How to Start a New Career at 50 (and Beyond)

By Bethan McGloin

Published Jul 24, 2023
Last Updated Nov 21, 2024
5 min read

Starting a new career can seem like an intimidating challenge at any stage of life, especially if you’re 50 or above.

Luckily, there are ways to make a change regardless of your age.

Why Start a New Career at 50?

For many over 50s, changing careers can be daunting. After all, you may have spent much of your life in the same line of work or been off the job market for a while.

But shifting to a new career can come with many benefits, whether you’re making a change at 25 or 50 or beyond.

Starting a new career at 50 can allow you to:

Achieve greater financial stability
Pursue your interests and passions
Try a career you’ve always wanted to do but circumstances prevented you from pursuing
Gain better job satisfaction
Learn about and experience something new

Starting a new career has even been linked to health benefits such as reduced stress levels, improved sleep, and a sharper mind, all of which are increasingly important later in life.

So now you know the benefits of an encore career, let’s get into how you can get started with yours.

How to Start a New Career at 50

Consider Your Goals

First things first, ask yourself why you want to start a new career. Identifying your reasons for changing careers can help you narrow down your options when it comes to potential jobs.

For example, if you’re looking for a better work-life balance, you might want to prioritize work that has flexible hours. If you want to explore an industry that you’ve always been interested in but never had time for, look for entry-level careers within that industry.

Research Your Options

Now you’ve identified some potential career options, it’s time to research them.

For each potential career, make a note of details such as:

Average yearly income
Flexible work options
Opportunities for new starters (e.g., on-the-job training)
Any required qualifications, skills, or experience

While you’re researching each career, it’s also worth looking into how your pension or other age-related benefits may be affected by any new work you take on.

Assess and Improve Your Skills

A lifetime in employment will have provided you with a variety of transferable skills.

Before changing careers, you should take some time to see how these skills measure up to the requirements of any potential new job.

Try writing out a list of all your relevant hard and soft skills and qualifications, then check if any need updating to match current employment standards. Pay particular attention to any tech-related skills, as these can quickly become out of date with the speed at which new software and hardware are introduced to the working environment.

Keep in mind that if you’re making a career change to a brand-new industry, you might also need to develop some brand-new skills to match.

You can develop these skills by undergoing professional training, such as a mentorship or an online course.

Rebrand Your Professional Identity

Changing careers means adapting to a new world of work – in more ways than one.

To prepare yourself for your new career and make sure you can find work, you will need to:

Update your resume to reflect your most relevant work experience and any new skills or qualifications
Start networking with industry professionals, such as by attending networking events or joining online social groups
Establish or adjust your professional online profiles such as LinkedIn

Readjusting to a new career path while also re-entering the job market later in life can take some getting used to, but as long as you take time to properly plan your steps, you’ll be able to enjoy a successful career change at 50 and beyond.

Five Learners Who Started a New Career After 50

Many of our graduates have launched successful careers later in life after learning with us. Here are just a few of their stories.

1. Steven (Retired Teacher)

When Steven decided to retire from his job teaching English as a second language, he knew he didn’t want to give up work completely. After completing our Becoming A Proofreader course, he now works from home as a freelance proofreader and editor, with full control over his working hours.

2. Kath (Bookkeeper)

Part-time bookkeeper Kath uses the skills and experience she gained from our courses to earn an extra income as a proofreader.

3. Wendy (Digital Nomad)

As she approaches retirement, yacht crew member Wendy fits her proofreading work around traveling with her husband and spending time with her granddaughters.

4. Orla (Yoga Teacher)

After training with us, Orla started proofreading to supplement her income as a yoga teacher at the age of 53.

5. Ava (Biologist)

Biologist Ava wanted a job she could take into retirement that was flexible and mentally stimulating. Proofreading proved to be the answer.

Knowadays Courses

Our courses Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor include comprehensive training and guaranteed work (for those who pass with a distinction score) with our partner company, Proofed. This makes them the perfect way to kickstart a new career without any previous experience or qualifications.