After working for a few decades, and as retirement approaches, many of us begin to think about a second career. What else we could we do that would be more enjoyable yet still help pay the bills? What other kinds of jobs might offer more flexibility and satisfaction?
Lisa Eaves, 56, a former technical-support manager at Fannie Mae, went through the process. She is now a board-certified acupuncturist with her own thriving practice, Heal from Within, in Washington. She’d turned to acupuncture treatment years before, partly as a way to help alleviate stress in her life, and began reading about the ancient science. Meanwhile, she had started to feel that she couldn’t stay with Fannie Mae indefinitely without it “totally killing my spirit.” It dawned on her that a career in acupuncture might be the right next step. She took classes at night while she continued to work. Then, when she set up her practice, she reduced her hours at Fannie Mae to part-time for three more years, the time it took for her business to gain enough traction to support her.
Today Eaves says she is happier than ever and has more control over her life. She has also teed herself up perfectly for a career that will stretch easily into what was once considered the retirement years.
Take a look at 10 careers with staying power that should still be in high demand a decade from now.
The secret to her success is twofold. She had the foresight to start a second career in a booming sector—health care—and she made the transition in stages. “Start working at age 50 on a career you might not get around to until age 55 or 60,” advises Beverly Jones, a career coach with Clearways Consulting in Washington.
If you think a second career could be in your future, the first step is to know where the best opportunities will be by the time you are ready. (Read “10 Second Careers With Staying Power.” ) That way, you can start preparing now to become an attractive candidate later. Here are the key steps you should follow to get the process started:
This article also appeared in the January 2015 issue of Consumer Reports Money Adviser. Kerry Hannon is a career transition expert and author of “What’s Next?: Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties, and Beyond” and “Great Jobs for Everyone 50+.”
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