Tips for changing career in mid-life

Q: I am feeling somewhat uneasy about my upcoming career transition. In about six months, I plan to take early retirement and enter a completely new profession. After 30 years as a civilian engineer with the military, I recently became certified as a pharmacy technician and hope to find employment in that field.

During my career, I have managed million-dollar budgets, overseen awardwinning programs and supervised up to 15 employees. But since none of this relates to being a pharmacy tech, I’m not sure how to demonstrate my worth to prospective employers.

To get my foot in the door, I have considered offering to fill in for absent employees during weekends, holidays and vacations. What are your thoughts about making this transition successful?

A: While your two career choices are indeed quite different, they require many of the same attributes, such as organizational ability, attention to detail and mastery of technical knowledge. So you should be ready with examples that illustrate your transferable skills. With many employers, your experience with the military will also be a plus.

On the other hand, interviewers will be understandably worried about your ability to adjust to a lowerlevel role. To ease their minds, be prepared to explain exactly what led you to choose this field and why you are excited about the change. Fortunately, your retirement income should alleviate any concerns about the inevitable pay cut.