How to Navigate a Career Change in Midlife

Thinking about a career change? Here’s how to actually make it happen, step by step. I’ve spoken with hundreds of people stuck between “I don’t want to do this anymore” and “But where do I even start?” Here’s the truth: Changing careers isn’t about starting over. It’s about repackaging what you already know, and proving you can solve a new set of problems. Here’s how to do it (with examples): 1. Start with your story. What’s pulling you away from your current path—and what’s pulling you forward? ✅ Example: “I’ve spent 6 years in education, but what I really loved was designing systems and learning tools. I’m now pivoting into UX design for edtech.” Make the shift clear and intentional. 2. Identify your transferable skills. You’ve built real value, name it. ✅ Example: Sales → Relationship-building, persuasion, handling objections Ops → Process design, cross-functional collaboration, execution List your strongest 4–6 skills and align them with your new target role. 3. Learn the language of the new industry. Every field has its own lingo. Start speaking it. ✅ Tip: Search 10 job listings in your target role. Write down the top 5 repeated words/phrases. Mirror those in your LinkedIn, resume, and pitch. 4. Rewrite your resume to match the direction, not the past. Lead with relevance, not chronology. ✅ Example: Add a “Career Summary” section: “Operations leader transitioning into product management, with 7+ years leading cross-functional teams, driving process improvements, and delivering results.” 5. Build proof fast. Don’t wait to get hired to show your skills. ✅ Options: Freelance Volunteer Build your own project Take a short course and create a case study Demonstrate that you’re not just interested, but also taking action. 6. Apply smart, not just often. Instead of applying everywhere, focus on quality roles in flexible environments. ✅ Pro tip: Use DailyRemote to find legit, remote-friendly roles across industries. It’s especially helpful for career changers who want fresh opportunities and a bit more breathing room. 7. Network with purpose. Start with conversations, not asks. ✅ DM example: “Hi Alex, I saw your post about transitioning into UX. I’m making a similar shift from content strategy. Would love to hear about your journey, no pressure at all.” Career changes take courage. But they’re absolutely possible. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Now package it with purpose, and go get what’s next.

My client, a mid-career operations manager, just landed 3 interviews in 1 week—> after months of total silence. We’ve been working 1:1 to clarify their next professional chapter after feeling stuck for nearly a year—riddled with doubt, burnout, and the creeping fear of irrelevance. Before then, they had no clear direction for their search. Their résumé and LinkedIn told two entirely different stories. Every rejection felt personal, feeding a loop of “maybe it’s too late” and making progress feel impossible. Even basic outreach felt random and draining (which is common—but not effective). 𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝? 3 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 1️⃣ A clearer path: we named the role and the mindset they were ready to grow into. 2️⃣ Cohesive language across their résumé, LinkedIn, and networking messages—aligned with who they’re becoming. 3️⃣ A simple outreach strategy anchored in value, not volume. Once their positioning shifted, they didn’t just get noticed… They built momentum. And started trusting their own voice again—without second-guessing every word. Before, their job search looked like this: — Hoping the résumé would do the heavy lifting — Ghosting on LinkedIn for weeks — Overediting every message until it felt lifeless Now, it looks like this: — "I'm exploring team strategy roles with a clarity and systems lens" — "Just updated my profile—would love your eyes on it" — "Let me know if you’ve seen teams navigating change—I support that well" See the difference? ❌ Less grasping ✅ More grounded motion 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥. We got specific about what alignment meant in this search: — The exact role type and leadership style they wanted — The values they couldn’t compromise on — The people they most needed to be visible to — The message that reflected not just skills—but direction — The offer that felt real: “I bring order to complexity with calm systems thinking.” This works because your search strategy determines who finds you—and how fast you move. It’s a magnet. When you're clear, the signal reaches farther. When you’re muddled, even great work hides in plain sight. P.S. If you’re feeling stuck and: ➝ You’ve edited your résumé ten times ➝ Your LinkedIn sounds like a stranger ➝ You haven’t reached out in weeks ➝ You’re spinning in uncertainty I’m opening spots next month to work with mid-career professionals looking to realign their brand and search strategy. DM me “𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐥” and I’ll send the details.

