Is a career change possible today?

If you have you ever said to yourself, ‘‘I’d rather be doing anything else than
be at this job!’’ or ‘‘I always wanted to become a _______ (fill in the blank)
or ‘‘I wish I’d gone to college when I was in my twenties,’’ then you are probably
ready to make a career change. If you are between the ages of 30 and 60
and are searching for a different line of work or a more meaningful way to
earn a living, then consider talking to us at Affinity.
Whether you are contemplating a career change by choice or by necessity,
there is no time like the present to begin the process. Many people hate the
thought of changing careers because in their minds it means ‘‘starting all over
again.’’ But there are no wasted life experiences! Career changers are simply
adding another layer of knowledge onto an already solid foundation of work
and educational experience. Whether you are 30 or 60, you can use the lessons
and experience from the first half of your life to help you create a more
satisfying career during the next phase of your working life.
Just as the definition of ‘‘retirement’’ or ‘‘middle-age’’ has changed as a
result of the improved health, vitality, and life span of Baby Boomers, so has
the meaning of work. On average, today’s workers will work for 45 years,
change jobs seven or more times, and change career fields three or four times.
Given the multidirectional pattern of modern career paths, today’s career
changers will need to redefine their perceptions of employment, employers,
and the meaning of work in general.
Take a moment and think about what you really want to do for the rest of
your life. Some of you may have thought that you’d never have to ask yourself
that question again! Do you want to work part-time or full-time? Is pursuing
a long-lost hobby the answer? Are you ready to own your own business,
become a consultant, or go back to school to train for a new career? What
should you do if you are forced into making an unplanned career change
because of unemployment?
The challenge for career changers of any age is how to stay relevant and
successful in today’s workplace. Although you cannot change the past, you
can learn from the past and use that experience to improve your employment
situation the second time around. Now is the time to begin the journey toward
placing yourself in the career or work setting that will allow your
strengths, talents, and experience to shine.
In this new economy, note we do not use the expression "recession", many people
say to us, that having an enjoyable career is more important than acquiring
material rewards. At Affinity we ae inclined to agree that success is measured
in fulfillment, more than anything else.