ARE you fed up of your boring 9 to 5 and feel like there’s no way out? It’s time to apply for a “second-act” job NOW.
A soaring number of mid-lifers are ditching their office jobs for something totally different and a better work-life balance. Here we exclusively reveal 13 of the highest paying roles which don’t need a degree and how to apply for them.
Sick of the daily 9 to 5 grind? It could be time for a ‘second-act’ career[/caption]
“Second-act” careers are jobs you can easily switch to later in life if you want to find a role with more purpose that will make you feel fulfilled.
These jobs are highly sought after as a growing number of people get tired of the career they’ve done for years and want a switch-up.
It’s no surprise that more people are taking the leap, with research from Employment Hero showing that one in five over-55s say they want a career reset.
“More people in their 40s, 50s and 60s are swapping the traditional 9 to 5 for something new,” said Lee Biggins from job site CV-Library.
“Second-act careers prove it’s never too late to make a change, with plenty of Brits already doing so.”
If you’re worried about having to go back to uni, don’t panic – there are plenty of careers where you don’t need any retraining, so you won’t need to take a pay-cut.
For roles that do require retraining, there are ways to get funding to pay for your course, or earn-as-you learn as an apprentice – but be warned that the salary is lower initially for these roles.
If you don’t fancy taking a pay cut, then you could always study part-time through evening classes, so you don’t have to pack in your day job.
What are you waiting for? Take the plunge and apply for your dream job now.
Project Manager – £67,648 a year
Are you organised and efficient? Maybe a role as a project manager could be right for you.
The role is common in the construction and heavy engineering industry, but project managers are now employed in every industry including the healthcare, charity and education sectors.
Not only is it the best paying second-act job on the list, there are plenty of these roles to apply for, with 24,696 vacancies available over the past 12 months.
Typically, you will find yourself brainstorming project ideas, attending client meetings, managing budgets and creating reports to present to clients.
According to careers site Indeed, getting a job in project management is possible for anyone but you need some key skills to get an interview, including: communication, organisation and leadership skills.
You won’t need a degree, but you could improve your chances of being hired by getting the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.
Course fees vary, but the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors offers a 23-hour CAPM course starting from £272.
Tutor – £46,022 a year
Tutoring could be a great second-act career choice[/caption]
If you have good knowledge of maths or are fluent in a second-language, tutoring could be a great second-act career choice.
Tutors offer personalised lessons to students looking for extra help with a particular subject.
You might think you need a degree to be a tutor, but surprisingly you don’t – you just need great experience in your field.
You can work the hours you want and either do it from your student’s home, your home, a school, university or commercial tutoring centre.
You may need to pay a small fee to enrol on a course to get you up to speed on how to tutor.
For example, you can tutor English as a foreign language with a TEFL certification, with online courses starting from £99. You’ll need to get a DBS check if you want to work in a school or college in the UK.
There are a small amount of scholarships available – see if you qualify.
HGV driver – £41,891 a year
HGV drivers drive trucks, tankers or lorries to deliver heavy goods[/caption]
Do you enjoy driving? Why not try a second-act career as a HGV (heavy goods vehicle) driver.
To get a Heavy Goods Licence, you’ll need a full UK driver’s licence, and to complete 35 hours of provisional training every five years to stay qualified.
Many employers pay for this, so it’s worth checking with the company before you join. Otherwise it can cost up to £400.
According to Indeed, you’ll need at least two years’ experience of driving large vehicles, buses or other commercial vehicles to be hired.
However, you could also do an apprenticeship, which takes around a year to complete and provides on-the-job learning and study with a training provider.
The Armed Forces also offer some HGV driving apprentice roles.
Driving Instructor – £41,000 a year
If you love driving, but don’t fancy long days behind the wheel, then the next best option could be a driving instructor.
Many work flexible hours to fit in with their lifestyle, you’re your own boss and you could earn £41,000 a year on average.
