Career Do-Overs

Many of the

most successful and happy people out there have reinvented themselves.

TAKING A DIFFERENT PATH

isn’t just limited to hikes in the forest; making a decision to embark on a new or additional career is becoming more commonplace.

Reasons for making a change range from a given career becoming obsolete—such as VCR technician—to personal reasons, such as a lifelong desire to become a nurse. English poet George Eliot (whose real name was Mary Ann Evans) once said, “It is never too late to be what you may have been.”

There are essentially two ways to pursue a second career: as a sideline to your primary, current occupation or as a standalone new path. Regardless of your motivation, the first and most important step is to determine what your new career will be. The answer—and there’s no wrong one— dictates the steps that you’ll need to take. Follow the adage “do what you love” when considering a second career. If you love dogs and cats, attending veterinarian school to earn a DVM degree or pursuing vet tech certification may be your path. For others, becoming a certified public accountant, park ranger, fishing charter captain, reverend, vintage car restorer, or commercial pilot may be new paths to enjoy.

Some second careers, such as becoming a surgeon, may require extensive education, making them potentially impractical. However, for most careers, the main limiting factor is the willingness to learn a new trade, especially if you’re busy in your current line of work. Here are some ideas to get you started: accountant, chef, writer, nurse, real estate agent, firefighter, teacher, dog groomer, contractor.

Once you’ve decided on a path, before you get busy taking classes, you should honestly assess the demand for your chosen job and your ability to master the required skills. Does your town or city need more chefs, dog groomers, firefighters, or accountants? Preparing for a career in an overcrowded market may not be the most viable plan.

Next, consider the required training. For example, nursing or medical technology careers are very fulfilling vocations, but if you struggled with basic chemistry in high school, you may have difficulty mastering this section of coursework, along with all the other courses required. As another example, becoming a chef or contractor requires a basic ability to cook or build sturdy structures. Difficulty with either may be an impassable obstacle regardless of your degree of passion.

While age isn’t as much of an impediment as may be imagined, it does play a role in qualifying for jobs that are age-limited. Examples include firefighters or law enforcement officers, so check for minimum and maximum age limits.

Let’s look first at an additional career. You’ll need to find a way to undertake whatever education

English poet George Eliot once said, ‘It is never too late to be what you may have been.’

Classes are available in most areas that can lead to a new career; look for a school that offers placement assistance.

Pursuing a new career path that allows you to do what you love is a great way to achieve job and overall life satisfaction.

or training is needed while you continue doing what you do. Taking care of children or parents is another factor to be considered separately. If your goal isn’t to fulfill a lifelong dream but to simply fill empty hours, you could consider taking a part-time job. These are available both as in-person positions and as remote work. For example, working from home as a customer service representative or finding a position at a local store stocking shelves and assisting customers.

If your sights are set a bit higher, research the position to determine what training or education is required, followed by a search to determine when and if it’s available locally. An example is real estate agent, which can be a lucrative career on either a full- or part-time basis. It requires a certain number of hours of training followed by a passing grade on an exam administered by a state agency.

Online courses are available from real estate-oriented schools in most states, with the same schools also offering ways to take the state exam. The coursework can be completed on your schedule, making this a relatively easy second career path to follow. Becoming an accountant or teacher may also be accomplished via online coursework, followed by applying for state certification. Pursuing a career in health care will require attendance at in-person classes, making them a bit more difficult to pursue for those with an already-busy schedule.

If your plan is to embark on a new fulltime career but you need to continue working your present job, the above applies to you. However, if your schedule is open, allowing you to attend classes without a problem, it may be easier for you to pursue an advanced second career if that’s your desire.

The bottom line is this: It’s almost never too late to change your course and follow your dreams. If you can dream it, you can do it. 

LIFESTYLE A SECOND ACT

Follow your heart to find a second career

1

Do What You Love

You’ll be more productive and have a more positive attitude when doing what you’re good at, so consider doing what you love.

2

Make Sure the Job Exists

Before you invest too much time in training or pursuing certification, first make sure there are local openings.

3

Make Time to Learn

Having a natural ability to perform your dream second career is a great plus, but be prepared to take classes.