This question comes up a LOT.
What’s surprising is that people ask this question at so many different ages … as young as 30 or 35, as old as 70, and every age in between.
Here are some things to think about.
(1) Regardless of your age, people have different energy levels. You’ll need energy to change careers. You will need energy to study a new field.
The catch is, often people don’t realize how much (or how little) energy they have till they get started on the process. Typically motivation creates TONS of energy. Sometimes you realize it’s not what you wanted and the energy drains away.
Of course, I’m assuming you have no physical reasons for lacking energy. That’s a whole other ball game and it’s not my area.
(2) Regardless of your age, some professions and some firms have norms that include age. If you don’t fit the profile you could have trouble getting a job IF you want to work for a particular type of organization. However, if you’re flexible, you’ve got more options.
(3) You have to consider your own financial set-up and risk profile. However, sometimes when you postpone a career change or opt to stay where you are, you actually experience more risk than if you did nothing. For instance, if you’re 45 in a dead-end job, a career shift that involves an advanced degree might pay for itself because you can work through to your sixties.
Finally, you’ll need to get reinforcement. When you change careers, you can expect the nay-sayers and wannabes to show up on your doorstep. Assemble a strong support team: people who will believe in you and yet encourage you to be realistic about your options and opportunities.
And if you are ready to get serious about career change, I’d suggest you check out
http://budurl.com/careersession