Career Change at 40: 7 Tips to Make It Work
Perhaps your job once energised you but now feels like a grind. Or maybe you’ve climbed the ladder and now realise it is leaning on the wrong wall.
Making a career change at 40 can be tricky. On one hand, you are still young. There is time to change and your best working years are ahead of you. Most options are still on the table if you really want to pursue them.
On the other, you are old enough that the idea of changing careers can feel scary. Family commitments and perceived income requirements act as constraints. The idea of throwing away everything you’ve worked to achieve can make you pause.
It can also feel like a risk. What if I fail? Can I survive making a mistake?
And there can be confusion around what a better fit looks like, and what options are genuinely feasible.
The best thing to do is to grab the bull by the horns and stop procrastinating.
Here are 7 tips for a successful career change at 40.
Tip # 1: Be Clear on Who You Are Before a Career Change at 40
Before diving into practical considerations, it’s worth pausing and taking a step back.
You do have more than one shot to find the right career to transition into - so there is not as much pressure on your next move as you might think. That said, making a mid-life career change is still a significant move, and it’s better to avoid unnecessary false steps and experimentation.
A “must do” before making a career change at 40 is to be clear on who you are right now and what’s most important to you.
What does this have to do with career change? Does it mean you will have to go on a spiritual retreat or go walking in the Nepalese mountains?
Thankfully not.
But the reason you are considering a career change at 40 is because something isn’t working. And this is typically due to a mismatch between your role and your needs, values, or strengths.
Knowing your purpose, what motivates you, what you stand for, and what is meaningful for you are all important questions that need clarity and reflection.
Ask yourself how clear you are on these questions. Honestly.
(For information - the second section in this article contains a guide on how to do self-discovery.)
Once you’ve reconnected with who you are and what matters most, the next step is to focus on what you naturally do best - your strengths. That’s where lasting satisfaction really begins.
Tip # 2: Make Sure Your New Career Aligns with Your Strengths
People talk about following your passions. But it is more important to make sure your career is well aligned to your natural strengths. This is when work will feel effortless - when it feels like you are doing what you were built for.
I love to give my clients an exercise to identify their “zone of genius.” Part of the exercise is to identify the activities you are both great at and that you love doing.
Ask yourself:
“What activities can I get lost in and lose track of time?”
“What could I spend five hours a day doing for the next five years and not get bored?”
Spend a few minutes writing down your top 2-3 “zone of genius” strengths.
Now ask: How much time do I spend doing this currently?
Understanding your strengths gives you confidence - but it is normal to still face doubts about what’s next. That’s why it’s essential to confront the questions you may have been avoiding.
Tip # 3: Career Change at 40: Don’t Avoid the Hard Questions
A career change at 40 is a fantastic opportunity to course-correct - to get yourself back into alignment and to be truly fulfilled.
But it can be tempting to let your head dominate your decision-making. The knock-on effect is that you ignore those nagging doubts and the signals your gut is giving you. Don’t do this!
Those signals are gold dust - tune into them and embrace them. They will be invaluable for guiding you in the right direction.
Ask yourself:
What is the important question you’ve been avoiding?
What does your intuition say that you need most in the next five years of your career?
Tip # 4: Don’t Forget to Dream About Your New Career Path
When thinking about career change options, the temptation is to assess the feasibility of options at the same time as generating them. This leads to potentially viable options getting shut down before they are given a chance.
Park all the fears and worries, and spend some time dreaming - thinking about all the different paths you could take.
Push all the practical questions aside for a while; ignore the sensible voice in your head telling you what can and can’t be done.
Questions that help here are:
What would you choose to do if money wasn’t a factor?
What would you do if you had no obligations to other people?
After allowing yourself to dream freely, it’s time to bring those ideas down to earth. The next step is to look at what’s realistic and how to make your vision workable.
Tip # 5: Be Realistic About Your Career Change Goals
It’s important to give yourself some time to dream. But at some point, realism and practicalities need to factor in as well.
This is the time for all those boring questions like:
Have others made the kind of switch you are thinking of?
How long does it take?
What does working in the new career really look like?
What would a transition path look like?
How can you fill any important skill, knowledge, or experience gaps?
Tip # 6: Work Hard for Your New Future After a Career Change at 40
Career changes at 40 are definitely possible. And, if thought through, they will lead to an exciting and fulfilling next stage of your life.
However, finding a way to transition, overcoming obstacles, and being resilient is part and parcel of making a mid-life career change.
This might seem daunting, but you can do it!
What it will require, however, is work, effort, and being willing to push through fears and doubts. The reward is that you will feel alive again and not look back on your life with regrets.
The important thing is to develop a mindset that views the transition as a priority - and to mentally prepare yourself for a period of effort and resilience.
You may find that you need some time to reenergise before you can embark on the switch. Maybe emotionally and physically you are not yet ready - that you are in transition and need a bit more time.
If you’d like more on how to handle this stage of change, I’ve written about it in 3 Proven Tips to Navigate Change and Thrive .
I have worked with many clients on career transitions - and I can assure you that you do have it in you to chart a new path and to get there.
You don’t have to tackle all of this on your own. If you’d value accountability and structure, the right coaching support can make a world of difference.
Tip # 7: Consider Coaching Support for Your Career Change at 40
Everything I have outlined here can be done on your own. And, ultimately, my belief is that people usually find a way through in the end.
That said, getting support and help through these tricky transitions can be invaluable.
For more details, read my article on Career Transition Coach: Are they worth it?
Want Help with Your Career Change?
If you’re ready to explore what your next chapter could look like, I offer a free Discovery Call - it’s a relaxed conversation to help you understand how I can help you find clarity and confidence in your direction.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. What matters is choosing to move toward something that feels right for you - step by step
About the Author: Tim Storrie
I’m an ICF-accredited career coach with an Oxbridge education, an MBA, and a corporate background. Drawing from my own mid-life experience of burnout and transition to a more fulfilling career, I help men over 40 who feel lost or frustrated to find a career that excites them through clarity and confidence.
My coaching approach is both nurturing and challenging, combining structured, exercise-based reflection with deep personal insight.
Would you like to understand how career coaching can help you get clarity on a more fulfilling future?
Book a free Discovery Call