It’s completely natural to consider a career change at 50, for example, you may wish to pursue a role that’s personally fulfilling and aligns with your interests and goals. To highlight what professional opportunities are available to you we’ll cover:
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At OriGym we qualify students from a variety of backgrounds, with our entry-level Personal Training Diploma. You don’t need any prior experience to enrol, making it an ideal course for those looking to make a career change.
Download our FREE course prospectus to learn more about this qualification.
Why Change Careers at 50?
Despite what many believe, there is no cut-off point for making a career change. Recent data from Now Teach shows that 11% of workers over 45 changed careers in the past year alone.
But why do people make these professional changes?
#1 A Sense of Fulfilment
If you’re unhappy in your current career, it’s not too late to change. You can find a role that aligns with your personal interests and professional goals, leaving you feeling fulfilled and with a stronger sense of purpose.
#2 You Want a Better Work-Life Balance
You may be looking to prioritise your mental health and a career change might be just what you need. A new role may offer flexible hours, giving you a healthier balance between your professional and personal life, and alleviating some of the pressure associated with your current workplace.
#3 You Are More Experienced Than You’ve Ever Been
You have spent years honing your craft and have likely acquired many transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of roles. For example, many industries such as Healthcare, Education and Consulting, value experience over age.
This experience will also give you a competitive edge over other applicants, for example, those applying for their first career.
#4 Because You Can!
Being 50 brings freedoms you might not have ever had before. For example, you may no longer pay for childcare, or have an abundance of time that was once consumed with parental responsibilities.
Use this new freedom to your advantage and put time into chasing your dream career. The more time you dedicate, the more successful you can become!
Top Career Options When Changing Careers at 50
Making a career change at 50 is a personal experience, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. Your interests and aspirations will differ from others, so rather than suggesting just one job to chase, we’re providing a few examples:
1 – Life Coach
Average salary: £20,000- £47,000 per year
A Life Coach helps others achieve personal and professional goals. Making this career change at 50 will highlight you as an inspiration to your clients, proving that they can reach their full potential at any age.
In return, you’ll get to experience the many perks of the role, which include the flexibility to work remotely and schedule your appointments based on your own availability.
2 – Personal Trainer
Average salary: £31,085 per year
As we age, many people develop a keen interest for health, fitness and wellbeing. This is backed by a recent survey which found that UK residents aged 50+ spent more time exercising than their younger counterparts.
What better to earn a living from this passion than by becoming a personal trainer? In this role, you could experience benefits such as:
- Flexible working hours
- Option to start your own business
- Satisfaction from helping clients transform their lives and reach their goals
The first step to becoming is simple, you need to complete a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma. This will teach the essentials of working as a PT, including how to create and deliver bespoke workout sessions for each client.
3 – Web Developer
Average salary: £32,202 per year
As the workplace becomes increasingly digital the demand for web-based skills has reached an all-time high. Becoming a Web Developer is both a lucrative and flexible career, allowing you to work remotely, think creatively, and solve problems.
Coding is a skill that can be taught at any age, so if you have a passion for technology and designing websites, then you should explore this option further.
4 – Business Consultant
Average salary: £28,739 per year
If you’ve worked in a specific job sector such as retail, finance or real estate, you’ll have developed knowledge on how to make a company successful, efficient and profitable.
You can use this experience to offer advice and guidance to your clients, working on a contracted basis for an employer or kickstarting your own freelance agency.
5 – Virtual Assistant
Average salary: £31,725 per year
If you have strong administrative experience, you’ll likely have great organisation and communication skills, which will make you perfectly suited for a career as a virtual assistant.
In this role, you’ll provide admin support to businesses, assisting with tasks such as:
- Arranging & Managing Appointments
- Answering Emails and Phone Calls
- Communicating With Clients
- Filing Documents
This diverse range of responsibilities can help you the role more engaging and rewarding. It will allow you to continuously develop and grow in a dynamic environment, before developing a specialty over time.
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6 – Driving Instructor
Average salary: £35,069 per year
If you’re looking to change gears with your career, then you might enjoy becoming your own boss as a driving instructor. It’s a rewarding career where you help aspiring drivers gain confidence on the road, all the while allowing you to choose the hours you want to work. Giving you the freedom that not many careers can offer.
7 – Freelance Writer
Average salary: £28,157 per year
If you have a lot of experience in a particular field or are passionate about a subject, why not share it with others by creating written content? Freelance writing is an ideal choice if you’re looking to make a career change at 50, as you can write from a place of authority, providing beneficial advice and guidance to your readers.
