Higher education at 40 years old man. Change career in adulthood

Often the question of who to retrain at the age of 40 for a man is puzzling. In most cases, by this age, everyone has a stable profession and sufficient work experience.

However, there are men who are not satisfied with the created conditions, and they would like to change the scope professional activity. Psychologists say that it is never too late to do this.

Rules for changing jobs at 40

When a man has a question about where to go to study at 30 years old, wide prospects open up before him, since employers are almost always looking for employees of this age.

However, if a man wants to learn a new profession at the age of 40 or older, he may face misunderstanding. Therefore, it is recommended to learn the basics of another type of activity without leaving the current job prematurely.

It is necessary to carefully weigh the pros and cons, consult with family and friends. You can seek advice from recruitment agency, for little money to pass a test for career guidance and compliance with the chosen specialty. It is important to soberly assess your capabilities and level of education. It is necessary to study the labor market in the place of residence, to assess how much the specialty will be in demand near the place of residence.

In order to guarantee the opportunity to work on future profession, you can find an employer in advance and conclude a preliminary contract with him. This practice is becoming more and more common.

You should consider moving if your future profession requires it. Do not forget that financial difficulties may arise, and protect the family from this in advance.

Therefore the choice new profession after 40 years is not an easy task and requires maximum responsibility from a man.

Demanded male specialties in Russia

At the age of 45, a man already has various practical skills, so it will not be difficult for him to master some kind of working specialty.

It is believed that both in cities and in small towns The profession of an auto mechanic is most in demand, since almost every family has a car. Having mastered this specialty, you can get a job in a car service, which is in any locality. In addition, private car repairers are also highly valued and well paid.

A related profession in demand is a car driver. Almost every man by the age of 40 has rights. If you take courses and open additional categories, you can get a job as a bus driver in the fleet or transport goods over long distances. It is profitable and interesting to work as a taxi driver - they are always needed both in car fleets and in taxi aggregators.

Boom construction works caused a shortage of skilled joiners and carpenters. After completing the appropriate retraining courses, you can master this sought-after profession in a few months and work either in some company or for yourself, contracting for interesting work. In addition, cabinet makers often make decorative woodwork and designer furniture, which are highly valued and can bring considerable profit.

The profession of plumbing is in demand in Russia. Qualified craftsmen are valued both in state utilities and private management companies. In addition, you can place an ad for the provision of services on various resources and receive good dividends by doing private activity. Plumbing courses are often available at labor exchanges, where they can be taken for free.

Increasingly, men, even without education, become carers for people with disabilities or the elderly. Physical strength is especially valued in such modern brothers of mercy, since in some cases it is necessary to carry the disabled in their arms, to go up and down the stairs, to handle the wheelchair. This work is especially suitable for men with a medical education.

The profession of a security guard is in demand in any locality. If a man is physically prepared, healthy, perhaps has some kind of sports category, he will be welcome in any private security agency. There he will be taught the peculiarities of the profession, tested for psychological stability. In some cases, they can help you get a license to carry a gun. Now security guards (from the concierge at the entrance to the collectors in large banks) are required everywhere.

In big cities, couriers with a free schedule are always needed, especially if they have a personal car. They are paid by the piece and have the opportunity to choose their hours of work.

Men with a higher pedagogical education can become a tutor - now this profession is becoming more and more in demand and well paid.

Psychologists can get status individual entrepreneur and provide private consultations. Men over 40 with great life experience are always trusted, in addition, this work is well paid.

Where can a man go to study at 40?

In order to be guaranteed to work in your specialty at the age of 50, you need to get additional education. In each city there are paid trainings for system administrators, IT specialists, courses for working professions.

Now there are various remote courses that you can study on the Internet, and then pass exams and get a certificate. If you want to get practical knowledge, you can find a mentor in your area of ​​interest and help him in your free time.

If a man has already retired from the last place, he must definitely contact the employment center. There, specialists will offer available vacancies that are interesting to the applicant.

