Jobs for 40 year olds with no qualifications: 15 Awesome Careers To Start At 40 With Little Or No Experience

15 Awesome Careers To Start At 40 With Little Or No Experience

Getting a new job can feel like a huge obstacle to overcome, especially when you get rejected time after time.

There are a lot of jobs that require a certain amount of experience from you in order to get hired – and if you don’t have the required experience, you will try to no avail. This may feel even tougher for you if you’re 40 and you want to change careers. 

The good news is that not all jobs require experience. Even if you want to start your new career at 40, you can be successful even if you haven’t worked in a similar field in the past. Let’s take a look at some of these jobs and see what they have to offer. 

1. Customer Service Representative

This is certainly not a job for those who don’t like talking to people. However, if you think you have good communication skills and just love talking to people, it may be a job that suits you. 

Before you get employed, you may have to go through a training course. After all, you need to become aware of the policy of the company and what to do when a customer comes to you with an issue. Other than that, you don’t need to have any kind of experience. 

You only have to make sure you know how to communicate with people. Also, you must be nice and positive, and willing to help clients with whatever problems they have. So, it’s suitable even for people who are 40 years old and have no experience in this field. 

The average salary for a customer service representative is $30,688. 

2. Nuclear Technician

You hear about people working in nuclear factories all the time on TV, but did it ever occur to you that you can be helpful for these people? You can become a nuclear technician and get an average annual salary of $79,140.

Even though it seems like something you need to prepare a long time for, it actually requires no experience in a related occupation. You only need an associate’s degree to get hired. 

As a nuclear technician, you will have the opportunity to help out nuclear engineers, physicists, or any other scientists working in the laboratory. What you have to do is pretty much assess the quality of the nuclear testing and research equipment, but also maintain and operate it in some cases. 

Afterward, you will just gain experience while you work, so it will be easy to pick up various skills on the go. 

3. Construction Manager

It’s even possible to work in the construction field, even if you have no experience whatsoever. With an average annual salary of $99,510, this could be a great opportunity for you if you ever dreamed of being a manager. Many construction managers who had this position for a longer time may earn over $150,000, depending on the state they live in. 

What you’ll have to do at this job is directing, planning, and coordinating activities on a construction site. Not to mention that you may also have to deal with budgeting construction projects and scheduling them, but also overseeing the organization. 

You may need a bachelor’s degree though, especially if you intend to work in a larger firm but as for experience in a related occupation, you won’t need any. When you first start, you will work as an assistant under an experienced construction manager. You will learn from this person and get ready to start your own management adventure. It’s great if you think you would do great as a manager. 

4. Real Estate Agent

Believe it or not, but being a real estate agent is possible even if you have no experience in the field to back you up.

A real estate agent can earn an average salary of $51,879, and there is no previous experience required. You may only have to take a short course, respectively a 60-hour one, but other than that, you can definitely work in this field even if you never had a similar job. 

In order to succeed, you must make sure you have an entrepreneurial attitude, and that you are always confident in yourself and determined to work hard. You should be aware that the more you’re able to sell, the more you’ll earn, which is why it’s important to have the qualities mentioned above. Most agents work on commission, after all.  

5. Home Care Aid

You may be a kind soul who wants to help others with their issues, and that’s wonderful – the world needs more people like you. Did you know you can actually have a job that allows you to help people just the way you like to? Even if you are 40 and have no experience in the field, you can become a home care aid. 

This job involves caring for the sick and elderly, as it may be difficult for them to perform their daily activities by themselves. You can help them out, and not only earn money but also get the satisfaction that comes with doing something nice for someone. You can earn an average of $11 per hour. 

Also, some places may require you to own a valid driver’s license to work for this job. Luckily, though, you don’t need experience, and even if you may require a home aid certification, this can be earned while you’re on the job. 

6. Radiation Therapist

You’ve probably heard of radiation therapy, and maybe even know someone who got it. But you can become the person to offer this kind of service if you want to change careers and think you would be suitable for the position. 

You can earn more than $120,000 a year, although there are states where you can be paid even higher. In this position, you pretty much have to provide the necessary therapy to patients. Apart from that, you will have the responsibility of preparing the equipment and reviewing the patient’s diagnosis and the prescriptions. Maintaining records is something you may have to do as well. 

What’s nice is that no experience in a related job is required. You may need to complete a minimum of an associate’s degree, though, and get a certification or license. 

7. Sales Account Representative

Some people have the natural gift of being able to easily convince people to do almost anything. Are you one of those persons? In this case, you’d be amazing as a sales account representative. 

You know how important it is to attract a customer when making a sale. Being engaging, persuasive, and friendly are key traits needed for a successful sale. If you have these traits, you may want to consider being a sales account representative. Although some specific positions may ask for experience, the majority are “entry-level” positions. Focus on those if you’ve never worked in sales before. 

