Having to enroll on a career training course is perhaps one of the biggest hurdles faced by those who wish to change career in midlife. Memories of school or college, homework, exams and unsympathetic teachers are high on the list of fears. However, an increasing number of adults are unhappy with their present jobs.

In the west, we now enjoy longer lives than previous generations and this means, at least for most of us, that we have to continue working longer. None of us can escape choice - we are faced with decisions every day, some seemingly irrelevant and others life-changing. But often we spend more time over trivial decisions, such as the colour of a new car, than we do when making major decisions such as which career to follow. The result is that many people reach their 40s or 50s with a feeling of discontent, a sense that something is missing. They might have been aware that their original career choice was not ideally suited to them, but life quickly took over and with the demands and stresses of modern living, thoughts of change were put on the back burner. With the prospect of perhaps another 30 or 40 years of active life and a depleted pension, an increasing number of adults in the developed world are faced with career choice – should they stay in a familiar but boring job, or strike out and do something different?

It’s challenging and frightening to consider a complete change of career. There are no guarantees that it will work out as we hope, but what is the alternative? Another 40 years of regret and frustration?

Retraining for a new career is not as difficult as it was 20 years ago. Many colleges and universities offer part-time courses, or module based degrees which allow students to work at their own pace. In addition, distance learning, both through online learning and more traditional correspondence courses are very popular and offer a wide variety of qualifications. Adult learning is a huge industry, with so many people having to retrain or upgrade their existing knowledge and skills. Consequently, there is a great deal of competition, which is good news for prospective students, who can expect improved customer service. Moreover, teacher training has improved and teachers who work with adults provide a student-centred approach and are aware of the difficulties faced by people returning to education in middle age.

So, if you are in your 40s or 50s and considering career training, go ahead and take the risk. It will be nothing like your previous experience of learning and will open up new opportunities, boost your self confidence and bring new friends into your life.

Waller Jamison
http://www.coolercareers.com/learnonline-us.html