This career will allow you to build a credible portfolio, allowing you to collaborate with others for future projects.
8 – Yoga Teacher
Average salary: £27,493 per year
An EAT-IV survey found those who practised yoga weekly gained less weight compared to the average adult. So, if you want to benefit your health whilst helping others, you should consider becoming a yoga instructor.
In this position, you will be able to lead classes, and 1-to-1 sessions, and offer expert guidance to your students.
To pursue this career you will need to complete an entry-level Level 3 Yoga Teacher Training Course. This will deepen your understanding of the practice and how to guide students through asanas and poses.
Following the completion of your qualification, you may decide to work for an employer at a studio or go freelance and start your own yoga business.
9 – Small Business Owner
Average salary: £37,521
Everyone has a passion they capitalise on to launch their business. This could be anything from crafts to baking.
Owning a small business allows you to turn your years of experience into a potentially lucrative venture.
If gives you the freedom to answer to only one person, you. All the time feeling the satisfaction of building something from the ground up and providing the public with a service that is in demand.
10 – Sports Massage Therapist
Average salary: £37,653
If you believe you can help people recover from injuries by offering massage treatments then becoming a sports massage therapist might be the role for you.
This career change at 50 can help get clients back into physical activity after they’ve suffered a horrible injury that needs tailored sports massages to treat it.
The holistic element of the job makes it incredibly fulfilling as you improve people’s well-being, especially if you want to improve your knowledge of treating muscles in the human anatomy.
There is an opportunity to work self-employed or with gyms and clinics, depending on how much freedom and structure you want in your working day.
The first step to transitioning into this career can be done by completing a Level 3 Sports Massage Qualification.
It’ll teach you how to treat clients by applying the proper techniques to help them with their recovery and enhance their performances. It will also make you an attractive candidate for clinics looking to employ Sports Massage Therapists.
The first step to transitioning into this career is completing a Level 3 Sports Massage Qualification. Here you’ll learn about important aspects of anatomy and physiology, as well as how to apply different massage techniques that target specific areas of the body.
For more information on how you can pursue this job, check out our full guide on becoming a sports massage therapist.
FAQs
Is 50 too late for a career change?
No, being 50 should never be seen as a barrier to changing careers. You might be surprised that many people at this age are exploring new career paths later in life, with some even working beyond retirement age.
The Transamerica Center of Retirement conducted a survey which found that 55% of workers plan to work past 65. With this in mind, why not consider a career change at 50 and pursue a career that makes you fulfilled regardless of your age?
What are some transferable skills I could utilise?
There are many transferable skills you will have acquired over the years. These can be transferred into your next career, such as:
- Adaptability-your ability to change and willingness to learn new things
- Communication-sharing information through speech, visuals, non-verbal cues, and text
- Interpersonal Skills-strategies to effectively communicate with people
- Leadership Skills-guiding and motivating people to achieve a common goal
- Problem Solving-handling and resolving unexpected situations
- Time-Management-effectively managing schedules to complete tasks
Identifying where you’ve showcased these skills will strengthen your application when applying for your next role.
Will I need further education?
This depends on what career you wish to pursue, some will hire you based on experience alone whilst others will have prerequisites in place.
For example, to become a PT you will need to hold a minimum of a Level 3 Personal Training Qualification. Any reputable employer in the UK won’t even consider you without one, so it’s always important to do research into your desired role.
How long does a career change take?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as a career change at 50 is dependent on personal circumstances and which field you want to move into. Some factors that could influence this time are:
- Research– Exploring your options can extend the time it takes for your career change to happen
- Skill Development– Completing a qualification requires time and varies in length depending on the course length
- Job Hunting– Searching for a job can take time but with the right experience and qualifications, you’re well-positioned to succeed
Whilst it takes some time, the job satisfaction you’ll feel from changing careers will be rewarding when you secure a new role.
Before You Go!
Making a career change at 50 is an exciting process, remember it’s never too late in life to chase the career of your dreams. Use your wealth of experience and knowledge to find fulfilment in a new role that can help you make an impact.
OriGym regularly helps professionals make a career change in the fitness industry! With our industry-leading Personal Trainer Diploma you’ll be fully qualified to train clients 1-to-1 creating bespoke workout programmes that meet their goals.
For more information about OriGym’s award-winning training download our course prospectus – It’s FREE!
