You are never too old for a new career. Ten tips on moving forward.
If you have been following me on my “road to reinvention” you know things don’t always go as planned. In my blog post, Handling A Detour On The Road To Reinvention, I share how I had planned this amazing summer of love with my husband. Instead, the last six months have been spent in and out of doctors offices trying to figure out what is wrong with him!
I have been self-employed for most of my adult life and had no intention of working for someone else. After a few months of not working in our insurance brokerage company (my husband is a broker and we work together), I knew I had to get a job. It was either that or deplete our retirement savings and go crazy from boredom and overeating in the process! Believe it or not, getting a job was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I love having a place to go, meeting new people and having the ability to earn a living so that my husband can focus on working on his path to wellness and good health. It is also amazing to have the opportunity to really define my own individuality.
Here are 10 tips that helped me:
1. Listen to your inner voice.
I heard the message you “need to get a job” many times before I really paid attention to it. You may be hearing a voice that says “I hate my job” or “I can do so much more.” Or your inner voice may be saying, “I need to be treated with more respect” or “I desperately need a change.” Listen to that voice!
2. Be open to doing something different.
I spent over fifteen years in the insurance industry but I didn’t go on any insurance interviews even though I received many offers. I was ready to learn something new and am now working for a law firm.
3. Go on lots of interviews.
I went on quite a few interviews in a variety of fields. I realized that it wasn’t the industry that was important but the people I would be working with and the culture of the company that was really what mattered.
4. Sell your life experience.
I have had many women say to me, “You are so brave, I would love to change jobs but I am too old!” This makes me so sad and angry at the same time. I am old enough to have an AARP card and have years of work experience. I look at that as my advantage. This is exactly what I said to every prospective employer, “Whoever hires me as an employee will be really lucky. I have lots of experience in a variety of businesses. I do not have small children at home and I will not be tied to my cell phone. I also am money motivated as I have a big nut to cover!” I believed that and said it with conviction and received multiple job offers.
5. You can always quit.
If you accept a job and after a few weeks or months you realize it wasn’t the right fit, so what? This may even give you a better idea of what would be the “right fit” for you.
6. Learn from the experts no matter what age.
This was a slight challenge for me as both of my bosses are under 35 and I am old enough to be their mother! I got over that quickly when I saw how professional and successful they were and that they were experts in their field. Be open to instruction and finding a mentor that will help you become successful as quickly as possible.
7. Act your age.
Even if you are in an office that is predominantly young, do not try to act like a thirty year old! Don’t try dressing like a millennial or listening to rap music or using slang. I have seen this with other women my age and it is not pretty!
8. Don’t listen to anyone else.
I cannot even begin to tell you how many people thought it was a bad idea to give up on the insurance business even temporarily. I heard how I was “too old,” “too strong of a personality,” and would be “too tired” to get a full time job working for someone else many times! So happy I didn’t listen and unless they are willing to pay your bills, you shouldn’t listen to them either.
9. Upgrade, uplevel, and be your best self.
I looked at this new job as a way of presenting my “reinvented” self to the world. I dressed better, wore lipstick every day, got enough sleep, made better food choices, etc. I started each day with an intention of doing a great job, keeping positive, and taking good care of myself. So far so good!
10. Have gratitude.
I feel very grateful for a variety of things. I am thankful that I didn’t let fear and worry stop me so that I could experience interviewing with a variety of potential employers. Because of that, I found a job that was good fit for me. It is also a pleasure to have a thirty two year old boss who drives a Maserati and is not only teaching me the business, but believes in a positive and ethical mindset. However, I am most thankful that I was able to take the financial pressure off my husband so he can get well.
Check out more of Holly’s posts where she shares her journey on her Road to Reinvention.
Holly Zucker is a wife, mother of a grown son, business owner and on the “Road to Reinvention”. After feeling like she had “lost herself” she has spent the last few years bringing back joy, pleasure, passion, fun, and community into her life. Her mission is to help other women “reinvent themselves” and start living their dreams and desires. We’ve done so much for everyone else, it’s our turn now!
I’m just too tired for a new career…
I agree completely! My friend’s sister just quit her job as a lawyer and went to work as a 2nd grade teacher – talk about a complete change of career!
It’s never to late to find something that you like to do. I’m glad that you were able to find a niche that you like. So many people just keep doing things that they don’t really like to do. I hope your husband gets well soon! Thanks for sharing this with us!
These are great tips, and I’m so happy you were able to get a job you love. I hope your husband is feeling all better.
These are really good points. Anyone can definitely make a change if they’re willing to put in the time.
These are all great tips. Especially acting your age, it’s important to be yourself and not try to change to fit in.
