It may be years since your last job hunt, but don't let your inhibitions put your experience to waste...

When is old too old to do something new? Never! Whether you want to change your career because you no longer love your job, or you want to explore a new industry, there's no age limit for taking the plunge.

As a mature job seeker you have plenty to offer, and employers value your unique set of skills, experience and stability.

So if you’re determined to take your career where it needs to be, here’s how you can chase your dreams, change your career path and and make a success of it.

Out of the game, but not out of practice

You may think that because you’ve been working in the same industry for a while, you’re at a loss when it comes to finding work. Maybe you’re out of practice with how to write and update your CV, or you’re not sure how to brush up your interview skills or how to effectively market yourself, especially on social media. But not all is lost.

To shake off the dust from your CV, whittle down your skills to highlight the ones most relevant to the career you want to pursue. Although your skills are important, you want to show your potential employer why you’re the right fit for the job. If you find that the market you want to go into requires a new skillset, one way to take your skills up a notch, is through an online short course.

Update your online accounts - Who’s Who SA, Careers24 and LinkedIn - with a bio that communicates your interest and passion for the new career. Make sure that when potential employers Googles you (because they will), they can see you’re serious about a career change.

Walk the talk

The best way to show that you’re serious about changing careers is to get your hands dirty. Free up some time to start creating examples of the skills most desirable to the new industry. Want to move into marketing? Develop your own website and create a marketing campaign that will increase viewership.

You can also approach small businesses, non-profits or your friends and volunteer some of your time to help them with work related to the industry you want to move into.

Stay connected with the market

Do whatever it takes to stay in the loop with the latest developments in your industry. Whether this means attending networking events, using social media platforms or making contacts during your kid’s swimming lessons, make sure the word is out there.

Don’t be afraid to call up your old contacts. The people you’ve built up relationships with over the years may have some insider information that may be out of your knowledge or reach.

Sure, making a career change is no easy matter. But no one said it would be a walk in the park. However, if you’re determined to make the shift, in the long run, all your hard work will pay off.

Good luck!