You are a person who has a
positive, constructive attitude to life. You are interested in living life to
its fullest, are ambitious and enjoy a challenge. Are you ever too old
to consider a career change?
No one is ever too old to
consider a timely career change. In fact, it could prove to be the best thing
that you ever did, or could possibly do for yourself and your family.
Age can bring about employment
limitations in terms of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms of
life. Thus, choosing a new, more relevant career, one that is more appropriate
for you at your particular time of life is important, if or when, you are
confronted with limitations of any kind.
Age is not always the primary
factor to take into consideration. It may prove to be just one of many factors
with respect to the kind of career change you should consider. Begin by doing
some serious research into employment areas that are of interest to you
and consider your possible career options.
Note that there are instances
when age is a relevant factor to consider in respect to making a new career
choice. For example, there are careers like that of becoming a doctor or
lawyer that require many years of professional education.
Why is age a factor in the
choice of these kinds of careers?
Applying for admission for
higher education and training may present a problem for those who are older, if
the university or college enrollment age is restricted. At times, these
programs are limited to individuals who qualify academically, but not
always. Those under the age of forty are more likely to be accepted.
Those over
forty may be rejected, because there are only x number of years of possible employment
for anyone who is older. There may be pre-requisites for entrance into the
academic programs that take a long time to obtain, prior to the actual
university or college education itself.
At the same time, this does not
prohibit anyone who is interested in pursuing a job in professional and
academic areas from taking appropriate courses on a university or college
level.
Speaking with a career counselor and seeking advice at any age, is
always a good idea when it comes to choosing a new career. (1)
Considering the likelihood of
obtaining employment in certain areas is an important factor. Many potential
careers do not offer job opportunities for older people. Perhaps the
organizations or companies involved are seeking only young, vibrant and dynamic
individuals to train from the ground up. The logic behind the youth factor has
to do with the fact that younger people tend to be less set in their ways and
are more flexible with respect to new ideas.
There are a number of careers
with distinct age limitations because the physical challenges they present are extremely high. As one ages, physical abilities can diminish and physical
limitations tend to increase, but not always, depending upon a person’s ongoing
level of activity. Those who remain active tend to have few limitations.
A person may be able to change
to a career where he or she can do modified work that allows for physical
limitations or disabilities.
Be aware that there are no hard
and fast rules about who can do what in terms of a career change.
When a current career becomes
inappropriate because of advancing age, looking at other possible options for
another career is advisable. Finding a more suitable career may present a
challenge, but even just looking can be fun!
There have been many
technological advances over the past decades and thus, many previous job
descriptions are being phased-out, because they are obsolete or
out-dated. Many people have to change careers because their former jobs no longer
exist. They may not even be able to continue in the same kind of career, in any
capacity.
Taking career-change courses is
exciting, even though it is not always easy to learn something new and
different. It can feel demeaning and humiliating to those who are older,
particularly when there are much younger students who appear to be able to do
more.
Personal interests,
availability of courses, entrance requirements, as well as time and finances, will be other
determining factors in respect to possible career changes. Children and
grandchildren often make demands on older people seeking to change careers and
families must be part of the career choice equation.
Tired of your job, bored at
work or want to do something else for a change? Those are all good reasons
to look for a career change. What do you have as hobbies? Would you enjoy
something like that as a new career? Have you considered starting your own
business?
Age is not the only factor to
consider.
What do you really want to do
with the rest of your life? Think about it for a while and then, become
proactive and move towards a better career choice.
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