I’m 50 and want a ‘second-act’ career change – how do I make the switch and earn over £40,000?

FED up of your 9-to-5 but feeling like you’ve left it too late to change? You might be surprised to find out your 50s is the PERFECT time for a second-act career. We ask a top recruitment expert how you can ditch your job for a new role – and earn up to £45,000. The average age of exit from the labour market is now the highest on record Credit: Getty Ian Nicholas has shared his top tips for how to get a ‘second-act’ career in your 50s “Second-act” careers are jobs you can easily switch to later in life if you want to find a role with more purpose or flexibility. These jobs are highly sought after as a growing number of people get tired of the career they’ve been in for years and want a switch-up. The employment rate for 50 to 64-year-olds is 71.6% and climbing, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Plus, the average age of exit from the labour market is now the highest on record, standing at 65.8 years old. That means plenty of people in this age group are already working, switching roles and starting new careers. And it’s no surprise that more people are taking the leap, as redundancy, rising costs and longer working lives force people to rethink their plans. Ian Nicholas is the global managing director of Reed, one of the UK’s biggest recruitment companies. Here, he explains how YOU can get your CV in front of recruiters, nail an interview, and bag a top job. Is it too late to change career at 50? Plenty of people in their 50s are already working, switching roles or building new careers Credit: Getty It’s never too late to start a new career, but it’s important not to just dive in headfirst. Ian said: “At 50-plus, you carry judgement, resilience, and a track record of getting things done, which is an asset, not a liability, and the best employers know it. “All of this adds up to a workforce that has good reason, and good years left, to reinvent itself.” Although it’s not too late to start afresh, the jobs market is tough at the moment, with unemployment up and vacancies down. Ian said it’s a good idea to focus on sectors that are growing but struggling to fill roles. These industries may be more open to people with transferable skills instead of years of work directly within the sector. According to Skills England‘s 2026 report, there is increased demand in construction, clean energy, digital roles, adult social care, creative industries and defence. Of course, these roles might not be suitable for everyone, and you may need certain qualifications to bag a top job. Another option could be applying for roles that build on experience you may already have from a previous job. Ian recommends looking for jobs in the business development, care work, teaching support, and consultancy sectors, as well as project-based roles. He said: “The key is not necessarily finding a sector that matches your previous industry, but identifying where your existing skills can solve current workforce challenges.” Ian adds that firms using blind recruitment can also be worth targeting. This is where dates and some personal details are removed from CVs, so candidates are judged simply on skills and potential, reducing the opportunity for bias such as ageism. The civil service, tech firm IBM, and Deloitte are among the companies using this kind of recruitment. Meanwhile, last year telecoms giant Virgin Media O2 recruited 100 roles – all in the early careers and re-training stages – through a blind recruitment process. The jobs paid up to £35,000 and were based in cities including London, Reading and Manchester. HSBC also uses blind recruitment to hire staff and is currently looking for a Business Client Service Specialist, which pays an average of £44,605 according to jobs platform Indeed. Will I need to take a pay cut? It is possible that you may have to take a pay cut, especially if you’re going into a new sector Credit: Getty You may need to take a pay cut while you complete training or when you get your first job in a new sector. Ian said: “Moving into a new sector often means starting a rung or two lower than where you finished in your last career, at least for a while. “That’s nothing to do with age though, it’s just the nature of changing career.” But a lower starting salary does not always mean the move is a bad idea. Ian added: “The question worth asking is not simply ‘what does it pay now?’ but ‘where will this lead?’” Returner programmes can be particularly useful because they often pay you while you retrain. These paid placements help you resume your career if you’ve had an extended break. You’ll get coaching, mentoring and flexible working opportunities, which often lead to a permanent job. Scottish Power has previously offered this scheme to people who already have experience in sectors including administration, digital, IT and finance. The programme lasts for 12 months and has a starting salary of £34,000. Applications are closed for this year but keep an eye on the Scottish Power careers website for new opportunities. Tech consultancy firm FDM Group has also previously supported hundreds of returners back into work, including around 250 who were over 50. FDM consultants typically earn around £35,500 a year, according to Glassdoor. Keep an eye on job websites such as Indeed and LinkedIn to find opportunities near you. How should I change my CV? A good CV can set you apart from other candidates, so it's important to sell yourself well. If you are changing career in your 50s, don’t just list every job you have ever had. That can make your CV too long and put too much focus on dates. Meanwhile, including your date of birth can emphasise your age, putting off potential employers. Up to 44 per cent of workers aged 45-plus have altered their age on CVs to combat ageism, according to 55/Redefined, a firm that encourages companies to employ older workers. Instead, use a skills-led CV. This means opening with a strong profile and a list of relevant skills before your employment history. Employers often highly value skills such as communication, leadership, working well under pressure and adaptability. Your CV should include: A short