If you’re ready for a career change but you don’t fancy going back to school or spending money on courses or qualifications, the good news is that there are plenty of opportunities that offer on-the-job training.
To help you get inspired, we’ve put together a list of 13 career change ideas that don’t need a qualification to get started.
1. School caretaker
When you think of working at a school, most of us think of roles like teachers or teaching assistants. However, there are plenty of other options to consider.
If you’d like to work in a school environment but teaching isn’t for you, why not put your DIY skills to the test as a site manager, caretaker, or premises officer? TIB Services are currently recruiting people who are proactive, helpful, want to make a difference, and are confident with DIY to take on rewarding work in friendly school environments.
Responsibilities vary from role to role, but may include things like security (opening and locking up), setting up meeting rooms, checking fire escapes, and carrying out minor repairs and maintenance.
You don’t need any related qualifications or prior experience to apply and get started.
2. Nanny
Working with kids is a great way to keep a fresh perspective of life and get in touch with your inner child. As a nanny, you’ll hold a privileged position because parents and carers trust you to look after their children.
It’s for this reason that many families will be more interested in your actual experience of looking after children and your interpersonal skills, such as patience and the ability to communicate, than having lots of qualifications.
London-based nanny agency, Koru Kids, welcomes mature nannies, placing emphasis on the value of life experience when guiding and supporting children.
Some people hesitate when applying for a nanny position because they associate it with being a full-time commitment, but there are plenty of opportunities to work on a more flexible, part-time basis too.
3. Dog walker
For those that love animals and the great outdoors, dog walking could be the dream job you’ve been looking for. And it doesn’t require a single qualification to get started.
Dog walking is a perfect job for anyone looking to make lots of furry friends, whilst getting fit and spending time outside. Most dog owners will simply be looking to see that you’re friendly, reliable, and have a reasonable level of fitness.
People who take up professional dog walking tend to do so on a self-employed basis. You might start off by walking one or two dogs and slowly build up your client base through advertising and word of mouth. It’ll be up to you to set your own prices and determine your walking hours – so the role offers plenty of flexibility.
If you’d like to give it a try but aren’t sure where to start, Tailster can help you find local people who are looking for dog walkers.
4. Emergency call handler
Can you keep calm under pressure? Would you get satisfaction from being there for others when they need it the most? If so, then a role as an emergency call handler could be the career for you.
People dial 999 at all times of the day and night when they need support from the emergency services. The way that each call is dealt with could be the difference between life and death.
An emergency call handler’s job is to answer 999 calls and direct the correct services to the person who needs them. As well as doing this, they’ll usually stay on the phone with the person until the service has arrived – to offer reassurance, first aid, and/or safety advice.
Callers may be distressed or anxious, so receiving comfort and advice from an emergency call handler can make a huge difference in helping them stay calm until help arrives.
If you’re looking for a rewarding role where you can be the glimmer of hope that someone needs when they’re in trouble, why not apply today? No previous experience is necessary because full training will be provided. All you need is to be able to cope with pressure and pass the role-related assessments.
5. Freelance writer
If you’re looking for a job that’ll allow you to unleash your creative talents, why not consider becoming a freelance writer?
Have you ever wondered who writes the text inside a fortune cookie? Or who really wrote that book by one of your favourite celebrities? This could’ve been the work of freelance writers.
One of the best things about freelance writing is that it offers so much variety that it’s difficult to get bored. For example, you could be blogging and writing slogans, or ghostwriting a novel.
Individuals or companies who hire freelance writers are rarely worried about what formal qualifications the writer has – they’ll just want to see proof that you can write well. So if you’re already a keen writer in your spare time, it’s worth putting together a portfolio of your favourite pieces of work. Websites like Issuu and Medium are great for keeping your work all in one place so that it’s easy to show to potential employers.
Once you’ve done this, the best way to get started if you’ve got little or no paid experience is to join a website like Upwork. Here, freelancers can apply for a range of one-off writing jobs. Once you’ve got a few paid jobs under your belt, you’ll be able to start building up a network of regular clients.
6. Small business owner
If you’ve spent years working for others, it’s understandable that you might want to spend some time working for yourself. One of the most appealing things about setting up your own business and becoming an entrepreneur is that your work schedule will be entirely on your terms.
One of the best ways to start your own business is to consider your hobbies and passions. For example, maybe you’ve become a skilled seamstress from all the projects you’ve undertaken in your own time; or perhaps you’re into carpentry and enjoy making small pieces of furniture. In cases like these, it’s often easiest to start by setting up an online marketplace where you can get into a routine of making and selling.
To learn more about how to get started, you might find it interesting to read our articles; Business ideas that you can start from home, 20 popular self-employment ideas for over 50s, and Popular side hustle ideas that can help you earn some extra cash.
