It’s Never Too Late
To Start A New Career

“It’s never too late – never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.” Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda, the actress who spoke those words, knows what it is like to start a new career as an older adult. In fact, she has reinvented herself and her career many times over. She began as a starlet, morphed into a fitness guru, became a protester for many causes, and at the age of 81, has now transitioned into a comedic actress. When asked what constant thing in her life allows her the ability to continually start over, she responded: “courage”.

Many years ago, adults entered the work force once they were finished school, learned a certain skill related to their job, and then continued to work at the same company until they retired before the age of 65. Times have changed; people are working much longer, perhaps late into their 70’s or 80’s. And they are not satisfied with one career either. “It is estimated that the average person will change careers between five and seven times over the course of their working life”. But is it ever too late to start a new career?

Making a Change: The Benefits of Starting a New Career

Are you thinking about changing your vocation? You’re not alone. In fact, a recent survey found that “most Canadian employees are ready to quit their jobs”. The days of one career per lifetime are in the past. Although our ancestors acquired one set of job skills and retired once they reached a certain age, people now want something different. 

A job used to be a means to pay the bills, but now it is “widely accepted that finding a fulfilling career is one of the keys to a happy life”. Finding a fulfilling career may mean starting a new one. And why not? There are after all, many benefits to starting a new career.

• Launching a new vocation can give you a fresh purpose in life. Having a new goal to strive towards can give your life new meaning. As humans we need a sense of purpose and this necessity seems to only grow as we age.

• Having the same profession for many years can become routine. Starting a new career can offer fresh challenges, providing you with a renewed sense of accomplishment and confidence.

• Your priorities change as you age and starting a new career can reflect this shift in your values. You may want to focus on different things, such as time spent with family or time spent travelling, and a fresh start in your profession can allow your work-life to be more in balance with your home-life.

• A new career can allow you the opportunity to follow your passion. People are acquiring new skills through education and training and using this new-found knowledge to launch new careers, doing something that they love.

Making a Change at Any Age: The Benefits of Starting a New Career
Later in Your Working Life

People are no longer retiring in their early 60’s but rather in their 70’s and 80’s. If at age 50 you still have another 25 years to work, why stay at a job that no longer challenges or fulfills you? Eighty percent of people over the age of 45 consider changing their careers, but only 6% actually do. Although it does take a bit of courage to make the change, age should not hold anyone back. There are many benefits to starting a new career later in your working life.

• As you age you acquire experience, both life and work related. This invaluable knowledge is transferable to any new career and has the added bonus of making a transition to a new vocation easier. Never underestimate the value of experience; these skills and this knowledge that are innately within you, cannot be taught. Even if your new career choice is unrelated to your previous jobs, your experience creates capabilities that can give the required courage a boost.

• As an older adult, you have the benefit of knowing what you want from your career. You may have worked at a few different vocations, and this provides a better sense of self-awareness in regards to what you want to pursue. Your age enables you to be much better equipped to turn a passion into a career.

• Starting a new career as an older adult allows you to build on your past successes. Even an unfulfilling job creates a list of accomplishments which can be used as a launching pad in your new vocation.

• Often when beginning a new career later in your working life, you are able to choose a profession for more personal reasons. There may be an opportunity to pursue a passion and choose a career that fulfills you creatively. With older children, you may be able to select a vocation with a more flexible schedule as well.

• You know what kind of boss you wish to work for and perhaps the best choice is: you. Being self-employed as an older adult enables you to utilize your experience and accomplishments as the perfect starting point.

• A benefit to starting a new career later in your working life is that you know you are capable of achieving many things; age isn’t a barrier to you. “You are never too old to master a new profession”.

It is never too late to start a new career; your age should not be a roadblock. A bit of courage, combined with education and training provided at Ultimate Academy®, offers endless opportunities to pursue your passion and turn it into a new career. By utilizing your vast experience and a built-in support group with the Ultimate Alumni™, you can launch a successful career that will provide new challenges and opportunities to thrive. 

It is never too late to be happy; don’t allow an unfulfilling career to hold you back.