Planning a Later-Life Career Change

How to Start a New Career in your 40s, 50s, or 60s

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Where will this new phase of your life take you?

© iStockphoto/georgeolsson

Nima, who's been an HR manager for 30 years, is facing one of the most "exciting" challenges of her life.

She's learned that she's to be laid off at the end of the month.

She's devastated at first, but, as she thinks about what to do next, she starts to feel more enthusiastic. She recalls an idea that she's toyed with for some time – that of working as an HR consultant.

However, it feels daunting to make such a big transition at this stage of her life.

Each year, millions of people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s face a similar situation. They may have been laid off or terminated, or they may simply have decided that their careers are no longer fulfilling. And they face different challenges and have different opportunities from those of younger job seekers.

In this article, we'll look at what these are, and we'll explore how you can plan a successful later-life career change.

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