Career Change at 40 With No Degree!

INTRODUCTION

Change is inevitable, and it may often show up at the most unexpected of all times. This is why you have to be psychologically prepared to cope with the issue if and when it arises. Changing careers, in particular, is a daunting undertaking. It involves the alterations of quite a number of issues and lifestyle practices.

The good news, however, is that it is still achievable. This can only be a success if the right ideas or means and ways are employed in the course of doing so. We are here to help out in this one. We have compiled a couple of these ideas and best practices and are going to examine them in finer details in the proceeding conversations.

CAREER CHANGE AT 40 WITH NO DEGREE

Determine whether a change is necessary or viable

Start off by ascertaining whether a career change is indeed necessary or viable in the first place. This is because studies upon studies have deduced that many people opt to change careers simply because their peers are doing so. You do not want to do things just so that you may fit in the society. Every course of action you take has to be in your best interest at all times.

While at it, ask yourself the following questions: What exactly is pushing my drive for a job change? Is it the need for higher income? Could it be that I am dissatisfied with my supervisor or workmates? Could the entire trade be nearing obsolescence? Is there a likelihood that my contract will not be renewed at its expiration?

You may need to engage an expert or career coach to help you out in answering these questions. This is because some of them are way too complicated to answer single-handedly. By furnishing candid answers to these questions, you will receive the head start you need to do a better career change later.

Conduct a thorough research about alternative careers

If you decide that a career change is worthwhile, you now need to conduct a thorough research about the alternative careers. To avoid too much hassle, you may need to stick to those careers whose qualifications are as close to the one you currently hold as possible.

For instance, if you are a plumber, you may consider sewage installation, drainage unblocking, and furniture and fittings as viable alternatives. This is because these alternative careers require the same skills and expertise as that of plumbing.

Chances are that you might not find one that is as nearly as the one you currently hold as possible. This is why you also have to be open to the possibilities of pursuing one that may require slight upgrades. This will see you enroll for some skill upgrades shortly before assuming the said alternative career. It goes without saying also that you should shortlist two or three careers for the sake of security.

Assess your current skills

After identifying two or three alternative careers to consider, you now have to assess your current skills. You have to ascertain your own competence and experience. In particular, you will want to know just how knowledgeable you are in the said fields of study and how more likely you might be to transfer the same to the new careers.

While carrying out your assessments, do bear in mind the new career you are about to enroll in. Ask yourself the following relevant questions: Are my current skills transferable to the new career? Are they able to undertake the activities and tasks that the new career I have in mind call for?

This is the time to determine whether you may need to go for a skills upgrade or not. In particular, you have to determine whether the skills you have can really sustain you in the new career or not.

Upgrade your Skills

As stated, it may not always be that the alternative career you have in mind requires the same set of skills or expertise as the current one. In fact, in most instances, you may often be either over-qualified or under-qualified, never equally qualified. This is why you have to be open to the idea of upgrading your skills appropriately.

This is especially necessary if the skills you have are inadequate to perform well in the new career you have in mind. Upgrading your skills may normally entail going back to class afresh. These could mainly include enrolling for a vocational training or career programs.

Though not a must, you should also be open to the possibility of enrolling for a degree program. The age of 40 is not too late to pursue a degree program. Of particular concern though should be gaining the latest work skills as they are the one that truly counts at that age.

Register your CV on job boards

Now that you have received the appropriate training and skill upgrades, you now have to incorporate the same information in your curriculum vitae. This means you will have to redo your resume to capture those realities. To boost the chances of your resume captivating the attention of a would-be employer, you have to engage the services of a professional company to help you out.

They are the ones who possess the skills and expertise required to do an exemplary job. Let them design the resume for you and type the whole contents. They may also, if you permit, place their logo on your curriculum vitae. This will prompt the future employers of your seriousness as well as the reliability of your documents.

Conclude this step by placing your resume in the relevant job boards, databases, and to the various recruitment firms. This will boost its visibility by the potential employers. You should also update your resume every quite often and notify the relevant authorities of the same.

Network Extensively

Placing your curriculum vitae in the various job boards in and of itself is not enough. You have to supplement the process of networking extensively. This is to bolster the possibilities of receiving any invitations for interviews.

You should be on the lookout for the various industry networking events in your area. These are the main avenues through which you may gain direct contact with future employers. You should also attend job fairs that are held in your locality from time to time. These again may hook you up with some future employers.

Lastly, do not forget the internet platform. Some sites like LinkedIn will also enable you to achieve the same objective though at a greatly reduced cost and effort. Be sure to ‘like’ as many relevant pages as possible and to update your profile regularly. Doing these will help you to receive job invitations much faster than you ordinarily would.

Consider Taking Temporary Roles

Do not shy away from the prospect of taking up temporary roles. These could, in fact, offer the much-needed starting point into a new career. They also give you the opportunity to try out whether the new career could be viable or not. Lastly, they also give you time to think through whether indeed making the switch is worthwhile or viable or not.

While at it, be sure to inform your present employer of the same. Do not sneak out and do the same without informing him. This could land you in trouble and harm your reputation. If and when this happens, your reliability in the future job might be greatly compromised.

In the course of undertaking the temporary role, pay keen attention to your skills versus the requirements of the job. This is the time also to know what to do insofar as bridging the gap between your skill set and those of the new jobs is concerned.

Invoke Expert Assistance

You cannot navigate this journey of career change alone. You badly need to walk hand in hand with an expert. It is for this reason that you must find a mentor to walk with you along the way. Numerous persons of this kind do abound. However, the most relevant of them are those who have the same training, experience, and professional background as you.

They are the ones who will most likely give you the assistance and guidance that is most relevant to you. You will wind these people in the various job fairs, professional exhibitions, trade fairs, and career guidance and counseling sessions.

To get the best from these people, you have to arrange for private meetings with them. You thereafter have to explain your unique needs and circumstances to allow them to give you a more relevant response and way forward. Do consult them every time you intend to take a major step as well.

FINAL VERDICT

Well, there you have it! Changing career at 40 without a degree is a possibility, granted. However, as you might have well realized, it is an undertaking that is way too involving. You have to put into consideration so many factors for it to happen smoothly. Having known how to get started in the issue, why don’t you now go ahead and do the same?

You are not the only one who might be in the position. The truth is, there are quite a number of persons out there who are in the same position as you. Please forward this information to them, to enable them to enjoy the same advantages. Best of luck in your career change!