Career change at 40: Your 7-step roadmap to a job you love
You’re not too old!
Follow these 7 steps to make a successful career change at 40 and build a purposeful career that aligns with your values and goals.
There’s no doubt about it: Making a career change at 40 can be daunting.
But as an executive systemic coach who’s been helping people of all ages transition out of draining jobs and into meaningful work, I know you have an ache in your heart for change.
Because like you, I’ve felt that pull to do something different.
When I walked away from a successful corporate career I worried that stepping out of the familiar meant stepping into failure.
So all that indecision, doubt, and desire for change you’re going through right now? I get it
(I’ll spare you all the nitty-gritty details of my story, but suffice to say, I’ve had a successful career change and I’m happier than ever.)
Take back control! It’s time to get clarity on your next steps
In this blog, I’m going to share 7 expert tips to help you navigate your career change at 40 with clarity and confidence, whether you’re seeking a new job or pursuing solopreneurship.
These are the tips and positive reframes I needed during my career pivot and they’re the ones I share with my clients today.
First things first…
Why have a career change at 40?:
You might have noticed that a career change at 40 is pretty common.
A 2023 study by the Learning & Work Institute found that 12% of employees aged 40–44 sought a career change.
So if you have that niggling feeling in your gut that you’re destined for something more, you’re certainly not alone!
Here are some of the most common reasons people decide to make a career change at 40…
I’ll bet some of them resonate…
Desire for more meaningful work
I can relate to this one, that’s for sure!
Reaching your 40s often feels like a wake-up call. The grind starts to feel, well, like a grind, and you tire of going through the motions.
For me, it was a nagging feeling that there was more I could be doing to support people. I knew I had skills that weren’t being used and it was time to find something that truly aligned with my values.
Stress and burnout
Familiar with these two? You’re not alone!
By the time you get to 40, you’re probably sick of the bullsh*t… the cycles of burnout, the endless stress, and the never-ending deadlines and to-do lists.
Many of us are part of systems that aren’t serving us and that we never asked to be a part of in the first place.
With all that stress on our shoulders, it’s little wonder you’re considering a career change at 40.
The pursuit of work-life balance
Ah, the elusive work-life balance.
By your 40s, you’ve probably realised that work isn’t everything, and spending time on what truly matters is.
Career changes at this stage often revolve around creating that balance and seeking out roles that offer flexibility and less stress. They’re a result of wanting to make your well-being a priority, and you know what I say? More power to you!
Mid-life changes
Your 40s are a funny old decade and they can herald lots of changes (welcome and unwelcome), like divorce, grief, family health issues, hormonal changes and parenthood. This upheaval can cause many of us to reevaluate our careers too. And that’s no bad thing!
A study published in the International Journal of Aging and Human Development found that later-life career changes can lead to improved emotional well-being.
Basically? Feeling good in your career could help you navigate all those other changes that are common in your 40s.
A win-win!
Financial considerations
Look, there’s no point sugarcoating it. A big reason people seek a career change at 40 is to make more money! (is it just me, or has life gotten mighty expensive recently?)
Changing careers can bump your earnings by 10% to 20%, so if money’s one of your key motivators, there’s no shame in that!
Changing Careers has never felt so good!
Is a career change at 40 worth it?
It probably won’t come as much of a surprise that my answer is a resounding ‘YES!’. Is it easy to assume you’re too old or too far up the ladder? Yes.
But the truth is, at 40 you have a stronger sense of what you want (or at the very least, what you don’t want!)
The choice is simple really: continue on your current path feeling fulfilled until you retire or seek out something that reignites that spark in you. (I know which I’d choose!)
All that said, making a big, scary career change at 40 might not be the easiest ride. Worthwhile? Yes. Easy? Probably not.
Before we dive into your 7-step career change at 40 roadmap, here are a few potential challenges to be aware of so you can set yourself up for a successful career transition.
Encouragement for your mid-life career change
I see transformations before me every single day. I’ve guided people just like You and supported them in the discomfort of transition.
2 potential challenges to a mid-life career change
Other people’s expectations
I won’t bullsh*t you. Not everyone is going to be pleased about your career change at 40.
Some people (like colleagues and superiors) might even be pretty p*ssed (off). And family members and friends might openly show their disdain.
This isn’t a sign for you to stick with the status quo, but a solid reminder that other people’s opinions are none of your business. Double down on your vision and block out the noise
Your own doubts and fears
It probably won’t come as much of a surprise that fear has made it onto this list.
