As a woman in an ever-evolving workforce, you know that the only constant is change.
Even if you’ve endured many changes throughout your life, changing your career can be especially challenging. Career changes encourage you to grow beyond your comfort zone, but they also raise a lot of questions, doubts, and fears.
It’s common to feel hesitant about changing careers but that doesn't mean you shouldn't move forward. In today’s workforce, women are changing careers for several reasons, including:
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Higher pay. According to CNBC and SurveyMonkey’s “Women at Work” survey, 47 percent of women want a job with a higher salary.
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Better work-life balance. The Women at Work survey also shows that 41 percent of women want greater flexibility.
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A chance to pursue new interests. Some women have decided to explore careers that align with their passions, even if that means switching professions.
Still, many women hesitate to make a career change, fearing they will shrink their income, lack support from family and friends, or fail to find the right opportunity. If you are in your late thirties, forties, or fifties, you might be wondering whether it’s too late to change your career at all.
The reality is that you can make a career change at any age. The first step is believing you can do it; the next step is understanding the type of career change you want to make.
Read more: It’s Hard to Change Careers—These Companies Are Making it Easier
4 common types of career changes
A career change happens whenever you switch your job function or industry, but career changes can also take other forms. Here are some examples:
1. Switching to a new sector
Working in the public sector—which often consists of local, state, and federal government jobs—can look totally different in the private sector, which includes for-profit companies and corporations.
2. Starting a business
Whether you keep your day job, try out different gigs in your free time, or become a full-time business owner, starting your own business is often a path to doing the type of work that excites you.
3. Adopting a new schedule
Shifting from full-time to part-time, which is usually less than 35 hours per week, can help you achieve better balance, dedicate more time to your personal life, and try out a new career path before diving in full-time. On the other hand, switching from full-time to part-time is a type of career change to consider if you want to devote more time to your career.
4. Returning to school
Earning a new degree or certification can enhance your career prospects, helping you move in a new direction.
Read more: How to Tell Your Boss You Want to Change Careers
5 women who have changed careers after 30
You’re not alone in contemplating a career change at this stage of your life so it’s critical to see real-life examples of women who have changed careers, despite the obstacles.
1. Dr. Erica Walls - Owner/CEO of Inspire to Excel Career Services for Women
Former career:
“Primarily I had worked in marketing, communications, and community relations roles in different industries. I was 38 years old when I got on a plane and arrived in D.C. to start my Ph.D. at George Washington University. I did that because I had four goals: teach, write, speak, and consult.”
Favorite saying in times of change or uncertainty:
“‘Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase’, Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Advice for other women:
“Take some time to really reflect. You have to be still and ask yourself some really critical questions: who am I, what do I want, and how can I get it? And they have to be answered in that order. It is the equivalent of constructing a building—it must have a strong foundation.”
2. Andrea - NYC-based Medical Esthetician
Former career:
“I’d spent the last 10 years as a nanny. I went to esthetician school at 40.”
Favorite saying in times of change or uncertainty:
“My name is Andrea, and only good things happen to me.”
Advice for other women:
“It is never too late to change your life. It is humbling and difficult but it can be done. Believe in yourself and do not give up or give in.”
3. Rachel - Food Writer and Recipe Creator, Samosas & Mimosas
Current career:
“My current work is within one of our hospital’s research divisions where I act as a coordinator for the division and program manager for two of our fellowships. While the dream is to eventually leave health care and work full-time as a food writer, I’ve found some value in still working full-time.”
Favorite saying in times of change or uncertainty:
“Donna Tartt said ‘Nothing worthwhile is easy,’ and that always resonates with me, particularly in times when things start to feel impossible or ‘too much.’ Making a career change is not easy, but there’s also joy to be found in doing the hard work to make it happen.”
Advice for other women:
“It’s easy to get caught up in how well others are doing in their careers, how others seem to have it all figured out, and have LinkedIn profiles showcasing a career dedicated to their fields. That’s great for them. It doesn’t mean your path is any lesser than theirs just because you’re pivoting into something different. You have one life to live; do something that matters to you.”
4. Kate Ertmann - Math Researcher, Writer, and Keynote Speaker at Kate Loves Math
Former career:
“I owned Animation Dynamics, a 3D animation studio and we initially produced 3D for commercials but then transitioned to doing visualization of all types of future products. At 43 years old, I sold my company. The biggest realization I had is that there were things that I was good at yet I didn’t like to do them.”
Favorite saying in times of change or uncertainty:
“GO! You can yell it. You can whisper it to yourself. You can say, ‘Let’s go!’ You can say, ‘Go away.’ It’s my favorite word. I find it incredibly empowering as well as motivating. And I have it tattooed on my arm.”
Advice for other women:
“First, take a solid hour by yourself to make a list of the following things: What are you good at? What do you like doing? What do you not like doing? Here’s the big question: What are you good at that you do not like doing? Because whatever that is is probably the thing that you are “known” for and what people will assume you want to do. The second part is sharing that list with someone who will hold you accountable to everything you stated. The best person for this may not be a loved one.”
5. Erin McClary - Independent Book Editor
Former career:
“I worked in brand and digital marketing for the first 14 years of my career. At the age of 36, I was laid off from my job as the Director of Digital Marketing for an outdoor sandal brand. I thought back to what my dream job had always been: becoming a book editor.”
Favorite saying in times of change or uncertainty:
“‘This too shall pass.’ It’s a good reminder that the tough times are only temporary, and it’s also a reminder to always lean into the good times, to use that momentum to get to the next level.”
Advice for other women:
“Think about the skills and experience you have that would transfer over into another profession or industry, and play those up in your resume, cover letter, and interviews. I wasn’t sure my marketing background would be of much value as a book editor; turns out that so much of being an editor is being a marketer. My other piece of advice: Even if you’re scared to make a change, or have people in your life asking why you would do that, do it anyway. Do it scared. It’s in moments of uncertainty and fear that we tend to grow the most. You just might surprise yourself with how much you can grow.”
Want to change careers? These are your next steps
Each of these women—all with different interests, backgrounds, and experiences—changed their lives by changing their careers. The one thing they all have in common is that they decided to go in a new direction. Once you decide you’re ready to make a change, take a few additional steps to pivot into a new industry, a more fulfilling career, a passion project, or some other endeavor that fulfills you.
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Do your research. Continue seeking examples of women who have made career changes and investigate what it takes to get there, including educational and professional experience.
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Create a plan. Once you know what you need to transition into your new career, develop a plan of action that includes your next steps, resources to use along the way, and a realistic timeline.
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Follow through. Keep going until you reach your goal, even if it takes longer than you planned or requires you to get out of your comfort zone. Remember why you started and use that as motivation to fulfill your mission.
