Career change after 30 years? Career change at 50+? Mid-career pivot?

If any of those describe where you are right now, this episode is for you.

Monika Herdlick spent 30 years as a flight test engineer and Army Reserve helicopter pilot. By every external measure, she was winning — federal service, world travel, flexibility, a strong paycheck. But the work had quietly stopped fitting, and she didn't know how to leave the good job she'd outgrown.

What Monika did next is the part of every career change story people don't talk about: months of quiet, uncomfortable work — networking conversations, career experiments, sitting in the in-between space without a plan.

The result? She was hired as Director of Programs and Partnerships at a growing defense company for a role she never applied for. Part-time by design. With room to finish her yoga instructor certification and keep bees.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to know it's time to leave a good job after 30 years
How to make a career change at 50+ without starting over
How to get hired without applying through strategic networking
Why clarity comes from action, not the other way around
How to build a mid-career pivot that actually fits your life

If you're considering a career change after 30 years in the same field, this conversation will show you what's possible.

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

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Free Resources

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Related Episodes

Designing Career Experiments and Testing New Careers (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
Should I Quit My Job? How to Know It's Time (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)