One of the most common questions I’m asked as a career coach is: is it too late for me to change career?
I’ve had this question from people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. I’ve even once had it from a 25 year old, believer it or not!
The answer is invariably: “absolutely not”.
Okay, so if you are 40 years old with a mortgage and a family to support and your dream is to become a doctor, then medical school might be a bit far-fetched right now. There are also industries where age-related discrimination is very real.
However, it’s important to distinguish between practical realities and internal narratives.
One of the biggest things holding most people back from career change is not their age, but what’s going on in their heads.
If you’re feeling like you want to make a pivot but are worried you’re too old, this is what I’d advise:
Actively go and find answers from the real world of work, rather than base your decisions on assumptions
Find role models and mentors of people who have changed career later in life. The Careershifters website has loads of real life success stories.
Have conversations with people in the industries you’re drawn to and ask them questions about routes in and whether your age is likely to be a barrier
Don’t do it alone! Find a coach or accountability buddy who can help you challenge your preconceptions.
The example I often give is of my brilliant Mum who changed career aged 70 from working in English Language teaching to becoming a personal trainer for Baby Boomers like her. If she’d gone on assumptions and preconceptions alone, she might never have made such a bold – and fulfilling - shift.
If you’d like someone to sense-check your ideas and to help you get clearer on what a career change at your age might look like, feel free to book in a free call with me.