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ou’ve passed 35 and decided to re-train. But what do you do next? You’re not fresh out of high school, nor are you able to go back to college again. That leaves you with a limited set of options when it comes to retraining. So, what should you do now? You might be in a job that has become redundant because of the digital age or some other reason. Perhaps the job is inaccessible because it requires tertiary education or certification that doesn’t suit your circumstances. Or you may have just grown tired of your present role and want to explore new avenues of employment before hitting retirement age. Whatever your reasons for re-training, here are some career paths that may be worth exploring:
Re-train for a digital career
If you’ve been working in a job that’s becoming redundant due to the digital age, re-training for a digital career can help you stay relevant. You can retrain as a data analyst, data scientist, or digital marketing specialist. You can also re-train as a software developer, network administrator, and computer programmer. If you have a background in information technology, you may also be able to re-train as an IT security specialist or cybersecurity analyst. These digital career paths can be relevant for decades to come. With the internet, smartphones, artificial intelligence, and other digital innovations still in their infancy, there’s still plenty of room for growth in these fields.
Re-train as an art and culture specialist
As the baby boomers retire, there’s a growing demand for people to take their place in museums and art galleries. If you’ve got an education in art history, curatorial studies, art appreciation, or another art-related field, you can re-train to work as an art and culture specialist. You may be able to find jobs in museums, galleries, libraries, and other cultural institutions. You could also work as a tour guide, a humanities teacher, an archivist, a photographer, or in a related field. If you’re interested in preserving history, you could also pursue a career as an archivist or a historian. These fields have been around for centuries and aren’t expected to disappear any time soon. You can also work as a librarian, researcher, or teacher. All of these jobs are expected to grow as the population grows and continues to use libraries and educational resources for knowledge and entertainment.
Re-train as a teacher
Considering the growth in online education, there’s never been a better time to re-train as a teacher. You can work online or in a traditional setting to teach English, math, science, computer programming, art, history, or any other subject. You can also specialize in tutoring, mentoring, and other areas of teaching. If you’re not sure what you want to teach, you can follow the path of many successful teachers and start out as a special education teacher. Teaching special needs kids is both challenging and rewarding, so you’ll be doing meaningful work. Once you’ve gained some experience, you can move into a different subject if you wish. With the growing effectiveness of online learning, there’s never been a better time to become a teacher. The demand for virtual teachers is expected to grow, so you won’t be limited to traditional teaching jobs.
Re-train to work with animals
Animal lovers everywhere will welcome your interest in re-training to work with animals. You can become a veterinary nurse, veterinary technician, animal behaviorist, animal care worker, or veterinary surgeon. You could also re-train as a zookeeper, wildlife carer, or wildlife biologist. If you’ve got a background in biology, ecology, or wildlife management, you may be able to find work as a wildlife biologist. If you’ve got a more artistic bent, you could work as a wildlife artist, zoologist, wildlife artist, or wildlife photographer. If you’ve got a strong stomach, you could also work as a taxidermist or a rodentologist. These are rare professions, but they do exist. If you’ve got a special skill, you could also become a professional trainer for animals such as dogs or horses.
Re-train to work in the food and beverage industry
If you’ve ever considered working in the food and beverage industry, now may be a good time to take the plunge. You can re-train to become a chef, food scientist, food and beverage manager, or a related field. There’s always a need for people to cook at restaurants, caterers, hotels, and other food establishments. If you want to create food, you can also re-train to become a food scientist. This can be a challenging career, but it’s an important one. You can also work in the beverage industry in fields such as beverage production, beverage distribution, or beverage sales. If you’re creative, you could also work as a sommelier or a wine critic.
Re-train to work in sports and fitness
If you’re a fitness fanatic looking to turn your passion into a career, you can re-train to work in sports and fitness. You can become a fitness instructor or a fitness trainer. You could also work as a fitness coach, sports coach, or sports instructor. If you’ve got a background in sports, you may also be able to work as a sports analyst or sports commentator. You can also work as a sports or fitness journalist, sports administrator, or sports broadcaster. If you’ve got a special skill, you could also work as a sports inventor or sports scientist. There’s also a demand for people to work in the sports management industry. You can work as a sports manager, sports agent, or sports marketing manager.
Re-train As A Machine Operator
If you are mechanically minded and enjoy working with your hands, a career as a machine operator may be right up your alley. The profession involves working with computer-controlled equipment that produces goods ranging from automobile parts to heavy machinery and aircraft parts. Machine operators can expect to earn an annual salary of approximately $42,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What’s more, job prospects in the field are very strong, with the BLS projecting a 7% growth rate in the coming decade. If you are interested in this career path, you will need to complete an Associate’s program in Manufacturing. You will also likely have to complete an apprenticeship in your area of specialization.