Anyone who seeks help from the labor exchange is advised to take a career guidance test and, based on its results, they are offered training. At such centers, there are courses for auto mechanics, carpenters, locksmiths, confectioners, and they are all free. After completing a two-three-month training, you can be guaranteed to get an interesting and profitable job.

In rare cases, at this age, men receive higher education but that's also an option. However, one must take into account the factor that the chance of getting a position at this age without work experience in the specialty received is low.

How to get a job for a forty-year-old man?

If a man does not know how to find a job after 40 years, he needs to first contact the employment center. There are always interesting vacancies, among which you can choose the right one.

In order not to decide on your own how to find a job after 45, it is recommended to contact a personnel or recruiting agency that recruits personnel for various private organizations and firms. There, experts can suggest how to change a profession without tangible material and moral damage.

A good option is to search in parallel suitable job on the Internet, posting a well-written resume on special sites, in social networks and in profile groups in messengers.

Often a suitable vacancy can be found through an acquaintance. Before you change your profession, you can notify friends and acquaintances who are able to give good advice or recommend a free interesting position in a company.

Men with practical acumen can organize their own small business. Moreover, at the centers social protection and municipalities often provide training and business development grants.

Therefore, if you do not sit back, men, even after 40 years old, can find a profitable, and most importantly, interesting job.

“I worked for 20 years in the same profession right after graduation. Made a good career. I even get a good salary. But every day, when I come to work, I start to “vomit” everything.

And the question is not even in the enterprise where I work. Because I have changed several in 20 years. The problem is that I no longer want to work in this profession. I want self-realization in a completely different direction. But I'm 40 years old. And give employers 30-year-olds, without children, and even with at least 2 years of experience in a similar position. Don't know, what to do».

Or this option:

“After graduation, I got a job. She worked for three years. I didn’t really like the job, but then I didn’t really have to choose. Then she went on the first decree. No sooner had it ended than she gave birth to a child again. I stayed on maternity leave, now the children already go to school, I am about forty years old.

Almost no work experience, but I want to have self-realization. Who will hire me like this? After all, even candidates with great professional experience at this age are reluctant to accept in the company.

Here are just a couple of examples of letters and requests from my clients in consultations.

Today I will try to answer the question: what to do? I will not talk today about finding a calling and choosing a favorite thing. By default, we will assume that you have already decided on the chosen direction. If not, then first read the articles in mine, or sign up for me, and we will not only determine the vocation, but also write down an action plan.

If you are planning to do own business or infobusiness, everything is simpler here - no employer will interfere with you, and age will rather play a plus in your authority.

But not everyone is comfortable doing business. Many are much more comfortable working for hire. Therefore, today's recommendations will be just for you - those who are afraid to change their career and field of activity due to age.

I want to consider today common stereotypes among employers and candidates. And I will try to encourage you with specific recommendations and examples.

First, about stereotypes.

In fact, you are right when you say that employers want young and unencumbered family ties employees with incredible education, professional skills and experience in a similar position.

Let's start with the fact that this is not the case in all companies. There are companies that do not hire employees under the age of 35. There are employers who are willing to interview you if you sell yourself well on your resume and cover letter.

1. Who seeks will always find! Search! Do not limit yourself to job exchanges or job sites. Find at least 20 companies in your city where you would like to work. Write them letters. Even if they do not have a vacancy now, or they are not interested in you in principle, you have nothing to lose!

In my practice, there were at least 7 cases when a person sent out his resume in this way. As a result, either received an answer that in this moment suitable vacancies no, either received an alternative offer for another position, or received no response at all. But after 3-6 months (!) His efforts were more than rewarded: he received a letter with an offer to be interviewed for the desired position!

The main thing is to understand that all the efforts that you make will not be in vain.

2. Sell yourself! What benefits will a potential employer get if they hire you? First, just write it all down on a piece of paper. Include all of your strengths, your skills, knowledge, achievements. Read and decide, would you "buy" yourself by looking at your resume?

