Should Having to Re-Train Hold You Back from Changing Careers?

When considering a career change, one thing that often holds people back is the idea of training for a new career. That can seem quite daunting particularly if you're over 35 (or whatever age you consider "too old"). I'm always reminded of something I read once about a conversation between a person who is worried about going back to school to train for a new career and her friend who is trying to encourage her. "I'll be forty when I get my degree in four years," she says. Her friend answers, "How old will you be in four years if you don't get your degree?"

That pretty much sums up my opinion that age shouldn't stop you from making the career change you desire. For as long as you have to work, you should be doing something that fulfills you. If that means you have to go back to school or get some other form of re-training, then go for it. Or at least don't throw the idea out of consideration because of that. I just came across some good resources that can help you deal with the re-training aspect of your career change. They are included in the article Laid-off Workers Find Fulfillment in New Careers on CNN.com. Go to the section of the article titled How to Manage a Successful Career Change.