How To Make A Career Change at 40: A Comprehensive Guide

How To Make A Career Change at 40

You’ve been working for nearly two decades and you wish to reinvent your career but you might be afraid to shift your career path. The idea of changing your career at 40 can seem daunting, and it’s completely normal to be afraid of the idea.

However, fear not! At 40 you have more life experience, maturity, and a larger skill-set. Therefore, if you’re looking to make a career change at 40 it’s not too late.

In this article, you will learn:

  • Reasons to make a career change at 40
  • 4 step guide to making your career change at 40
  • Tips for starting a new career at 40
  • 5 best careers to start at 40

Reasons To Make A Career Change At 40

So you’d like to reinvent your career at 40 years of age, good for you! 

However, like many professionals in their 40s, you may notice that questions and concerns will naturally come up. 

“What if I fail and ruin my career trajectory?” 

“What if I fail at my new job?” 

“How can I pay my bills or look after my family if it doesn’t work out?”

These are good questions, but there are other factors — including your well being, satisfaction, and fulfillment — which you need to consider before choosing to stick with your current job. 

Here are five reasons why you can consider making a career change at 40.

You feel you have chosen the wrong profession

You might feel that you have exhausted the career path that you’ve been on for almost 20 years. Additionally, you might feel that there’s a different job that is better suited to your interests.

For instance, say you have had a corporate job that requires you to clock in at 9am and sit in your cubicle to do your work. 

You feel that you aren’t cut out for this repetitive routine of 8 hours a day / 6 days a week life. It’s beginning to get to you, and you feel bad and drained every day you get back home. That might be one sign for you to reflect and think if a career change is right for you.

You are not getting the rewards you deserve

frustrated man holding his head

Perhaps you have been a committed employee in a company for over a decade, and have remained consistently good at your job, but you haven’t been awarded a raise or a promotion for some years. You continue working there because you have grown accustomed to it and are too afraid to quit and start a new career at 40.

However, you need to keep in mind that your career is supposed to help you grow both professionally and personally. 

Not being recognized for your contribution over the years can lower your life satisfaction and overall morale.

Your job is affecting your well-being

If you find that your job is beginning to take a toll on your mental and physical health, then it might be time for you to take a step back and evaluate your situation. 

Job stress affects many people. Therefore you might be experiencing stress headaches, chest and body pains, insomnia, and heart palpitations or you might even be undergoing depression, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and low self-worth.

If you want to overcome these symptoms, you are in luck because Marisa Peer, the UK’s #1 celebrity therapist and best-selling author, has developed a multi-award-winning therapy technique that can help you on your journey.

Rapid Transformational Therapy® (RTT®) is a highly effective technique that works on both your conscious and subconscious mind—this is where your deep beliefs and decisions take place.

By working with an RTT® professional you can overcome whatever negative symptoms that you feel may be holding you back from attaining your dream career.

You are having trouble maintaining a work-life balance

Having a work-life balance means finding fulfillment in your work along with the freedom to pursue other interests and hobbies.

Pursuing your interests is what keeps you intellectually stimulated and happy as it prevents you from living a boring and monotonous life.

If you have a work-life balance then you are more likely to be happier and more productive in your work, and it also reduces your overall stress.

However, if your work is taking up all of your time and you’re struggling to pursue other interests, you may consider making a career change. 

4 Steps To Help With Your Career Change At 40

Step 1: Self-assessment 

While making a career change at 40, try to look at jobs or professions that will be of interest to you. Assess your passions and think about the work that might make you happy. 

If you’re having a hard time choosing a career path, then you can take an aptitude or a career test that can help you understand your areas of interest better

At the end of this step, you will have an idea of possible career choices that you can consider.

Step 2: Explore occupations of interest 

Once you’re done with the first step, take some time to explore the list of possible career choices. Check to see if there are any common or recurring industries. 

For example, a graphic designer and a web experience designer both work in the creative field. 

When exploring each field and industry, make sure you also consider other factors such as salary, job growth possibilities, and market outlook. 

Finally, research if your new career requires any additional training or education. 