If not, what is missing? What knowledge do you lack? What needs to be developed in the near future? Make another list based on the answers to these questions. Before you start answering these questions, study the job postings for similar positions. Look carefully what the employer wants to see in a potential candidate for this position? First of all, pay attention to the tasks that the employee must perform, what skills he must have. Do not look at wishes about age (see point #1).

Your task is to collect the necessary information and draw up a plan for your development.

3. Pump up the necessary professional skills. You have made a list of required skills for the desired position. Now determine how and where you can purchase them. There is no need to get a second higher education. You can always find retraining courses or refresher courses, or short-term training courses.

If there are none in your city, pay attention to distance learning online. Many training centers in major cities have long been creating distance learning programs, after which you will be sent a supporting document (certificate, certificate or even a diploma). Read specialized literature, engage in self-education.

4. Try on a new profession. Indeed, in fact, everything may not be as “romantic” as you imagined it to be in your imagination. Consider telecommuting options so you can stay at your current job and still try out a new career.

Also consider freelancing or volunteering. In your free time, you can work for free or take small one-time part-time jobs.

5. In addition, many companies are interested in employees without work experience, and train them themselves. If there are no such companies in your city, again, consider working through the Internet. Many companies in large cities or large private entrepreneurs and information businessmen recruit employees and conduct interviews via the Internet. No need to go to the office every day, you can work from home. Search!

If you are afraid that you will not be officially employed, but what about the interrupted seniority and pension ... What can I say! Either look for a formal job and hold on to apparent stability, or take the risk. I will disappoint you - there is no stability. The Lord did not promise tomorrow to anyone. Economic and political situation in the country and in the world can change at any moment, and your seniority and all your pension savings can depreciate at any time.

Determine for yourself what is more important to you now: self-realization in your favorite business or writing in work book, which, perhaps, guarantees you a pension in old age? But I'll tell you straight away nothing prevents you from finding a job where there will be both. Search!

6. Prepare for the interview. Before you go to an interview, think about your answers to this question: “Why should we hire you instead of someone who is more experienced in this area?” This is where listing your skills and talents (see paragraph 2) that are suitable for this job comes in handy, and if you are actively involved in improving them (seminars, courses, special literature, volunteering, etc.), the effect will be even better.

Recall examples from your past professional activities. Surely you had to perform similar tasks and cope with them successfully. If you remember at least 3-5 such examples, you will feel more confident and will be able to mention it at the interview.

And finally, examples that will give you self-confidence.

The famous Russian artist Yuri Larin, whose work is exhibited in museums in Paris, Moscow and New York, worked as a hydraulic engineer until the age of 40, when he entered the Stroganov School.

A resident of an island nation in Oceania, Francois Latil worked as a lawyer and designed bows in his spare time. At 62, he made his debut at the Sydney Olympics, taking part in archery competitions.

JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, published her first book at the age of 33. Before that, she worked researcher and Secretary-Translator of Amnesty International. And since writing her first book, Rowling has gone from living on welfare to multimillionaire status in five years.

The famous Louise Hay, who wrote the first book, Heal Your Body, when she was 50 years old. And behind the author's shoulders only high school, religious courses and life experience.

There are such examples all over the world and not only. Many women aged 40-50-60 come to me for consultations. And even if at the age of 60 it is really difficult to get a permanent job in any company, they do not get lost and start their own business! Some are offline and some are online.

The main thing is faith in yourself, confidence in the chosen direction and motivation, backed up by practical actions.

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Is your job no longer enjoyable? How do you decide to change at forty? Many women have proved by their own example that it is quite possible to change a profession at this age. Today, the women's club "Who is over 30" will teach you how to change your profession at 40 and completely overcome the fear of change.

Most people over 40 have a hard time with change. It is especially difficult to get a new profession. The most common fears include:

  • Fear of losing a source of income;
  • Doubts about the correct choice of a new profession;
  • Fear of losing a sense of comfort and a sense of stability.

Having fallen into a whirlpool of doubts, people, having not decided on changes, remain unhappy and depressed at their previous work until the end of their days.

