Is your job merely a stepping stone to your real career?

When we’re young and don’t know any better, we often “accidentally” fall into temporary jobs where we spend the next 15 years. We take the jobs because they’re there, they’re convenient, or we may believe that they’ll provide a good avenue for advancement. The problem is that the things we want when we’re in our twenties aren’t necessarily what we want when we’re forty.

We grow, priorities change and interests evolve. As we age, we become more aware of our mortality. Many people saw their parents stuck in jobs they hated until retirement, and decide that they don’t want to suffer the same fate.

According to a study published in Prevention Magazine, more people find that their 40s, 50s, and 60s are perfect for starting new careers. The reasons obviously vary from person to person, but generally the change is precipitated by a need to find more meaning in life. Trudging through the daily nine-to-five grind becomes less satisfying. People realise that they want to have one last attempt at reaching their dreams.

Life expectancy also plays a role in the decision to kick start a second career. People in developed countries can reasonably expect to live for at least another 20 years after retirement. The question then becomes what to do with all of the free time. You can only watch reruns of your favourite TV programme so many times, and surely after 20 years, the prospect of another round of golf will make you sigh before you reach for your clubs.

For some, longer life expectancy means that they simply can’t afford to retire. They work into their 70s or 80s because they have to and not because they want to be constructive, productive members of society. For them, living longer is not necessarily all it’s cracked up to be, although some will argue that it’s better than the alternative.

Women in particular, seem willing to take the risk of a career change. Women tend to peak later than men professionally speaking, saving their prime working years for their late 40s and early 50s. It stands to reason that they would rather spend this time in jobs that they find satisfying and meaningful. This could also explain why women make more dramatic career changes than men; often opening their own businesses, or hitting the books and starting completely anew. They also tend to move into more community-minded fields, or work towards the social upliftment of others.

Changing careers need not be a frightening prospect. So many people do it these days that there is a wealth of information on the topic on the Internet. Good old fashioned libraries are also invaluable resources, as are friends and family, and if you’re still unsure you can always consult a career coach. The point is, that if you don’t at least investigate the possibilities and give your dream job a try, you face over twenty years of living with the regret of opportunities lost and chances not taken. You could find out that twenty years is a long time indeed.

I read a story on jobbankusa.com that sums it up far more elegantly that I ever could.

One day a man heard his neighbour playing clarinet. His neighbour played very well and the music was beautiful. He knocked on his neighbour’s door and asked if his neighbour could teach him to play.
“Of course,” the neighbour said. “If you’re willing to make that commitment, I would be happy to teach you to play.”
“How long would it take?” the man asked.
“Well,” said the neighbour after some thought, “in seven years you could be quite good.”
“Seven years!” the man exclaimed. “In seven years I’ll be 46!”
To which his neighbour replied, “And how old will you be if you don’t learn?”

Don’t procrastinate; you’ll only get older.
Recommended sites:

http://www.jobbankusa.com/CareerArticles/Career/ca70805a.html

http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/jun2007/ca20070623_856586.htm

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060426/26secondcareer_retirement.htm

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Pitmans People temporary and casual labour opportunities one of the leading suppliers of temporary and casual labour to the UK workforce