Most of us spend decades working in one industry and the prospect of starting afresh can be daunting.

But it's never too late to reinvent yourself and start working in something you feel passionate about.

In a difficult jobs market, retraining and transferring your skills can be highly rewarding – and for some it may be essential in the face of job cuts and industries being hit by the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Whether you are overworked in a stressful job, in need of a more flexible and better paid role or even just bored of your day-to-day routine – many of us have a very good reason to consider a career switch. 

Here, career experts share seven steps that anyone considering a change should take, including their tips for success.

Step one: Don't let excuses rule you

Too close to retirement? Or you have been in the same profession for a decade and feel too specialised ever to work in anything else? Perhaps you have a family to support financially. 

Changing careers can be daunting as you take a leap of faith into the unknown. It can be difficult to find courage and many of us hide behind these excuses as a reason not to retrain.

But Dr Sally Ann Law, a life and work coach, says you can work past them. She warns that asking your family for advice could backfire.

She says: 'Family members are well intentioned when you ask for advice but can find reasons for you not to take the plunge. 

They often want stability and are scared of uncertainty. If work makes you miserable, a push is what you need. A careers adviser can tell you that it is never too late to reinvent yourself.'

Dr Law warns against using your age or a comfortable job as a barrier to a move.

She says: 'Think about a job you would really like to do – and how you might get there. People in these positions often started out just like you. So now is the time to act.'

Robert Long, chief of staff at job-finding website CV-Library, says: 'Fear is what is holding you back. You only get one shot in this life so make sure that it counts.'

Step two: Fine-tune your skills

Passion will get you a long way, but the right qualifications are also vital if you want to make it past the early screening process in job applications. 

A careers adviser at your local Jobcentre Plus can help you identify the training you will need.

Do research about the types of jobs you want to apply for and see what requirements are specified in the job listings. If possible, train yourself up before leaving your current role.

The Government has an annual skills report at gov.uk that provides details on training for a variety of professions. 

Refresher courses can bring your CV up to date if you have relevant but now outdated qualifications or experience in the area you hope to move into. Include these high up in your CV.

Don't use the same CV for different applications. Tailor it to specific vacancies. A CV should provide a single-page summary of skills and career achievements in a visually appealing way.

If you are applying for roles in a new area, you may be better off starting a CV from scratch rather than updating an old one.

Step three: Beat the A.I. bots

It may sound old-fashioned in the modern world where companies often prefer to communicate via email and chatbot – but face-to-face conversations can really help.

Dr Law says: 'Try to bypass the AI [artificial intelligence] application form barrier. Get yourself in front of a real person. Contact firms and ask to meet representatives in person.

'Even if you're not successful, at least it shows you are keen. There are trade events and local talks where you can introduce yourself. 

Visit the library and enquire about possible events coming up. It all helps to build a personal rapport.'

Long says it is also worth trawling through contact books and speaking to former work colleagues. 

If you find out about a vacancy through word of mouth, it can help set you apart from others as you have a personal recommendation.

Another key tip: work experience is not only for fresh-faced graduates – so ask if this might be possible.

Step four: Get free expert advice

Do your homework before making any major life changes. You can get free guidance from qualified career advisers by using the National Careers Service.

This can be accessed online, over the phone or via face-to-face appointments at Jobcentre Plus offices. For more information and to take a skills test, go to nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/discover-your-skills-and-careers

Dr Law says: 'If you are working for a large corporation, there might be opportunities for a career

change within this as well – and you might consider talking about this with your manager and human resources department.'

Step five: Set a financial plan

Responsibilities, such as mortgage and family, stop many of us following our passions. But if you create a solid financial plan this does not need to get in your way.

Those making a career change later in life are often at an advantage because they have paid off their mortgage and family have flown the nest. 

If you plan to downsize, that would also free up money to give you a financial cushion while making a career change.

Dr Law says: 'If you are working as a couple, it is important to discuss plans because money is one of the biggest causes of arguments.'

Step six: Market yourself well

Have the confidence to put yourself out there. Long says: 'Networking is key to getting on in life – no matter what you do. Once you have a goal, you must get out there and sell yourself.'

Sharpening up your CV, knocking on doors and answering adverts, as found on websites such as uk.indeed.com, reed.co.uk, cv-library.co.uk and jobsite.co.uk is just the start. 

Long adds: 'AI filters through initial job applications looking for buzzwords such as mentor, collaborate and resolve. 

