Changing Careers After Age 50?
Changing careers when you are in your late 20s is one thing, but what about the baby boomers who have had to postpone retirement and continue work? Is it possible for seniors to further their education to make their career more appeasing at an older age?
The quick answer is, yes. The choice for many seniors still in the workplace has become either
- How do I make sure I am indispensible to my company
- Should I be looking to change careers
Enrolling at an online university has been the answer of these questions to 2,200 seniors looking to change careers or make themselves invaluable in their current careers. The individuals in these programs are focusing in areas of study such as Business, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and IT. Kaplan University said they have seen a huge increase in students since 2007.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2015 one in five U.S. workers will be 55 or older, which is an increase of 13% from 2000.
So, how do seniors take advantage of changing careers in this economy? Several Kaplan University students gave the following suggestions and success stories of seniors changing careers and/or returning to school to DegreeDriven.com.
Success stories:
- Karen needs a bachelor’s degree to be promoted by her state government employer and at 59 she is on track to graduate with her bachelor’s of science in criminal justice next fall. She also says that “continually learning on a daily basis keeps the brain young and alive and in proper working order!
- At 55 Robert retired from engineering to fulfill his long time dream of working in health care. Today, he is in his second year of Kaplan’s bachelor of science in health care management.
- Inspired by her grandmother’s college education in her 50s, Patricia returned to school and received her bachelor’s degree at 54; one year later she is in the midst of getting her master’s in legal studies.
Tips for changing careers:
- Make a list of the skills and knowledge acquired from each position you’ve held. Realistically evaluate your transferable skills and compare them directly to the requirements for the career or job you’d like to pursue.
- Keep your skills current, taking every opportunity to improve and keep up with industry trends.
• Seek out people in your newly chosen field to guide you and show you the ropes. Most will be more than happy to help. - Be flexible about job options — consider part-time or even volunteer work to get your foot in the door.
- Remember the mantra, “It’s never too late.” Don’t be put off by naysayers or negative reactions. While it’s scary to change careers, it’s scarier to not live out your dreams.