It’s the biggest block that holds people back from a career change at 40, but what if I told you those fears aren’t yours to carry?
Many of the doubts, fears, and insecurities are passed down to us from our ancestors. They are often the result of family systems, and we can choose whether or not we want them to shape our lives.
(Advice on this incoming!)
We all have the power to change, but it starts with letting go of what's holding us back.
So, how can you step forward with confidence and create a job or business you love at 40?
7 expert tips for finding meaningful work at 40
1 Embody the feeling
Right now, you have a pull to do something different, but you don’t necessarily know what that something different is.
What you do now though, is how you’d like to feel when you make your career change at 40.
Hone in on those feelings (What are they? Confident? Calm? Aligned with a deeper purpose?) and really embody them.
Start acting as if you’ve already made the change. Carry yourself with the confidence, purpose, and fulfilment you’re seeking, and let those feelings guide your decisions and interactions.
When doubt makes you waiver and fear starts creeping in, close your eyes and sink into those feelings.
2 Honour this version of yourself
You aren’t the same person you were in your 20s and 30s. Your priorities, aspirations, and purpose have likely shifted and changed - and that’s okay!
You might not have all the answers right now as you consider your next move, but it can be liberating to simply acknowledge that and roll with it.
There’s no shame in being uncertain about what comes next!
3 Expect to be taken seriously
What if you didn’t need another course or training? What if all of the incredible experiences, skills, and qualifications that you’ve already earned were enough?
What if you aren’t broken and you don’t need to be fixed?
Often, we approach change with a ‘newbie’ mindset, feeling like we need to ask permission to even be in this new space.
We assume we’re starting from scratch or that we’re too flawed or broken to even begin.
But at 40, you already have so much to offer.
Instead of focusing on what you think you need to learn, recognise just how much you already bring to the table.
4 Learn to listen to your own voice
I’d be willing to bet that there are more than a few people in your life who have disparaging things to say about your career transition.
Even the people who love you most might express their misgivings. And this can be especially difficult if you’re a bit of a people pleaser.
Change can make people mighty uncomfortable, and that’s why you’ll often hear negative comments from family, colleagues, and friends.
Ask yourself: have you made other people’s opinions too big? And your own too small?
5 Don’t walk this path alone
When I left my corporate job, I made a brutal error in judgment that you’re probably making too.
I told myself I had to figure it all out alone.
Suffice to say, I didn’t get very far. I spent months second-guessing my decisions, drowning in self-doubt, and getting stuck in analysis paralysis.
I learned the hard way that no one creates meaningful change alone. It wasn’t until I sought the help of a coach that I found the confidence and tools I needed to move forward.
Remember this: Support isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
6 Rest
This probably isn’t the advice you’re expecting because so much of our lives are about doing, doing, doing. But resting is a resource!
And if you’re burned out from a draining career, you’ll struggle to think clearly about your next steps.
If taking a break is often challenging for you and usually comes with an unwelcome side order of guilt, you’ll need to make a conscious and determined effort to press pause.
Repeat after me: Productivity does not equal self-worth.
7 Embrace imperfect progress
One of the biggest barriers to a successful career change at 40? It’s waiting until you feel 100% ready.
Here’s what I say: Embrace the messy middle!
Take small, imperfect steps in the right direction, acknowledge that your progress might not be linear, and learn from the inevitable missteps you make along the way.
Borrow my motto: Progress has nothing to do with perfection; it’s all about momentum!
Now that you’ve read these top tips do you want to listen to a podcast episode with the same insights but more juicy insights into my unique transition!
I believe in all of you!
I believe in you, even when you doubt yourself and teach you how you too can believe in your path and your journey to create a job or business with more purpose!
Encouragement for your mid-life career change
There’s a certain thrill that comes when you’re right on the precipice of something, but that thrill can often give way to fear.
And if you’re considering a career change at 40, you might have had
many moments where staying where you are seemed like a much safer bet.
But I see transformations before me every single day.
I’ve guided people just like you and supported them in the discomfort of transition.
They’ve gone on to achieve incredible things: From stuck and burned out in a corporate job
to becoming a thriving solo entrepeneur.
I know for certain that if it’s possible for them, it’s possible for you too.
Let’s define what’s next! You deserve it
P.S. listen to my Podcast episode - Career Change at 40 - is it to late? Spoiler No, its Your time
