The second career is a more popular phrase today than a decade or two ago. With people shifting gears, switching, and pursuing new opportunities at an advanced stage in their careers, we see more and more people taking up a new professional route.
As per a study by Oracle, 97% of Indians want to make career changes over the next year.
In this blog, we will focus on the 7 best second career options that can be a great fit for you as you advance to the second phase of your career, along with an insight into how to make this career switch.
Before we find out more about this, let us take a minute to understand: what is a second career?
What is a second career?
A second career is a career an individual pursues after retiring from their current career. While the reasons for the same may vary, people usually take up a second career when their interest in the first one has become dormant, or there seems to be no further growth for the individual in their field. One may want to opt for a second career in two options:
A career change to switch their fields or job roles to explore new professional interests
A new profession one may pursue after retirement or a long-term career break
Pursuing a new career can require educational upgrades, training, and certifications. Here is how you can get started with this process.
How to pursue a second career
Pursuing a second career after being in a certain position for years can be challenging. So, here are some steps you can follow to make this process easy.
1. Identify your area of interest
The most crucial aspect of changing careers is identifying where your interest lies. So start by narrowing down your strengths, skills, and interests that can help you take a step towards a new career.
You may be an accountant by profession but if your interest lies in something different like teaching, then that can be your calling for the second career.
This also helps to establish a connection between your current job role and the career you want to pursue. So, make a list of the things you liked in your previous job role like high-paying salary, work-life balance, job satisfaction, etc., and make a list of careers that have the potential to promise you the same.
Another great way to do so is to take Naukri’s free online career aptitude tests.
2. Create a roadmap
As you decide to switch gears in your career, the first thing you must do is identify what is your final goal? And the best way to do so is to build a career map.
Start with your current position at the bottom and your final goal at the top of the map. Then figure out the necessary steps to bridge this gap and list all the training, certifications, internships, or part-time projects that can make it easier for you to reach your dream second career.
3. List transferable skills
After creating a roadmap, the next thing on your agenda should be to list your hard and soft skills that can be useful in the profession you are targeting.
Start by listing your skills and analyze your expertise in the same. For instance, if you worked in a customer success role, and your skill set includes customer interaction, time management, problem-solving, which are also the skills that can be utilized in your new role, then rate your expertise in these areas and identify whether you are beginner, intermediate, or an expert in these aspects.
4. Certifications and online training
As you begin your second career, you may find yourself short on skills required for your desired profession. But the good news is that you can get all the help you need from the comfort of your home through online courses. Today, online certifications and training are just a click away.
Since upskilling and additional certifications are crucial aspects of building a second career, you must consider investing some time to research the necessary skills you need to ace the career change and select the courses that seem most suitable for you.
You can explore Naukri Learning to find the courses that are best for you all in one place.
5. Make a Budget
Before you take the career leap, budgeting is a pivotal step. So as you decide on switching careers, crunch the numbers and figure out how much you need to earn before you make a big career change.
You may need to work your way up—or you may find that your new direction pays as much or more than your current role. Either way, it will be helpful to know exactly how much money you will need during this phase of transition.
6. Get Expert Advice
Getting advice from an expert is always a good idea while setting foot on the stepping stones of your career. So, do not hesitate to call in the experts when you need help.
If you have graduated from college, say 5-10 years ago, consider reaching out to your college career center as many institutions offer job search and career help for alumni long after graduation.
You can also consider hiring a career coach, or a life coach. Attending informational interviews with those in your dream field is also a great way to gain the desired exposure and network.
Top 7 Second career choices
Here are the top 7 career choices we think would be a perfect fit for a second career:
1. Teacher
Teaching is one of the best second career choices for anyone that has academic expertise in a subject. The profession has no age bar and can be pursued by anyone with the required qualifications.
Additionally, there is always a high demand for qualified teachers, especially in a country like India, where the government and the people are working collectively to increase the literacy rate.
Some basic qualifications you will need to become a teacher are:
B.Ed or Bachelors of Education with a minimum of 55%
(CTET) to teach classes 1-8, PGT or TGT to teach senior classes
Basic Training Certificate (BTC), teacher training certificates, or Diploma in Education (D.Ed)
If you do not want to go back to school and become a traditional teacher, you can also consider other modes of teaching like online classes, tuitions, certified instructors, etc.
