When is it too Late to Change Careers

When is it too Late to Change Careers Have you been thinking about changing careers?First of all, here is some inspiration for you about successful people who proved it is never too late to change careers.If you are wondering when it is too late for you to change careers, read on for some advice and tips on the subject.Note: This is not a blog post about “being too old.”In fact, some people at a young age believe they cannot change careers because they paid for an education in a certain industry.Going Back to the BeginningWhat most people often forget about changing careers is that most of the time they will have to repeat the same steps they took when building their first career.For example:Agreeing to be paid less regardless of knowledge and experience Agreeing to take necessary business courses, training, and education Taking some “humble pills” for a dosage of humilityPay CutsThe reality is if you are starting over in a new career and your experience is no longer applicable, you are technically entry-level in this new career.No one begins a new career with a whole new set of skills overnight, then suddenly gets paid an executive-level salary.There are others who worked hard already at a career you are now trying to break into. They have an advantage over you when it comes to skills, knowledge, and salary.Education and Business CoursesMany CEOs, especially serial entrepreneurs, understand that if you want to start a career in a new industry, you need the proper education.You might need to take courses and gain certification to make it happen.For example, a CEOwants to step up the game in project management ...so, they attend Stanford Business School before starting a new business.It takes more than knowing “what to do.”They have to know “how to do it.”You might need to go back to school and learn certain skills required for a new career in a new industry.You can see from the article shared above that many who started new careers made a point of first educating themselves on how a n industry operates.Dose of HumilityThe saying goes:“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.” - SocratesThe smartest, most successful people in this world will be the first to tell you when they are not informed enough to make a decision.It'sa professional way of saying, “I have no idea. I need to find out.”Ironically, the smarter a person thinks they are, the more likely they are to limit what they can learn.When people have knowledge or skills in a certain career, of course, they can say that they know how to do something.When presented with a new career in which they have no training or experience, the person who believes they have nothing to learn is the one who needs a dose of humility.The reality is ... we all know what we know until we know better.Then, we can do better.(Discover the Best Jobs for a Career Change, with 50+ jobs and salaries.)When Is It Too Late to Change Careers?It depends on what you are willing to do to get what you want.You can say it is too late to change careers the day that you decide you have nothing more to learn, know everything, and will never take a pay cut.If that's your mindset, you probably shouldn't start over in a new career.The definition of “too late,”therefore, is all in your mind!Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help guide you as you contemplate a career change.What do I want to do for the rest of my life? What am I passionate about? Where do I have relevant experience and skills? Am I willing to jump into new learning experiences? Am I willing to reinvent myself in the workplace? Can I afford a career change?A Few Tips on Changing CareersIf you haveasked yourself the above questions and decided that a career change is a good decision for you, here are a few tips to help you on your way.1. Make the change sooner rather than laterTaking into account the fact that you'll likely face a pay cut and embark on a learning curve, doesn't it make sense to st art right away?The longer you remain in your current career, the harder it will be to switch.If a career change is the direction you want to go, take the plunge.2. Research online for your new careerYou can find all kinds of great information online, including ...Career quizzes Job openings near you Networking venuesAvail yourself of all these opportunities!Also research job sites for important information such as average salaries in your prospective industry.3. Get help wherever you canSpeaking of networking, actively utilizeonline sites such as LinkedIn.But don't stop there.The chances are that you have acquaintances in the career you hope to take up.Contact them and ask for tips.Query if they know of any openings.That guy you play squash with every second Saturday might be the one who knows of the perfect job for you ... so don't miss opportunities by not asking.(Learn about Networking as an Older Executive on LinkedIn.)4. Update your marketing materialsYou'll likely need to comp letely revamp your resume and cover letter.Don't just make a few revisions.If you are changing careers, your resume will need a whole new look.As your resumelargely determines whether your job hunt goes anywhere, you need to make this a focus.(Read Resume Writing Tips for Career Change.)Closing ThoughtsHere at Find My Profession, we would love to help you land the perfect career.We offer resume writing services, as well as career coaching services.Learn more about our legendary Career Coaching Service.Get in touch today and let us help you navigate your career change.Our goal is to help you find vocational success.