Plan your midlife change of career

It's never too late to start afresh, so here's some tips on how to make a mid-life career change.

In my career, I’ve seen investment bankers turn internet gurus, lawyers turn businessmen, businessmen turn real estate developers and engineers turn teachers - the list is endless. In the Middle East, many professionals want a career change. According to the 2013 Bayt.com Career Aspirations in the Mena survey, more than one in four respondents are prepared to move to another industry altogether as a next step in their career. Happiness means different things to different people. Our research has found that for some happiness means mental and physical health, while for others it translates into the freedom to do what you love. So if you’re feeling completely unfulfilled with your career right now and know that changing jobs, companies or locations won’t change that, don’t fret. It’s never too late to start afresh, providing you plan ahead and follow a few basic rules:

• Start by assessing your career motivations. Ask yourself what you don’t like about your job. Is it the content of your work? Is it your company culture or the people you work with? This is the time to really ask yourself what your life objectives are, what motivates you and makes you happy and what you imagine yourself doing for the foreseeable future that would fulfil and excite you and agree with your values and life priorities. In the Middle East, for example, five in 10 professionals want to work for a company where they feel their work is part of a greater purpose. If you find that it’s your current role you are not happy with, speak to your boss or the HR manager in your organisation. They may recommend you internally for another position or department in the company.

• Next, ask yourself if you have a concrete idea of what alternative career you would like to pursue. In many cases, professionals desiring a career change do not have a clear idea of the alternative choice they want. If you are one of them, then it would be a good idea to take some psychometric tests such as an interest and aptitude test. The empirical data obtained will help you define where abilities, interests and strengths lie.

• Brainstorm with friends, professional contacts and family on career alternatives. Use online resources to research into what skills are required for your new career.

• It is also important to get a realistic picture of the grit behind the glitter. So spend some time networking and talking with professionals who are actually working in the career you desire. Ask them what they find challenging and what do they do on a day-to-day basis.

• Realign your marketing document, aka your CV. Most roles involve skills that can be transferable. Identify those that you have that can be repackaged and reworded, then tweak your CV accordingly. Employers look for these skills when they’re interviewing you. In the Middle East, good communication skills in Arabic and English emerge as the top attributes that employers are looking for in a candidate; the ability to work under pressure and being a team player come next. Your CV will require some customising, especially in your objective statement. On your skill section, realign the order and prioritisation of skill sets as per your desired new role.

• Send out your CV to the right employers. Remember, a good start is a job half done. You need to be online and consistent in your job search approach.

• If you’re tired of reporting to someone else and have your own business ideas and are ready to take the plunge as an entrepreneur, then now may be the time. But remember that not everyone is ideally suited to be an entrepreneur, so before you bid your job farewell, ask yourself if this is really something you are passionate about and whether you have the willingness and ability to make the sacrifices necessary. These pointers should help you make the right career change, one step at a time. Good luck.

Lama Ataya heads the marketing department at Bayt.com

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