How to Change Careers at 50: Tips, Career Ideas, and More

At a certain point in your professional life, changing careers may not feel as easy, but people successfully change careers at all stages of life. With introspection, research, and support, you can change careers at 50.

Learn more about how to begin exploring a career change at 50, including different roles to consider, and ways to reflect on what it is you'd like to find. Afterward, keep expanding your skill set by learning in-demand skills with a Coursera Plus subscription.

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9 new careers to explore at 50

While the possibilities for your next career can be endless, here are a few careers that you can prepare to transition into within a matter of months:

1. Real estate

Working as a real estate agent can offer a level of flexibility that you may not find with a typical office job. It can also allow you to feel closer to your community. Start learning with the Keller Williams Real Estate Agent Professional Certificate.

2. Career coach

Invite other professionals to benefit from your experience by becoming a career coach. As a coach, you can decide how wide or narrow your scope will be. Start learning with the Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate.

3. Human resources

Help others secure their dream job and nurture a company culture that makes your colleagues feel happy at work. Start learning with the HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate.

4. Project management

If you crave a business setting, guide projects from the initiation phase through execution. Because these roles tend to operate cross-functionally, you'll likely recognize some transferable skills. Start learning with the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate, or for a technical focus, try the IBM IT Project Manager Professional Certificate.

5. Sales

Another business role where you can use your relationship-building and communication skills. Start learning with the Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate or the Salesforce Sales Development Representative Professional Certificate.

6. Data analytics

If you like working with numbers, use them to help organizations make data-driven decisions. Working in data analytics can take many forms, as businesses across sectors use data to drive results every day.

Start learning with the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate for a broad overview, the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate for a business perspective, or the Meta Marketing Analytics Professional Certificate for a marketing and advertising focus.

7. Bookkeeping

Many local businesses rely on bookkeepers to stay on track financially. You can explore full-time and contract positions in this career, making it a flexible path. Start learning with the Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate.

8. Entrepreneurship

Your years of experience likely give you unique insights into industry gaps and customer needs, potentially providing the perfect launching pad for your entrepreneurial journey.

In fact, starting small with a side hustle allows you to test your business concept while maintaining financial stability, and today's digital platforms make it easier than ever to reach potential customers and scale at your own pace.

• 16 Small Business Ideas

• 11 Side Hustles from Home

• 27 Side Hustle Ideas and How to Get Started

9. Content creation

Being a content creator can offer an opportunity to transform your experience and knowledge into engaging digital content that educates, entertains, or inspires others. Starting with platforms that align with your natural communication style—whether that's writing, speaking, or video—you can begin building an audience while learning the technical aspects at your own pace.

Your life experience and professional expertise can provide a distinctive voice that stands out in the digital space, where authenticity and deep knowledge are increasingly valued by audiences seeking reliable, experienced perspectives.

How to make a career change at 50

Pursuing a career change over the age of 50 is much like pursuing a career change at any other stage in life. Let's review some of the key steps:

Reflect on what you need out of a career change.

As you decide what you’d like to do next, consider what you’d like to keep doing, what you’d like to do more of, and what you’d rather not continue doing. Also, think about your lifestyle needs—how much money you’d like to make, how many hours you want to work, where you want to work, and the types of employee benefits you want to prioritize.

Get clear about your career goals.

What is it you're seeking in changing careers? Simply making a change can be a significant career goals, but it helps to understand what is prompting your need for change. Are you interested in a new challenge, do you want more work-life balance, or is there some new area you've become interested in?

Start with low-risk exploration.

Spend time researching different roles and seeking to understand how they'd be a good fit in light of your larger goals. This exploration can be low-risk, such as taking online courses to test your interest, shadowing professionals in your target field, starting a side project while maintaining your current job, volunteering, or attending industry events to learn more. Learn more about how to prepare for a career change.

Starting or switching careers at 50

Whether you're making a career switch at 50 or just starting out after a long hiatus, you can learn and develop the right skills. And you can land jobs or switch to a consulting basis.

Our careers now are long and winding, and there's bound to be switches and turns. You can take that wisdom developed over real-life experiences and bring your unique self to your desired career change.

Build and strengthen your skills.

Identify transferable skills from your current career that add value in your new field. According to an American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) study, people who were successful in their career changes recognized more skills between their two careers [1].

Once you know the type of career you'd like to pursue, review job postings and make sure you have all the necessary technical skills. If not, consider taking online courses to strengthen your abilities or looking for certifications to add respected credentials to your resume.

Consider flexible transition paths.

Jumping from one career to another may not make sense for you. In that case, easing into the transition can be a useful approach. Look for hybrid roles that combine your old and new skills, or freelance opportunities that allow you to build relevant skills while remaining employed. Part-time and contract work can also be useful transitions that add to your network.

Leverage your existing network.

Once you have an idea about what you'd like to do, consider reviewing your professional network for connections in your target industry. Reaching out for informational interviews or to ask for a reference as you apply for relevant roles can be helpful. You may also want to consider joining professional associations and LinkedIn groups related to your desired industry.

Update your digital presence.

Your resume is not the only thing that can capture a potential employer's attention. Make sure to refresh your LinkedIn profile, and consider enabling the platform's "Open to Work" feature so that recruiters can learn more about you. You may also want to create a portfolio showcasing relevant projects or achievements, or follow industry leaders and engage with relevant content to build a larger presence in your new area.

Find other career-changers.

Connecting with others who have successfully navigated career transitions can provide both practical guidance and emotional support during what can feel like a significant shift. These relationships often yield valuable insights about potential pitfalls to avoid, strategies to find new roles, and reassurance that career changes at 50 are not only possible but can lead to fulfilling new chapters. Fellow career changers can also become part of your expanding professional network, offering introductions, sharing job opportunities, and providing encouragement during challenging moments of self-doubt.

Navigate signs of ageism.

While it’s illegal in the United States to discriminate against workers based on their age, ageism is still a phenomenon that may show up during the interview process or at a new workplace, either in glaring or subtle ways [2]. Only you can decide how you want to combat signs of ageism, however, noticing any red flags that show up during the interview process is an important part of deciding where you want to work.

Some experts are hopeful that the shift to remote work will benefit older workers, as it can enable their colleagues to judge their performance in a way that’s more removed from their physical appearance. Additionally, remote work may make older workers more comfortable, as they can have more control over their working environment.

If you’re interested in seeking remote work, take a look at these 10 remote jobs that pay well.

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