions, thoughts and concerns go through your mind. The good news is that you can switch gears at any time due to the variety of choices available in terms of employment. One career coach named Wendy Braitman did just that by changing her career at age 60. Read on to discover her strategy for switching careers later in life.

1. Examine Your Passions

Make a concerted effort to understand your passions and what motivates you to do your best work as you begin to explore a career change. Think about a time when you had the most motivation to complete a task. Find three activities, professionally or personally, that most align with your skill set. Then, ask yourself what's the one talent that comes most naturally to you. Draw inferences from your answers to determine what you really want to do.

2. Share Your Story

Start networking, and find like-minded people in your new field. If you lost your job or are current unemployed, don't be afraid to share your story with others, whether you're talking to former colleagues or blogging about it on LinkedIn. Speak to people about what drives you, and you might eventually discover some new possible job opportunities.

Another good strategy is to create an email list of people to contact about new opportunities. Maintain regular contact with these people, whether they are colleagues you knew 20 years ago or people you just met at a meet-and-greet in your hometown. Growing your network one person at a time takes a bit of effort, but it pays off in the end. Networking embraces short-term efforts for a long-term gain.

3. Fill the Gaps

If you're unemployed, do something to fill the gap in between jobs. Volunteer your time through a nonprofit organization or government agency, or perform community service. Become an expert at a new hobby, run a marathon or take care of an elderly relative. Someone can vouch for your talents and skills when engage in these activities, and volunteering without pay also shows your dedication to a cause.

4. Learn New Skills

Learn some new skills, and add relevant skills to your resume amid a career change. Take some classes, attend online seminars or explore the latest software relevant to your field. Pick skills that someone with your career aspirations needs to succeed. After you add these skills to your resume, make sure you can prove them to your future employer.

5. Test the Waters

Once you're ready, test the waters. Do your best to land a new job as an intern in your field. You can also take on some freelance work. Get feedback from your friends, co-workers, clients and colleagues to see how you're doing. A test run lets you tweak your process at the beginning before you make decisions that are harder to reverse.

Before deciding to change your career later in life, ask yourself the following question: Are you happy and fulfilled in your current career? Your answer to this question can help you determine if embarking on a career change is the best choice.

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