It’s never too late for a career change
Thinking of transitioning to a new career after 50? Cindy Hyman, director of alumni career and professional development, offers these tips:
The first step for mid- to late-career changers is to determine your non-negotiables.
- List what you loved and/or disliked about past jobs or volunteer roles.
- Spend at least a week adding to this list.
- Ask friends and family for their insights.
- Look for themes in your list of non-negotiables.
- How realistic are they?
- Reflect on why these requirements are important to you.
Networking is a critical road to job search success. Once you’ve identified your job requirement, try the following:
- Reach out to your network for suggestions and other networking contacts.
- Conduct informational interviews with people in the field you have chosen.
- Set realistic goals about what you can accomplish.
Alumni Career and Professional Development offers resources and programs for alumni of all ages going through a career transition. Many career and professional development events will be held at the new Burwell Center for Career Achievement.
The third annual DU Career Skills Conference will be held virtually January 25-29, and will feature a variety of job search and professional development topics. This includes a webinar, Age Strong Workforce: Positioning 50+ Job Seekers for Success, on how to overcome some of the specific hurdles older workers can face during a career transition.
