Discover 5 ideas for a second career

Throughout our professional lives, we’re always in pursuit of the next big opportunity. While in most cases, these opportunities arise in the form of vertical or lateral growth, in other cases, they present themselves in the form of a second career. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss:

• What a second career is all about

• Second career opportunities worth considering

What is a second career?

A second career is not just a career change.You may be looking for a second career after you’ve worked in the same role for several years, been laid off, or recently retired and want to stay busy. Whatever your situation, a different career direction might be just what you need.

Second careers are typically outside the domain of your regular career. For example, you may have worked in finance for several years, but then you want to switch to marketing. In some cases, pursuing a second career might require some additional training or education, and it could also be a part-time job. 

What are some second career ideas?

Before considering any second career ideas, it’s important to look within. Think about what entices you and what you’re passionate about. Focus on your key skills and transferable skills, and see which career path they align with. Finally, talk to some of the experts in your field of interest and get their opinions. 

Here are five options for a second career, along with their earning potential: 

1. Paralegal

Paralegals provide assistance to lawyers and other legal experts by preparing documents for trials and hearings, writing legal notices and briefs, obtaining case evidence, conducting research, and thoroughly reviewing documentation related to cases.

Some organizations require paralegals to have relevant education and training, such as a college degree in paralegal studies, but not all of them. However, each state has different licensing and certification requirements for paralegals, so it’s important to do your research before considering this career option. Average salary range: $49,000 - $72,000

2. Teacher

As a teacher, you’re not just delivering lectures. You’re helping shape minds, which is why it’s important to have in-depth knowledge in a field before taking up a teaching role. You can work at a school, college, university, adult learning center, or even as a private tutor.

Most states require teachers to have a bachelor’s degree in education (or adult education), as well as a license. Depending on your state of residence, you may be required to undergo some training before pursuing this profession. Average salary range: $40,000 - $67,000

3. Sales representative

If you love interacting with people and are gifted with the power of persuasion, then you may want to consider this option as a second career. As a sales representative, you’ll be involved in B2B or B2C sales, working on behalf of companies. Your duties will likely include cold-calling, offering product demonstrations, and negotiating sales contracts. 

As a sales representative, you will likely be assigned a sales quota and a target territory. What’s even better is that sales is a commission-based job. The more you sell, the more commission you make.

You don’t necessarily need a college education to be a good salesperson. However, some organizations offer specialized products, and they require their sales representatives to have a college degree in a certain field. To be good at this job, you will, however, need to spend some time learning about the company’s products/services and how they benefit a customer. Average salary range: $49,000 - $89,000

4. Translator

Despite the popularity of Google Translate and ChatGPT, the world still needs communicators who are able to translate messages from one language to another while retaining the essence of the message. 

As a translator, you need to be fluent in at least two languages. Your job duties may also encompass basic editing and proofreading, improving sentence structuring of the translated content, and ensuring the accuracy of the content. Some translators also work on manuscripts, and their jobs involve additional research into the content of the original document. 

For a translator job, a college education is definitely a bonus but not a requirement. Closely related to translation is transcription where you have to listen to a speech or a meeting and type out its content. Average salary range: $43,000 - $77,000

5. Realtor

Real estate agents help clients buy, rent, and sell residential and commercial properties. If you have a passion for property dealing and excellent people management skills, then this is a second career option to consider. 

As a realtor, you’ll handle complex negotiations on behalf of your clients. You’ll also need to stay on top of market trends, changes in interest rates, and other macroeconomic factors that affect buying and selling decisions. 

To practice as a real estate agent, you won’t need a college degree. However, you will need a license to practice in your jurisdiction. Depending on the area you chose to practice in, you can make a lot of money. Apart from remuneration, you will also be able to get a decent commission on all sales you make. Average salary range: $90,000 - $164,000

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Key takeaways

1. Second career options are ideal for those looking for a career switch.

2. Typically, second career options require some education, training, and/or upskilling.

3. It’s important to do your research before actively pursuing a second career.