Psychologists say that only doing what you love will give a person freedom and peace of mind. There will be difficulties in changing professions, but these will be difficulties on the way to a new life, where you, having gained the missing creativity, will become a truly happy woman.

Before you decide to change your profession, at 40 you need to decide for sure: are you just tired of your current profession, or is it really time for you to change it? Perhaps the reason is that you do not like relationships with colleagues or with superiors. Perhaps you are just tired and need a short rest.

If a change of team or a long-awaited vacation does not solve the problem, then it's time for you to think about a new profession.

Analyze a few more symptoms that indicate that you have a profession that does not bring any pleasure:

  • On you miss;
  • Are you sure that you have achieved everything possible in your profession; career growth no longer shines for you;
  • You are not interested in literature in your specialty;
  • Extraneous thoughts often distract you from work;
  • You have to force yourself to go to work;
  • You have deep depression, panic attacks and hopelessness.

To finally dot the "i", the women's club website recommends taking a long-term vacation for the purpose of experiment. Try to go somewhere so that your professional duties couldn't distract you. If, after a good rest, work is still a burden, then you urgently need to change something in this life.

The first step to a career change is to face your fears.

Changing and choosing a new profession at the age of 40 can be a serious step. It has been proven that the later you decide to change, the more difficult it will be for you to make this step. This is explained by the fact that at the previous job you already have some success, and at the new one you will again have to start everything from scratch.

Many women after forty are afraid to come to new team where they will be treated like young trainees. Often fear is also caused by the boss, who can refuse a mature woman a new job.

To deal with your fears, you need to ask yourself what are you really afraid of when planning new changes? The next step is to understand that these are not the life circumstances that you need to be afraid of.

You must make it clear to yourself that:

  1. Changing profession at 40 is not your first experience when you change something. Remember how you felt when you embarked on the path of change? What helped you deal with those feelings then? Take advantage of previous experience.
  2. Analyze the lives of your relatives, friends and acquaintances, for sure there will be those who took risks and changed their occupation. They coped with all the tests, so you can do it too.
  3. Take inspiration from famous people. Read biographies of great people, watch motivational films.
  4. Know that if you are burdened by a real profession, then without changing it, you will feel dissatisfaction all your life.

After 40 years, some professions, such as a pilot or an actress, are very difficult to master. What to do if it is impossible to change a new profession at the age of 40? Psychologists advise, even in such a situation, not to despair. Turn your dream into a hobby.

Every person should have time for hobbies outside of work. This approach will give you the opportunity to innovate in your life without changing anything radically. Perhaps a new hobby will help you understand that the reasons for your fears and worries lie not at all in your work.

How to change a profession, avoiding mistakes

You have weighed and considered everything. You have made a decision and you know exactly what new profession you want to get. Do not hurry! Psychologists advise making a list in which you need to include all the pros and cons of a new profession. Special attention give wages, competitiveness, learning difficulties and their own health.

Determine what opportunities for your career growth will bring a change of profession? If there are no prospects at the old job, and after getting it, bright prospects open up before you, with full confidence change the scope of activities, regardless of age.

To avoid nervous breakdowns, you need to move towards your goal gradually. It makes no sense to change anything at the age of forty to the detriment of comfort.

When thinking about how to change your profession at 40, keep in mind that at first you may experience difficulties. Will your family support you? Pay attention to the financial situation of your family so that for some time these questions do not make you worry.

In no case do not leave the old job with a scandal. No need to spoil relations with former colleagues. Always leave an escape route for yourself, what if you have to return?

Changes start by attending the courses where you will take necessary training and learn the basics of your favorite profession. Gradually acquiring new knowledge, you will acquire new acquaintances in this area. The changes will begin to pass painlessly. Moreover, in the process of learning, you can understand that this is not at all the profession that you so passionately dreamed of. You can return to your previous work at any time.

Remember to get new job after 40 years is possible only thanks to the experience and endurance inherent in a mature woman. For the employer, you are a person who does not rely on emotions in making the right decision, does not rush to extremes, and has the support of relatives.

