B
eing in your mid-30s and feeling stuck in your career is a very common problem. You might have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along, or you might have felt like something was missing from your life for a while. Whatever the case may be, you’re now 35 and you feel like it’s time for a change. Luckily, getting a new career at 35 isn’t as difficult as you may think. As long as you’re willing to put in some work and do some research, there are plenty of exciting and rewarding careers out there that are perfect for someone of your age and experience level. Here are some great ideas on how to get a new career at 35.
Decide What You Want to Do
The very first thing you should do when trying to change careers is to decide what you want to do. This seems like a very obvious statement, but it’s very important that you really think about what you want out of your career. This includes looking at your past experiences and career history, as well as aspects of your personality that you may have never considered before. For example, you should think about things like your interests outside of work, your skill set, your education level, and your personality type. These are all things that will help you decide what you want to do with your career. You’ll be able to use these insights to find the perfect career path for you. You also want to think about your passions and interests. What are you genuinely interested in and excited about? Take some time to consider what you’re truly passionate about. This will allow you to narrow down your options and make your decision a lot easier.
Find what you’re truly passionate about
One of the best ways to find a new career at 35 is to find something that you’re genuinely passionate about. Then, you can pursue a career path that aligns with your passions and interests. After all, passion for your career is one of the most important factors for professional success and personal fulfillment. If you’ve spent some time reflecting on your passions and interests, you now have a better idea of what your passions are and what you’re interested in. Now, you just need to narrow down your options. This can be a challenging part of the process, especially if you’re struggling to find something that truly resonates with you. One helpful strategy that you can use to find your passions and interests is to look at your hobbies and pastimes. What hobbies are truly enjoyable for you? What do you like to do in your free time? This can give you some insight into what you’re truly passionate about. Once you’ve found something that you’re passionate about, you can start thinking about what career path you can take with this information.
Try something new (and don’t be afraid to fail)
If you’re 35 and you’ve never tried something new before, now is a great time to start. While you should definitely keep your career in mind when choosing new hobbies and interests, don’t be afraid to try something that you’re not necessarily passionate about. You may find that you’re passionate about something you’ve never given a chance before. You may even find that these new hobbies and interests are great ways to get your name out there and start creating career opportunities for yourself.
Go Back to School
While going back to school isn’t for everyone, it can be a great way to get a new career at 35. This can be a fantastic way to boost your skill set and gain the knowledge and expertise you need to pursue a new career path. If you’ve always wanted to go back to school, but you’ve been putting it off, now is the perfect time to start. This is especially true if you’re in your mid-30s because it’s not too late to change careers. If your career is going well and you have financial flexibility, you can actually go back to school on a part-time basis. This will help you build the knowledge and skills that you need to pursue a new career path without having to quit your job. Plus, going back to school on a part-time basis can make getting a new career at 35 much easier.
Depending on what you’re looking to do, you can take courses online or in-person and complete your degree in as little as a few years. On top of that, many universities offer scholarships and other financial aid opportunities to make going back to school more affordable than you might expect. If you’re interested in going back to school, it’s a good idea to look into your options and start researching schools. You can use websites like Niche to find schools in your area and get an idea of what you’ll be looking at financially.
If you’ve always wanted to go into a certain career but don’t have the necessary qualifications to get there, going back to school could be the perfect solution for you. You’ll be able to get the qualifications that you need to move forward in your career, and you’ll be forced to stay disciplined and on task to be able to graduate on time. There are a ton of great careers out there that require going back to school. If you’d like to work in healthcare, education, or social services, you’ll likely be required to go back to school and get a degree. What’s great about going back to school at 35 is that you’ll likely be more mature and focused than you were when you were younger. This will help you to succeed in your studies and get the most out of the experience.
Change careers within the same industry
One thing that you may want to consider when trying to change careers is changing careers within the same industry. This is especially true if you’re not completely sure what you want to do next. If you’re currently working in a specific industry but you want to switch to a different role in the same field, you could potentially change careers within the same industry. This can be a great option if you’re not sure what you want to do next, but you’re pretty certain you want to stay in the same industry. You already have some experience in your field, so finding a new job in the same industry should be easier than if you’d never held a job before. You can use your experience and previous employers to make connections and learn more about potential jobs that you may not have known about before.
