It may be that you鈥檝e sat at the same desk for a decade, eaten lunch with the same colleagues and taken that same commute to the office for just a little too long. It鈥檚 true that we鈥檙e living and working for longer than ever before. And with that comes fresh expectations around our identities in the workplace. Retirement may still seem a long way off, and we want to fill those working hours with fun and fulfilment, by making a difference and finding paths to new ways of working.
Perhaps it鈥檚 that you can鈥檛 help dreaming of all those lives you once imagined for yourself 鈥� as a scuba instructor in the Bahamas, sheep-shearer in the Highlands, or running a chateaux B&B in the south of France. Luckily, the notion of a midlife career change is no longer an anomaly but a strategic pivot for many. Enter a growing demographic of mid-career individuals who are reimagining their professional trajectories, proving that it鈥檚 never too late to pursue passion, purpose, and growth.
, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at LBS and acclaimed author of , shares her unconventional strategies for navigating a successful midlife career transition.
Embrace an explorer mindset
We live in a time where there鈥檚 a lot of disruption in our careers. Few career paths are linear, and organisation shapeshift, too. On top of that, we鈥檙e living longer, which means we have time for multiple re-inventions during our lifetime. This question of 鈥榃hat do I do next? Am I in the right place, doing the right thing?鈥� is very salient for a lot of people, at all ages.
Adaptability is a cornerstone of successful midlife career transitions. You might lose your job and your sense of professional identity. Then there鈥檚 this huge void. That鈥檚 hard. Embrace a mindset, which allows freedom to explore diverse pathways and possibilities. Rather than adhering to a rigid plan, be open to surprising discoveries and unexpected opportunities that may arise along the way.
There are two approaches, as I see it: 1) 鈥楶lan and Implement鈥� 鈥� you start out with the answer then you follow the steps. This is the conventional approach and it works quite well when you do know what you want, or you鈥檙e earlier on in your career. 2) The less conventional approach that I鈥檝e found tends to happen when people make midlife career changes, is called 鈥楨xperiment and Learn鈥�. This is for people who know what they 诲辞苍鈥檛 want, but 诲辞苍鈥檛 yet know what they do want instead. We tend to pigeonhole ourselves 鈥� I鈥檓 not creative or entrepreneurial. You can find out about things by accident.
The way that enfolds is you start to envision what I call 鈥減ossible selves鈥�. These are ideas about who you may become in the future. Don鈥檛 be afraid to make the list long and divergent, as it鈥檚 through exploration and experimentation that you鈥檒l uncover your true passions and potentials. Start by brainstorming a wide range of possibilities, from conventional roles to entrepreneurial ventures to creative pursuits. Do you want to take the next step or do you not? Ask yourself two questions: Is this an attractive option? Is this feasible in terms of my need to make a living?
After that, take small, strategic steps towards your goals. Whether it鈥檚 taking courses or starting side projects, each action contributes to your discovery and career reinvention. Embrace the process of learning and growth, recognising that setbacks and challenges are integral parts of the journey.
Experiment with purpose
As you embark on your midlife career transition, experiment with purpose. Play around with the things that you鈥檙e interested in to see what direction to take next. Begin by delving into your interests and passions, whether they鈥檙e hobbies, side projects or areas of curiosity. Take the time to play around with different possibilities and avenues, allowing yourself the freedom to discover new opportunities that resonate with your values and aspirations.
On top of that, be open to serendipitous discoveries along the way. While it鈥檚 essential to have a general direction in mind, 诲辞苍鈥檛 limit yourself by preconceived notions or rigid plans. Embrace the unexpected and be receptive to opportunities that may arise unexpectedly. Whether it鈥檚 attending unusual networking events, volunteering to gain new knowledge, or exploring exciting hobbies that you鈥檝e always wanted to try, each experience contributes to your journey of career reinvention.
People have all kinds of ideas in their heads of what they like and 诲辞苍鈥檛 like, and often, they 诲辞苍鈥檛 check out in reality. Try things as actively as you can before making any big leap, as we 诲辞苍鈥檛 really know whether we would enjoy these things or not. All we know really well is what we 诲辞苍鈥檛 like about our current job. Exploring and experimenting is really vital.
Remember, the key to doing this in the context of a career transition is to strike a balance between exploration and intentionality. While it鈥檚 crucial to explore a wide range of possibilities, it鈥檚 equally important to reflect on your experiences and discern patterns and themes that resonate with your authentic self. By aligning your explorations with your core values and aspirations, you can pave the way for a fulfilling and purpose-driven midlife career transition.
Cultivate diverse networks
Networking plays a crucial role in navigating midlife career changes. Reach out to your contacts and start right away 鈥� people hesitate, as they feel nervous or unsure, so they tell themselves, 鈥業鈥檒l sound confused so might blow a good contact or not make a good impression鈥�. However, if you 诲辞苍鈥檛 start, you鈥檙e not going to figure it out. Most people 诲辞苍鈥檛 realise how many conversations it takes, how many coffees, how many times reaching out on LinkedIn.