Changing jobs and changing careers are two different things. If in the first case you can easily succeed thanks to your skill and experience, then in the second case you will have to start everything absolutely with clean slate. For some women, this state of affairs can be a serious obstacle on the way to a dream. But, if you have strong nerves, no one and nothing will prevent you from achieving your goal.

Much in this situation will depend on how much you want to change your profession: to develop and learn. Decide what you want: stability or the fulfillment of your cherished dream?

If the decision is solid, do not delay its implementation indefinitely. After all, faith in yourself, confidence that you are acting correctly and motivation backed up by practice can work wonders.

The article was checked by a special psychologist Gryzlova Olga Yurievna

It turned out that the level of competence of people is unevenly distributed by age. It would seem that the older a person is and the longer he is engaged in his profession, the higher should be the competence, better results and louder success?

However, this is not the case in all professions. Perhaps only in some areas of art: in painting, music, sculpture, literature, partly in directing, in crafts, martial arts, and even then, subject to continuous practice and close involvement in the real industry.

In all other professions, there is a completely different distribution of competencies by age, with a peak between 30 and 40 years of age. At this time, people are actively immersed in real projects and are less involved in management.

After 40 years, many people move from direct professional activity to management, which inevitably reduces competencies.

Some at the age of 30-35 create their own business, as a result of which they have to pump marketing, sales, accounting, business organization. There is less time left for professional growth.

Individually, this age range for the distribution of competencies is highly dependent on the industry. There are industries, such as software development, where the rate of change is so high that the peak of competencies falls in the range from 25 to 35 and does not grow much, because there is an active change in technologies, tools and frameworks. There are industries where the rate of change is slower, so the peak of competencies shifts closer to 40–45, sometimes to 50, which is already rare.

But one way or another, there is a significant number of people over 45, 50, 55 years old who have a serious problem: they have changed many professions, but all these professions are outdated to one degree or another. As a result, such people are in a kind of illusion.

They continue to think that they are still professionals in these industries. Compared to novice amateurs - yes, but for requirements modern market- not anymore!

It means back to school! 45, 50, 55, 65 - this is the range when you can and should acquire, open up new horizons and opportunities. Why and why is it needed?

Why study

First the bad news

If you are professionally illiquid, then an unpleasant prospect awaits you. You can keep serving more and more simple processes, and, most likely, within 10-15 years you will be laid off. It is difficult and almost impossible for you to compete with the next generation in the 35-45 year range. Especially since the robots are coming. Therefore, we will not discuss further why this is necessary: ​​it is already clear. Let's talk about the benefits of getting a new profession.

Good news: we have a lot of them!

1. Oddly enough, people do not get stupid with age, but get smarter. This is a proven fact. You can learn 10-20 times faster, especially in complex subjects and skills. Yes, teenagers will overtake you in computer shooters, but they won't even come close to understanding the complex concepts that you intuitively understand instantly. Why? Because your erudition, contextual spaces, the ability to operate with categories and connect concepts are several times higher at this age. And they will continue to grow if you take care of it in advance.

2. You read faster and, most importantly, understand faster. If it takes a young person several years to enter the profession, it will only take you a few months if you do it with the same intensity. Many who are over 45 are afraid to study because they are used to thinking that it is a very long time.

It is children who learn for a long time, while adults learn 100 and 200 times faster. Now you don't have to be afraid.

3. You see new opportunities faster when you connect with new knowledge. Why? Because opportunities are back side problems, and you see them and know how to recognize them more and better precisely because you are more experienced and sophisticated in life. The problem with novice startups is that they quickly gain expertise in technology, but they do not have the knowledge of life and understanding of the problems. Therefore, new knowledge will give you 10-20 times more opportunities than young people.

5. Intensive training dramatically reduces the likelihood of age-related dementia, which is too early to think about before 40, and after 55 it is not too late. For more on this, see the presentation of my TED Talk "Non-drug Approaches to Active Longevity".

6. New learning means new contacts, new horizons, new meanings, new countries. Children and domestic problems in the past.

