I Quit My Job at 53 to Start Over Using a Multi-Month Exit Plan

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicole Cicero, a 54-year-old sales representative in New Jersey. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

My 50s have made me realize what I really want out of life, and if I don’t do something now, I might never do it. That’s why I decided to quit my IT staffing sales job in February, after nearly 15 years at the company.

It was scary as the breadwinner of my family and mom to two teenagers, but I knew I needed to make a change to be the best version of myself for them. A multi-month exit plan and a strategic job interview strategy helped me make the transition into a new sales job at 53 years old.

I feel rejuvenated with this sense of confidence and courage that I haven’t had since my 20s and 30s, and it’s euphoric.

In Still in the Game, Business Insider is chronicling the realities of job hunting in your 50s — from overcoming age bias and navigating career transitions to rebuilding confidence, updating skills, and finding new opportunities in a competitive job market. Read more stories here, and share your own experience here.

I started to feel miserable at my old job

I originally loved my old job, but once the company was bought out by a larger company, the culture and values changed.

It became a struggle for me to get out of bed in the morning to go to work. I’d procrastinate to log in, even when I knew it was hurting my performance. I didn’t want my clients to see through me and realize how miserable I was, so I’d kind of blow them off.

Emotionally, I couldn’t do the work, and it was really disrupting my mental stability, which is something I’ve never experienced.

Managing menopause and the hormonal changes, hair loss, and everything that came with it was also hard. I wasn’t the best version of myself for my family, and it really hit me, especially as I’m getting older, that time is precious.

I knew I had to stop living on autopilot at this job and truly start living.

Before quitting, I had to lower my expenses and earn extra money

I have a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old who are gearing up for college, so our finances needed to be in check if I was going to quit my job. I knew that, even if I got a new sales job, I wouldn’t have a portfolio or recurring commission to rely on anymore.

Months before leaving, I negotiated my phone, cable, and home insurance bills to lower my overall costs. I sold household items on Facebook Marketplace and even did a brand deal on social media with a hair care line.

I was burning at both ends, trying to generate any extra money I could.

I made sure to set boundaries when I started interviewing at other places

I devised a list of what would be important in my next job: work-life balance, finances, and the sense that our ethics and morals align. I targeted smaller companies rather than big ones with a lot of red tape, and I tapped into my contacts I’d built over the years to see what opportunities were out there.

I applied to fewer than 10 companies while still working at my old job, exclusively using my network and a professional recruiter I’ve known for decades. I didn’t submit my résumé online or apply through any job postings.

Ultimately, I went with a company where I actually knew somebody from the past. It felt like a comfortable choice, as though I could go in there and just breathe.

Starting over in your 50s requires a mindset shift

My advice is to go into interviews with confidence, saying, “I know what I can do. I’ve been there, done that, and I know how to do this job.” It’s a mindset shift that I’ve really embodied in my 50s.

If the company can’t meet your boundaries, you’ll find one that can. You have to realize your value and worth before you even put your foot out there.

Not every company just wants to hire a new graduate. Companies want someone who can problem-solve, use their life and work experiences to navigate different situations, and bring a fresh perspective.

I feel like I’m in my 30s again; it’s rejuvenating

I wish I could describe the weight lifted off my shoulders when I gave notice at my old job. It felt like I went from suffocating to finally being able to breathe again.

At my last job, I feel like my clients could tell that I was under a lot of strain or, at the very least, not at my best, and that affected business. At my new job, I feel like I’m attracting better clients and business because I like who I am again.

I feel rejuvenated, like I did in my 20s and 30s. It’s this confidence that once a client meets me, they’re going to want to buy from me. It’s euphoric to feel like I can breathe and be myself, supported by such a great team.

That being said, this transition hasn’t been easy

I’m on a commission plan, but I have no commissions at this moment, being new and currently working on bringing in new customers. I’m stressed out trying to build up a new portfolio.

Recently, I had a client fall through, and it threw me for a loop. I have to remind myself that I did all I could, and all I can do is try to reel them back in. Business might be slow right now as I go through growing pains, but I’ll get there.

The biggest emotional challenge is identity loss

I was somebody big at my company for 14 years. I had a title, reputation, and clients who trusted me and who became friends. Then overnight, nobody is calling, and nobody needs me.

I went from being the person with the answers to someone starting from scratch. Now, at 54, it hits differently because there’s a voice inside my head saying, “You’re too old for this,” but I needed to leave my old job for my sanity and health.

Nobody warns you that starting over at 53 doesn’t just empty your bank account; it messes with your mind. However, I still keep pushing forward, staying positive and manifesting success. For example, instead of saying “I can’t afford it” anymore, I’ll buy something anyway to manifest the fact that income will be there.

It’s not selfish to make a change for yourself. I’m setting a good example for my kids.

One of the biggest reasons I think people in their 50s stay in careers they’re unhappy with is because they don’t want to start over again. My advice is to believe in yourself and take the first step.

It’s never too late to change. It’s not selfish. In fact, change can make you a better person for your family.

Sure, I have to tell my kids we can’t DoorDash as much food as we used to because I started over, but they’re seeing me get up every morning, change out of my sweatpants, and work to handle this change.

I hope that I’m setting a good example for them.

Are you navigating a career change in your 50s? Contact this reporter at [email protected] to share your story.