How do I change careers at 50?

Whatever stage of life you’re at, if you’re unhappy with your career – it’s time to make a change. Although changing careers at 50 can feel like a huge challenge, making the move into a workplace where you’re valued as an employee, and rewarded for your work, will help you thrive in your new challenge.

Read on to find out how to make a plan and feel confident in changing careers at 50 or over.

What qualifications do I need to change careers?

Although it can feel daunting to change careers at 50 or above, the wealth of experience you’ll already have can make you hugely valuable to a potential employer. There are a number of reasons why changing careers at 50 (with or without qualifications) can be beneficial for both yourself, and potential employers:

• Your life experience can naturally make you a better leader or mentor for your younger colleagues.
• Many employers value experience over qualifications, so changing careers without formal qualifications probably won’t hold you back as much as you may think it will.

Qualifications can help when you’re changing careers and roles, but they’re certainly not essential. With dedication, persistence, and willingness to learn, anyone can make a successful career change without formal qualifications.

Our mature colleagues can enjoy an exciting new chapter at Churchill. Regardless of your background, we provide both older and younger career changers full training and support so that you can thrive in a new environment.

Pinpoint your strengths

Now that we’ve covered why you could be a fantastic candidate for employers, you’ll probably be thinking: “So, how do I change careers at 50?”

Whether you’re coming back into the workforce, or you’re considering changing careers immediately from a previous role, you’ll want to establish exactly what your strengths are. To help you pinpoint these, think about what you’ve excelled at in your previous roles. Was this in customer service, planning / organising (which would suit a business administrator role), or perhaps it was a creative skill that you were excellent at?

A personality test, such as Myers-Briggs, could help you in taking the next step in your career. One of these online tests can help determine exactly what roles suit your personality and thought-process.

The huge benefit of changing careers at 50 and above is that you’ve had years of experience to learn about your strengths and weaknesses. Write down your experiences, showcasing when you’ve utilised these strengths, and then update your CV with these valuable attributes.

Make your priorities clear

Once you’ve established what you’re great at, and where your strengths lie, it’s time to firm up your priorities. What do you want from your new career? You may be looking to go into a completely different field of work, so we recommend choosing a workplace where you’re empowered with the right tools and opportunities to excel down a fresh and exciting new career path.

You may also be looking to change your career for a better work/life balance. At Churchill, we understand this is essential for our colleagues. With opportunities to harmonise your work/life balance, we will support you to be the best you can be.

Update your LinkedIn profile

It may have been a while since you edited your CV and hunted for a job. In the corporate world, LinkedIn can be used as a digital CV where you can list your experiences and qualifications. It’s widely used by recruiters to network and find potential candidates, so updating your profile can help you stand out from the crowd.

As well as being great for networking, LinkedIn also has a range of valuable training opportunities that you can use to help upskill and train for free.

Taking the next step in your career

Once you’ve firmed up your priorities, noted your skills, updated your CV and brushed up your LinkedIn profile, it’s time to hunt for jobs!

Job hunting while changing careers can feel overwhelming, but with a wide variety of free resources and support online, you can feel confident to make the next step in your career – no matter what age you are.

At Churchill, we value our experienced workforce and will provide support and training to suit each individual joining us in the later stages of their career. We’re driven by doing right by our colleagues, so we can provide a stable workplace while supporting you to be the best you can be.

If you’re thinking about progressing or changing careers, then please view our available roles or contact us if you have any questions.