What to look for in a second act

A 50th birthday is often viewed as a milestone moment in an individual’s personal and professional life. Upon turning 50, some adults might have felt as though they could see the light at the end of their professional tunnel, but that that’s not necessarily so in the modern era.

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of adults 65 and older who are still working has nearly doubled since the late 1980s. The researchers at Pew also note the rate of workers 75 and older who are still working has quadrupled since 1964. So while 50 might once have been viewed as an age when it’s time to start thinking about a professional exit strategy, modern adults 50 and over may now be looking for a second act so they can keep working for decades to come.

No two professionals are the same, so what makes for an ideal second act for some might not do the same for others. Everyone must identify their own professional priorities, but the following are a handful of qualities to look for in your second act:

• Transferability – Professionals change careers for a wide range of reasons, including a desire to do something wholly different from their current job. But even if a chance to do something new is your primary motivation, it can be beneficial to find a second act where skills from your existing career transfer over. Transferability can help bridge the experience gap, making it easier to land a first job in a new field. Transferability also can make the transition easier on you, as you’re less likely to feel like you’re starting at square one if you can utilize your existing reservoir of skills in your new job.

• Flexibility – Flexibility also can be useful when changing careers. Teaching is a flexible field that many established professionals look to when pondering a second act. If you prefer to try before you buy, then look for a flexible teaching position like an adjunct professor’s role at a local college or consider substitute teaching. Flexibility also can pertain to where you work. Pew reports that one in four workers 55 and older teleworked in 2024, so if you’re switching careers to spend more time at home and with your family, then a second act that offers the flexibility of remote working might be just what you need.

• Opportunity – If you aren’t decided on what you’d like your second act to be, then researching growth fields that figure to offer plenty of opportunities can be a great place to start. Read up on burgeoning new fields or established professions experiencing staffing shortages. If you aspire to relocate to a locale that’s more retiree-friendly, then look into places you’re interested in and see which types of professional opportunities are available so you can continue to work as long as you’d like in your new home.

A second act that allows professionals to utilize their existing skills and offers plenty of flexibility and opportunity can be just what professionals need to make a successful transition to a new line of work.