How old is to old to change careers?

Question

How old is to old to change careers?

Answer 1

There is not an age limitation.  If you're unhappy with your job, find out where your strengths and passions lie.  Then make the transition to a career that you will enjoy, even if it will temporarily set you back financially.   Remember, money is replaceable, time is not.

Answer 2

I know a few people who've gone to uni in their mid-late 40s and studied accountacy, law, interior design and medicine.  They all finished their courses and started their new career.  At a restaurant I worked in, a lady in her late 50s had finally gotten all her boys out of home and started a chef's apprenticeship!

Answer 3

Age should not be a barrier when looking to change careers. Quite often, a change will revitalise you and help you discover or develop new talents. Sometimes it helps overcome a feeling of getting nowhere in your present occupation. As the saying goes 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' . If you really desire a change then go for it. Good luck!

Answer 4

Depends on the career I guess.  The thing about changing careers is you probably want to be successful at it and enjoy it.  Sometimes you don't truly enjoy something until you've been doing it for a while.  So if you change careers too late, you won't get the fruits of your labor I guess.  But at the same time, you'll at least being working towards something you enjoy.  I talked to a guy in his 40s or 50s who really loved agriculture and wildlife but he worked at Lowes Home Improvement thinking it was too late to pursue that career.  I told him it wasn't because while he might spend the majority of his life just getting acclimated to the career and not really having an influence on it, he would still be doing something he truly enjoyed.

Answer 5

It's never too late.

Find a job you enjoy and you will never work for another day.

Answer 6

You are NEVER to old to change careers!!!  

Answer 7

never.

I changed career about 6 times in 30 years.

I plan to start a tomato growing career when/if I get to 70. :)

Answer 8

Well there is no simple answer.

Take moving into information technology. An accountant, or sales person moving into that area would actually have different careers in information technology.

Some work areas such as psychology, older people find it easier to get their first job that younger people. Would you rather be counselled by a 40 year old or a 22 year old?

Often your past knowledge and experience can be valuable in your new career. Many nurses move into Psychology, I knew a midwife who studied psychology and the local Materinity hospital created a job specifically for her because of her unique experience.

So choose carefully and know you are doing, often you are stepping down the pay scale and down the chain of command. If you can accept that you will often find you move up quickly compared with many of the younger starters because your experience and maturity.