Just because you are 40 or over, this does not mean that you have to stick with the same career for life. It’s entirely possible to move on if you are prepared to plan carefully and put some hard work in. 

There are several things that you need to do if you want to change careers when you are 40 or over. Actions you need to take include checking with experts such as onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au, to find any additional training you may need. You also need to think about why you want to change careers and what you want to achieve. 

Why do you want to change careers? 

If you are feeling trapped by your current career, or are simply no longer motivated, you need to understand why. This is important as you have to make sure that any career choices you make help to address the issues that you have. 

For instance, you may relish the idea of being more creative or you may want to have more responsibility. The things that excite or interest you should form the central part of any career path that you take. 

What achievements would you be proud of? 

Most people like to have something they can be proud of at the end of the day. You need to decide what would give you a sense of pride. You may decide that creating unique designs is appealing, or you may like the idea of helping someone to deal with their problems. Whatever you focus on needs to give you the pride that you are seeking. 

You should also make sure that these factors are matched to your skills. After all, if you have no artistic flair then interior design is unlikely to be a good career for you, no matter how much you like the idea of it. 

Be prepared for hard work 

There is no doubt that retraining for a new career, once you have reached middle age, is not easy. If you need to learn new things in order to change career, you should be prepared to put in a lot of effort. 

Of course, many employers are happy to take experience into account as well as qualifications. This means that some of the skills that you already have may be transferable to a new career. 

The value of networking 

One of the best ways to start on a new career path is to use the network of contacts that you have. They may have valuable advice that you can use. They may also know of opportunities that you can take advantage of. It’s also worth trying to expand your network, by attending events in the local area, or online networking sessions. 

Do you really want to leave? 

This is a question that only you can answer. You may think that you have decided that you definitely want to move on from your current career.

However, the situation may change if you speak to your boss about your thoughts. If you are a valuable member of the team, they may be prepared to give you what you need in order to make your current role more satisfying. If this happens, you may prefer to stay where you are. 

It’s clear that it’s not too late to change career, even if you have reached the age of 40. You just need to plan and train effectively. You also need to make sure that a change is really the best option for you.