7. Carer
Often, all you need to get started as a care worker is compassion, a wise head, and a big smile.
There are so many vulnerable people out there who need extra care and support – from young children with learning disabilities to elderly people who can no longer cope by themselves.
With time, experienced practitioners usually choose to undergo a number of qualifications to progress and specialise in the profession. However, many employers, such as The Good Care Group, are willing to take on people with the right attitude and skill set and train them on the job – which means qualifications are not always necessary to get started.
And because this job is so personal and carries lots of responsibility, employers often look favourably on candidates with a lot of life experience on their side. Caring comes with a high level of satisfaction as you’ll be helping other people have a better quality of life.
8. Retail assistant
If you’re a people person and are passionate about excellent customer service, retail work can be a satisfying way to earn a living.
You could be doing anything from helping a customer find the right outfit and working on the till to delivering a customer’s shopping or brewing their coffee. But the thing about this job that people tend to love is the sense of community that comes from building relationships with customers and colleagues.
Because many roles have a strong customer focus, hiring managers often select candidates based on their people skills, not their academic background – and these skills are often found in those with lots of life experience. As long as you’re someone with great communication skills and a positive attitude, there’s no reason that you can’t start applying for retail jobs right away.
There are loads of retailers hiring across the UK. Although, if you need some inspiration, you could consider applying for a role at Southern Co-op..
Southern Co-op has over 200 convenience stores across the South of England, and they’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join their team. So, if you think a role in retail might be right for you, why not find a role with Southern Co-op today?
And, finally, if you’re interested in hearing about someone’s real-life experiences in retail, you might find it interesting to read Margaret’s story. Magaret took on a role at London’s iconic department store Selfridges later in life.
9. Funeral arranger
Although funeral arranging is a slightly more unusual job, it comes with great reward. This is because funeral arrangers are able to provide comfort to people who are at their most vulnerable.
Many employers will take on people with little or no experience in this field and train them on the job, so long as they have the right skills and temperament to deal with the sensitive issue of death.
Funeral arrangers usually support funeral directors with planning funerals. This can include arranging to have the body transported to the funeral home and planning the wake. With enough experience, funeral arrangers often go on to become funeral directors themselves.
If you’re highly organised, sensitive, compassionate, and have great attention to detail, this could be a new challenge for you.
10. Driver
If you enjoy taking to the open road, you could try working as a driver. For many people, driving professionally provides the chance to de-stress, unwind, and visit new and exciting places.
When it comes to driving jobs, there are so many different options out there. If you enjoy driving for the opportunity to have some ‘me time’ where you can put on the radio and relax, you could be a delivery driver.
However, if you’re more of a nurturing sort, you could help someone elderly, or with an illness or disability, to get around. Others turn to taxi-driving because they enjoy the social aspect of frequently meeting new people.
To kickstart your career as a driver, all you need is a clean and valid driving license, as well as a reasonable amount of experience on the road.
11. Estate agent
Are you passionate about people and property? Do you understand that moving home can be an exciting, yet daunting process? If so, you could be a great help to people who are looking for a new home.
Being an estate agent relies on strong organisational skills and good communication. This is because (whether they’re buying or selling a property) clients will rely on you to keep them informed about each step of the process.
If you’re ready to help people take one of the biggest steps in their lives, you could be perfect for the role.
12. Administrative assistant
One of the best things about applying for a job as an administrative assistant is that almost all companies will have admin that needs doing.
Hiring managers don’t usually ask for formal qualifications for entry into the role. However, they’ll want to see that your organisation and communication skills are to a high standard.
Roles in administration are wide-ranging. The type of admin role you choose may be dependent on the level of responsibility you want to have. For example, some admin jobs are highly specialised and focus on only a few specific tasks, while others can be very broad and include handling HR functions and managing budgets.
If you’re someone who loves being organised and you’d like to be an integral part of a company’s smooth running, why not start searching for admin jobs today?
13. Travel agent
Are you well-travelled? Do you get excited by the idea of helping others plan trips to their dream locations? If this sounds like you, you could consider becoming a travel agent.
There are usually no formal qualifications needed to get started in this role, just some initial on-the-job training.
Travel agents spend lots of time talking to clients about what they’re looking to gain from a holiday, before trying to make it happen. This role is well suited to enthusiastic people with excellent communication skills.
Final thoughts...
Considering a career change later in life can be daunting, especially if the role you’d like to transition into requires qualifications that you don’t have. So, if you’d like to pursue something that’s a little more accessible, we hope this list of 13 career ideas has given you some inspiration.
For more career change advice and to search roles, why not head on over to the jobs section of our website? Here, you’ll find all sorts of career change guides and can read personal stories about later-life career changers. Or, start your job search by browsing roles on our website below.
Do any of these roles interest you? Or do you have any other suggestions to add to this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.