How to "job hop" in your forties?

To start a new job, you are forced to embark on a journey with the first step being learning from the very basics, accepting a lower salary, getting to know new colleagues... in the context of financial pressure due to having a family and children.

However, if every morning you wake up wondering: How to change career in your forties, then you clearly need to have a serious direction for yourself. There are factors you need to set and consider.

First, never make impulsive decisions. Work is important, but it is not your whole life. Therefore, before you make any decision, it is better to examine your whole life, including your physical and mental health, happiness, sadness, income, etc. You should rate the importance and satisfaction level of each area from 1-10.

You may think your current job is the problem, but does the problem arise from there or from your family, from your partner, from your role with your children...?

You can try to find the answer to this question by focusing less on work and more on your family instead. When your family problems are resolved, your mood is more positive, and you may look at your work with a much fresher eye.

In case the right job is really a problem for you, seriously ask yourself: What is it that you really want in your next job?

"You should think about your five core competencies that have helped you achieve success so far," says Mark Newall, owner of Flat Rock Careers, a career consulting firm in Marblehead, Massachusetts. "Then you can objectively assess which areas you want to continue pursuing. That way, when you look for a new job, you'll be able to identify new, viable fits."

Looking for a new job “is good exercise,” says Allison Task, a career and life coach in Montclair, New Jersey, and author of Personal (R) Evolution. Task recommends interviewing, which helps remind you of your personal strengths and keeps you current, even as you age.

Mark Newall points out that the challenge for middle-aged people looking for a new job is that they haven’t looked for a job in a long time, or their first job came to them passively (for example, they were offered a job). So if you’re considering a change, try to proactively build connections and show them what skills you have and what you want to do. Your friends may not be able to directly help you, but they can be a bridge.

If you still love your current job, but there are some small things that you hate, such as the constant meetings, late payments, etc., then the answer is that you can ask for a transfer, take on new projects, or freelance for the company. Don’t forget that, whatever your ultimate goal is, you are essentially in control of your own career.

In addition, before you decide to quit your job to find a new one, you should talk to your partner, review your finances, and make a budget for the time you cannot find a new job.

You should also give yourself a "trough period", about 1-3 years, as a buffer period for you to do a short-term job, helping you both work and find a suitable path.

When you break down the job search into smaller steps, it can feel less daunting and overwhelming. "Every step you take outside your comfort zone will make it easier to get out," advises Newall.

According to VnExpress