second career
Later professional chapter
A second career is a new profession or occupation undertaken after leaving one's original career, typically in midlife or later.
It often follows retirement, burnout, or a deliberate life change: After twenty years in finance, she started a second career as a therapist.
The term implies meaningful work, not just a job—a fresh professional identity rather than winding down.
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
- pivotPoint of rotation
- midlifeHalfway through adulthood
- late bloomerOne who matures slowly
- transitionChange from one state
new chapter · fresh start · encore · retraining · calling · passion · burnout · resignation · taking the plunge · leap · crossroads · fulfillment · dream job · work-life balance · portfolio · freelance · side hustle · consultant
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
- adult educationadult education, adult learning, GED prep, adult classes, adult education center
- career movesresignation, promotion, retirement, job search, demotion
- career milestonespromotion, hire, first job, retirement, raise
- midlifemidlife crisis, empty nest, empty nester, forties, fifties
- retirementretirement, retire, retirement age, retirees, retirement income