Changing Careers in Midlife
Guidance for navigating the emotional and practical weight of switching careers later in life.
Understanding it
Considering a career change in midlife often stirs up more than logistical questions - it can shake a person's sense of identity, especially if much of their self-worth has been tied to a professional title or years of expertise built in one field. It is common to feel simultaneous excitement and grief: excitement about new possibility, grief over the sunk time, skills, or status that a change might mean setting aside. Both feelings can be true at once, and neither needs to cancel out the other.
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When to reach for more support
If uncertainty about your career has escalated into persistent hopelessness, panic, or thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988; a career counselor or therapist can also help you build a concrete transition plan.