{"id":4307,"date":"2015-01-30T07:47:14","date_gmt":"2015-01-30T11:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4307"},"modified":"2015-01-30T07:47:14","modified_gmt":"2015-01-30T11:47:14","slug":"consumer-reports-starting-a-second-career-to-sail-through-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4307","title":{"rendered":"Consumer Reports: Starting a Second Career to Sail Through Retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"images<\/a>After working for a few decades, and as retirement approaches, many of us begin to think about a second career. What else we could we do that would be more enjoyable yet still help pay the bills? What other kinds of jobs might offer more flexibility and satisfaction?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lisa Eaves, 56, a former technical-support manager at Fannie Mae<\/a>, went through the process. She is now a board-certified acupuncturist with her own thriving practice, Heal from Within<\/a>, in Washington. She\u2019d turned to acupuncture treatment years before, partly as a way to help alleviate stress in her life, and began reading about the ancient science. Meanwhile, she had started to feel that she couldn\u2019t stay with Fannie Mae indefinitely without it \u201ctotally killing my spirit.\u201d It dawned on her that a career in acupuncture might be the right next step. She took classes at night while she continued to work. Then, when she set up her practice, she reduced her hours at Fannie Mae to part-time for three more years, the time it took for her business to gain enough traction to support her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Today Eaves says she is happier than ever and has more control over her life. She has also teed herself up perfectly for a career that will stretch easily into what was once considered the retirement years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0Take a look at\u00a010 careers\u00a0with staying power<\/a>\u00a0that should still be in high demand a decade from now.<\/b><\/div>\n
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(More:\u00a0Read Feature Story on Consumer Reports<\/a>)<\/strong><\/div>\n
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The secret to her success is twofold. She had the foresight to start a second career in a booming sector\u2014health care\u2014and she made the transition in stages. \u201cStart working at age 50 on a career you might not get around to until age 55 or 60,\u201d advises Beverly Jones, a career coach with Clearways Consulting in Washington.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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If you think a second career could be in your future, the first step is to know where the best opportunities will be by the time you are ready. (Read \u201c10 Second Careers With Staying Power.\u201d ) That way, you can start preparing now to become an attractive candidate later. Here are the key steps you should follow to get the process started:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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