Step 3: Training and education

Before reinventing your career, it is imperative that you understand the educational and training requirements needed for a successful job transition. 

Some jobs require very specific educational qualifications such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or certificates from online institutions. 

However, if you’re looking to make a career change at 40 with no degree, there are jobs that only require you to complete certain certifications.

If you’re interested in getting a certification, websites such as Skillshare, Coursera, Udemy, Udacity, and edX provide a wide array of courses suitable for different skills and careers. 

If needed, obtain the certification required for the position you desire.

Step 4: Work with your strengths and skills

Think of a skill that you have obtained in your current job, and see if that skill is applicable for the job you want. A transferable skill is a skill you already possess that can be transferred and used in your new career.

For example, previously you might have managed a team of creatives from graphic designers to social media managers. This can be a very useful skill if you choose to have a managerial role in another industry. 

In this case, knowing how to utilize a team to bring out maximum productivity is a marketable and transferable skill.    

Therefore, make sure you research how your pre-existing skills can be transferred to the career of your choice.

Tips For Starting A New Career At 40

group of women at a desk laughing

If you’re planning to make a career change at 40, chances are you might also be nervous about the transition from your previous career to your new one, and possibly even clueless about your next plan of action.

Not to worry, here are a few tips that can help you in your career change journey.

Be prepared for negativity

A career change at 40 is a brave decision and can be a hard one to make. However, with any choice you make, there might be nay-sayers who judge and disapprove of your choices.

This can be off-putting and cause you to lose faith in yourself, and affect your confidence.

To overcome this, you can do “the deathbed exercise”. 

In this exercise, you pretend to review the course of your life on the deathbed. Analyze the regrets you might have had. Ask yourself questions like “Should I do this?” “Will this make a difference in 5 or 10 years?”

Doing this will help you prioritize your opinions over that of others, leading you to realize what you truly want.

Network and learn

Before making a career change at 40, you need to learn about your future career. You can do so by connecting with people who currently work in the field of your interest.

Don’t be shy to ask their advice, questions about work-life balance, what challenges you can expect, as well as how you can be better prepared when the opportunity arrives. 

You’d be surprised how helpful people are when you ask for their professional advice.

You can network with people using social media such as LinkedIn and gain some insight from the experiences of others.

Overcome your fears of rejection and failure

Be wary of the fears that limit you from pursuing your personal goals. These fears include the fear of failure and the fear of rejection

These fears and limiting beliefs stem from the result of your mind trying to stay in its comfort zone.

According to best-selling author and award-winning speaker and therapist Marisa Peer, “Your mind is hardwired to resist what is unfamiliar and return to what is familiar.” 

Think back to when you were a child. It’s likely that you were full of confidence, energy, and very rarely experienced any fear. This is because the fears of failure and rejection are acquired and learned as we grow up.

Having worked with thousands of people ranging from celebrities to top athletes, and even royalty, Marisa Peer realized that the root cause of our fears stems from the feeling that we are not enough.

Therefore Marisa has developed an award-winning program called ‘I Am Enough’. The program will help you tackle your limiting beliefs and overcome your fear of failure and rejection and bring back the confidence that you were born with.

Look for help if you need it

Changing careers can seem like a difficult experience at any age, but especially so when you are 40. Mostly because your peers have already settled and are committed to their careers and it can be isolating to feel that no one you know can relate to you.

If you’re feeling confused and unfulfilled about your career and wish to change it, you can seek training from a professional that can help you in your journey. 

Questions such as, 

How to quit your 9-5 and choose when, where, and with whom you work.

How to harness your own abilities to change your life and the lives of others.

How to create a career that is meaningful.

All these questions and more are at your disposal in this powerful training program by Marisa Peer herself that allows you to find and create a meaningful career for yourself.

5 Best Careers To Start At 40

Perhaps you are still unsure and don’t know a career that’s best suited for you. That’s okay, we’re here to help you decide. 

Typically, a change in career might require a different degree or certificate. That might be true for some careers but not all.

Below are some of the best careers you can start at 40.

Therapist

If you feel you’re empathetic, a good listener, and are also interested in helping people, becoming a therapist is the perfect job for you

As a psychotherapist, you will have to help people with mental illness. 

