Changing career after 35 is not unusual, and it is not too late. Many people in Accra and across Ghana move into teaching, health administration, tech support, trading, consulting or their own business in their late thirties, forties and beyond. What makes the difference is rarely the age itself. It is how carefully the change is prepared.
This checklist will not tell you whether to change careers. It will help you find out whether you are ready to take the next step, and what to do first if you are not.
1. Know why you want to move
Write two short lists. First: what is pushing you away from your current work? Examples include no room to grow, poor pay, a difficult manager, or work that no longer fits your health or family life. Second: what is pulling you towards the new direction? Examples include a skill you enjoy, a problem you want to solve, a community you want to serve or a lifestyle you want.
If your list is mostly “push”, take time before deciding. A career change that runs away from something rarely feels satisfying for long. If your “pull” list is specific, you have something to test.
2. Check your financial runway
Work out how many months you could cover your essential costs if your income fell or paused for six months. Essential costs include rent, food, transport, school fees, medical costs and any family support you give.
You do not need a perfect figure. You need enough to make an honest decision about timing. If your runway is short, you may choose to change in stages: keep your current income while you train or test the new work.
Speak to a qualified accountant before making large financial commitments, such as leaving a pension scheme or taking a loan to fund study.
3. Map your transferable skills
Most people underestimate what they already bring. Make a list of everything you have done in your current role over the last three years, then group it under headings such as:
- managing people, deadlines or money;
- dealing with customers, suppliers or the public;
- writing, reporting or presenting;
- using systems, spreadsheets or software; and
- solving problems under pressure.
Mark which of these you enjoy. The skills you enjoy and can transfer are usually the strongest starting point for a new role.
4. Test the market before you commit
Do not spend a year or your savings on a new direction without finding out what the work is really like. Practical tests include:
- Three conversations with people already doing the work. Ask what a normal week looks like, what they wish they had known, and what it costs to get started.
- A small project in the new area, such as a volunteer role, a short paid assignment or a sample piece of work for a friend’s business.
- A job description check. Read five real job adverts in the new field and note the qualifications and experience they ask for.
Write down what you learn from each test. A test that tells you a field is not for you is also a success.
5. Check the qualifications you actually need
Some changes need a formal certificate, licence or registration. Others need only a short course and proof of work. Confirm the requirements with the relevant professional body or institution before you pay for training. Ask about recognition, timelines and costs in writing.
6. Have the family conversation early
Career changes affect the people around you. Before you commit, talk through:
- the period when income may be lower;
- how much time you will need for study or practice;
- who will do what at home while you are busy; and
- what success looks like in the first year, and what would mean it is time to pause.
Agreeing these points early reduces tension later. It also helps you hear any concerns that are worth taking seriously.
7. Check your energy and health
A career change adds pressure. If you already feel exhausted, anxious or low for more than a short period, speak to a doctor before adding a new workload. Coaching can help you plan around your energy, but it does not replace medical or mental-health care.
8. Set a decision point and a review date
Choose a date, perhaps three months from now, when you will review what you have learned and decide the next step. Write it down. At that point, ask:
- Did my tests show that this work fits my skills and values?
- Is my financial runway still acceptable?
- Do I still have support at home?
- Is the next step a commitment, a pause or a change of direction?
When coaching can help
Coaching is useful when you have done some of the thinking but cannot yet see the path. A structured programme can help you clarify your priorities, plan your tests, hold yourself accountable and make decisions with less second-guessing.
Our Premium Clarity programme runs over four weekly sessions of up to 60 minutes, from GH₵1,500. Our Transformation programme runs over eight weeks, from GH₵2,800, and is designed for deeper change, including more structured goals and a mid-programme review. Both start with an initial assessment, so we can recommend the most suitable option before you pay.
Request a coaching conversation
Coaching does not guarantee a particular job, income or outcome. The decision and the work remain yours. If we do not believe coaching is the right support for your situation, we will say so and suggest an alternative.
This article is general information, not financial, legal or medical advice.