Thinking about making a career change, but wondering if it’s too late?
We’ve got good news: it’s never too late to change careers! No matter your age or experience level, making a career pivot can be scary, but also incredibly exciting. It means you’re ready to tackle your life head-on and take a big step to improve your wellbeing.
And while your job certainly doesn’t have to define you, the truth is that we spend so much of our lives working - we all deserve to find work that brings us happiness and fulfilment!
Here’s why it’s never too late to change careers, and our 8-step guide on how to do it:
1. Identify the signs that it’s time for a career change
If any of the following sounds familiar, pivoting careers may be just what you’re looking for:
- You’re realizing that your university/college major isn’t something you want to pursue as a full-time job
- You’ve been working in a precarious and/or underpaid industry, and are ready for something steadier and higher paying
- You’ve been feeling stuck at your job, with little room for personal and professional growth
- You wake up every morning dreading the idea of going to work - it makes you feel anxious, burnt out, or depressed
- You’re ready for something new: a new challenge, a new sense of purpose, and a new community!
You may be worried that you’re too old to “start over,” or you’re in too deep in your current path, or that others will judge your decision - here’s why none of that matters:
Why it’s never too late to change careers
- It is perfectly normal for your values and needs to change as you grow, and for your goals to change along with them
- Learning is a lifelong journey - it’s never too late to learn something new, and the skills you already have are transferable
- You are in charge of your own life - not your parents, partner, boss, or institution! Everyone has their unique journey - there is no one “right” way to live life. If your gut is telling you that you’re unhappy and ready for a change, listen to it!
We know, changing careers is a big decision - we’ve had hundreds of career changers join our classrooms. While our students come from all walks of life, there’s one thing they all share: the desire to find happiness. Here’s how to get your career change started with some self-reflection and research:
2. Ask yourself these questions before making a career change
So, you've decided to change careers - but what do you want to do next? It’s important not to rush this step, as it will lay the groundwork for making your big decision. Here are some key questions you should ask yourself:
- What am I passionate about? What do I value?
- What activities energize me? What activities bring me stress?
- What is my ideal work environment?
- What isn’t working in my current career?
- What do I like about my current career?
3. Research your new career options
Time to research! Maybe you’ve already been thinking about different roles and industries that you can see yourself being a part of. It’s perfectly fine not to know exactly what role you want at this early stage, but it’s a good idea to narrow down the industry/field you’d like to explore, such as nursing, graphic design, or web development, for example.
Look up different industries and job titles along with keywords to get an idea of what daily tasks, responsibilities, and growth opportunities look like. Some helpful keywords to include:
- Day in the life
- Job description
- Average salary
- Career path
If you’re interested in the flexibility and freedom of remote work in particular, look up different kinds of remote jobs you can do from anywhere. Look up leading companies and figures on social media, read articles and stories about people in the industry and their experiences - get informed and inspired!
When you've made your decision, make sure to ask yourself these questions about your new career path:
- What does this new career offer that my current one does not?
- How does this new career speak to my passions and values?
- What challenges and hurdles do I anticipate in my career change?
4. Create a plan for your career change
Now that you’ve researched, reflected, and chosen your new career path, it’s time to make this dream a reality with an action plan! Remember to be realistic about the time and money that you will have to invest into this big change.
You may find it helpful to break your plan down into small steps on paper or in a spreadsheet (e.g. take a class, network, apply for jobs), and then into a timeline by using a calendar.
It’s also important to reflect on your budget during this transitional time. You may need to rely on your savings if you plan on being unemployed during your career pivot, and you may need to invest in courses or training. The good news is that there are lots of creative ways to pay for your education.
5. Transfer/learn new skills for your career change
What skills, credentials, and training do you already have from your previous job that will help you shine through your career change? For example, there are many transferable skills in retail and hospitality jobs that come in handy across many industries.
What new skills do you need to break into your newly chosen field? Maybe you need to get a nursing license, or learn how to use Adobe Creative Suite, or you need to learn to code.
There are plenty of different learning options available, from going back to school full-time, to self-learning, to enrolling in part-time courses. While everyone’s learning style and needs are different, we generally recommend investing in professional education so that you can start with a strong foundation made up of up-to-date industry standards and best practices. This option also is a great way to quickly meet others in the same boat as you, which leads to industry connections and community!
We offer a variety of part-time courses to help you learn in-demand digital skills, as well as our full-time Bootcamps designed specifically to help you launch a career in tech, fast. They're all available Live Online, so you can learn with us from home, from anywhere in the world:
Explore Our Courses and Bootcamps
6. Build Connections, Community, and Experience
Breaking into a new industry can sometimes feel like the first day of school all over again! Luckily, you can find and build a like-minded community in beginner-friendly groups and classes. Surround yourself with a supportive community online and offline. If possible, find a mentor or people you can turn to for advice.
If you’re looking to get into tech, we hold free beginner-friendly workshops and community events every month!
As your network grows, so will your growth opportunities: you can build experience by volunteering, participating in community events, collaborating on a passion project, or taking another course with a colleague to keep your new skills sharp.
7. Start Your Job Search
So you’ve got your new skills and connections... now it’s time to land your first job in your new career! Job hunting can be tough - it’s important to keep your community close for support, and to revisit/rework some of your reflections and research from your initial career change:
- What kind of role are you looking for? What role(s) can you see yourself growing into?
- What kind of company do you see yourself being a part of?
- How does your past experience make you stand out from the flock?
We’ve got plenty of resources for job seekers, including how to make a job search plan to keep you on track, a handy resume checklist, and a list of websites to help you find remote jobs.
Last but not least:
8. Be Kind To Yourself!
Changing careers can be lonely, scary, and frustrating. You may feel doubt or experience feelings of imposter syndrome at various stages of your journey. You may feel like giving up and going back to the comfort of what you know, even though it didn’t bring you happiness.
Keep in mind that this is very normal, and make sure to practice self-compassion when it comes to your goals and capacity. Changing careers takes time, and it’s important to approach it in small steps, and celebrate all your wins, both big and small (and in between).
And remember: others have made this big change, and so can you!
Ready to make a change?
Tech may be what you're looking for. See how it’s done by downloading our free guide to Breaking into Tech here!