3 Reasons Why It’s Never Too Late to Change Careers

No matter how old you are or how many years you’ve worked in your current career, there is always a way to take a new job path and find a more fulfilling career. Maybe you’re a master at your trade, and you’re ready for a new challenge. Or, you might have stuck with a major in college, and the subject you pursued no longer interests you. You might be working on tasks you dread completing every day. Reasons like these may signal it’s time for a career change.

Your time in this life is in your control. Here are some inspiring reasons to remember it’s never too late to change careers.

1.      Your Job Impacts Your Health

Most full-time workers spend more than one-third of their waking hours working. It’s no wonder our work has such a significant impact on health and happiness. Working in a career that’s not fulfilling can hurt your well-being. Consider:

• A study published by “Psychosomatic Medicine” found job strain is associated with a 45% increased risk to develop Type 2 diabetes.
• Stress at work can lead to stress eating, “Business News Daily” reports, which can lead to obesity, heart disease, stroke and other health problems.
• According to the American Psychological Association, work stress is a risk factor for hypertension, back problems, cardiovascular disease, upper extremity musculoskeletal problems and other physical issues.
• A study published in the “Journal of Occupational Health Psychology” found a link between toxicity in the workplace and insomnia, which is a common symptom of clinical depression.

Your job could literally be making you sick, mentally and physically. If your health deteriorates because you’re not satisfied with your career, that could impact your ability to work altogether.

Health impacts our lives in so many other ways – in how you can interact with your loved ones, in your ability to pursue your hobbies, and in your ability to enjoy other aspects of your life. Your job is one of the most significant time investments you make. Every moment you stay stuck in a stressful career may also be taking a toll on your health.

2.      Continued Learning Is Easily Accessible

You don’t have to head back to 4 years of school to pursue a career you’ll love. Online learning makes getting another degree or certification easier than ever. For some careers, self-study in subjects like technology can help you land a new job that can lead to a career evolution, no degree required.

Check out:

• Coursera: Take courses from nearly 200 universities and companies on the subjects you’re interested in. Some are free. Some provide degrees or certificates at a fraction of on-campus university prices. Everything is self-paced and online.
• Massive Open Online Courses: These free online courses are available for anyone to enroll in. Take classes in business and management, programming skills like Linux and Python, or languages like Spanish.
• Online college: Most major universities and colleges provide online school now, designed for working professionals who want to continue working while studying online. You could get an advanced degree within a couple years, add credentials to your resume and work on pursuing a new career.

The online world has made learning new skills easier and more affordable than ever before. You don’t have to worry about relocating or being a full-time student. You can gain knowledge on your own time, online, in the subjects you’re interested in that will help you enter a new career.

3.      Job-Hopping Is the New Normal

Thank Millennials and younger generations in the workforce: job-hopping is increasingly common. A report by “Harvard Business Review” shows 70% of millennials quit their jobs within 2 years. NBC News reports 64% of all workers favor job-hopping, while 75% of employees younger than the age of 34 say job-hopping can benefit their careers.

That’s good news for workers of all ages, since in 2018, Millennials became the largest generation in the American workforce, according to Pew Research Center. As more Millennials move into management, human resources and hiring roles, the acceptability of changing careers may also increase.

One way to position yourself as a strong candidate when you’ve switched careers is to frame your resume so that it highlights why you’re qualified for the job you’re applying for. Even if you’re newly seeking work in a certain career field, there are open-minded employers willing to give career changers an opportunity. The years of experience you may have managing people, collaborating in teams or working on certain types of projects can be strengths when you decide to switch careers.

To discuss how to position your resume when you decide to change careers, or to get personalized career coaching, contact HiConsulting Services for a free consultation.