Why is a career change becoming more common after 40?
Changing careers at 40 has become increasingly common in a job market that is less linear and more unpredictable than it once was. For many years, professional stability was associated with staying in the same company or industry throughout an entire career. Today, that mindset has changed.
Digital transformation, industry restructuring and evolving business needs have created new roles, new ways of working and different professional paths.
At the same time, the gradual ageing of Portugal’s workforce has made it more common for experienced professionals to remain active in the labour market for longer. According to 2025 data from PORDATA, more than 2.5 million economically active people in Portugal are between the ages of 45 and 64, highlighting the growing importance of this age group within the Portuguese labour market.
In this context, many professionals begin to reconsider their career path, whether due to necessity, the search for greater stability, a better work-life balance or the desire to explore new professional fields.
At the same time, this career transition often raises questions: is there real openness to changing professional fields after 40? How does the job market view experienced professionals going through a career change?
The reality is that changing careers after 40 does not mean starting from scratch. In many cases, it means adapting existing skills, repositioning professional experience and finding new ways to apply valuable knowledge in different contexts.
How can you prepare for a career change more confidently?
A career transition requires preparation, even for professionals with solid experience. Changing professional fields involves adapting, updating skills and understanding what the job market is currently looking for.
During this reskilling process, there are several strategies that can help professionals adapt their experience and skills to current labour market demands.
1. Identifying transferable skills for a new role
Transferable skills are abilities that can be applied across different roles and industries. Identifying them is especially important during a career change, particularly when adapting to a new professional field.
In many cases, experienced professionals already have skills that are highly valued by employers, even if those skills were developed in a different professional context from the role they are now aiming for.
Among the most in-demand transferable skills are:
- team management and operational coordination;
- task organisation and follow-up;
- problem-solving;
- customer support and relationship management;
- communication and teamwork;
- digital literacy.
For example, a professional with experience in hospitality may successfully adapt to specialist customer service or operational coordination roles. Similarly, someone with a background in administrative work may transition into customer support, process management or commercial support positions.
In many recruitment processes, employers value not only technical experience, but also adaptability, autonomy and practical understanding of the working environment.penas experiência técnica, mas também capacidade de adaptação, autonomia e conhecimento prático do contexto de trabalho.
2. Investing in training and reskilling
During a career change, professional experience continues to be highly valued. However, in some situations, updating existing knowledge or developing new skills may be necessary to support the transition into different roles and industries.
Today, there are several learning options available for professionals looking into changing careers more confidently, ranging from short modular training programmes to technical courses, professional certifications and specialist programmes.
Career conversion and reskilling have become particularly important in a labour market shaped by digitalisation, automation and evolving business needs.
According to a report by CIP on the future of work in Portugal, an estimated 700,000 workers may need to acquire new skills by 2030.
In many cases, the goal is not to begin an entirely new academic journey lasting several years, but rather to complement previous experience with skills that are more aligned with current labour market demands and a possible career transition.
3. Updating and adapting your CV
When going through a career change, it becomes essential to adapt how professional experience is presented. Many experienced professionals still use CVs that are too long, overly descriptive or focused solely on the chronological progression of their career.
For those looking into changing careers at 40 or at another stage of their professional life, the CV should highlight what remains relevant for the new role they are aiming for, with a particular focus on transferable skills and practical experience.
In this context, it is important to emphasise:
- transferable skills;
- relevant hands-on experience;
- responsibilities connected to the new professional field;
- experience using tools or processes valued in the target role.
A CV that is better aligned with a new professional direction makes it easier for recruiters to assess the candidate and helps demonstrate adaptability. In many recruitment processes, the way experience is presented can have a greater impact than the lack of direct experience in the industry itself.
4. Looking for opportunities in industries more open to experienced professionals
Not all industries assess professional experience in the same way. In sectors with a stronger operational focus or greater difficulty retaining talent, practical experience, autonomy and adaptability continue to be highly valued by employers.
At the same time, the ageing workforce and talent shortages in certain roles have led many organisations to take a more strategic approach towards experienced professionals, particularly in environments where professional maturity and stability are important to day-to-day operations.
In this context, some industries tend to be more open to professionals going through a career change, career conversion or returning to the job market, including:
- technology and IT;
- industry and manufacturing;
- tourism and hospitality;
- construction.
In many cases, what employers value most is not only direct industry experience, but also the ability to integrate into teams, take responsibility and adapt to different professional environments.tor, mas a capacidade de integração, responsabilidade e preparação para lidar com diferentes contextos profissionais.
Why temporary work can be a strategy for changing professional fields
During a career change, adapting to a new professional field does not always happen immediately. Even when professionals have solid experience, transitioning into new roles, teams or operational environments may require a period of integration and hands-on learning.
This is exactly where temporary work can support a more gradual career transition, allowing professionals to explore new roles, gain practical experience and better understand the reality of different industries before committing to a permanent change.
For many professionals considering changing careers at 40, temporary work can also serve as an opportunity to re-enter the job market or adapt to a new professional field, while simultaneously building experience in a new area and gaining a clearer understanding of the operational realities of different roles.
How Timing supports professional career transitions
Changing careers after 40 can raise questions about adapting to a new professional field, making previous experience relevant and integrating into new working environments.
During these career transition processes, specialised support can help identify roles that are better aligned with each candidate’s profile, skills and professional goals.
At Timing, this support also involves understanding each person’s professional background from a broader perspective, identifying environments where specific skills continue to have practical value. In many cases, experienced professionals are able to move into new roles precisely because of their adaptability, sense of responsibility and operational experience built over the years.
At the same time, close contact with different industries and employers allows Timing to follow recruitment trends and identify where there is greater demand for professionals with practical experience and openness to new professional challenges.
For many candidates, this process also helps rebuild professional confidence during periods of change, particularly when returning to the job market after instability, career breaks or more significant professional transitions.
– Did this topic help you?
Understanding how to approach changing careers at 40 can feel challenging, but it does not mean starting from scratch. In an increasingly dynamic job market, professional experience continues to be valued, especially when combined with adaptability, reskilling and openness to new professional environments.
If you are looking for a new professional opportunity, explore our available vacancies and register on the Timing website to access job opportunities across Portugal, from north to south, including the islands.
If you represent a company, discover Timing’s solutions and learn how we support businesses through recruitment, temporary work and human resources management, with efficient processes tailored to each organisation’s needs.
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