Can I Still Start a Trades Career at 40 Years Old?

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You can begin a trades career in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or even 50s. In fact, when you’re 40 years old, you bring a lot of real-world experience to the training and the career that may make you an especially good candidate for a trades career. The soft skills you gained in your previous jobs, including communication, adaptability, and time management, can transfer to your new trades job, so you can focus on the technical skills. Trades work can also keep you agile and in good shape, and many people in these careers are closer to your age than you might think. Whether you’re interested in construction, HVAC, welding, or healthcare, you can find a path that lets you combine your existing knowledge with new skills and build a rewarding career in an in-demand field.

Switch to a Trades Career in as Few as 10 Months

Starting a new career at 40 doesn’t mean you have to spend years in school before you can begin working. Many trade and career training programs take less time than a traditional degree program, which can help you quickly prepare for an entry-level position. Depending on the school and program, you may be able to finish in as few as 10 months!

Shorter programs can be a good option if you want to make a career change and still manage work, family, and other responsibilities. Many of these programs are blended, so you get hands-on training and also online lessons that make learning more convenient.

Transfer Your Soft Skills to a Trades Career

When you begin a career in the trades as an adult learning, you have an advantage over younger learners. You already possess many of the soft skills that trades employers look for when hiring. After all, you’ve been building them your whole life! Soft skills that you could transfer to a trades career include:

  • Communication— Communication helps you listen to your clients’ concerns, answer their questions clearly, and explain the problem they are dealing with in a non-technical way. If you want to work as a Medical Assistant or Dental Assistant, this communication helps you relate to patients and provide detailed information doctors need.
  • Adaptability—One of the benefits of working in the trades is the fact that your workplace can change daily. You may travel to different residences or commercial buildings to install HVAC systems. Or you may help different patients and handle a variety of tasks throughout your day-to-day as a medical assistant. The trades industry is always evolving to include new technologies, so you also need to adapt to new, modern equipment.
  • Time Management—In the trades, you must work with precision and efficiency. You may have multiple clients or patients booked in one day, and effective time management can help you provide them with the attention they need in a timely manner.

Trades Jobs Are in Demand

A great reason to begin a trades career when you’re 40 is because the industries need workers. There is an extreme shortage of skilled trades workers that is threatening the U.S. economy. Now may be the perfect time to find a new career. Employment in the trades is expected to grow much faster than the average through 2034. Some fields have especially strong demand. For example, both HVAC and welding are expected to add more than 40,000 jobs a year over the decade. And in healthcare, there’s demand for both Medical Assistants and Dental Assistants.

Skilled Trades for Physical Fitness

Whether you’ve been at a desk, behind a counter, or at a cash register for most of your career, lack of mobility can get to you if you’re more of a hands-on worker. Skilled trades work is physical and requires you to have good manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to move nimbly. It gets you up and moving. You know the benefits of exercise for your body, but did you know that physical activity and working with your hands can reduce stress and help you solve problems? It’s good for your body and your mind.

Work Alongside Your Peers

If you feel that you are going to be the old person on the job site, think again. The median age of both construction and healthcare workers is 42, which means you’ll be surrounded by workers your own age or older in whatever trade you choose to pursue. A job in the trades can prove that life doesn’t slow down in your 40s. With a little commitment and drive, you can get a new start in a shorter time than you may have thought.

Ready to kickstart a new career at 40? Charter College offers certificate programs in Medical Assistant, Dental Assisting, HVAC/R and Welding you can complete in as few as 10 months so you can start gaining practical experience faster. Our instructors are professionals with years of experience in the trades and are dedicated to your success. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.