'They are also big on what you put for achievements as well as transferable skills and flexibility.'

But do not use AI to write your whole cover letter or CV. Recruiters sniff this out. Take time to personalise a job application while still reflecting terminology they use in an advert.

Rather than sending hundreds of applications, hand-pick a few. Mr Long says: 'Stay confident. 

'Do not allow rejections to feel like death by a thousand cuts but ask for feedback from them to fine-tune a CV and help with interviews.'

Switching careers in your 50s or 60s can pay off because you have valuable experience. Long adds: 'Older workers can turn concerns about potential ageism into a positive as experience really matters.'

Show that you are keen to adapt to an evolving workplace and embrace new technology.

Step seven: Don't get greedy

The reward for all the hard work required to change career should be an enjoyable job – but you must still embrace fresh challenges. 

Dr Law says: 'Chasing money is not as important as a rewarding career. Finding a job that fits in with your passion and skills can be such an exhilarating experience.'

'I got a cabin crew job at 57'

Jetting around the world as an airline steward keeps Tim Bott, 62, feeling young and energetic – at an age he once thought would be spent with his feet up in retirement. 

After 30 years on the beat as a front-line officer with Kent Police, Tim took retirement in his early 50s.

But when his year-long global backpacking adventure was cut short by Covid, he volunteered to give people vaccines at hospital hubs in Kent. 

It was a chance encounter with airline cabin crew also volunteering that sparked an idea for a fresh start.

Hearing them speak about how they travel all over the world while getting paid inspired him to apply for a job. Tim says: 'I'd lost my identity in retirement. 

'A chance to turn my great love of travel into a career was something I felt had passed me by until I met Virgin Atlantic volunteers who were cabin crew. They explained that age was no barrier and encouraged me to apply for my dream job.'

Tim, who lives near Folkstone in Kent, was recruited four years ago and has been using the job to travel ever since. 

He says: 'Last month I went balloon flying over Johannesburg, snorkelling in the Maldives, sailed a catamaran off Jamaica and swam with manatees in Miami. This was all thanks to airline stop-offs at work.'

The application process was straightforward. He clicked the apply button on the Virgin Atlantic website career link and uploaded his CV. 

After passing an online quiz on handling scenarios you might face on board, he was invited to an assessment day with other potential crewmates.

After passing with flying colours, he was sent on a training programme before taking off as a fully-qualified member of crew.

As with other airlines, including British Airways and EasyJet, age is no barrier. Tim adds: 'Rather than feeling like I was past it and on the scrapheap, it turns out experience and being an older personality can be a bonus.'

He is on a part-time rota – working for 21 days and then having seven days off. He earns £1,500 a month but says the best reward is travelling the world, where he is put up in hotels and given meals, all for free.

'Hospital drama made me rethink'

It took a near-death experience at 55 for Peter McKerrow to quit his overly-stressful job as a project manager and start a career in the music industry. 

Peter, of Purley, south London, reflected on his career while in hospital after the doctors said he had escaped death by 20 minutes. The father of one had blood clots on his lungs.

He says: 'I was a project manager for a construction firm in a high-stress job I hated. My first love had always been music, so I decided to take the leap before it was too late.'

'Turning up at the age of 57 surrounded by teenage undergraduates I felt like a fool – but it turned out to be the most exhilarating years of my life. 

I graduated with first-class honours and went on to do a masters. Lecturers asked if I would then come back as a tutor. It was my dream job and enabled me to produce music.'

'Navy exercises added up for me'

Neil Montgomery served 21 years in the Royal Navy where he worked as a physical training instructor before he decided to become an accountant.

He felt it was time for a career change, so he went to a job centre office, where he was given aptitude tests in various fields.

Neil says: 'I was surprised to discover I was mentally dexterous with numbers. Accountancy sounded like a fun challenge.'

He went to Worthing College in West Sussex and took an Association of Accounting Technicians diploma. 

He says: 'I asked a local accountancy firm in the Somerset town of Yeovil if they would let me do work experience at the age of 40. They liked my positive mindset to work and a few months later offered me a job.'

Now 77, he says: 'Discipline, respect and camaraderie learned in the Armed Forces were essential in pursuing my career.'

After 14 years in accountancy, he became a further education lecturer in accounting.

• Have you successfully switched careers? Email moneymail@dailymail.co.uk