I didn't just quit a job, but I quit my career and made a complete career change at 40. This post will share the exact steps I took to make a successful career pivot.
After being laid off at the height of the pandemic, I decided not to pursue a role as a fashion buyer that I held for over 15 years. Instead, I took a chance on myself and made a career change at 40 to become a content writer and professional blogger.
I didn't just resign from a job. I resigned from my career.
And I'm not alone.
The Great Resignation for Women
#thebigshift is a hashtag on LinkedIn representing this moment of people making a shift or change in their careers. The hashtag was created after a news article went viral when a professor from Texas A&M, Anthony Klotz, predicted that employees would leave in droves because they were dissatisfied with work based on a myriad of reasons.
And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics- 4.3 Million workers quit their jobs in August (more than at the beginning of the pandemic in December 2020).
In a survey by Gusto Payroll, women are quitting faster than men. Women are leaving because they lack flexibility in their work schedule, want higher pay, and want hybrid WFH options. Those were some of the essential benefits they were quitting for. And then others were looking for more meaningful work and personal fulfillment.
They wanted more out of work. And I felt the same way too.
Career Change at 40 - Wanting More from Work
I treated my career change like a project divided into three phases/steps:
Let me share the details of each stage that helped me make the career change from being a fashion retail buyer to an SEO writer/blogger.
Step 1- Question Phase
When I was first laid off, I made the mistake of applying to jobs without asking myself- do I really want any of these roles? Heck, do I even want to stay in the fashion industry?
The hard answer was no.
Intuitively, I knew my heart moved on, but my head didn't catch up.
I applied to roles that were sensible and practical. But after many disappointing interviews, I realized I was forcing myself to apply to these postings for some security.
But if I learned anything from my layoff, nothing is guaranteed, and job security was a fallacy.
I finally decided to question what I really wanted in my next role.
Here are some questions that I repeatedly asked myself until my answers sat well with me. (I emphasize repeatedly, because your initial answers will be well-intended or practical but not the whole truth of how you feel.)
- What do I want?
- What is important to me?
- What am I OK with sacrificing?
Here were my some of the answers to these questions:
I want to help others in the same situation, especially women of color who have been impacted by the pandemic.
Making an impact is important to me, and I want to create something valuable and helpful.
I am OK with being a learner and a beginner at something new.
Three years ago, I would have had answered these questions completely differently. I was proud to be a high-performing corporate employee that was completely loyal. I tied my identity and professional goals to align with the company's goals.
But for the first time in my career, I put my needs front and center. Now it was time to figure out how to turn the needs into action.
Step 2- Gathering Data Phase
After being laid off, I couldn't tell you what I was good at. I lost my sense of confidence and self-worth. So, I followed the suggestion of a career coach by taking a personality or talent assessment test to help rediscover my professional strengths.
I took three different online assessments:
CliftonStrengths Talent Assessment by the Gallup Institute
Via Character Institute- Strengths Survey
Sparktype- An assessment that helps you align your work with purpose
Yes, I got a little carried away.
But I wanted to gather as many data points as possible about myself to make the best decision for my career.
"Knowing your strengths, what you are best at is like having the key to your freedom and success. When you know your strengths, you can make better decisions because you have a better idea of what kind of work is a fit for your talents".
- Jennifer Bassman, Certified Clifton StrengthFinders Coach
Step 3- Experimenting Phase
I took my results and started to explore different roles that played into my key strengths of being a creator, learner, and planner.
I schedule several informational interviews with people in my network on LinkedIn.
And I said yes to different side projects like designing websites for my friends' businesses and creating informational decks about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for a small marketing firm.
Saying yes to these different side projects gave me a chance to taste test different kinds of work.
It was the SEO project that sparked my interest in learning more about blogging. I continued to follow my curiosity by signing up for online courses and certifications, watching many YouTube videos, and listening to any podcast about this new space.
Career Change- Start with a Side Project
In 2020 I launched this blog dedicated to supporting mid-career professionals looking to make a career pivot, start a side hustle, or launch an online business.
The blog serves so many purposes and played a significant role in my career change as a content writer. The blog allowed me to practice writing, implement SEO tactics, and expand my knowledge about digital marketing that forced me to create content on LinkedIn. And as a result, I revitalize my personal brand online by showcasing the blog.
I started to be recognized as a content writer, not a former fashion buyer.
The first step in making a career change is adopting a self-appointing project that you can show and share with others in your new industry, possibly hiring managers or potential clients.
Your resume will lack relevant background and experience in your new industry, but if you combine it with a working project, it could help you land your first role or client.
And that's what helped me get hired as a content writer for a small company and start a freelance writing business on the side.
The Final Takeaway- Career Change at 40
The Great Resignation isn't just about people quitting their jobs. They are quitting work altogether that doesn't meet the essential needs of their daily lives post-pandemic or leaving because their career isn't rewarding or fulfilling. People want more out of work, and now is the time to ask for it.
If you are looking to change careers, don't be afraid to question what you want, gather information about yourself, and experiment until you know it's worth it to make a change. I did it, even at the age of 40. I made a career pivot, and so can you.