The average annual income for a therapist in the US is $48,600, and in the UK, the annual salary is approximately £32,000.

Generally, in order to be a therapist, you will need a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology along with a license. 

However, there are options for you to make a career change at 40 with no degree, and help people as a licensed therapist. 

Award-winning therapist, Marisa Peer has combined her 30 years of experience and devised Rapid Transformational Therapy® (RTT®), a highly effective therapeutic technique.

The Rapid Transformational Therapy® (RTT®) program is a 300-hour training course that provides you with all the skills you need to know before treating your clients. 

You will have access to live training elements where you get to practice your skills with her team of experts, along with the chance to meet Marisa in person.

Book a call and get in touch to learn more about becoming an RTT® therapist. 

Life-coach

As a life coach, you will have to share your life experiences and help other people modify their behaviors and achieve personal and professional growth.

Becoming a life coach is one of the best careers to start at 40, as the life experiences you have had until that point will be extremely valuable for your job.

The average salary of a life coach is between $25,000 to $200,000 annually. 

To become a life coach, you do not require a specific degree, as a life coach can come from all walks of life. However, you will need to complete a training program that can range from 16 to 100 hours.

Hypnotherapist

A hypnotherapist is another job that can help people tremendously. It is a process by which a hypnotherapist guides their client through a trance-like state and taps into their subconscious minds allowing them to get to the root cause of their issue.

In order to become a hypnotherapist you do not need a degree, it is another perfect option to make a career change at 40. All you need is the drive to help people and valid certification from a reputable hypnotherapy school such as Rapid Transformation Therapy® (RTT®).

The salary of a hypnotherapist depends on the level of experience and credibility, therefore they can make around $45 to $600 per session.

Yoga instructor

If you’re looking to make a career change at 40 with no degree, becoming a yoga instructor might be just what you’re looking for. 

The job of a yoga instructor might be of interest to you if you’re someone that is very passionate about fitness, health, and overall mental and physical wellness. 

All you need to become a yoga instructor is to gain a 200-500 hour certification. The salary of a yoga instructor ranges from $80-$150 per class.

Careers in the digital age

two women talking and smiling with a laptop in front of them

In today’s world, jobs in the IT sector are on the rise. This field is extremely broad and filled with a wide array of job opportunities.

The best thing about most of the IT industry is its low barrier of entry because most (not all) IT jobs don’t require formal educational degrees. Additionally, there are training boot camps available that teach you everything you need to know from the ground up in as little as 16 weeks.

You can also explore most of the knowledge required from the very same websites we mentioned earlier such as Skillshare, Coursera, Udemy, Udacity etc. You can learn almost anything online nowadays. 

Things like coding, user-experience design, product management, or intro to programming are all available online for free or for as low as $10. This makes it easy for you to dabble around and see what skills you naturally gravitate toward.

The salary for a person working in the digital sector can vary based on the particular area of skills that you choose. For example the average salary of a product manager is $96,522 per year, and a user experience designer can make $83,421 per year.

A Rewarding Career Change At 40 With No Degree

If you know that you want a job helping others overcome their fears, phobias, and other mental illnesses, then becoming an RTT® therapist might be perfect for you. 

RTT® is an internationally-acclaimed therapeutic approach created over three decades by the world-renowned therapist Marisa Peer. 

Marisa Peer has trained thousands of RTT® therapists and has had extremely effective results as countless individuals have experienced the benefits of Rapid Transformational Therapy®. 

What’s more, is that you don’t need any previous experience in therapy. All you need is a passion for the therapeutic approach, the enthusiasm towards learning, and a desire to improve lives—yours and the lives of your future clients. If that sounds appealing to you, then book a call today to discover more about becoming an RTT® therapist

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Marisa Peer

Marisa Peer

Marisa shares over 30 years of experience as a multi-award-winning therapist to top athletes, celebrities and even royalty. She is the pioneer of RTT®, the cutting-edge method that can deliver incredible transformations
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Marisa Peer has been helping people build exciting careers in hypnotherapy with RTT®. No previous experience is necessary to start training, so download the free prospectus today.