1、Unit 1Careers and skills人到中年，如果感觉自己的工作不适合自己，想改变自己的职业。那么下列五项事情需要你慎重考虑。5 Things to Think About Before You Make a Midlife Career ChangeTransitioning to a new career can be difficult at any age，but making a midlife career change comes with additional challenges.For many reasons，changing your career when
2、 you are in your 40s and 50s is much harder than doing it when you are in your 20s or 30s.When you are middleaged，you have more responsibilities，like a mortgage and your childrens college tuition，to consider.You may be hesitant to risk a stable career for something uncertain.After spending，at least，
3、a couple of decades in one career，you may have an established reputation.It will be hard to start at the bottom again.Here are five things you should think about before you make a midlife career change.1How Much Education and Training Will You Need?You may have chosen a new career that requires very
4、 little retraining.However，if you have chosen a career that requires a whole new skillset，you will probably have to go back to school or undergo some other kind of training.Are you willing to put your energy into it？How long will it be until you can actually start working？When you are in your 20s，or
5、 even your 30s，that may not be a big concern，since you have many years ahead of you to work.If you are in your 40s or 50s，you must ask yourself how long you want to keep working.Will you have to spend a great deal of time training for a career that you will only work in for a short time？Will the ret
6、urn on your investment be sufficient?2Can You Withstand the Financial Costs of a Career Change?A career change can be costly.If you have to continue your education，tuition is very expensive.Even if you can afford it，balancing work and school can be difficult.You may have to cut your hours at your jo
7、b to complete school in a timely fashion.Are you ready for a pay cut？A new career often means starting at the bottom.That could come with a much lower salary than the one you are currently earning.3Do You Have Your Familys Support?Going through a major transition like a midlife career change require
8、s a lot of support from those around you.If your family isnt on board，it will be difficult to succeed in this endeavor.Before you embark on such a big change，talk to your spouse and children.Family members may have to help with household chores.4What Is the Typical Age of People Working in the Field
9、 You Are Considering?Some industries are filled with very young workers.The only people even near midlife may be those inmanagement.Will they be willing to hire you for an entrylevel position if you are in your 40s or 50s？Sure，age discrimination is illegal，as it should be but that doesnt stop those
10、in charge of hiring from committing it.You wanted to enter a new career，not a battle.Before you move forward，thoroughly investigate the occupation you are considering and the industry or industries that would employ you.Talk to people who work in it to find out if you have a decent chance of getting
11、 hired.5How Long Will It Take to Become Established in Your Desired Career?When you begin a new career，your first job will likely be an entrylevel one.After doing that for a year or two，you will probably be able to apply for a higher level position.Your prior work experience might help you advance f
12、aster than your much younger colleagues who are just starting out，but it may not.Your experience in this new career may be all that counts.It may take quite some time until you are able to do the type of work you wanted to when you made the decision to switch to this career.Ask yourself if you will
13、be satisfied with that.Your answer may depend on how far away you are from the age you want to retire.1Why is it difficult to make a midlife career change?_2What should you have to do if you have choosen a career that requires a whole new skillset?_【答案】1.Because there are more responsibilites to consider，like a mortgage and childrens college tuition.Besides，after spending a couple of decades in one career，it will be hard to start at the bottom again.2I will probably have to go back to school or undergo some other kind of training.