What is midlife career change commonly characterized by?

Midlife career change is commonly characterized by happening between the ages of 35 and 45, which is often when individuals reassess their career paths and consider making significant changes. During this period, many professionals reflect on their successes and challenges, leading them to seek new opportunities that may better align with their evolving personal and professional goals. This phase can be driven by various factors, including a desire for greater job satisfaction, the pursuit of a new passion, or life changes that prompt a reevaluation of career priorities.

In contrast, suggesting that midlife career change is almost non-existent in the workforce fails to recognize the significant number of individuals who do reevaluate and alter their career trajectories during this time. The notion that such changes typically occur after retirement age overlooks the reality that many people initiate changes well before that point, as they seek to realign their work with their values and life circumstances. Additionally, the idea that most changes happen within the first 10 years of a career doesn’t reflect the realities of midlife transitions, as many individuals make key changes later in their professional lives, often after acquiring substantial experience.