If you’ve worked in the same industry your entire life and you’re feeling a bit restless, you might be able to change careers without going back to school or starting completely from scratch. Many industries have what are called “ladders” or “pathways” that allow workers to move up the ranks without having to completely change careers. For example, if you work in the healthcare industry, you can work your way up to a management position without having to become a nurse and start from the bottom again. For you to be able to change careers within the same industry, though, you’ll need to be very aware of the different career paths that exist and be willing to put in the hard work necessary to climb the ladder.
Start a business
One way to change careers at 35 is to start a business. Starting your own business is an exciting and challenging way to change careers. You can pursue any type of business you want, and you have complete control over your work and work-life balance. Obviously, starting a business is a pretty big commitment. You’ll have to invest a lot of time and energy into your new business while working in your current career. However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, starting your own business can be a great way to change careers.
If you’ve always dreamed of working for yourself, you could always start a business. You don’t necessarily have to create a full-blown corporation with a board of directors and a million employees; you can start something small and simple on the side. Depending on what you choose to do, you may need to invest some money, but you could also start a business that requires very little investment. You could sell things on eBay, become an influencer on social media, or start a blog and make money from affiliate links. Whatever you choose to do, starting a business is definitely a long-term commitment, so you’ll want to make sure you really want to do it before you jump in.
Change Careers Through Reskilling
If you’re struggling to find a new career at 35 and you’re worried about your financial situation, you can consider reskilling. Reskilling is basically going back to school to get new skills and knowledge for your professional development. Depending on your current job and industry, you can take classes and learn new technical skills that will help you switch careers. For example, if you’re a software engineer, you could take a class in artificial intelligence to learn skills that are currently in high demand. This could help you change careers and earn more money without having to quit your job. This can be a great option if you’re worried about finding a new career at 35 because it will give you the skills and knowledge that you need to pursue a new career path.
As you get older, you’ll likely find that your skills start to become a bit outdated. To make sure that you stay competitive and relevant in your industry, you may want to consider reskilling. What’s great about reskilling is that you don’t necessarily have to change careers completely. You can simply update some of your existing skills and make them more relevant and in demand in today’s job market. Most fields require ongoing training and education if you want to stay competitive and relevant, so if you haven’t been keeping up on the latest in your industry, you’ll definitely want to start now.
Network and do your research
One of the best ways to get your name out there and start looking for new career opportunities is by networking. You can do this in person, online, or a combination of both. Whether you’re looking for a job or trying to start your own business, networking and getting your name out there is a must. While you’re networking, be sure to ask questions, and also offer to help out people who you meet along the way. You never know who you might meet and what opportunities could come from it. Finally, don’t be afraid to do some research. Not only is it a good way to learn more about what you’re interested in, but it will also help you to be better prepared when someone does offer you a job or other opportunity.
Stay up to date with the latest in your industry
No matter what your new career is, staying up to date on the latest in your industry is a great way to stay motivated, and engaged, and help you to advance as quickly as possible. You can do this in a variety of ways, whether it be reading blogs, magazines, books, or listening to podcasts and podcasts about your industry. What are the latest trends? What are the new technologies that you need to know about? What are the new industries that are rising in popularity?
If you want to change careers but don’t want to go back to school, you’ll at least want to stay up to date with the latest in your industry. If you work in a sales job, for example, you should read sales-related books and blogs, watch videos and webinars, and take advantage of sales-related courses offered through your company. By staying up to date on the latest trends, you can make sure that you’re as knowledgeable as possible and that you have the skills to succeed in your career.
Final Thoughts on How do I start a new career at 35?
Getting a new career at 35 isn’t easy. It takes hard work and dedication. You have to be willing to put in the necessary time and energy and make sacrifices along the way. If you want to change careers but you don’t know where to start, take some time to reflect on what you’re passionate about and what skills you already have. From there, you can start thinking about what you need to do to get to the next level.
Do you want to learn more about How do I start a new career at 35? Check out these Best Books on Career Change.

Meet Maurice, a staff editor at Bigger Investing. He’s an accomplished entrepreneur who owns multiple successful websites and a thriving merch shop. When he’s not busy with work, Maurice indulges in his passion for kayaking, climbing, and his family. As a savvy investor, Maurice loves putting his money to work and seeking out new opportunities. With his expertise and passion for finance, he’s dedicated to helping readers achieve their financial goals through Bigger Investing.