Really, even if you really liked what you were doing when you entered the workforce; there’s really no guarantee that things will remain like that all the way to retirement. It’s simple - for a myriad of reasons, people may start hating their jobs, and even careers. Which is why you may start thinking about changing your career after 50. But this is definitely not that easy - and it’ll take a lot of effort. There’s no need to worry, though - we’re here to give you a few helpful tips on the process.
Give Yourself Time
Let’s face it - if you’re thinking about changing your career after fifty, you’re considering a huge leap of faith. Completely switching to a new career is not easy even when you’re in your 20s. But if you consider changing your career after 50, that’s definitely not going to be easy. So, before you make this monumental decision, make sure you give yourself enough time to think everything through.
This will be a big transition for you, in more ways than one. For example, you may even need to move to a new town, that can better facilitiate your new career choices. But before you decide on that and hire a company like Orange Movers Miami, you need to spend some time contemplating on the entire process. And crucially, don’t quit your job or tell anyone until you’ve secured a new job, or at least landed a few interviews. Sure, you’re probably going to have a small gap between jobs. But that doesn’t mean that everyone at your current job has to be aware of the fact. All in all, we advise you keep your cards close to your chest before you actually take any concrete steps.
Think of your finances
Naturally, while doing what you love is important, it’s not the only thing you need to take into consideration, by far. Obviously, work is something you do for financial compensation, moreso than personal fulfillment. That’s why, even though changing your career after 50 is something you want to do, you’ll need to assess your financial situation first. So, before you decide to completely switch careers; consider if maybe just getting a new job in your old field of expertise would be enough.
Let’s face it, sometimes you may have a hard time at work, but it will have nothing to do with your actual career. If you’ve got a bad boss, or a company that demands a lot of overtime - you may just want to switch from your dead-end job to a more prospective one. However, you may still find that your entire career simply does not utilize your talents enough, or fulfills you in a way you need it to. In that case, you should definitely think about a new line of work, even in your 50s.
Consider your retirement
While you’re considering changing your career after 50, there’s one more aspect you need to take into account - your retirement. If you don’t have any significant savings up until now, then realistically, you’ve only got around 20 years to build them up for retirement. And make no mistake, you’ll need money if you decide to retire and relocate from NY to Florida. Having a sizable pension fund you can rely on in your senior years is definitely important.
So, when you’re considering whether to switch to another career, you should also consider how much money you can earn in it. And remember - when you start in a new line of work, if it wasn’t related to what you were previously doing; you’ll probably have to go from a starting position. That’s why this kind of career switch is something only people with already existing savings should consider. Sure, it is possible, but it’ll require a great deal of money.
Can You Learn New Things?
Apart from the financial aspects of changing your career after 50, as unpleasant as it is to talk about such things; there are also some hurdles on a purely biological level. To put it simply - as you get older, learning completely new things becomes increasingly harder. That’s something that’s true your whole life, really. And it’s the reason why people learn languages much easier in their teens than in their thirties.
Now, this doesn’t necesserily have to be a huge obstacle for you, in your quest for a new career. But that’s true as long as you have at least some knowledge about the field you’re about to enter. Though, if you’re thinking about learning something completely new, that you’ve had no encounter with before - it may not be such a good idea. The brain’s neuroplasticity wears and tears as you become older. So, its ability to form new neural connections and rewire itself is less and less prominent. Consider this when choosing a new career, and find something you’ve at least got a passing knowledge of.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you need a simple answer to your question. So, is changing your career after 50 truly possible? In short - yes, it is. But it will require a lot of planning, forethought, and most importantly - persistence. So, if you’re unsure whether you’re actually prepared to make such a huge change so late in life; look deep inside.
Try to figure out what’s exactly making you think about switching careers, and try to eliminate that problem first. If you still want to do it, though: try to hype yourself as much as you can, and stay motivated throughout the process. That way, your motivation will keep you going while you make your way in a new career.