IS CAREER CHANGE STILL POSSIBLE IN MID-CAREER? Q. Hi Liz, I want to change careers but who would hire me in a new career path at my age? A. I remember how happily surprised I was when I realized that most jobs have a lot in common with one another. If we're talking about office jobs, most of the relevant skills are transferable. You'll learn new methods and new terminology in a new career path but everything else -- your brains, your wisdom, your ability to spot problems and solve them, your communication skills and so on - carries over from one career path to the next. Here are the steps to executing a career change at any age: 1) Decide which career path you want to explore. (That is a big question! If you're stuck on this point or any of the other points in this list, drop a note in my LinkedIn inbox and we'll brainstorm.) 2) Brand yourself for the new career path you're entering. That's going to involve changing some of what's on your resume now. You're branding yourself for a new audience, and hiring managers in that audience care about different things that the managers you wrote your old resume for. 3) Read job ads and research your target career path to understand the pain points hiring managers run into. They won't be obscure or mysterious. Common pain points are things like losing customers to competitors, checked-out employees (or turnover), a shortage of leadership bench strength, poor response to job ads, cost overruns, overburdened tech, etc. 4) Recall and reclaim some of your favorite Dragon-Slaying Stories(TM) - stories about times when you came, saw and conquered in your career thus far. Your stories illustrate your abilities far better than a list of skills ever could. 5) Create a Target Employer List. That's a list of employers who employ people in the new career path you're focused on. 6) Put together your strategy, and launch your job search! Need ideas? Drop a note in my LinkedIn inbox. Here's to your career adventures! #careerchange #midcareer #branding #rebranding #newyou #newpath #transferableskills #yougotthis

The moment you realize a career transition is calling your name: A flood of emotions. Fear, stress, anxiety, uncertainty... All flowing in suddenly, feeling so very real it seems they’ll never go away. But with some effort you can make them temporary. The first step: Shift your mindset from reactive to proactive. The key now is to maintain your composure and chart a deliberate path forward: 1. Buy yourself time and space to strategize This doesn’t mean checking out, failing to do your job, or becoming the toxic colleague. This means carving out time to make a plan, check your behavior, and think about your legacy at this company. 2. Start documenting your accomplishments Outline your: → major projects, → performance metrics, → the outcomes you and your team achieved, → the tools and systems you used, → your lessons learned along the way. This will help you build an inventory of information that will make it easier for you to update your resume and your LinkedIn profile. 3. Reflect on your values and desires for your next role Answer 3 questions here: - What do I really want? - What am I excited about working on? - What does the world need and want from me? This will help you define your path forward, and narrow the scope of your search to roles that objectively meet your needs and desires. 4. Lean on your support system Your mentors, and perhaps a career coach. Finding a great new job is not easy, it will take time, and there will be bumps along the way. The people around you can be instrumental in helping you see this through. If you’re going to hire a coach, doing so several months before you plan to leave your current role can give you the best return on your investment. Remember, how you handle this transition will leave a lasting impression on your colleagues (your network) and your own sense of professional integrity. Navigating a career inflection point can feel overwhelming. But you don't have to do it alone. If you're ready for a thought partner to help you clarify your goals and make a plan, let's set up a time to have a conversation.

As a producer of educational software in Silicon Valley in my early 20s, I started to realize my passion was more in the purpose and the educational side of the work and less about the project management and development of technology itself. I moved into a technology integration role in a school as a transition role and then earned a degree as a school counselor and moved from there into career coaching. It was a total shift but I made it happen over a number of small steps. Leaving a long-held job can bring up a lot of emotions. Transitioning to entrepreneurship or a new role adds complexity. Here’s what’s (probably) going to come up for you as you navigate this change: 1️⃣ Ruminating and Second-Guessing: Experiment with small steps towards your desired path. 2️⃣ Feeling Guilty: Recognize natural emotions but focus on new opportunities. 3️⃣ Fear of Losing Status: Embrace shedding old identities for growth. 4️⃣ Needing to Adapt: Be prepared to embrace change in different environments. 5️⃣ Managing Perceptions: Demonstrate eagerness to learn and evolve. 6️⃣ Balancing Emotions: Embrace excitement and fear as fuel for growth. Remember, a career transition is about both emotional and professional evolution. Aim for a balance of terror and exhilaration for a bold leap forward! Read more at HBR: https://lnkd.in/eaPq2XSp

A client came to me wanting to make a career change but wasn’t sure where to start. It’s a common spot to be in, especially if you’ve spent years working in one area. You might think, “I should just stick to what I know, right?” Not necessarily… In an earlier post, I talked about the importance of reflecting on “Why” you want to make a change. That’s the starting point. Assuming you’ve done that, what’s next? If your goal is to find purpose and direction in your career, then you should reflect on questions prompted by the Japanese concept of “Ikigai”. 🔹 What do you love to do? 🔹 What are you good at? 🔹What does the world need? 🔹What can you be paid for? Your answers might change over time as you grow and as the world changes too. I’d add a couple more questions to think about: 🔹What are your circumstances? (e.g., financial needs, family needs)  🔹What are your values? (i.e., your non-negotiables) It’s useful to check in with yourself on these questions now and then because your answers will evolve over time. This approach has guided me in making four career pivots. And I loved all of them. Each one helped me discover new passions, develop new skills, and uncover new opportunities. Exploring these questions is like using a compass in your career journey. What questions have helped guide you to leading a fulfilling career and life?

