If your age is somewhere between the late 20s and early 40s, you’ve probably entertained the notion of a mid-career job change at least once. It’s human nature to assume the grass on the other side of the fence is greener. But the fact is that many working adults in that age group switch their professional track by exploring fresh positions in completely different fields.

What are the most popular second careers? Besides teaching and consulting, which have long been the top two choices for job changers, people train to join the transport sector as fleet managers, take up computer programming, enter the educational field as teachers, become precious metals brokers, and more. Here are details about a few of the areas career switchers seem to prefer.

Teaching

Teaching is a profession that welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds if they get the proper training. State laws vary widely, but it usually takes about one year for college graduates to earn enough credits to enter the classroom and begin instructing students. Starting pay and benefits are excellent for primary, secondary, and college teachers. Those who stick with the profession can move up the career ladder, earn free tuition for graduate degree programs, and move into administration positions.

Transport Fleet Management

Fleet managers are true multi-taskers. Not only do they oversee vehicle fleets for transport companies, but they are also in charge of driver safety, on-time deliveries, monitoring vehicle maintenance needs, and dozens of other related chores.

In today’s fast-paced economy, they also leverage the power and benefits of electric cars for delivery companies that need to keep fuel expenses as low as possible. Not only is electricity a much cleaner, more environmental alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel, but EVs (electric vehicles) are the most important piece of the sustainability puzzle. The efficient cars and trucks that need no liquid fuel are a cost-effective tactic for minimizing operating costs for the entire fleet, no matter the size of the company.

Consultant

Working adults who have more than five years of experience in a particular field can set up shop online or in an office setting as consultants. Several career areas lend themselves to this pursuit, especially engineering, management, tax preparation, financial services, and marketing.

If you intend to consult full-time, but want to stress less at work, it makes sense to ease into the job and keep your current position until you have enough clients to generate regular income. Many disciplines require consultants to earn special licenses or educational degrees, so be sure to check with state agencies and boards before offering services via a website or leasing office space.

IT Programmer

One of the hottest second careers is coding and programming. There are dozens of excellent online teaching platforms for those who want to learn how to build websites, write or test higher-level programs, design software, and more. Expect to spend about one year acquiring the skills necessary to succeed as a full-time coder or IT programmer.

Precious Metals Broker

For those who are good at sales and score high in the self motivation category, being a precious metals broker is a worthwhile occupation. The current state of the economy is one of the primary reasons the job has attracted new enthusiasts. Consumer demand for silver and gold bullion hasn’t been so high since the 1990s, and with inflation rates running hot, the metals niche has become lucrative.

Not only is the cost of entry low, but brokers can also set up shop from home, a small office, or a portable laptop. It helps to focus on your local community and build up a regular clientele. Consider investing in online ads as well as business cards. Join social organizations and the city’s chamber of commerce to build up your brand as a reliable, well-known metals broker-dealer.