The more people you talk to, the more confident you鈥檒l feel about the possibility for change. You鈥檒l get encouragement and more ideas. Start, reach out, be honest. You may say, I鈥檓 exploring the possibility of change and looking at different options. I鈥檓 trying to brainstorm some possibilities. Later, you may say, I鈥檓 really interested in this sector, and trying to figure out which way to position myself. After that, it may be, I鈥檓 trying to get a foot in this door. The magic is, I鈥檇 like your help, I鈥檇 like your input, I鈥檇 like to hear your story.
Be proactive in reaching out and building relationships with potential mentors, peers, and collaborators. But 诲辞苍鈥檛 limit yourself to your immediate circle; instead, embrace the power of 鈥渨eaker ties鈥� 鈥� casual acquaintances who may offer fresh insights and opportunities. You鈥檒l gain access to valuable resources, support and perspectives that can enrich your career transition journey.
Don’t listen to the naysayers
Some people will think it鈥檚 courageous to make a career move in later life. Some people will think you鈥檙e crazy, especially those closest to you, if you鈥檙e voluntarily leaving a role that鈥檚 well-paid and stable. Almost everyone you speak to will download their own hopes and wishes and fears onto you.
Talking it out a lot really helps. Ask yourself 鈥� 鈥榃hat am I feeling, thinking, experiencing right now and how do I want to feel in the future?鈥� It鈥檚 really important to talk to your partner 鈥� 鈥淗ow do we foresee our future together? What does this mean for where we live? Might we have to move house or change our lifestyle? Are we still in sync about our fundamental values and vision for the future?鈥� If you can have those difficult and challenging conversations, that will make things easier.
But 诲辞苍鈥檛 put all your fears and anxieties on your partner! It鈥檚 great if they鈥檙e supportive, but 诲辞苍鈥檛 pile it on or the relationship can suffer. Understand that it鈥檚 tough for them. You鈥檙e going to be confused, and 鈥榩ing-ponging鈥� between old and new ideas 鈥� and it makes it hard on them as they have 鈥榮kin in the game鈥�, so it鈥檚 really important to reach out to other people in some way, shape or form.
Make wise decisions
What helps people make the wisest decisions? It鈥檚 the head and the heart working together. Some of the worst decisions are when we go for the job that looks perfect on paper but all your internal radars are going 鈥榙ing ding ding鈥�. Slow down, and 诲辞苍鈥檛 take the early opportunities, which may be when you feel most pressured or desperate. Give yourself permission to wait a little longer until you find the job that really captures your imagination. Buy yourself time if necessary. Do advisory work, or act as a consultant or freelancer. It鈥檚 important to take the opportunity to find out what you really want.
The hardest may be when you have more than one option to choose between. Ask yourself, will it take me one stepping stone further towards where I鈥檓 trying to go? The decision to leave an existing role can be tough. Most people 诲辞苍鈥檛 make that decision without having something in place that they鈥檝e been developing over time. It鈥檚 still hard, but there comes a time where you say, 鈥楾his nascent thing is never going to have a chance unless I give it my all now鈥�. But it鈥檚 also important to have enough indicators that it鈥檚 viable. You mustn鈥檛 burn your bridges.
Any change is going to be tough 鈥� you have to be prepared for that. It鈥檚 hard to find a new self whilst working flat-out at an existing job. Some people manage it by taking sabbaticals, whether paid or unpaid. Some people take an executive course that gets them out of the office and gives them time to regain that 鈥榦omph鈥�. In that transition period, you鈥檙e holding onto something and you鈥檙e also trying to let go of your old self and develop your new self. It can be deeply uncomfortable.
Develop your own story
As you embark on your journey of midlife career transition, it鈥檚 crucial to craft and articulate your own narrative. In times of change, knowing how to frame your story becomes essential. One practical tip is to rehearse what you want to convey about yourself and practice consistently.
We often underestimate the challenge of telling our own story. Despite thinking we know ourselves well, articulating our experiences and aspirations can prove challenging. Transition periods further complicate this process as we navigate uncertainty about the future. However, with practice, we can refine our storytelling skills and present a compelling narrative to others.
The key lies in developing a succinct headline 鈥� a clear and sharp statement of a desired, possible future. Avoid rambling or providing unnecessary historical details; instead, focus on delivering a concise message that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression. By honing your storytelling abilities, you鈥檒l be better equipped to navigate networking situations and engage others effectively.
Moreover, the process of crafting your story offers valuable insights into your career aspirations and goals. Through reflection and practice, you鈥檒l gain clarity about the environments and opportunities that energise you. This newfound clarity enables you to refine your search criteria and pursue opportunities that align with your interests and values.
Remember, developing your story isn鈥檛 about endless experimentation without direction. Instead, it鈥檚 about refining your narrative and gaining clarity about your professional objectives. By investing time and effort into this process, you鈥檒l emerge with a compelling story that resonates with others and guides your career transition journey with purpose and clarity.
Don’t retire, reinvent!
In conclusion, embarking on a midlife career change requires courage, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace reinvention. By following these tips and drawing inspiration from Herminia Ibarra鈥檚 insights, you can navigate this transformative journey with confidence and clarity. It鈥檚 never too late to pursue your passions, redefine your professional identity, and embark on a path of learning and growth.
is Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Charles Handy Chair in Organisational Behaviour at London Business School.
