As the title says.
In my case:
\-39 y.o. (soon to be 40).
\-Japanese speaker (I also have my N1, in case they ask)
\-10 years working in Japan, in 2 Japanese companies, no　外資系
\-Current position　海外営æ¥. Almost the same job at my previous company
By “successfully” I don’t mean just more money. Personally, I would stay with the same salary, which is not tremendously high for my age (like a little more than 5mln a year), I would also accept a lower salary, if there was a better working environment.
Thanks in advance!
22 comments
People can and do change jobs successfully at any age. The days of graduation-to-retirement careers at one company are for the most part long gone
Two of my friends changed job earlier this year, one is in his early 40s, the other in his late 40s. So far they seem to like their new positions.
I’m not quite 40, but I have the problem of “too many job changes” on my resume, which is a significantly higher hurdle than mid-career 40s with long term employment. Most recruiters even told me as such.
For overseas sales, the market is pretty big, even here in Osaka. I feel like you’d be able to find something.
I changed around 50 ….. mostly for the same type of job and money, but happy
Early 40s here. Changed my job last year to something more in line with what I wanted to do. Meant a hit to the salary and it’s through an agency so contracts are shorter, but am getting trained on the job with new skill sets and am hoping it will open new doors. And much much happier.
As others have touched on, as long as you haven’t been in and out of too many jobs you should be OK. On paper this is my 4th job in 18 years. But if you have a certain skill set well worth pushing that.
I hire people in their 40s and 50s all the time.
Age isn’t really a consideration so much as motivation and experience.
On the opposite side, I often pass over people in their 20s because they usually don’t have much experience and I know it takes a lot more time to get them up to speed.
Of course, did it at 57.
Did you build up a solid network in these overseas sales? If anything salespeople with experience and a vast network are very valuable (Expert knowledge in what you are selling sort of speaks for itself).
It all depends on your experience. If you are basically a bilingual personal assistant or bilingual administrative assistant, then I guess you may have to think what your actual skill is. This could be something like logistics that you are currently doing only 20% or so.
I’m mid-40s and changed to a new company in a new industry with a higher salary towards the end of lockdown thanks to a random message from a recruiter on LinkedIn. If you don’t have family wealth or connections careers are mostly about luck IMO.
Yeah, changed mine last year at 42. Twice (long story).
A Japanese friend of mine went back to university at 42 and completely changed career paths. Unusual for sure, but not impossible.
It is possible to change the job in 40s if you want. One of my friends change her job in 40 and she got a better salary and working environment now. BTW, she is an HR who conducts the labor law part, and its needs special knowledge.
It’s just my opinion, the oversea sales representative is quite easy to get a job in Japanese company. How about opening the recruiter website and trying?
I was 49 the last time I changed jobs and am hoping to retire here.
My dad changed from CPA to Working for a life insurance company and was successful. It gave him a better work/life balance and he was happy.
I got my present job at the age of 42.
My present job is wat better that the previous ones as I work only 7 hours/day. Gets salary raise every year and able to work from home almost everyday.
Am in my mid-30s and was thinking the same since I’m trying to change jobs, too. But compared to yours I don’t think I have much of a marketable skill (other than that I’ve been working in the tourism industry for nearly ten years or so).
So I’ve been contemplating on taking a few professional development classes for a certificate or two, possibly in the IT field (like for a help desk position for starters).
It’s doable.
How easy it is depends on skills, experience and connections cultivated over time
Was rough for me for a bit. Plus career changing into a very different field can be rather professionally and personally disorienting. It can take a while to find your feet again.
It least, that’s how it went down for me
I did, KIND-OF, but my situation was a total outlier…
The (uniformed) US military *fired* me, at age 39 (LITERALLY on the same day that my youngest child was born), for “keepin’ it real,” and then nearly IMMEDIATELY re-hired me as a civilian… In which my job is now to “keep it real.”. And I’m even starting to fail at doing that.
I’m in my early 50s and re-entered the corporate workforce at 48 after about 12 years away from it. I was introduced for a specific role on a 1 year contract. That went well so there were some discussions (and multiple interviews) and I was hired as a full time permanent employee. I work for a tech gaishikei as a Sr. PM. My role more fits Sr. Technical PM, but that’s not a title option at my company.
I have a long background in tech covering many years and many technologies, but I don’t have a lot of education or certifications. I speak Japanese fairly well (I run project meetings in Japanese for some projects, and read/write Japanese emails) but I don’t hold any JLPT cert level.
My salary roughly matches what a Sr PM would make in the US at my company, though with the weak JPY I now make a little less than my US counterparts.
It seems like a lot of Japanese women and men can change their job these days. I cannot speak to the foreigners’ situation, but I will say that I think there is hope for you. Good luck, and don’t sell yourself short. Just the fact of your working a decade in Japan speaks to your competence and capacity.
I did at 43. I’m currently in charge of a search for a new hire and our final four candidates are 42, 43, 58, and 56. So, possible!
My job just announced company wide that I changed departments and now report to someone I brought into the company a few years ago. I wasn’t consulted. Does that count?