Your never too old to pursue any dream period! If you know what you want, go for it.
Right now I love my job. I can see in the future moving up the ladder in education, but as of right now I think it will be education.
I love these ideas. I’m ready to re=enter the workforce after over a decade of working as a freelance writer and a sahm.
I am a true believer in this statement. I went back to college at 46 and became a blogger at 51!
Changing or having a new career is exciting. If I will do it, I’ll surely choose something I’m passionate about.
Yes, I agree. It’s important to learn new things. It will help you discover that you can do so much more.
My husband wants to start a new business. However, I want him to finish our home repairs before he embarks on a new adventure. I think he would just prefer to start the new business minus the home repairs. 🙂
Some careers aren’t meant to be lifelong. Like me for instance. I work in a group home caring for developmentally delayed young adults and adults. Love my job, it’s been over 20 yrs. Needing an income that doesn’t restrict travel.
Such great tips! I recently went from working in an office to working at home. You are right– it’s never too late to change it up!
Agreed! Both my parents switched careers in their 50s. I personally went from librarian to mom and will eventually go back to librarian.
Love these tips! You’re not chained to one career in life and it’s never too late to change!
I may be switching careers out of necessity. Wishing something good would just happen fast. Happy New Year to you.
It’s never too late for anything! Nothing stops you but YOU!. You want something you gotta get out there and make it happen.
I was laid off from a job about 2.5 years ago and two years ago I started a position that was COMPLETELY different than what I really knew. It’s opened so many doors, though, and I love what I do now!
This is a fantastic post for me. I am in the middle of changing my carer. I believe it is never to late to follow your dreams.
I’ve been in the customer service field for 12 years but I’ve been thinking it is time I find something else but I’ve been too scared of what people say. I’m 31 but feel like I’m too old to be changing career.
I think that new beginnings can be a great thing sometimes. I’m sure many people would love to start a new career.
These are all great points! Gives me a lot to think about at the start of the new year. 🙂
I totally agree! What great advise. I think people think that because you are older you have to stay where you are but I disagree!
I have been a self-employed person all through the years & I just love staying that way. But I agree that you get a lot contacts when you go for a new job which could turn your life & these are some great tips to start a new career anytime.
I absolutely agree! It’s never too late to go after your goals and ideas!
Brilliant post – thank you. I too have been self employed most of my adult life – I love the excitement and challenges it brings. My ‘job’ for the last 18 months has been my blog 🙂 Kaz
Such great advice. Love the be opened minded suggestion. You never know, you might love something different.
That is a great post. I did try self-employment, and found out it wasn’t really for me. I would suggest if possible trying something on the side before going whole hog into something new, as often it can be different than what you imagined. Changing jobs isn’t frowned on like the old days, so if you don’t like your job, many employers may be interested in you!
I’ve been thinking more and more about looking for another job. Companies don’t reward loyalty anymore. Instead they value job hoppers, even if it’s because someone hops changing things and not seeing things through and not cleaning up messes. I was pretty happy at my job until recently. How can one or two people out of 5000 make such a huge difference in how the employees feel.
Woww,.. its useful post…. Thanks. It was remind me to never give up no matter how age grew up,….. once again thanks!
i like this post! i’ll bookmark this to remind myself every time i’m feeling down or there’s something i don’t want to do anymore & things i wanna start.
I am thinking about going back to school to get another degree. Kinda scary but it beats sitting at home with nothing to do.
These are all great tips! I’m in the process of getting my 1st job right now 🙂
I tried a new career and it didn’t work out so well! I ended up having to go back to my old job now I’m scared I’ll be stuck there forever!
I have been thinking this for a long time – actually quit to find something new but my son (who dislikes having other children around – I run a home daycare – hated it when I worked away from home. SO did my daughter. But now they are older, one is leaving for uni and I am thinking again… time for a change.
Mishelle
These days getting a new career should be easy. But I do find it hard when switching over into something new for me.
No you are not. I have worked in warehouses most of my life. Now I will be going to school for a Radiologist.
My Mom passed away 6 months ago, and that has really made me re-evaluate my life. So many hard questions…but I know I need something else in my life.
I do want to “Be open to doing something different.” I think all these tips are super and I will remember them for the future.
KUDOS! I particularly liked Selling Your Experience and Act Your Age!
(You Are Never Too Old For a New Career) I totally agree with this, I just started selling Avon again after selling it many years ago. Things have been going great so far too.
What a great list. I wish I’d had this list when I was 20, it would have helped me leave jobs I hated sooner, and been more adventurous in job searching too. My motto became the quote, “if you find a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life”….and that worked out pretty well for me..