If the daily grind is starting to feel a lot like Groundhog Day, if boredom, burnout, or a hunger for purpose keeps nudging you. You’re not alone. A recent SEEK survey[1] found 57 % of Gen X workers would choose a different career if they had their time again.
Yet most stay put. Why? Two big stories we tell ourselves: “It’s too late to start over” and “I can’t afford the financial risk.”
So, how can you address these concerns and tackle them, instead of letting them dictate the rest of your working life.
Exploring Your Late-Career Change Options
If you’re thinking about making a career change, start by asking yourself this one question: Why do I want this change?
Are you craving flexibility, fresh challenges, deeper purpose, or something else entirely?
Write your answer in a single sentence and keep it where you can see it. With your ‘why’ in clear view, it’s time to explore the “how.” The five practical pathways that follow are designed to spark ideas and show you how, with a little creativity, you can reimagine your career on your terms, without derailing your future.
- Lateral Shift – same industry, fresh seat
The quickest reinvention can be right under your nose: moving sideways into a new function or business unit.
Why it works: You keep your sector knowledge but swap the tasks that bore you for ones that light you up.
Try this: Ask for a “stretch project” in the area that interests you, then request an internal secondment once you’ve proved your chops.
- Portfolio Career – mix, match & monetise
A portfolio career blends part-time employment, freelancing, and passion projects so no single gig needs to meet every need.
Why it thrills: Variety kills boredom, protects income streams, and lets you test-drive new interests before leaping fully.
Try this: Draft an “ideal week” grid, block two days for consulting, two for part-time employment, one for a passion micro-business, then pilot it during annual leave.
- Entrepreneurial Play – build your own thing
Tapping decades of know‑how, many Gen X‑ers are turning their hard‑won experience into profitable ventures—consulting gigs, e‑commerce stores, digital products, you name it.
Lean launch tips: Start small. Validate demand with a one-page website and a paid pilot. Use gig-platforms (Upwork, Fiverr Pro) to land first clients without quitting your day job.
Try this: Write a 100-word “value proposition” and mention it to three contacts this week for instant market research.
- Sabbatical or Gap Year – strategic time-out
Sometimes the smartest career move is to pause.
Why it works: A planned break, whether for study, travel or simply breathing space, lets you reset your energy and perspective. Many return with fresh skills or a renewed love for their existing field; others gain the clarity needed to pivot.
Try this:
- Check your long-service or unpaid-leave entitlements and confirm how a break affects super and insurance.
- Draft a sabbatical budget that covers living costs plus any course fees or travel.
- Set one intention for the time out (e.g., finish a micro-credential, brainstorm business ideas, or recharge).
Treat the pause as an investment in your next chapter, not a detour from it.
- Upskill & Pivot – new skills, new industry
Maybe you’re keen to leave your whole sector behind. Short, subsidised study can make that leap faster than you think.
Micro-credentials: Universities and TAFEs now offer six-month certificates in areas like UX design, cyber security, and aged-care leadership.
Try this: Identify three transferable “power skills” (e.g., stakeholder management, data analysis, mentoring) and map them to potential growth sectors. Then, price the shortest course that fills any gap. Or the one that most piques your interest.
Your Next Chapter Starts Now
A late‑career change isn’t about throwing away everything you’ve built; it’s about repurposing your skills and life experience into work that lights you up for the decades ahead. Whether you shift sideways, retrain, juggle a portfolio of gigs, launch a venture, or take a strategic pause, the common thread is intention.
Start with your why, take the smallest actionable step this week, and build momentum from there. Your future self will thank you!
If you’re considering making a career change and want to ensure your financial future remains on track, speak with a financial planner today.
[1] https://www.seek.com.au/about/news/article/the-evolving-working-life