Changing careers or starting a new one entirely after being out of the workforce for a bit can be overwhelming, to say the least. Where do you even start? How do you choose what you want to do? Well, first, you should think about how much you have to offer any workforce you enter. "There are lots of opportunities for women starting second or new careers after 40," says Dr. Robin Buckley, CPC, a cognitive-behavioral coach, columnist for Entrepreneur.com, and founder of Insights Group Psychological & Coaching Services. "When women hesitate because they are fearful of changing careers or entering the workforce after taking a break, it is important to remember the significant amount of experience they offer. Whether creating a second career and building off professional expertise, or starting a new career and building off experiential aptitude, women in both groups have significant knowledge and skills to offer." AndKelli Thompson, a leadership and career coach, tells Parade that you should really try to throw away any self-doubt that your brain might start hurling at you. "If you're considering making a career change or re-entering the workplace after some time away, it's normal that this change in your life can bring up self-doubt and imposter syndrome (the feeling you'll be found as not qualified or a 'fraud'). This is normal, after all, you are making a courageous change," says Thompson. "A great tip to ease the fear is to focus on the facts that you've had much of your life to develop attractive skills that are transferrable to any job. Start by making a list and keeping a journal of marketable skills you've learned and what impact those skills had on people, projects or profits." And while you shouldn't limit yourself with judgments about yourself or what you're capable of, James Philip, a career expert and Managing Director at Employment BOOST, tells Parade that you should still be honest with yourself about the work ahead of you. "The best approach for anyone returning to the workforce regardless of the reason is to be realistic about expectations," says Philip, who's also the author of The Sh!t They Don't Teach You At Business School. "They have to prepare themselves for the reality that they may not jump back into the workforce at the level that they were before. The world is changing very fast, and skill requirements are changing, too. Returning to the workforce doesn't mean they're starting at the beginning, but they have to be realistic. The key, however, is to not give up hope, lose motivation or get down on themselves. Switching careers is similar to switching high schools in the 10th grade—it's not easy for anybody, not even the popular kids. But it can be done if you keep your head up."Related: This Is the #1 Trait All Successful Women Over 50 Share, According to MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski
How To Successfully Make a Career Change at 40
The things that you are passionate about.The things that you love doing.What activities make you feel like you are functioning at your absolute best?
Beyond assessing your personal goals and interests, you should also consider job growth when making a career change at 40 to ensure your new chosen field will have good hiring prospects for years to come. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following are the top 10 fastest-growing jobs over the next 10 years (2023-2033).
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Top 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs Over the Next 10 Years
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2. Solar photovoltaic installers
10-Year Growth Rate: 48%Median Pay: $48,800 per year
4. Data scientists
10-Year Growth Rate: 36% Median Pay: $108,020 per year
6. Medical and health services managers
10-Year Growth Rate: 28.5% Median Pay: $110,680 per year
9. Computer and information research scientists
10-Year Growth Rate: 26% Median Pay: $145,080 per year
10. Physical therapist assistants
10-Year Growth Rate: 19% Median Pay: $64,080 per year
40 Best Jobs for Women Wanting To Make a Career Change at 40, According to Experts
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"Nearly anyone with a great personality and some sales skills can make a good living in real estate," says Philip, career expert, Managing Director at Employment BOOST, and author. "It's also a career that you never have to retire from, too, so there is flexibility."
Patient Care Technician
According to Indeed, proofreaders make about $22.25 per hour, so if you're great at grammar, very detail-oriented and want a work-from-home job where you can manage your own schedule, becoming a proofreader could be a good career to start at 40. Get started by listing your services on Upwork to gain your first few clients and build your proofreading portfolio.
Amazon FBA Seller
Esthetician
Are you a beauty lover or someone who's obsessed with watching pimple-popping videos? If so, becoming an aesthetician could be just the right career change for you. Some schooling is required in order to get your license. Requirements vary by state, so check your state's guidelines for school and licensing requirements. You'll get to do hands-on skincare work, from facials to microdermabrasion treatments and more.
Related: 50 Best Work-At-Home Jobs
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Financial Consultant or Certified Financial Planner
The benefits of being a financial consultant or CFP is that "you can be your own boss or work in a firm providing support for clients—specialize on helping women achieve their financial literacy and wellbeing," says Simon.
Project and Program Managers
"Look at any corporate job board, and you will likely find one of these open roles," says Thompson. "For women with strong project management, analytical and communication skills, these types of roles offer the ability to implement new processes and programs in organizations. If you're great at getting stuff done and bringing others along with you, these roles are frequently found on work-from-home job websites." They have a median salary of $91,000, but can make upwards of $107,000 per year.