I want to share how I navigated my career uncertainty. Here's a simple 5-step process I think you'll find valuable: 1. Start with self-discovery. - Reflect on what energizes you. - What work makes time fly for you? These insights are crucial. 2. Complete assessments. - Leadership and personality assessments can be eye-opening. 3. Network conversations. - Reach out and connect with individuals who have taken similar career paths. Their experiences can guide and inspire your own understanding. 4. Explore beyond your degree. - Understand that your degree is just a starting point. - The real assets are your transferable skills like leadership, communication, and problem-solving. 5. Informational interviewing. - Engage in conversations with professionals. - Ask about their career trajectories and challenges. These insights are often invaluable. Remember, your career is more than your degree. It's about the intersection of your skills and passions. If you’re feeling lost, start exploring and be open to where the path leads. Action makes everyone feel about the future. Take action.

😩 "After 20 years, I don't know how much longer I can stand the stress of this job." - How do you advise someone who makes this intense statement? Evidence suggests they could stand the stress longer - since they’ve been grinding it out for 20 years - but why would they? Is a change of role the best solution? The stay-or-go dilemma obscures an important, deeper inquiry into what we need - in the current role or in any future scenario. A change of scenery might bring temporary relief, but you’ll probably find the old ghosts haunting the new house. Start by asking, "What needs to be different now?" Begin with a clear-eyed assessment of what's causing your stress and diminishing your fulfillment. Is it the workload, the team dynamics, the lack of creative freedom, or perhaps the alignment (or misalignment) with your values? Then: - Check Yourself: Could you be managing your time more effectively, setting healthier boundaries, or developing resilience? How might you evolve to meet the challenges of your role differently? - Make Adjustments: Can you modify your current role to better suit your needs and strengths? Delegate certain tasks, focus more on projects that light you up, or even explore a new position that better utilizes your talents? - Communicate: Talk to your manager and team. Discuss your needs, your vision for a more balanced work life, and how these changes could benefit everyone. Chances are good that they will all feel similarly. - Be Open to All Outcomes: Your journey may lead to the realization that a new environment is necessary for growth. If so, the work you've done will help align your next role more closely with your needs for fulfillment and balance. The goal is to craft the conditions for your choice to thrive, whether that's in your current role or elsewhere. It's a powerful declaration (to yourself and others) that you expect—and deserve—more from your work: more fulfillment, less stress, and a life that feels balanced and meaningful. ⚖ #careerchange #worklifebalance #professionalgrowth #stressmanagement #executivecoaching #mindfulleadership

After 6 months on the job search, my friend said, "Katy, this feels like pushing a boulder up a mountain... and I can't even see the top of the mountain. I'm exhausted." Steal this simple metaphor I gave her as an alternate way to think about your career change: (it's far more empowering than muscling a boulder uphill) You're an explorer on a quest. Like the hero protagonist in an adventure novel, you are the main character. You may not know the final destination, but you know how it'll feel when you arrive. 1) Form a few hypotheses on where to begin. Start exploring them. Bring friends along for the ride who will cheer you on. 2) Try new paths and seek guidance from others. Every conversation gives you some insight or knowledge. 3) Use that insight to refine your direction. Keep iterating, keep learning, keep going. Especially when you want to give up. Celebrate the micro-wins along the way. 4) When you finally get to the "destination", celebrate that big milestone. When you reflect on your journey, you'll realize the biggest win is who you became in the process. 5) Without fail, you will set a new destination because your story doesn't end there. You will continue to evolve and grow in the never-ending quest to become more yourself. Do not forget: You are both the main character and the author. What story are you writing?

Transitioning from one chapter to another, whether it's a career shift or a life transition, can be one of the most challenging, exciting, and daunting experiences we face. Hanging up my Air Force flight suit for the final time was tough . . . knowing the countless missions flown, the camaraderie shared, and the comfort of doing something familiar. But as one chapter closes, another begins. If you’re facing your own life transition, here are a few key things to consider: ✳ Reflect on Your Accomplishments: Take stock of your experiences. Recognize the skills you've gained, the challenges you've overcome, and the lessons you've learned. Now use those lessons learned in this next chapter. ✳ Embrace Change: Don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone and try something new. Sometimes we feel compelled to take the quick and easy route because it’s comfortable (or what we're expected to do). But there’s more out there than we think. ✳ Set Goals: Define your objectives for the next chapter of your life. What’s important to you? What sacrifices are you willing (or not willing) to make? ✳ Seek Support: Seek out mentors and colleagues who can offer guidance, encouragement, and perspective. Be humble and willing to learn from those who've made the transition and have lessons to share. ✳ Learn Continuously: Transitions don’t always go as planned. Be patient and take it all in. Stay curious, seek out new knowledge and experiences, and be willing to learn from both successes and failures. Navigate your career or life transition with a sense of purpose . . . be ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come your way. The good news . . . you can find passion and purpose in this next chapter too. #PersonalDevelopment #success #FlyingInTheFaceOfFear