Ideas for New Careers at 45: Your Midlife Career Change Guide

Starting a new career at 45 might seem overwhelming at first, but midlife career changes are actually quite common.

By the time you are 45, it’s likely that you have significant experience with previous careers, and you can apply the skills you’ve developed to a new career field easily. This makes the transition easier and allows you to pursue something you are more interested in for the remainder of your working life.

Our guide helps you get started with thinking about new careers you might excel in so you can make the most of your midlife career change.

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Is It Possible to Start a New Career at 45?

While many individuals might not think it’s possible, it’s totally possible and fairly common to switch careers at 45, 50, or any other age!

Starting a new career at midlife is often something individuals pursue when they find that they want a more fulfilling career, if they feel stagnant at their current job, or if they are simply looking for a change of pace and a career that has more growth potential.

When you begin considering a new career at 45, it’s important to evaluate your current skills, assess what you want out of a new career, and think about which jobs you might enjoy doing. All of these considerations will help direct you to the best new career for your lifestyle and personal needs.

Ideas for Your New Career at 45

The following ideas are all great options for your new career, and you don’t have to be any certain age to transition to one of these jobs. We’ve selected the jobs below because they all offer a sense of security and can be quite lucrative once you’ve settled into your new career.

SEO Specialist

Individuals who have lots of digital marketing experience or those who are fairly tech-savvy may be able to make an easy transition to working as an SEO specialist.

There are plenty of online courses that help you understand the basics of SEO. This career field typically offers a plethora of remote opportunities and decent pay, which is a great bonus if you are looking for a career field that provides stability.

Lawyer

Anyone can be a lawyer, and law school grants admission to students of all ages. If you already have experience in the legal field, or if you have always been interested in working as a lawyer, this is a great new career option for you.

Make sure when considering a career as a lawyer that you have an idea of the type of law you would want to practice, and be prepared for the time and effort you’ll need for solid LSAT prep.

Fortunately, working as a lawyer is a fairly secure job with impressive pay, and it can be a fulfilling career for individuals who wish to use their legal knowledge to help others.

Event Planner

For individuals who are highly organized or have project management experience, working as an event planner is a great idea for a career change.

Event planners coordinate all areas of an event and they have a high focus on client relationships, which makes it an ideal job for individuals with customer service experience or those who are familiar with working with people throughout their day-to-day life.

Once you build up experience as an event planner, your salary can be quite impressive. Plus, you have the opportunity to open your own event planning business if you are of an entrepreneurial mindset.

Financial Advisor

Financial advisors are typically skilled at math and have strong organizational skills; previous experience managing accounts or handling budgeting and accounting can help make the transition to this career easy. Individuals who are looking to work directly with clients and those who love helping others make important financial decisions will thrive in this career.

Real Estate Agent

Anyone with sales skills, a people-friendly attitude, and the dedication to put themselves out there as a realtor can work as a real estate agent, and this career makes for a great choice for individuals looking to try something new at 45.

Many real estate firms will pay for your education and license, and you can make an impressive salary once you build up your experience. You may even be able to start your own real estate business or work independently of an established firm as you build your reputation in your community.

What Should I Look For in a New Career?

As you start thinking about switching your career, it’s important to look for a job that will be exciting to you, that you can easily transition to, and one that will provide you with a sense of fulfillment.

You should also think about important items such as salary, benefits, and the long-term growth potential of the job, especially if you would like this next career change to be your final one.

Finding a Fulfilling Job in Midlife

Even though it might seem difficult to change careers at 45, there is really no age limit to moving your job focus and embarking on a new career route that better fits your lifestyle.

As your individual wants and needs change over the years, so will your job expectations and desires, which makes midlife a great time to switch careers to a more fulfilling job. Make sure to carefully review your options and consider some of our new career ideas to help you in your search for the best-fit career at 45.