How to Change Career over the Age of 40: The Do’s and Don’ts

Written by Calvin Bowers
Last updated October 19, 2021

It can be hard changing careers over the age of 40. Maybe you don’t think you’re as sharp as you used to be, or question whether or not your skills are up to date with the changing job market. But there is good news: changing career at 40 isn’t just something that happens in Hollywood movies anymore! Lots of people change careers over the age of 40, and many find success doing so. In this article we will discuss the do’s and don’ts when looking to change career over the age of 40 and some general advice about finding your new job.

Changing careers at 40 isn’t unusual anymore – lots of people do it! One-third of workers change jobs every five years, changing an average three times in their lifetime. In the UK, over 43% of workers are aged between 40 and 50 years old. That’s a lot of changing careers!

When changing careers, it’s important to keep in mind your transferable skills and what industry you want to work in. There are lots of statistics about job turnover that show people change jobs frequently around their late 30s or early 40s – so don’t be discouraged by this. It’s important to remember that your experiences are just as valuable. You have gained a lot of skills and knowledge from different jobs – and changing career at 40 means you have a lot to offer!

At Refreshing a Career, we’re here to support jobseekers looking to change career. You can check out our jobs board for live opportunities from employers across the UK, and we have hundreds of pages with advice and guidance for those looking for something new.

To help you find your new career, we’ve put together a few top tips for changing careers over the age of 40:

Do’s:

  • Keep learning, don’t stop growing your skills – the changing job market means that you need to be able to adapt with it. So keep updating yourself on new technologies, keeping up to date with business trends and changes in the world of work. This way, when a good opportunity does come around, your knowledge will give you an advantage.
  • Be proactive – changing career is all about taking action, so be more proactive when looking for a new job and make things happen.
  • Network like crazy! You never know who you might meet or what connections they may have that could lead to your next opportunity – if the worst-case scenario happens, then at least you will have made some new friends!
  • Remember that there are a lot of people out there who have been working the same job for many years, and they just don’t know what else is out there. You can use this ignorance to find new opportunities!

Don’ts:

  • Don’t be afraid to travel – changing career is all about changing people, places and cultures. So if an opportunity comes up that involves you moving country or even continent, then take it – the experience will make your CV look great when applying for future jobs too. And remember there are always flights and hotels that you can find on the fly nowadays.
  • Don’t be afraid to take a pay cut – changing career is all about changing people, places and cultures – so if a role comes up providing a little less money than your current role, then go for it! You will learn new skills and gain valuable experience, which looks great on your CV.
  • Don’t be afraid to change your current career/job – changing career is all about changing people, places and cultures – If you’re unsure whether or not it’s worth pursuing an opportunity, remember that every opportunity has the potential to change your life. So if one appears and changes the path you’re on now, take it!
  • Don’t forget to update your LinkedIn profile! Your resume is important, but it’s just as vital to have a well-documented online presence that shows employers what you are capable of.

General Advice

Changing career is all about changing people, places and cultures – so if you are changing your current role, then don’t be afraid to move around. You will learn new skills and gain valuable experience which look great on your CV. Changing careers often looks good for lots of employers too, as they like seeing that their employees have ambition – it shows the company is changing too.

Always try be proactive when looking for your next opportunity. Put yourself out there and take action – changing career is all about taking risks! Ensure you are also learning new skills. The changing job market means that you need to be able to adapt with it. So keep updating yourself on new technologies, business trends and changes in the world of work. This way when a good opportunity does come around, your knowledge will give you an advantage over other candidates.

While it may take time to find your dream job, our jobs board is a valuable tool that you can use to explore a wide variety of job openings. We have plenty of jobs available for over 40’s. To learn more about available vacancies, visit our jobs board and subscribe to our free newsletter.

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Last Updated: Tuesday July 19 2022
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