Reinventing yourself after 50

There's no specific age to reinvent yourself; we reinvent ourselves all the time. But sometimes, circumstances make it clear that we need a change: whether it's the desire for a new challenge, improve working conditions, a search for a better work-life balance, or the desire to re-enter the job market after a period away from it. Whatever the reason, one must not be inhibited by the thought of ‘it's too late’, but rather open yourself up to new experiences.

“Age bias -often self-imposed- limits any attempt to make changes more aligned with the values ​​of that moment in life. The truth is that you are the age you are, whether you pursue that dormant activity or vocation or not. So, it's better to live that age doing what you enjoy or need, than not doing it at all,” reflects Matiana Behrends, Advisory Services Partner and leader of Human Capital Advisory Services. 

In many cases, an external crisis triggers the need for change. It's at this moment that the desire to seek new paths becomes apparent. However, for most people, the need begins long before a specific trigger. Sometimes it takes the form of small questions about some aspect of our lives: what works and what doesn't, what used to work but no longer works, or what I always wanted to work, but due to certain life circumstances it just wasn't the right time, and now maybe it is.

A 2015 American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) study found that 82% of people over the age of 47 who sought a career change were successful. “We often see that the change is toward personal projects or small businesses. On the one hand, because they are a source of vitality and enthusiasm. And on the other, because they are something we can control. We can't control whether the job market is booming or frozen. But we can control our projects and adapt to what reality presents,” Behrends emphasizes.

However, reinvention is not a linear or simple process, and the results are not always what were initially expected. “We have to experiment with small things that don't dramatically break with our everyday life: from reconnecting with friends or acquaintances we no longer see, signing up for that course we’ve always wanted to take, to trying our new business project part-time,” says Matiana Behrends.

How to achieve successful change

When making a career change, we can consider some strategies to make the transition a viable process that isn't dramatic or extremely difficult. Thinking about this process as a series of steps that we can plan and follow systematically, will help us prepare for different scenarios that may arise:

• Find where our knowhow meets what we enjoy doing. This will give meaning to the change and help us face challenges without getting discouraged.
• Analyse what skills we have, and which are required for the project. Recognizing our skills, strengths, and weaknesses will give us a starting point and it is essential for taking the first steps without major risks. This knowledge will allow us to determine whether we should acquire new skills to facilitate the transition or turn to other professionals.
• Assess financial stability. Consider the financial impact of a career change and prepare for the consequences.
• Implement planning tools such as agile methodologies. This will allow us to manage uncertainty, adapt to a continuous learning mindset and make better decisions.

“Applying the agile mindset means considering an initial value proposition that allows us to focus on what truly matters, so we are willing to adapt and rethink the plan as many times as necessary without getting frustrated, but rather, learning from our mistakes,” says Behrends.

“For example, if the life change we're proposing is significant, experimenting with a new project part-time or taking specific courses in the skills needed to carry it out will allow us to understand whether it's what we were looking for or not. Investing time in talking to and learning from others who have embarked on a similar project is also a very valuable option.

These moments are often important for prioritizing opportunities that bring us real value, whether it's personal growth, freedom to consider alternatives, or learning that bring us closer to development opportunities. In all these instances, it's key to be willing to change our plans and to think of these changes as part of a process that ultimately results in achieving our goals," she concludes.