Advice for midlife career changers
Teena Rose, columnist, public speaker, and certified resume writer, recommends a no-nonsense plan of action for midlife career changers. One of her valuable suggestions is to build on what you know–use your valuable experience and background as groundwork for a new path. Here are a few examples of people who did just that:
An auto engineer picks up a temporary teaching certificate after a three-month crash
course in principles of education and becomes a high school CAD instructor. It doesn’t pay as much, but the intangible rewards more than offset the smaller paycheck.A CPA becomes Director of Development for a local non-profit, a pediatric nurse
takes the helm at a drop-off kid care franchise — you get the idea. [...]
Rose also suggests making a critical self-assessment to bring out your professional skills, develop your knowledge or brush up on skills by taking classes, study the job market, and more.
RESOURCES
Resume to Referral – Resume & career services
Career Change and the Seasoned Worker by Susan Bryan, Monster.com
Gen Plus-Reinventing 50 Plus Blog with info on jobs, life, and love after 50
Create a Work Style for Life from ThirdAge