Are you too old to make a career change? Hint: the answer is no!

Are you too old to make a career change

An astonishing 71% of people see their work as just a job, not a career. If you feel stuck in a rut, is it too late for you to change careers? 

According to research carried out by Vodafone, people between the ages of 31 – 35 are most unhappy at work. A second study by GSM found that those over 34 believe they are too old to change careers.

This market is always evolving, meaning standard job requirements are becoming more flexible.  

Does the thought of spending the rest of your life in your current job break you out in a cold sweat? Chances are, you need a new job. Of course, this is easier said than done if you’ve worked your way to a good position and salary within a company.

Is your main concern starting again from the bottom? This doesn’t have to be the case. Over your time as an employee, you’ve gained various skills, experience and wisdom which is invaluable within the workplace. These skills are commonly referred to as soft skills, and are thought to account for 85% of job success!

Career change is not just for those who know what they want to do in life. Gone is the age-old mantra of sticking with a job in perpetuity - now replaced with a dynamic labour market. This market is always evolving, meaning standard job requirements are becoming more flexible.

  You should use the flexibility of the market to your advantage, exploring different job opportunities...

This is good news for those with family commitments, as employees now have the right to request flexible working arrangements. Many employers also offer variable shift patterns, the ability to work from home and part-time work to accommodate their staff members.

You should use the flexibility of the market to your advantage, exploring different job opportunities until you find what your heart truly desires. You may even end up in a career which you have never considered before, but find your skills and needs are matched perfectly.

Lack of confidence is another reason many people resist changing career paths. The best way to remedy this is by consulting with a seasoned professional, such as a consultant here at Just. We will be able to mentor you every step along the way of finding a new job, and we know how to turn a CV into a story; showing employers how valuable you really are.

Rather than ask yourself when the oldest age for switching careers is, sit and have a think about what you really want from the rest of your life. Rest assured, Just will always be there to help you through the process.

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may like:
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Published: 6 June 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

Jobs currently available

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Accounts Administrator
Sector: Accountancy, Banking and Finance
Salary: £32,000 - £35,000 per annum
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC27
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a well-regarded and long-standing family business based on the outskirts of Colchester — looking to add an Accounts Administrator to their team.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Please note that due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

You will need to have a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with Sage 50 accounts and Sage payroll, with the ability to work on your own initiative.

The role is focused within the remit of bookkeeping up to trial balance using Sage software.

Duties include:

  • Ensuring timely and accurate recording of financial transactions.
  • Daily financial operations, including posting of supplier invoices, reconciliation of supplier accounts, accounts payable management, creation of customer invoices, accounts receivable management, etc.
  • Performing bank/credit-card reconciliations, including a factoring banking account and petty cash accounts.
  • Quarterly VAT returns and analysis. (including RTI submission to HMRC).
  • Preparing weekly aged creditors reports and processing the weekly supplier payment run accordingly.
  • Preparing monthly aged debtors reports and providing credit control where required.
  • Maintaining the cashflow forecast for the Finance director to review.
  • Processing monthly payroll, payments, journal entries, and year-end procedures (including RTI submission to HMRC).
  • Managing auto-enrolment pension contributions, submissions, and legal returns to the pensions regulator.

Skills required include:

  • Significant experience in finance or accounting.
  • Proficiency with accounting software Sage 50 and payroll.
  • Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet software such as Excel.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Experience in data entry.
  • Effective decision-making and problem-solving techniques within a finance environment.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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General Workshop Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £27,000 per annum
Location: Colchester, Essex
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB18
About the role

Just Recruitment is seeking a General Workshop Engineer for a Colchester-based company. Ideally, you will have general engineering workshop experience and be looking for opportunities for professional growth and development within a specialist field.

If you are a skilled individual with a passion for precision and a desire to create exceptional tooling, we want to hear from you!

Please note that you need to have your own transport due to the company’s rural location.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm (40 hour week).

Key responsibilities include:

  • Operating Specialised Machinery, which may include:
    • CNC engraving machines.
    • Chemical etching equipment.
    • Grinding and polishing equipment.
    • Operating a Band Saw.
  • Precision Finishing: Perform detailed manual finishing, deburring, and hand-tooling to achieve the highest standards of accuracy and sharpness.
  • Some physical lifting will be involved.
  • Quality Control: Conduct stringent quality checks at every stage of the production process, ensuring dies meet exact specifications and the company’s high-quality benchmarks.
  • Maintenance: Assist with routine maintenance and calibration of machinery to ensure optimal performance.
  • Collaboration: Work closely with the design and production team to ensure seamless workflow and project delivery.
  • Problem Solving: Identify and resolve any issues arising during the die-making process to maintain production schedules and quality.

Company benefits include:

  • A supportive, collaborative, and friendly team environment.
  • The chance to work with cutting-edge technology and contribute to exciting projects.
  • 28 days paid annual leave, including bank holidays, plus a day off on your birthday.
  • Uniform provided after successful probation.
  • Employee assistance programme.
  • Health cash plan.
  • DIS insurance after 2 years.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Design Technician
Sector: Engineering & Technical
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC26
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Design Technician to produce, check and process technical drawings for a company based in Ipswich, Suffolk, as part of its wider technical department.

Ideally, you will have a construction or architectural background, strong CAD skills, and excellent overall computer literacy.

Duties include:

  • Produce, check and process incoming design drawing requests, technical documentation and technical calculations.
  • Liaise with clients and Area Technical Managers.
  • Deal with telephone and email enquiries.
  • Keep up to date with Part L and Thermal Calculations.
  • Keep up to date with industry Codes of Practice and Building Regulations.

Essential key experience & skills required are:

  • Basic level CAD experience.
  • Ability to read and understand architectural drawings.
  • Advanced level of grammar and spelling.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Includes an end-of-year bonus and an excellent benefits package.
Hybrid working is available after successful completion of the probationary period, with a minimum of three days in the office and up to two days working from home.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more