You can explore teaching jobs here.
2. Consultant
Know the ins and outs of your trade in-depth? If yes, then a consultant job can be your calling. It is one of the best second career choices, and all you will have to do is use the knowledge you have to help businesses optimize output.
Consultants are always in high demand as companies are always looking for the best strategies to grow their business r. As a consultant, you can utilize your existing skills and work as an advisor to companies and devise strategies to improve business processes. You may not even have to educate yourself to become a consultant, provided you are pursuing the field you have worked in.
It is a high-paying role with the salary of a consultant in India ranging from 3.8LPA to 20.5 LPA.
To find consultant jobs, click here.
3. Digital marketeer
Companies across the globe are going digital, and with this new wave of virtual presence, the demand for digital marketers is at an all-time high. Digital marketers are responsible for establishing a brand presence, generating leads, and increasing awareness about the company amongst the consumers.
You can read more about digital marketing in our blog- What is Digital Marketing? How to Find a Job in Digital Marketing Through Naukri?
To pursue digital marketing as a second career, all you have to do is learn more about the various concepts and marketing channels. While it may sound like “too much work”, becoming a digital marketer is easy.
You can sign up for online courses and certifications. You can browse digital marketing certifications and courses at Naukri Learning. You can also pursue free courses like Digital Unlocked by Google, A social media education program by Hootsuite, etc.
And if you are looking for a Digital marketing job, browse here.
4. Photographer
If you are the go-to photographer in your friends' circle, take your camera everywhere you go, or have the hobby of clicking pictures, you can consider becoming a photographer as you decide on a second career.
All you need to become a photographer is your camera, an eye for creativity, and a knack for capturing images. And if you are looking to upskill, you can check out the Photography course and certifications on Naukri Learning.
Once you are through all these steps, click here to browse Photography Jobs in India.
5. Real estate agent/broker
If you are good at understanding real estate and can buy and sell properties, then one of the best options for a second career is to become a real estate agent/broker.
Real estate agents are licensed professionals who can buy and sell registered properties. They are responsible for drafting property deeds, listing properties, and staying up-to-code with the laws and regulations.
And if you are on board with all this, then all you have to do is register yourself with RERA and secure a license to practice.
If you are wondering how to become a real estate agent, you can read this article by 99Acres on How to become a licensed real estate agent in India?
Once your research is complete, check out these real estate agent jobs.
6. Tax Preparer
Are you the person doing taxes for everyone in your friends and family circle? If the answer is yes, you can pursue this skill as a second career option.
Tax preparers are in high demand by companies across various scales. It is a flexible job role, and you can practice it from the comfort of your home. As a tax preparer, you will be responsible for auditing your clients, submitting their tax forms, and filing returns to maximize their savings.
To pursue a career as a tax preparer, you are not required to be a Certified Public Accountant. All you need to do is take up a few courses to brush up your skills as a tax preparer and stay up-to-date with the new regulations. You can browse Online taxation certification courses at Naukri learning.
And if you have already done that, click here to check out Tax preparer jobs.
7. Private Investigator
One of the most intriguing options for a second career, a private investigator is a person who investigates people and keeps tabs on their financial, personal, and legal matters. They are hired by individuals or organizations to find out information about people or companies, confirm the authenticity of paperwork, and in criminal cases as well.
PIs are also hired to confirm pre & post-employment verification, run background checks, or even confirm suspicions of people related to their spouse, kids, etc.
PIs use state-of-the-art technology to get the desired results. There are no specific qualifications required to become a PI- anyone with a graduate degree in any discipline can pursue this career option.
However, criminology can give you insight into the field. In case your specialization is not criminology, you can take up a course to become a private detective from a reputed college or agency, where you can learn the tips and tricks of the trade.
You can browse Investigator jobs here.
Conclusion
Building a career once is a big deal, but repeating the same process without any direction can be very taxing. As you decide which role to pursue, we hope that this blog will give you some ideas that can help you make informed second career choices.
All the best!