personal profile explaining your career change Key transferable skills Relevant achievements Recent training or courses A shorter career history focused on the most useful roles Evidence of results, such as savings made, teams managed or targets hit In the digital age, it can be really useful to have a LinkedIn profile. If you already have one, make sure it’s up to date and be clear about where you are heading, not just where you have been. Ian said: “Frame your experience as an advantage. “Decades of navigating workplaces, managing relationships, and solving problems is exactly what many employers say they want.” Should I retrain? Female factory surveyor stood holding paperwork and wearing safety clothing. Credit: Getty Images – Getty You may need to retrain to bag a top job but there’s no need to spend years studying. Ian said the best retraining is linked to a specific job or sector, so it’s best to avoid “collecting qualifications for the sake of it”. Instead, look for short, focused courses that lead to high-paid opportunities. Options to consider include: Skills Bootcamps – free, short courses are designed to help adults quickly build job-ready skills in areas including digital, construction, green skills, logistics and health and social care. Apprenticeships – paid roles that combine work with training, allowing people to earn while gaining qualifications and practical experience in a new sector. Apprenticeship units – shorter sections of apprenticeship training focused on specific skills, which can help workers upskill without committing to a full apprenticeship. Higher technical qualifications at Levels 4 and 5 – specialist qualifications, often equivalent to the first years of a degree, aimed at practical careers in areas such as engineering, digital, construction and health. Courses typically cost from around £7,000 to £9,250 a year but you may be able to apply for funding from student finance. Sector-specific certificates – qualifications linked to a particular industry or role, such as health and safety, bookkeeping, project management, care, teaching support or cyber security. Courses can vary from £200 to £2,000 depending on the certificate. You can find opportunities through the National Careers Service or your local council. Ian said AI skills are also becoming increasingly useful. He explains: “Free AI training is being offered by the government nationally, and even a basic grasp of these tools now sets candidates apart.” The free AI Skills Boost courses take as little as 20 minutes and cover basics from drafting text to creating content and completing administrative tasks. Once you complete a course, you’ll receive a virtual AI foundations badge to prove to employers that you have the latest knowledge. What should I say in the interview? Don't apologise for changing career and instead explain your reasons and motivations clearly. Ian said employers want to know why you’re making the move, how you have prepared and the experience you have to succeed. For example, you could say: “After many years in retail management, I’m looking to move into operations because the parts of my job I enjoy most are problem-solving, organising people and improving processes. “I’ve completed a project management course and I’m keen to bring my experience of managing teams and targets into a new sector.” Training is available on the free AI Skills Hub site, where you can create a personalised profile and choose the right courses for you. What are the biggest mistakes to avoid? It’s important to focus on your skills and experience, not your age Credit: Getty The biggest mistake you can make is underselling yourself. “Too many talented people in their 50s internalise the idea that their best years are behind them, and it shows in how they apply and interview,” he said. “Your experience has a market value, and you should carry that belief into every conversation.” You should also avoid applying too broadly and instead focus on a few sectors that genuinely suit your skills. Rejection is also common, especially when switching careers, but it doesn’t mean you’re not employable. Ian said: “The people who succeed treat setbacks as information, adjust their approach, and keep going.” Focus on sectors with vacancies, identify your transferable skills, retrain only where it clearly helps, and present your experience as a strength. Ian said: “A second act is not a step down. Done well, it can be the most rewarding chapter of your working life.” My second-act career after losing my £63k job at 52 AFTER Lidia Peto was made redundant aged 52, she knew she had to take drastic action. It had been nearly a year since the mum-of-one lost her £63,000-a-year job in logistics, and she was beginning to suspect it was her age that was stopping her from getting hired. Lidia, who lives with her 22-year-old daughter near Woking, Surrey, had been helping to run a logistics department for a London firm for over a year. After the company made job cuts, Lidia had to leave the business. With her glittering CV filled with years of experience, she assumed she’d easily find another role. But after months of applying for jobs, including roles advertising salaries £20,000 lower than what she earned in her previous job, she STILL hadn’t been hired. Instead, she started to disguise her age when applying for jobs. Lidia began to leave off her date of birth and only included details of the past four years’ worth of job experience to make her age less obvious. She started to think about the skills she picked up when she was younger, and how they could help her get a job now. Earlier in her career, she had taken a nine-year break to care for her daughter, during which she decided to train as a yoga teacher and personal trainer. These skills were perfect in helping her launch into a new career in the fitness industry. She decided to pick up small fitness teaching jobs to help her pay the bills, earning about £100 a month. Surprisingly, Lidia felt like the industry was less bothered about her age than other sectors. Her hard work has paid off and she’s finally been offered a job as a personal trainer at her local gym. “I’ve had a massive confidence boost,” she says.