To become a driving instructor in the UK, you need to be at least 21 and have held a full driver’s licence for at least three years.
You’ll also need to do driving instructor training, which costs between £1,500 and £3,000.
However, some driving schools offer to train you for free, as long as you agree to work for a certain period of time after you qualify.
You’ll need to pass three tests – theory, driving ability and an instructor test – and be registered with the DVLA.
‘I ditched my £70k corporate job to become a driving instructor – I’ll never go back to the office again’
NICK Carter ditched his corporate job in his mid-fifties to become a driving instructor – and hasn’t looked back since.
The 57-year-old from Weymouth was a programme manager at a software company, but teaching his 17-year-old son to drive inspired him to change careers three years ago.
He left his £70k-a-year job which saw him working over 50 hours a week, and now works just four days a week, and no more than six hours a day.
He loves being his own boss and he gets to choose his own hours, giving him the work-life balance he was craving.
“I looked into it and thought, why not? I knew it was something I’d be good at – I’ve always thought I’m a good driver,” he told The Sun.
Nick took on work as a painter and decorator while he spent a year doing his driving instructor training, which cost him between £1,500-£2,000.
His career change meant he had to take a pay cut of around 50% – but he says it was worth it.
In terms of his working hours, he earns well over the minimum wage as he charges £45 for a two-hour lesson – which works out at £22.50 an hour.
“I’ve got a lot more time back for myself which I think is more valuable. I’ve got far less stress – and how do you put a monetary value on that?” he said.
“The best part, I find, is that I get to work with lots of lovely people,” he added.
Nick’s second-act career also allows him to pursue his love of music while he works, which he didn’t have time for in his corporate job.
“I won’t be going back to the office work again,” he says, adding: “I’ve had my fill of that.”
Estate Agent – £40,174 a year
You don’t need any formal qualifications to become an estate agent[/caption]
Do you love having a nose around the neighbours’ place when they invite you over? Then why don’t you get paid for it.
Estate agents earn on average around £40,000 a year, and you don’t need any formal qualifications to become one.
You can boost your chances of getting a job by studying for a university degree like property management – although it’s not essential.
The hours are usually 35 to 40 per week. If you’ve got work experience in sales, customer service or admin, this could help you land a role.
You could work for a local independent agent before setting up your own business.
Electrician – £35,500 a year
You can take a college course or do an apprenticeship to become an electrician[/caption]
If you’re good with your hands and enjoy problem-solving then re-training as an electrician could be a great career flip.
The data says they earn around £35k on average – but some earn much more, especially if they have their own business.
You will work long hours – between 37-45 hours a week and you will need to train.
You’ll need a Level 3 NVQ/Electrotechnical Qualification to practice as an electrician.
A college course, which could be taken in the evening, can cost around £7k.
Or you could learn on the job as an apprentice, funded by the government, earning £24k a year.
Catering Assistant – £33,028 a year
Do you love cooking? Then a job as a catering assistant might be the perfect move.
Usually the role involves helping to prepare food, cleaning and setting up dining areas at events.
You can earn an average of roughly £33,000 a year, and you’ll be able to get a job without much previous experience.
You’ll likely need a Level 2 Food Safety or Food Hygiene Certificate to get a catering assistant job, but this only costs between £10-30 and can often be completed in a day.
Charity Fundraiser – £32,098 a year
Imagine changing careers to do a job that you love and does some good for the world? Jobs as a charity fundraiser are popular and they pay around £32k a year.
It’s similar to a sales job, so you’ll need to have great people skills and be good at building relationships.
You don’t need any qualifications to become a charity fundraiser, but it helps to have experience in the sector as there is fierce competition for roles.
There were just 655 charity fundraiser vacancies in the UK over the last 12 months.
If you don’t already have sales or customer service skills, you could gain some relevant experience by volunteering with a local charity alongside your current job.
