Second careers for the 40-plus crowd

You're too young for retirement, too experienced for entry-level positions and too fed up with your job to stay any longer. Have you considered starting a second career? Starting over in a new field can be an exciting way to change how you feel about your work life, and the shifting economy offers more opportunities for change than you might think. Here are some ideas for getting started on a career change, and where to look.

Create an "open ideas" list

If you're ready to leave your first career behind, it's time to ask what's next. Keep a running list of ideas for your future -- hobbies you enjoy, your areas of expertise, business ideas you passed on previously, childhood dreams. This list can include every pipe dream you've ever had. Then, narrow it down to what interests you most, what you can make happen and what you want to learn more about. Try out different fields by volunteering, taking classes and talking to those who have the position you want. Transitioning successfully to a second career depends on how much research and preparation you can do to ensure this will be the right fit.

Use your economic advantages

Making a career switch can be intimidating at any point in life, but a tepid economy and family responsibilities can hinder even the biggest risk-takers. Rather than starting off on your own, take advantage of jobs that have been newly created or for which demand is growing. CareerBuilder's midyear job forecast shared hopeful news for job seekers and career changers. More employers are reporting that within their organization, new jobs are emerging that didn't exist five years ago, including positions tied to:

• Social media
• Storing and managing data
• Cybersecurity
• Financial regulation
• Promoting diversity inside and outside the organization
• "Green" energy and the environment
• Global relations

Employers are hiring in large numbers in some areas, including those that affect revenue and innovation. If you're looking to get some new experience before launching an independent career, here are some areas where employers are hiring first:

• Customer service
• Information technology
• Sales
• Administrative
• Business development
• Accounting/finance
• Marketing

Consider secure jobs

Still not convinced a second career is in your future? "150 Best Jobs for a Secure Future" author Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., shares a variety of secure-job lists based on different demographics. Switching careers during economic uncertainty is actually more common and practical than it may seem. "People tend to lose recession-sensitive jobs when economic downturns strike, and the jobs they find during those hard times tend to be available because they're secure," Shatkin says.

Here are seven of the best secure jobs with a high percentage of mature workers:

1. Athletic trainers*
Percent growth between 2010-20: 30 percent (much faster than average)
Median annual pay: $41,600

2. Clinical, counseling and other school psychologists
Percent growth between 2010-20: 22 percent (faster than average)
Median annual pay: $68,640

3. Instructional coordinators
Percent growth between 2010-20: 20 percent (faster than average)
Median annual pay: $58,830

4. Interpreters and translators
Percent growth between 2010-20: 42 percent (much faster than average)
Median annual pay: $43,300

5. Management analysts
Percent growth between 2010-20: 22 percent (faster than average)
Median annual pay: $78,160

6. Occupational therapy assistants
Percent growth between 2010-20: 33 percent (much faster than average)
Median annual pay: $72,320

7. Technical writers
Percent growth between 2010-20: 17 percent (about as fast as average)
Median annual pay: $68,280

*All median annual pay figures and growth percentages are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Susan Ricker is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.