Do You Need To Change Jobs Past Age Fifty?
Do you need to change jobs even though you are already middle aged? This can be a very stressful experience for many older workers. Lots of older workers have been forced out of their past jobs, and may actually have to change careers in order to find employment. Consider some tips to make the transition as quick and painless as possible.
It is very important to be realistic about a midlife career change. This may be a hard time to go after a totally different type of job. At 55, you may not be able or willing to return to school for several years in order to get an advanced degree. Since you have been working for many years, you can bring a lot of experience to a new career.
What sort of career changes could you manage without having to sacrifice a big investment in retraining? Could you find a new job that requires some of your past work experience?
For example, I know a lot of technical workers who have turned to teaching. Quote a few former teachers found that they could learn to be good managers. If you teacher can manage a classroom of unruly middle school aged students, she should have no trouble supervising adult workers!
Your task will be to convincce hiring managers that your past skills and experience will enable you to perform a new job well. One thing you may need to accomplish, before you can even speak to a hiring manager, is to produce an updated resume and cover letter. Hiring managers look for different things than they did several years ago. You probably need to update your resume building skills. This is particularly true if you have not looked for a job for decades.
Networking is a good way to hear about new jobs. Many older workers do not do well on large job boards or with recruiters. Using your networks to find opportunities is probably the most efficient path. You do not have to go out and meet a lot of new people in person to do this. You may have good luck with online social networking. These websites can help you expand your network quickly. If you let your offline and online friends know that you are job hunting, they can be a great resource.
It is not impossible to make a midlife career change. If you have a lot of obligations, you probably need to approach your job search with a realistic attitude.
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