If you’re looking to change careers later in life, the world is your oyster. Instead of winding down towards retirement, more people than ever are looking to change direction.
Roughly one in three workers in the UK is over 50, and 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’s 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 several 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.
2. Chef
Do you love cooking up a storm? 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 work well under pressure. Plus, chefs typically work varied hours, so it’s best to be open to 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, why not explore the culinary roles available through our website? From commis chefs and sous chefs to kitchen assistants and porters, there’s a huge selection on offer, no matter your experience level.
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 rewarding role, it’s worth visiting our career change guide for detailed information on how to get started.
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 as a carpenter, electrician, stonemason, painter-decorator, plumber, and roofer.
If you’d like 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 becoming 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. This 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.
Countless retailers are hiring across the UK – but 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.
Full article @ https://restless.co.uk/career-advice/job-ideas/career-change-ideas-for-the-over-50s/