A sliding-door moment meeting an old Uni friend. Same challenges to a career change at 40 despite different countries and professions.
It was my Sliding Doors moment. You know, the movie where Gwyneth Paltrow gets fired from her job, and then the movie plays out two versions of her life. I caught a glimpse through the sliding door of my movie if I’d stayed in New Zealand.
I reconnected with an old friend, Dee, from University days. Dee and hubbie were over from New Zealand doing a big trip around Europe. After Uni, Dee settled in the burbs, worked as a chemistry teacher, married a good man, two kids, and worked her way up the teaching career ladder.
Dee and I have ended up in similar places, though from different professions. Now, Dee coaches and consults education leaders for a consulting company, while I coach and consult corporate leaders, working independently.
We both changed careers over a decade ago, in our 40s. We weren’t forced to change, but wanted something different.
Different professions, different countries, but three common lessons we’d learned about career change in your mid-40s.
Get Ready for Hard Growth
Dee and I used to study together at the library for university exams, long and hard. We both worked our vacations to pay our way through university. Then, we worked hard to grow our careers.
Even being used to hard work, we joked we’d underestimated how hard it is to change careers at 40. There is way more to learn than we ever imagined. But that is where the growth happened. We pulled on resources we didn’t know we had, learned new skills, and became much more confident.
Starting a new career at 40 can feel daunting for anyone, whether it’s a management move or diving into a different industry. It’s a developmental stage where your current sacrifice—time, energy, and comfort—is geared towards new beginnings. The transition requires constant learning, especially when tackling job training or building skills and interests that match your new professional path. However, hard growth makes a midlife career change doubly rewarding – especially in retrospect.
Learning new skills, developing your abilities, and stepping into roles you wouldn’t have imagined leads to immense satisfaction.
Never Look Back
Neither Dee nor I could imagine going back to our old roles now, but there was a point when we often looked back. Dee’s teaching job was kept open for 18 months, and for 2 years I watched the job boards in case there was the perfect opportunity. At some point, we stopped peering through the sliding door and threw ourselves into our new direction. We both agree we should have stopped looking back sooner.+
This is a key lesson for anyone making a career change at 40. It’s easy to get caught up in the comfort and familiarity of your current situation, especially when new opportunities feel uncertain. Many people delay their decision because they’re afraid of the unknown, but to succeed in the change, it’s vital to commit fully and stop looking back.
When you embrace it, you’ll find that the excitement of new possibilities far outweighs any doubts. Fully committing to your new career path will bring clarity and direction. The key is to focus on future goals and take control of your own narrative, rather than getting stuck in past habits.
Get Over the Cringe and Market Yourself
Mid-career change means you must prove yourself all over again. You haven’t started as an intern or junior teacher and slowly built up a reputation.
Whether you want to join a new company, switch roles, or be a solopreneur, those paying for your expertise need to be convinced that you can deliver. The format of the marketing may differ. For a job changer, it’s a CV showing transferable skills, for a consultant, a website. Dee and I are now active on social media, despite initially feeling it was total cringe coming from our Kiwi tall poppy syndrome culture.
Marketing yourself becomes a critical part of the process. In a new industry or when looking for new job opportunities, you need to articulate your skills and interests clearly. Updating your CV, online portfolio, and social media platforms showcases your new direction and intent.
In today’s job market, especially for career paths in business and management, a strong professional presence—whether online or offline—can make all the difference. Employers and clients want to see your work experience, your top skills, and evidence of your job search success. A career change is also a chance to redefine your personal brand. While you might feel hesitant at first, getting over that cringe factor is essential to thriving in your new career.
Why Career Change at 40 Is Different
A career change at the age of 40 presents unique challenges and opportunities. You’re no longer in the early stages of your career, but you bring a wealth of experience. This is also a time of new priorities.
Midlife, the focus usually shifts towards your passions and life experiences. For many, it’s an exciting stage, filled with the potential to pursue second careers, explore small business ventures, or even enhance skills through online degrees. The challenge lies in balancing your current responsibilities with the leap into a new, exciting career change.
With the right mindset, a career change at 40 can be a launchpad for greater professional satisfaction and a more fulfilling career path that reflects who you are today.
Ready to Start Your Career Change?
Making a career change can be challenging, but it’s also one of the most rewarding decisions you can make. If you’re ready to explore a new professional path and take your career to the next level, Pipsy is here to help.+
Book a consultation today, and let’s discuss how to turn your career change at 40 into a success story. We offer career coaching, consulting services, and online courses that will give you the tools you need to thrive. Get in touch for a chat.
