Careers for over 50 Year Old Women When Returning To the Workforce vs Changing Your Career vs If You Don't Have a Degree

3 Methods:

When Returning To the Workforce

When Changing Your Career

If You Don't Have a Degree

For many women, life after 50 is a time of rebirth; it's a time when you can focus on self-expression and a time to begin a new journey of self-discovery. For some, part of that journey is finding a new career, either for the first time or as a re-entrant into the workforce after spending her younger years raising a family. For others, the reasons for entering or re-entering the workforce stem from practical considerations such as divorce or a reduction in household income for other reasons. Whatever the case, trying to find a role into which you can fit is a stressful endeavor. Here are a few occupations that are great choices for women over the age of 50.

It's hard to know where you fit in the workforce when you've been out of it for a while. You may have questions such as whether or not your skills are still relevant in the current economy or whether or not your old career choice even still exists. The following careers are great for women who are re-entering the workforce because they make use of transferable skills, and while most require some specific training, it's not onerous to get, either financially or time-wise.

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   Social Media Manager

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   A Social Media Manager uses social media engagement strategies to interact with customers online on behalf of the business. These strategies include uploading infographics, writing blog posts, and answering questions. You're suited to this role if you are already a user of social media yourself, and it's even better if you have built a following. Colleges offer courses in social media marketing, and it helps to also take some other marketing courses as well. Many Social Media Managers work as freelance consultants, but can also work in the marketing department of larger companies, too.

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   Interpreter

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   Interpreters help people who are not fluent in English overcome the language barrier in areas where understanding what is happening is critical. Interpreters may work in with the courts, hospitals and clinics, and other government offices. To qualify to be an Interpreter, you must be fluent in English as well as another language, and it helps to have a bachelor's degree, though it's not always required. Also, It might help to go through specific Interpreter training. In all cases, you should be prepared to demonstrate your language fluency by taking a fluency test.

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   Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer

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   If you are a fit fifty-something and you know what it takes to get and stay healthy through a regular exercise program, then perhaps you can turn your passion for fitness into a career. A certificate in fitness training is required, which you can get through courses online or at your local community of vocational college. If you go the online route, always make sure that the program is accredited and that the certification offered is valid in all states.

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   Energy Field Auditor

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   One of the up-and-coming jobs of the new green economy is that of Energy Field Auditor. They check people's homes for energy efficiency, finding problems areas and suggesting solutions for reducing energy wastage. You will need a certificate which you can get through a six-week training course, and you can be out doing energy audits in no time.

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If you're still employed in the workforce but do not like your current job, or you want to change your career to something that suits you better, there is no better time than in your 50's to do it. For one thing, you don't have the same financial obligations you had when you were younger since your children have moved out of the house, and you know yourself now better than you did when you were younger. Here are some rewarding and in-demand careers for you to consider.

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   Public School Teacher

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   Shaping young minds is a rewarding career path for many older workers. Whether you choose to teach kindergarteners or high school students, all states require public school teachers to have a teaching certificate. If you already have a Bachelor's degree in a subject other than education, all states have programs through which you can become certified through working under the supervision of another teacher for a time and taking some education courses.

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   Massage Therapist

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   If you enjoy helping people relax, get rid of tight muscles, or facilitate healing after an injury, you might enjoy becoming a massage therapist. Massage therapists can work in a variety of settings from cruise ships and hotels to spas and health clinics. You can even set up your own massage therapy business out of your home. Massage therapists must be licensed in the state where they practice and to get licensed, you need a combination of training and hours of supervised practice.

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   Paralegal

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   Paralegals work in law offices to prepare legal documents, do research, interview clients, and other background tasks in helping lawyers prepare for their cases. Most paralegal jobs require at least an associates degree in paralegal studies, but if you already have a bachelor's degree in another field, you can become certified through programs that let you gain the legal background you need through on-the-job training.

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   Patient/Health Educator

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   Patient/Health Educators teach the fundamentals of healthy living to adults and children in school, clinic, and hospital settings. You might discuss healthy eating habits with diabetics or teaching children about the food groups and how to stay active. If you already have a health background, then you have a great head start into this awesome career. Most jobs in this field require a specific degree, which you can pursue at your local university or community college.

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If you don't have a degree, but you need an income, you may think that there is little hope for you finding work that pays decently. The following careers don't need a college degree and, if you have the right personality and aptitude, can make you some decent cash and let you have some fun, too.

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   Office Work

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   Office work such as receptionist, file clerk, administrative assistant, and office manager don't require a college degree and some pay decently for what they are. If you need to get back into the workforce, but you don't have a degree, entry level jobs in the clerical field are a good bet for you.
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