Are you feeling stuck in a rut? Do you often find yourself thinking, “What is the right career for me?” The good news is that the days of having a single, lifelong job are over. The first career path you venture down doesn’t have to be the one you’re stuck with. Now, the concept of a "second chance" in your career is a reality for a growing number of people.
Can I change my career later in life?
This is a question we often hear, along with “How late is too late to change your career?” The answer to both is simple: it's never too late!
Here at learndirect, we believe in giving you the tools to redefine your future. We are spotlighting some incredible individuals who took the plunge, proving that changing careers later in life, or at any age, is entirely possible and rewarding. They used their determination, along with flexible online learning, to achieve their goals.
Tom: From touring musician to future paramedic
Tom traded a life on the road for a life saving lives. As a guitar technician, he spent eight months a year touring the UK, managing equipment and musicians, living out of hotels and suitcases. It was a demanding, non-stop lifestyle.
At 35 years of age, Tom decided it was time for a meaningful change. He enrolled in an online Access to Higher Education Diploma (Paramedic Science) with learndirect. Just months after stopping his touring life, he started university.
"I’m living the dream of 10-year-old me! I’m a student of paramedicine and heading out on my first placement block at the end of January!"
Tom's journey is a perfect example of how to make a complete career switch. If you're looking for career change ideas that lead to university, an Access to HE Diploma can be your ideal route.
Want to follow Tom's path? Find out more about the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Paramedic Science) by downloading your free access course brochure here.
Gemma: From dental nurse to 'girl boss' foot health practitioner
Gemma, 42, wanted more for herself and her family after a serious health scare with her youngest son. As a working mother and former Royal Navy dental nurse, she sought a career change that would give her more control, success, and flexibility.
She set her sights on a specialist healthcare role.
Gemma enrolled in a Foot Health Care Practitioner Diploma online with learndirect. The ability to pay in instalments and study at her own pace around her work and children was essential.
"There’s no way I could have gone to college or university with work and children... being able to do it online the way it is, is just perfect for anyone older and wanting a new career... I’ve made my money back massively since doing it.”
In just nine months after qualifying, Gemma built her own booming business as an in-demand foot health practitioner, securing nearly 200 clients. Her story shows the incredible potential for new career change jobs and entrepreneurship when you take that first step.
Ready to be your own boss in healthcare? Find out about the foot health care practitioner diploma by viewing it on our website here.
Emma: Turning trauma into a nursing vocation
For 34-year-old mother-of-two Emma, her determination to become a nurse was forged in the fire of her experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, where she tragically witnessed the loss of residents at the care home she worked in. Despite a past of low confidence following childhood emotional abuse, she realised her emotional strength and knew it was time for a career change.
Emma enrolled on the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) online. Planning to take the full two years, she was encouraged to apply to university early and, thanks to her success with learndirect, was accepted to study Adult Nursing at the University of Sunderland within just eight months! The flexible payment options offered by learndirect were also a key factor in making her dream affordable.
"I was just overwhelmed with happiness, and I was so proud of myself that I’d actually achieved something that others told me I never would... I never ever thought that I would be able to do it, but I’m here, and I’m doing it, and so can you."
Emma’s success shows that it's possible to accelerate your professional aspirations and achieve rewarding career change jobs in the healthcare sector.
Could nursing be your second chance? Explore the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) in our free nursing course brochure here.
Matt: Turning life-altering trauma into a special educational needs career
Following a life-altering brain injury in 2010, Matt, a lifelong adventurer and skier, faced a long recovery that included learning to walk and talk again. After years of hard work, he found a new purpose: supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Volunteering at a summer camp and shadowing a SEND teacher made him realise his accident, once seen as a negative, gave him a unique perspective and deep empathy for others facing difficulties. He decided to pursue a career change and, at age 37, enrolled in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) – Advanced course with learndirect to strengthen his skills.
"If I [teach SEND], I’ve got a unique viewpoint, and I think my accident would go from a negative to a big positive... I want to make the most of my experiences. I want to do something good."
Matt’s journey perfectly highlights how your past experiences can shape powerful career change jobs. His online study from his home in the French Alps gave him the flexibility he needed to achieve his goal.
Ready to make a difference in education? Discover more about our special educational needs courses in our free teaching & education course brochure.
Amelia: Teacher to midwife while raising a baby
Amelia, while only 26 years old, had already trained and embarked on a career as a secondary school English teacher. She used her maternity leave as a chance to reflect and pursue a completely different career. Motivated by her personal experience of maternity care, she decided on a bold career change to become a midwife.
Juggling family life, Amelia completed her Access to Higher Education Diploma (Midwifery) online in just six months. The 100% online, flexible nature of the course was crucial, allowing her to fit her studies around her baby.
"I watched the lectures and did my wider reading whilst breastfeeding my son back to sleep, which is something that wouldn't have been possible at college!... My life was 100% changed through my Access course, as it has allowed me to reach my target of securing a university spot."
Amelia is now in her first year of a midwifery degree at her top-choice university. Her story is proof that learning how to change careers effectively means finding a course that works with your life, not against it.
Is midwifery calling you? Learn how to qualify with the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Midwifery) by downloading your free midwifery course brochure here.
Your second chance starts now
These amazing learndirect learners prove that there is no perfect age or time for changing careers later in life—only the moment you decide to take control. Whether you are looking for career change ideas in healthcare, education, or another field entirely, learndirect is here to support you.
So, if you’re ready to shake things up but you’re wondering, “What is the right career for me?”, we’ve got a FREE career guide to inspire you. Download it here or browse all our course brochures to find your perfect fit by clicking below.
