If you want to change careers later in life, the world is your oyster. Instead of winding down towards retirement, more people than ever before are looking to change direction.
According to the Centre for Ageing Better, one in three workers in the UK are over 50. Mature workers are an attractive option for employers. Typically, they’re experienced, have a strong work ethic, and are organised, efficient, and confident. They also tend to remain in their jobs for longer than younger employees.
While many people are happily settled in their careers, others may want a change. Some of the main reasons over 50s change careers include…
- A desire to learn new things
- To follow their passion
- To reduce stress or avoid burnout
- For a change of pace or a challenge
- Feeling bored or unfulfilled in their current career
- They’re facing redundancy
- To be more satisfied with work
Here, we’ll offer 14 exciting career change ideas for over 50s looking for a new opportunity.
1. Teacher
If you’d like to put your knowledge of a particular industry to use, why not consider teaching?
There are a growing number of people in their 50s and 60s retraining as teachers. You could work as a regular teacher, supply teacher, private tutor, or teach at an adult education college.
Teaching is a fulfilling job where you can draw on your experiences and expertise to inspire and connect with others.
People retrain to become teachers in a number of different ways. Some prefer to complete a degree to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), while others choose to take a more vocational approach or a school-led route.
For example, Now Teach offers specialised training programmes for people who want to retrain as teachers later in life (and don’t necessarily have a degree). The programme is designed to respect and understand the leap of faith that people take when they consider starting a teaching degree later in life and will help them achieve QTS.
If you don’t like the idea of having to formally retrain to achieve QTS, you may want to consider becoming a teaching assistant instead.
Want to find out more about careers in teaching?
2. Chef
Do you love cooking up a storm in the kitchen? Maybe you’ve always enjoyed experimenting with different flavours and sharing your food with loved ones, but never considered making a career out of it.
As a chef, you’ll prepare, cook, and serve delicious dishes to people. It’s a wide-ranging role and you could find yourself working in a restaurant, hotel, or pub, or even as a personal chef or research chef.
You’ll need to enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, with lots of time spent on your feet, be good at multitasking, and be able to work well under pressure. Plus, chefs typically work varied hours, so it’s best to be open to potentially working evenings and weekends.
There are various routes you can take to become a chef. Some may choose to complete a college course or university degree (for example, in hospitality, catering, or culinary skills), while others begin an apprenticeship. Alternatively, you can start working in a kitchen without any formal qualifications and work your way up.
If this sounds like the career for you, SSP currently has hundreds of chef roles available throughout the country. From commis chefs and sous chefs to kitchen prep assistants and porters, there’s a huge selection on offer, no matter your experience level.
Find out more and apply…
3. Driving instructor
If you’re calm and confident behind the wheel and you’d love to give others the gift of driving, why not retrain as a driving instructor?
You’ll be able to help people of all ages develop skills and confidence in the car. Some will never have sat in the driver’s seat before, while others may have passed their test but want to refresh their skills. Each student will be on their own journey and you’ll be the one to help them get there safely and responsibly.
If you’re interested in working in this highly rewarding role, it’s worth visiting our career change guide for detailed information on how to get started.
Alternatively, you can find more ideas in our article; Top driving jobs that offer flexibility and freedom.
4. Tradesperson
Skilled tradespeople are always in high demand. And many apprenticeships and training programmes are supported by the government. These include schemes to train to be a carpenter, electrician, stonemason, painter decorator, plumber, and roofer.
If you want to go down the apprenticeship route, you can search for opportunities near you on the government website.
This helpful guide from Startups also has plenty of information about how to become a self-employed tradesperson – including how to put together a business plan and take out the right insurance.
5. Retail roles
If you’re good with people and like to keep busy, you might like to consider a job in retail.
It can be a great way to stay connected with your community and keep physically active. If you don’t want to work on the shop floor, a management or administration position might suit you better.
There are countless retailers hiring across the UK – though, if you need some inspiration, you could consider applying for a role at Southern Co-op. Southern Co-op have over 200 convenience stores across the South of England, and they’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join their team.
Interested in applying for a retail role with Southern Co-op?
Or want to explore all other retail roles?
6. Pet sitter
If you love animals, why not consider becoming a part-time or full-time pet sitter?
Not only will you be your own boss but, provided you’ve got lots of energy and a passion for animals, you’ll have fun in this role.
Your responsibilities will likely include feeding, dog walking, and taking animals to the vets. Working with pets can be a great way to actively reduce your stress levels while working – and not many roles can offer that!
Ready to get started?
Find out more about what it’s like to be a pet sitter
7. Virtual assistant
You can wave goodbye to the relentless grind of a 9-to-5 job and the rush-hour commute by becoming a virtual assistant. As a virtual assistant, you can earn a good income without leaving your home.
A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative support to companies, entrepreneurs, and anyone who needs help with routine tasks. You can work from anywhere provided you have a computer and a good internet connection.
The best way to get started is to join websites for freelancers, such as Fiverr or PeoplePerHour, where you can start applying for jobs.
Some people will need help with one-off tasks, while others may need help with ongoing projects or be able to offer more regular work.