Quality Assurance Analyst
"Quality assurance analysts ensure the applications and software run smoothly. Because of the increased demand for software and applications, quality assurance is also a growing and in-demand field with a variety of training opportunities," says Brie Reynolds. "Previous experience in a technology-related job, general tech-savviness and outstanding attention to detail."
Online Teaching Job
An "online teaching job might be an area that can give you the flexibility to live wherever you want yet still have a teaching job," says Simon. "The range of subjects is quite broad, from teaching coding for girls to Spanish and ACL teachers."
Retail/Restaurant Management
"Even without prior experience, retail and restaurants is an industry you can quickly apply soft skills to and achieve competitive pay off the bat," says Philip. "It's also an industry that's constantly in need of hard workers."
Professional Organizer
For women looking to make a career change at 40 who love organizing, becoming a professional organizer could be the way to go. You'll get to go into clients' homes and help them declutter and create organizational systems that'll serve them long-term. Just think of yourself as the next Marie Kondo!
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Ice Cream Truck Owner
Tammy Hauser (over 50 from Sarasota, FL) had to pause her trolley tour business amid the pandemic. To make an alternative income, she got quarantine creative and renovated a vintage ice cream truck she found on Facebook Marketplace. She coined it The ChillMobile and now runs a business serving up ice cream and frozen treats at neighborhood events. According to Tammy, annual revenue is expected to be more than $100,000 this year! Owning an ice cream truck business is a terrific side gig for anyone in their 40s still actively working or planning ahead for retirement. You can do it at night or on the weekends to make extra money and build a part-time income stream. It also provides a terrific workout, so no need to go to the gym!
Sales Agent
"There is a tremendous staffing shortage in sales at the moment," says Philip. "Also, sales is always in demand. If you're in a place in your career where you don't want to take a significant pay cut or if you need to make up for lost time (e.g., retirement savings), sales organizations are a good place to jump back in."
Therapist
"Because of the growth in remote communication tools, therapy is no longer strictly limited to in-person work. Therapy is one of the fastest-growing remote career fields, largely due to the increased demand for mental health resources over the last several years," says Reynolds. "The variety of therapy training options out there allow for people to change into this field without going through years of additional training."
Social Media Manager
If you're social media savvy, consider becoming a social media manager as a second career to start at 40. Not only is there a huge market for social media content on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms, but it's also a fun job that'll let your creativity shine. The average social media manager's salary is $61,000 per year, according to Glassdoor. Many companies have on-staff social media manager positions available, but you can also work freelance and find your own variety of clients in a specific niche that interests you.
Entrepreneur
"If not now, when? That's what many women are saying to themselves in the pandemic as they have left the workforce and are reevaluating the 'why' behind their work," says Thompson. "Many women have had business ideas or wanted to start a side hustle but didn't have the time or energy resources to do so. It's never too late to start your business or launch your idea, and many women in their 40s and beyond have developed the courage and confidence to embark on this journey." The benefits? "Speaking for myself and my fellow entrepreneurs, we can set our own hours, pricing and choose who we want to do business with," she says. "I have yet to miss a family event due to my work—I couldn't say that when I worked in corporate."
Yoga Instructor
Related: 35 Part-Time Jobs for Seniors
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Technology and Data Analyst
"There are a number of tech positions that can be entered with some certifications and limited work experience," says Philip. "If someone is willing to learn a bit of coding or pursue a data analytics certification, technology is a good industry that is always hiring."
Remote Job Recruiter
"A remote recruiting company can provide women with very interesting and lucrative jobs that could be done from their homes with clients coming from across the globe," says Simon. You'll need great networking skills and to be a good communicator in order to successfully make this career change at 40.
Translator
If you're proficient in another language, working as a translator could be a profitable second career for women over 40. According to Indeed, translators make an average of $69,000 per year, though salaries can be as high as six figures, depending on where you work. Plus, translators are needed in tons of different environments—from hospitals to corporate settings and everywhere in between—so there are plenty of job opportunities available.
Remote Accounting Positions
"Over 65% of the accountants today are women," says Simon. "It is a perfect position for a woman who wants to reenter the workforce or switch careers. Accounting Firms are moving to more flexible workforces, and positions are also available inside companies."
Telephone Customer Service Representative
If you love talking to people and are great at crisis management, becoming a remote customer service manager is a great career change at 40. According to Salary.com, you can earn anywhere from $32,000-$48,000 a year, with the median salary being roughly $39,000. The best part about this career change is that it's super easy to get started—all you need are strong communication skills and a phone line!
Online Course or eBook Seller
A job as an "online seller, where you take a product, homemade or otherwise, and sell it as a side-hustle until you can gain sufficient momentum to pursue it full time," is a good career option for women over 40," says Simon. "Some ideas include tutoring lessons [or writing] eBooks" in your area of expertise.Up Next:
Related: The #1 Biggest Red Flag in a Job Posting, According to a Career Coach
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