The Best Jobs for Women Over 40
Yes, we do know the best jobs for women over 40. We mean the best jobs regardless of industry.
Picture a scenario in which your 20 years of work experience, which should set you apart because of your expert skills, capability, work ethic, and achievements, instead leaves you working at a low percentage of your potential capacity. Where, despite being a big dreamer, you have been silencing the personal dissent for years because, being a woman of a certain age, your employer does not believe that an investment in you will make for a good return in the future, or societal pressure which seeks to dumb down your ambition by demanding you slow down (whatever that means). If you are in perimenopause, menopause, or post menopause, you may be in a workplace that neither understands your experiences nor is it prepared to give you space to regroup or keep your highflyer status. In this scenario, your exit is constantly looming with your voice and very presence seemingly inconsequential to proceedings.
A job cannot be great if the environment in which you are performing it is not good for you. We can confidently tell you that there is still so much oil in that engine! In 2023, when Michelle Yeoh, then sixty-one, won an Oscar, her comment, “Never let anyone tell you that you have passed your prime,” kept us buoyed. We urge you to embrace this message and keep your dreams alive, updating them only as needed; keep pushing forward. For example, if your dream was to be a ballet dancer, but at 45 or so, it is not possible. How about taking your excellent skills, honed over the last 25 years, to run a ballet company so that you can still be involved in ballet? The route to the best job is not one-dimensional or linear; if you have to achieve it indirectly, do that.
1 Are you in an environment where your age makes you invisible, and have you let “old” thoughts enter your head? Society places needless age restrictions on us, but fortunately, it is not the driver of your dreams, opportunities, or choices.
2 Are you well-paid (considering level, talent, and prospects), have access to executive training, or have the flexibility to perform your role without constant supervision? If not, this is a red flag.
3 Have you settled for second or third best when it comes to your career ambition? When did you stop believing in your dream job? If this is not an option with your employer or they are unwilling to invest in you for the future, find someone who will. Better still, do it yourself.
4 Do you have a seat at the table with a voice respected and expected? If you want to be part of the decision-making framework and be a senior at work, rather than the person who receives second-hand information at the water cooler, change the story.
5 Have you received an offer for a senior role(s), regardless of whether you want to accept it? You will know whether your organisation is marketing to you because they see your potential to grow with them.
To have the best job, you must continue to dream big and not settle for anything less. Imagine doing what you want, what you really, really want. A woman whose purpose is fulfilled is dangerous because her impact can be significant. If anyone dares to treat you like it’s the end and implies you need less ambition or wants to take away your highflyer rights, step away from them. Their condescension must not live rent-free in your head.
This article is not personal advice. The information contained in this article has been designed for educational and informational purposes only and not for your specific circumstance. It is provided solely to enable you to make your own choices. No material in this article is a substitute for professional advice.
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