Changing Careers Over 40

If you are over 40 years old and looking to make a career change, don't worry that your age will leave you lagging behind. With preparation, any career change can be a successful one.

Keep your skills fresh. It is vital that you keep your computer and other skills up-to-date. Depending on what type of employment you are seeking, make sure you are familiar with the latest word processing, spreadsheet and other software applications. If your skills aren't current, take a refresher course online or at a local community college before making a career change.

Don't advertise your age. For those over 40 making a career change, take the emphasis off dates on your resume. Make your resume more about your skills and abilities.

• Only list jobs for the last 10-15 years. Don't age yourself by listing jobs in decades gone by.
• Do not list your college graduation date. It's not a requirement for any employer to know when you graduated. The fact you graduated is good enough.
• Create a functional resume rather than a chronological one. By gearing your resume towards accomplishments rather than dates, your potential employer will be able to concentrate on what matters.
• Remove out-of-date skills. If you have knowledge of computer programs that no one uses anymore, there is no need to put them on your resume.
• Tone down job titles. If you have been in an executive position for years and are looking for a lower-level position at a new company, re-write the titles.

Be prepared to be interviewed by someone younger than you. If you are looking for new employment, there's a good chance that your potential boss could be younger than you. When interviewing, stress your skills and accomplishments, as well as your willingness to learn. If you have taken any recent coursework or attended any workshops, let the interviewer know. Emphasize your willingness to keep pace with the changing job market.

Be proud of your wisdom and experience.