Re-Train As An Online Marketer
If you are comfortable writing and know your way around the Internet, a career as an online marketer may be worth exploring. The profession involves promoting goods and services online using different marketing techniques. Online marketers can expect to earn an annual salary of approximately $50,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What’s more, job prospects in the field are strong, with the BLS projecting a 14% growth rate in the coming decade. If you are interested in becoming an online marketer, you will need to either complete a program in Internet Marketing or take a self-paced course in the subject. You will also have to demonstrate proficiency in one or more marketing techniques such as SEO, PPC, or email marketing.
Re-Train As A Software Tester
If you like to tinker with software and enjoy a job that is often overlooked, a career as a software tester may be for you. The profession involves testing new software for bugs and errors before it is released to the public. Software testers earn an annual salary of approximately $60,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What’s more, job prospects in the field are very strong, with the BLS projecting a 9% growth rate in the coming decade. If you are interested in becoming a software tester, you will need to complete a program in Computer Information Systems or Information Technology. You will also likely have to demonstrate proficiency in one or more software testing languages such as Java or Python.
Computer and Information Technology
If you’re at the tail end of your career and would like to change the direction of your life, the first option to consider is a career in computer and information technology. This is a flexible career that lets you work from home. You’ll need to complete a specialized course in order to get started, but once you’re in, you can expect to be earning top dollar for the rest of your career.
Computers and information technology are in every aspect of our lives, from the most basic tasks to the most sophisticated. With so many fields to choose from, it can be hard to decide which computer and information technology careers are right for you. However, in order to get started, you’ll need to decide which type of career you’d like: engineering, technology, or computer science. That way, you’ll know where to apply to school and which courses you need to take. Once you’ve narrowed down your career interests, you’ll be able to find and apply to jobs that match your passions, helping you to find the perfect job for yourself. While you’ll likely need to complete a degree in computer and information technology, it’s important to remember that you don’t need a specific degree for this career.
Healthcare and Wellness
Healthcare and wellness are fields that are expected to see a lot of growth in the next few years. The job market is expected to expand by 12% over the next decade, so if you want to retrain in the mid-30s, this is a great option. You can specialize in certain fields like nutrition, yoga, or even acupuncture. All of these fields are in high demand and don’t require as much schooling as other careers. You can also choose to get a degree in a more general area like psychology. Once you graduate, you can find a job in any area of the healthcare field, from addiction studies to counseling.
Healthcare is one of the most challenging fields to enter in order to get a job that pays a decent salary. While it may seem like there are a lot of options available when it comes to working in the healthcare field, there’s a catch. Healthcare is a highly regulated field, so you’ll need to be licensed to practice medicine, which can be difficult and time-consuming. The most common licensing you’ll need is a medical license, but you can also need licenses specific to certain types of healthcare providers, such as nursing, pharmacy, or dental. And then there’s an even smaller group of healthcare professionals who are allowed to prescribe pharmaceuticals. Even if you have a degree in healthcare and already have a license, it’s still important to get an MBA to learn how to work in this field and to gain the necessary skills and credibility. Careers in healthcare include working in hospitals, health clinics, and insurance companies.
Athletics and Sports
Becoming a coach or athletic trainer is the perfect way to retrain if you’re in your 30s. All you have to do is find a program that is looking for coaches and sign up. You might have to take a couple of online courses, but you can do this on your own time. If you want to retrain but are not sure what you want to do, consider this field. You can work with all ages and abilities, and your hours are flexible. You can also choose to specialize in a certain sport, like baseball or basketball, or work with a specific age group like youth or middle-school athletes.
Business Management and Leadership
This is the perfect time in your life to retrain and become a manager or business leader. You may have to go back to school for an online MBA, but the rewards are worth it. After you graduate, you can start climbing the corporate ladder and leading others in your field. If you don’t want to go back to school, you can retrain and become a business owner. You can start with a small side business or become an entrepreneur and start your own company.
Final Thoughts on What is the best career to retrain for?
It’s never too late to re-train and find a new career. With the right effort and dedication, you can start a new job at any age. By re-training, you can help increase your employability and open up new job opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach. With the right retraining and re-education, you can even start a brand new career. There are many new options available to suit your skill set and interests. And with the right preparation and effort, you can find a job in almost any industry. When you are ready to re-train, you just need to choose a program that is convenient for you and your schedule. You can search for online courses, schools, or training programs in your area and start soon.
Do you want to learn more about What is the best career to retrain for? 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.