Sales Executive – £30,807 a year
Being a sales executive can be tough and often comes with long hours[/caption]
Do you have powers of persuasion or the gift of the gab? Then maybe it’s time to get a job in sales.
The data says this job pays £30k a year – but many offer more and you could also work on commission.
The hours can vary – and you might have to work at events to secure deals and clients, but some people will thrive in this world.
It’s worth thinking about what your passion is and finding a job that would be a natural fit for you.
Bookkeeper – £30,744 a year
If you’re a numbers person then switching to a job as a bookkeeper is a great option. They keep records up to date and help prepare accounts.
You’ll need good attention to detail and to be able to solve problems and compile reports.
In most organisations, bookkeepers will work alongside accountants to prepare financial documenting.
Typical duties include producing balance sheets and income statements, recording financial data in general ledgers, completing data entry and collecting transaction details and collecting and storing financial records.
Starting salaries begin at around £18,000, while an experienced bookkeeper can expect to earn £35,000 upwards.
You don’t need a degree – but having a qualification in finance or booking will help you secure a role. There are some apprenticeships on offer too.
Retail Assistant – £29,902
You’ll work between 37 and 42 hours as a retail assistant[/caption]
From working on the tills, to putting out stock and even dealing with customer queries – is working for a retailer right for you?
The typical working week is around 37 to 42 hours, with a starting salary of around £19,000. This can go up to an average of about £29,000 a year.
If you’re chatty, happy to please and like working in a fast-paced environment, it’s a great option.
According to Adzuna, there are over 34,000 retail assistant jobs on the market in the UK right now.
Primark, Iceland and Tesco are among the stores currently advertising roles.
Care Assistant – £28,347 a year
Working in care is the backbone of society and there are a lot of jobs out there.
It’s hard work – but if you’re caring and hardworking then it could suit you. The job has an enormous amount of satisfaction but it can be emotionally draining, so it’s worth weighing up before you apply.
You can earn over £28,000 on average per year, however you’ll typically work between 35 and 40 hours, and you’ll likely have to do evenings and weekends.
You don’t need any qualifications to become a care assistant. If you’ve spent any time caring for a friend or family member this will count as experience.
The average salary is £28,347.
Customer Service Advisor – £27,355 a year
Do you think you’re good at dealing with problems? Taking calls from customers needs someone who is chatty and positive and willing to help resolve issues.
You might work in a call centre, or deal with customers face-to-face, for instance on a shop floor.
You’ll need strong communication and organisation skills.
The average salary is over £27k, and there were over 15,700 roles advertised in the past year.
What help is available to help me retrain?
WANT to switch careers but can’t afford to retrain? Luckily there’s help out there.
You can get an Advanced Learner Loan from your college to help with costs. You will have to pay this back though, and it works like a student loan for those over 19 years old.
What you can get isn’t based on income, but the cost of the course. You start paying your loan back when you earn £21,000 or more.
You can apply for grants and bursaries to help pay for courses and training – and you usually don’t have to pay this back.
For example, you can get an NHS bursary for medicine, dentistry or healthcare, or a social work bursary for social work.
Look at what help is available on the gov.uk.
See if you can apply to a Skills Bootcamp, which is run by the government.
These are free, flexible courses lasting up to 16 weeks. Courses include HGV driving, health and social care, early years, business and administration, and digital skills like data engineering and software.
See if there’s a bootcamp running near you here.
If you’re unemployed, Jobcentre Plus may be able to help provide funding or training as part of a return-to-work plan. Ask your local Job Centre Plus centre here.
There are charities who may be able to help with a grant that you don’t need to pay back.
For example, ABTA Lifeline helps people who worked in the travel industry get back into work with grants to help with the cost of interview clothes, IT, and travel.
Some Armed Forces charities offer grants if you are or were serving personnel, such as the Royal British Legion and poppyscotland (for those in Scotland). Find if you could get a charitable grant here.
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