The second youth has come - the time to discover the world, get new sensations, new experience. It's only the beginning.

Feel yourself young again, again a student, leave the role of an experienced person that fetters you. Experience is there to help you, not limit your growth.

What to learn

The general approach is based on two simple criteria.

1. What do you like, what is your passion for?

Often people make mistake number 1: you get a fan of many things that you know and have somehow encountered. But there is a lot of everything. Much more that you don't know and that would probably put you in a lot more. In order not to make this mistake, you need to read more different industry press, go to events from different areas that are far from your everyday life.

Mistake #2 : choosing a profession. Profession is just a tool to achieve and realize your desires, ideas about success. Therefore, first you should understand how the picture of that success, the experience that you want to get looks like. What does the role you want to play look like? Once you understand this, everything becomes much easier with the choice of profession.

2. What will develop promisingly and intensively over the next 5–8 years?

The calculation is simple: it will take 5–7 months to study, about 7–9 months to enter a new field and come out on top (remember that you do it faster than the young) and about 5 years of unlimited professional, social and financial growth. Then, most likely, either a transition to a higher level - management and business - or a change of direction again.

At 40, as you know, "life is just beginning." And this is a great age to try yourself in something new - for example, to master a new field of activity. This is especially true for women: maternity leave behind, the children are growing up, but there is still a lot of strength and energy, and behind him a decent life and professional experience. We tell you where to go to study for a woman after 40 and who then to work.

Professional retraining for women

There are several options for getting a new profession. There are both free and paid courses from various private training centers.

It is worth paying attention to whether the organization has a license for educational activities, to study responses of students and employers. So you will be less likely to stumble upon non-professionals and waste money.

Online learning is suitable if you are confident in your responsibility and organization.

Whom should a woman retrain at 40?

The list of the most demanded "women's" professions in the country includes professions:

    health worker (only available with a diploma of basic specialized education);

    personnel officer;

    psychologist;

    teacher;

    expert in the field of trade and services.

These specialties are suitable for stress-resistant sociable women. In addition, workers in such occupations often have free or flexible hours, so that it is easy to combine work with household chores.

Women who are erudite, quickly memorize a large amount of information and find a common language with people well, work in the field of tourism is suitable. In some agencies, you can train as a tourism manager right on the spot. Having established sales, you can earn good money.

Another promising profession -. Specialists with legal education are especially valued.

Another option is a profession (suitable for residents of tourist-attractive regions). Excellent memory and clear speech are indispensable "companions" of the guide. Knowledge can be a bonus foreign languages, historical or geographical education. You will have to study both in courses and on your own.

A popular area of ​​\u200b\u200bactivity for women is. Courses of hair extensions, manicure, pedicure, make-up last from several days to several months. Initial skills are often not even needed - it is enough to have good taste. True, the competition is huge, and in order to acquire regular customers, it will take a lot of time.

Health workers, tired of the sick, can retrain as cosmetologists.

Work in social services (help around the house, delivering food and medicine to the elderly and sick people) is good mostly with a free schedule. And training in the field of trade can be done right in retail chains- often free. Supermarkets are constantly opening vacancies for cashiers, salespeople, display workers, packers and packers, goods receivers.

A new profession after 40 years: prospects and pitfalls

The results of opinion polls show that employers more often give preference to young employees, and this applies even more to women. Many bosses have a prejudice against them: 40-year-old workers are more likely to focus on the family than on their careers, do not agree to work overtime, and their performance decreases with age.

At the same time, older employees have already gained experience and developed the ability to competently communicate with people. They know how to present themselves favorably and how to conduct business.

In addition, if in youth the choice of a future profession is often influenced by the opinion of parents, the desire to enter a university for free and with a minimum of exams, then in adulthood women approach this already consciously, understanding what they really need and what they can and want do the best.

Yes, and learning after 40 years is in some way easier: there is a good base of knowledge and skills, life experience, self-confidence. And the children, most likely, have already grown up a little and do not need every minute supervision of their mother - which means that you can take care of yourself.