Finding the perfect profession is a difficult decision for young people, but it can be even harder when you’re older and already settled in a different career.
Still, for many workers, the first role they take on isn’t always the best fit for them. Just because you’ve devoted years to one market doesn’t mean you can’t move on and find a new role that better suits your needs.
Mid-life career changes are incredibly common, with statics showing that the average age for a career change is 39, and middle-aged workers are more likely to make a switch than any other age group.
If you’re among the many mid-life professionals looking for a career change, then here are some practical tips.
Choose The Right Job Search Engine
When you’re looking for a new job in a market or niche you’ve not worked in previously, you need to make sure you apply for the right vacancies. You’ll need to look at entry-level roles, and select the right sub-sector. To save time when looking for these roles, you need to find an easy-to-use, fully-customizable job search site like Lensa.
Using cutting-edge technology, the platform makes it easier for you to narrow down your search parameters and find the right role for you. This innovative job search engine can use data trends and insights, combined with your preferences, to give you the best possible recommendations.
Adapt Your Resume
Once you’ve found the jobs you want to apply for, you need to make sure your CV is ready and as appealing as possible. The resume you used for applying for previous jobs in your old niche might not work for the career you want now, so you need to consider adapting it. That means thinking about the traits that potential employers are looking for, and highlighting them in your resume. You might need to adapt the way you write about your previous roles and raise the profile of some hobbies that might be applicable to your potential future role. For example, if you have previously studied on a vinyasa teacher training course for yoga then you may not have emphasised this when applying for a role in manufacturing, but you absolutely should do so if you’re now making the move to the health and fitness industry.
Apply For Short-Term Contracts First
With so much competition from candidates with more experience, you need to consider how you’re going to boost your chances of getting a job. A good approach to help you earn some experience in your newly chosen market is to apply for roles that are less popular with other applicants. Among the hardest job roles to recruit for are fixed-term contracts, because most skilled candidates are looking for the security of permanent work. Taking on these short-term roles with a fixed finish date can help you to get a leg-up in your chosen industry and earn some valuable practical knowledge that you can apply to future roles.
A Quick Summary
Changing to a new career after years in another discipline can seem like a daunting experience, but if you have your heart set on a new job, then switching to a new profession can transform your life. These tips should help you to figure out how to adapt and give yourself the best chance of success in your new job. Best of luck!