Find virtual assistant roles
8. Life coach/mentor
Another option you could consider is to become a life coach or mentor. For this type of role, it’s useful to have a deep well of life and work experience to draw from – which makes it an ideal opportunity for mature adults.
Types of mentoring jobs available include: a life coach, a business coach, and a mentor to young people and students. In short, a life coach advises people on how they can change their lifestyle in order to be happier – and can be done in person or virtually.
While you don’t need any formal qualifications to be a life coach or a mentor, it’s a good idea to study for industry-specific qualifications in your chosen field. By doing this, you’ll come across as more credible to your clients and it’ll help boost your confidence and competency when starting out.
Find out more about how to become a life coach
9. Carer
Care is a job where you can really make a difference to someone’s quality of life.
As a live-in or visiting carer, you’re likely to provide people personal care, complete household tasks, offer companionship, or anything else your client might need for a happier and more enriched life.
Examples of careers in social care include personal carers, care home managers, occupational therapists, and bereavement support coordinators.
Interested in applying for a role in care?
Or want to find out more about what it’s retrain as a carer later in life?
10. Salesperson
If you’re skilled at the art of persuasion, confident at presenting, and like a challenge, a career in sales could be for you.
Job options within this industry include everything from telesales assistants to account executives and sales directors.
Ready to apply?
11. Volunteering
Volunteering can be a gift that keeps on giving. It provides people with a greater sense of purpose and new skills, all while helping a worthwhile cause.
Many organisations need volunteers – from local charity shops to international aid organisations. Volunteering can also help you to transition to a new job by giving you new skills and experiences that’ll enrich your CV.
For inspiration on the types of voluntary roles available, check out this page on our website.
Search volunteering roles…
12. Jobs in government
You may not be considering running for public office, but you can channel your interest in the public sector by looking for a job within government. Local government organisations and the civil service welcome applications from those of all ages.
Careers in government span a wide range of roles, including planning officers, building control officers, administration roles, and environmental health officers. The sense of perspective that experience brings can be particularly helpful in social and civic roles.
Find a government job to suit you
13. Childcare
Perhaps you’re interested in becoming a nanny or a childminder? If you love being around children and like the idea of working flexible hours, a role in childcare could be just what you’ve been looking for.
In a childcare role, you’ll usually care for and support children in a range of different ways – from helping with homework to cooking dinner – while their parent(s) or carer(s) are away or at work.
As a childminder, you’ll typically look after children in your own home as parents will drop them off and pick them up at agreed times.
You don’t need any academic qualifications to get started, but you’ll need to have a clean Ofsted DBS certificate and a full UK driving licence. The best way to build up a client base is to visit websites like Childcare.co.uk, where you can advertise yourself as a Childminder or Babysitter so that local families can get in touch.
Nannies tend to work in children’s homes and will be offered the option to live-in or live-out by the hiring family (sometimes depending on whether the role is full or part-time). For those living in and around London, nanny agency Koru Kids takes on nannies of all ages, offers training, and helps to place you with a suitable family.
Ready to apply?
Find out more about how to become a nanny
14. Funeral arranger
If you’re kind, compassionate, and empathetic, it might be worth considering a career as a funeral arranger.
Careers in funeral care aren’t just about working with the deceased. A large part of the role involves working closely with families to make sure the funeral reflects their wishes and to offer emotional support while they’re grieving.
Though the job can be tough, being a source of comfort for people during some of the toughest times of their lives can also be rewarding.
Many employers will take on funeral arrangers with little to no experience in the industry as long as they have the right attitude. Once you’ve built up significant experience as a funeral arranger, you can consider applying for a role as a funeral director.
Find out more and apply…
How to get started making a career change
Before you get started on your new adventure, it can be useful to make a plan. It can help to consider the points below…
- Determine what you want to do.
- Find out as much as you can about the industry you want to work in.
- Understand the financial impact of making a career change.
- Speak to people with experience in the area you want to move into. You can read more about networking in our article; How do I start networking to find a job?
- Identify your strengths and transferable skills.
- Rewrite your CV to bring out the skills most relevant to your new career path. For help with this, take a look at our CV writing tips and download our free CV template.
- For professional roles, create a LinkedIn profile to make your online presence known.
- Learn any new skills that are required.
- Write a cover letter that enhances your CV and lets employers know why you’re the right person to help their company succeed. Check out our tips for writing a cover letter when you’re over 50 or download a free cover letter template from our website, here.
- Start applying for jobs!
Final thoughts…
Whatever the reason behind your decision to change job, this is an exciting opportunity to embrace something new. It’s never too late to find a rewarding new career.
You’ll likely be able to transfer many of the skills you’ve acquired throughout life to your new career path, but don’t worry if there are gaps in your knowledge. Many companies will have training schemes in place for new employees, or you can complete a relevant course to boost your knowledge and earn a qualification.
For further guidance, head over to the career advice section of our website. Here, you’ll find our career change guides which may help inspire you when taking the next step. Or, you can browse job roles below.
And, remember, you have the experience and maturity that’s going to make you a very attractive candidate for prospective employers. Good luck with your job search!
Have you recently made a career change? Or are you thinking about doing so? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.