Thinking of Changing Careers? But Can An Old Dog Learn New Tricks? It's Not Too Late

By J. Navarra

Jan 29, 2016 09:18 AM EST

Are you beyond your younger years but are looking to change careers? You may have already read yesterday's article to guide you in changing careers and chasing your dreams but have you really thought if you are up to it? Here are questions you should ask yourself when thinking of changing careers.

Suzanne Lucas, a corporate HR expert, shares her thoughts about a friend of hers. He is in his mid-40s and is successful in his career but for his own reasons he thinks about changing something. But is it too late? Maybe yes and maybe no. It boils down to your answers to the following questions.

Are you willing to take a pay cut? For some, leaving a high-paying job for their dream career that doesn't pay much may not be worth the risk especially if there are bills to pay. But if you are willing to invest in your passion and not mind the pay cut with the risks you have to take, then you may be one of the many that says they will never regret the decision they made.
Are you willing to get additional education or training? If you dedicate yourself to your new goals then you should have skills necessary for the job ahead. Keep in mind that the skills learned and need to be learned now are different from what they probably were more than 5 years ago. You can get an education from the local community or take free and open online courses.
Are you humble? Sometimes when starting over, you have to start at the bottom. If you're humble and can handle being at the bottom or start from scratch again, then go chase your dream.
What problem are you trying to solve? Some people are looking to change careers in order to solve a problem. If you're bored then a new job in the same field might fix that. If you're looking to a change of scenery, then moving to the city to become a corporate executive may be something you're looking for. Think of the problem and look for the answer.
How old is too old? Age is a number. Some find 25 years old as too old. If you're stuck in your old ways then you may never change but if you're willing to take another four years to learn a course then it's never too late.
Is it bad to stay in your current career? Of course not. It's your choice and you control your future. People change careers every few years and that's normal too. Ultimately, it is your decision to make.

It may take a while for you to answer these questions and sometimes talking to a friend or a trusted peer can help. What's important is you have a strategy in mind.