How to make a successful career change at 40

Are you considering how to make a career shift at age 40? It’s never too late to make a career shift. Nothing is impossible if you have the right tools, guidance, and motivation. You can learn skills. There are many jobs. You can make progress again. It’s important to remember that your experience will be of great value regardless of what industry you are moving into. It’s possible, even though it might seem scary. It only takes a choice. If you are unhappy with your current situation and want to change it, these are the steps you need to take.
Identify what you want to do
It can be difficult to decide which career path you want to follow when changing your career. Perhaps you have always wanted to be an investigator. Perhaps you are interested in astrophysics. Perhaps you dream of dancing on stage. Maybe you don’t know what you want.
Grab a piece paper
It should have four headings: What I want, What I can do, Jobs that do that, and What I need to learn. First, fill out “What I want.” You can be as specific or general as you wish. You could want to be an RN, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work as a doctor. You might want to be a pianist or help others. Don’t forget anything. You don’t want to leave anything out. Ask a friend for help if you have trouble thinking of anything. Match those skills with what you want to do. Are there any job opportunities that spring to your mind? In the third column, list them all. You don’t have to be able to do every job. This is the purpose of the last column. Look online for the job titles and search for the roles. What are they looking for? Are you able to provide these skills?
Decide what you like best
List all the jobs you are interested in and then choose the ones that interest you most. Keep it to two or three. Once you have these skills, you can start to look at the skills that you would need to perform those roles. All you have to do now is learn those skills. There is nothing stopping you.
Are you having trouble thinking of what you want to do?
There are many jobs that you may not be aware of. It’s worth taking an interest test. CareerOneStop offers a simple one that takes just a few minutes. It will show you a list with possible roles based on what you answered. This is a great way for you to learn about new professions. You might find the right career path for you.
Get training
You may not be clear on the path you want to follow, but you will have a better idea. It’s time for you to improve your knowledge. There are many ways to get the training that you need for a career shift.
Apprenticeships and internships. You can search online for internships in your chosen field. You will get hands-on training and can learn while you work. Many companies will hire you after the internship. Even if they don’t, you’ll have relevant experience on the CV that will make it much easier to land your next job.
College. It is never too late for you to return to college to earn a qualification. Look for courses that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. It might be worthwhile to get a Masters in a related field if you have a degree that isn’t relevant to your new role.
Online courses. There are many programming bootcamps, such as ours, that allow you to learn a language in a matter of weeks. Other professions offer courses that you can take at home and learn in the evening.
Teach yourself. You don’t have to go to school. A degree is a shorthand for understanding a topic. It’s not necessary. Employers only want to ensure you are capable of the job. To learn these skills, you can use sites like Skillshare and Masterclass, or Brilliant.org, regardless what career you’re interested in.

It doesn’t matter what route you choose, it’s easy to get the education that you need. You’re likely to have the work ethic and research skills to pass any test you are given at 40. Who wouldn’t want to return to school with all their experience from the past?
Find the financing
Many people believe that it is too expensive to get an education. There are many ways to get the money you need. For more information about your state, visit CareerOneStop
Grants. There are more than 8,000 scholarships, fellowships and grants available. It’s not a bad idea to apply, but it’s worth narrowing the list to see if you are eligible for any of these. The complete list can be found online. We offer a variety of scholarships for Coding Dojo students.