Career Change at 40+ - Is It Realistic?

Don't write off the idea that you're "too old" - that's the biggest mistake a lot of people make. At 40+, you've simply got more experience, stamina, and often financial stability too compared to younger people, which seriously helps when starting fresh. Sure, some industries are trickier, but it definitely works - just be realistic that a complete career change takes time and you might have to take a step down on salary at first.

What exactly are you thinking of doing - something completely different or more of a variation on what you already know?

It's absolutely realistic, but you have to be honest with yourself about whether it's financial reasons (in which case you might need a plan for the transition period) or whether you genuinely want to do it. Because at 40+, you quickly figure out whether something really excites you or whether you're just chasing it. That's actually an advantage - your tolerance for bullshit has shrunk, and that helps you make realistic decisions.

The practical tip I'd give you: find someone in your target field who's roughly your age and has gone through a similar transition. Not a mentor in the classic sense, but someone you can grab a coffee with regularly and who'll tell you how they actually did it - what hurdles they faced, what hidden requirements there were, where they wasted time. That's more honest than any online guides out there, because that person will also tell you the uncomfortable details.