Second Chances: Career 2.0 

Getting the itch to change careers isn’t necessarily the sign of a midlife crisis. While big changes are scary, the alternative can be dismal, especially if you have that niggling feeling you’re in the wrong seat, or you finally want to seek something more aligned with evolving values and interests. Follow the trajectories for four professionals who made the leap — and nailed the landing.

Flashy sports cars, cross-country moves, and dramatic career transitions are hallmarks of the fabled “midlife crisis.” The first time I received a phone call from a physician interested in a full-time job in the Jewish nonprofit sector, I chalked it up to “midlife crisis” and assumed it was a passing phase.

A few months later, a successful accountant emailed me and told me her kids were getting older and she wanted to shift tracks to a more meaningful career. I recommended that she find an organization to volunteer for and keep her day job.

Today, after 16-plus years of recruiting, I now take those calls seriously. I’ve met so many fascinating people who have made dramatic career shifts, many with great success and burning passion.

These changes might be prompted by a gradual buildup of boredom, itching for change and a new challenge. In other cases, a field that seemed supremely interesting to a college student proves to be less so in real life. Our career interests evolve as we begin working and are exposed to ancillary professionals and our eyes are opened to other areas of expertise. Finally, we sometimes outgrow the professions we chose on a personal level and seek something more aligned with evolving values and interests. Most importantly, Yad Hashem is always in the background, nudging us toward the place where we’re really supposed to be at each stage of life.