Also, you should keep in mind that a lot of companies will ask for a bachelor’s degree to hire you with this position – however, exceptions may be made as well. As for the salary, a sales account representative can earn an average of $45,459. 

8. Administrative Assistant

Do you want to work in a larger company, yet you are not sure what position might fit you? Being an administrative assistant could be the right job for you.

Some of the things you would have to handle are phone calls, scheduling, paperwork, and email correspondence. However, there will also be moments when you will have to prepare deliverables for big, important projects that the company is preparing. Taking notes or sitting in on meetings may be required too. 

You can earn around $44,950 as an average salary. No experience is required, as it’s a job most people would adapt to. Moreover, in time, you may be able to move to a more specialized role if you want to. 

9. Web Developer

In case you have some technical skills, you may start working as a web developer. It’s great if you want a new career that doesn’t require any physical work. With an average annual salary of $72,150, this position doesn’t require any previous experience as a web developer. 

Your task will be designing and creating websites. As such, you must know how websites work and how they should look. In some cases, developing website content will be something you will have to do as well. 

Even though you don’t need any previous experience in a similar position, you will need a high school diploma, and sometimes you will even be asked for an associate’s degree. Of course, knowledge in graphic design and programming is required, since you will be using these skills. But these can also be learned along the way and when you’ll excel these skills, you will be a great web developer. 

The best web developers usually have a bachelor’s degree in the field and superior programming languages. But, in numerous companies, you will be able to make it without the degree as well. 

10. Legal Assistant

People who are good at writing may be amazing as legal assistants. If you would like to work in the legal field, yet have no experience with it, don’t worry – some positions are entry-level. So, you may be lucky enough to find one if you search carefully. You can make an average of $46,452 per year. 

But before you apply for a job like this, make sure you have what it takes – thus, you must be an extremely organized person and have proper grammar skills. What’s great about this position is that as you work more and gain experience, you can earn more.

Also, in time, you can even train to become a paralegal. It’s great to see that even if you start a new job with no experience at 40, you still have the chance to climb the ladder.  

11. Translator

Speaking multiple languages is amazing because it gives you the chance to communicate with a larger group of people and even learn something about other cultures.

However, it also gives you the chance to get a job as a translator. It doesn’t matter what foreign language you speak – in fact, the rarer the language, the better the salary. So, if you can translate documents from the language/s you know to English and vice versa, you can make a nice change in career, even at 40. 

A translator should be able to accurately translate not only documents but also spoken words during interviews. You don’t need special experience in the field to excel at this job. All you need is knowledge of a foreign language, one that a company is seeking. At the same time, having a linguistics accreditation or a certificate/degree will help with your job application. 

Many people in their 40s pick this as their new career because many businesses seek translation services. So, you shouldn’t hesitate to apply for this position if you think you have what it takes. You can earn an average salary of $22.15 per hour. 

12. Veterinary Assistant

We all love animals because they make our lives better. This is why we should care for them, especially if they have serious problems that put their health and even life in danger. 

This is why, if you love animals and would give anything to be near them all the time, a veterinary assistant role is perfect for you. The average salary is $31,567, and apart from the money, you also get the advantage of being put in a good mood by seeing so many cute animals. 

You don’t necessarily need experience for this, even if there are certain positions that will ask you to complete a certification. However, most veterinary clinics only require a high school diploma.

Other than that, you must have certain skills such as being good at operating computers or lifting about 40-50 pounds. Some animals, such as dogs, can be heavy, so you must be able to help lift them so that the veterinarian can offer them the necessary assistance.  

13. Public Relations Assistant

If you consider yourself a people’s person, then you might be tempted to work as a public relations assistant. You need to be comfortable with being around people, and you must have strong writing skills as well.

In general, public relations companies will look for a lot of fresh candidates, so they can work on them and prepare them based on their standards. 

Therefore, you don’t need any experience for this position. Moreover, you should know that many times, companies will give rotational programs during the first year or two, in order to let you explore multiple business areas.

This is helpful as it will allow you to find out your good points and your weaknesses. If you choose this type of career, you could earn around $45,498 per year. 

14. Medical Assistant

Being a medical assistant gives you the opportunity to work in a doctor’s office or a hospital. Even though it doesn’t seem like it, the job is not that difficult, and it doesn’t require experience.

In fact, what you have to do is pretty much work at the front desk of a department or an office, and sometimes you will have to interact with patients as well. 

What’s cool is that you can gain experience and, over time, move to a medical specialty, which then prepares you for a senior position. As a result, you can go from an average salary of $33,719 to a higher amount as time passes by. 

15. Dental Assistant

Similar to the previous position, being a dental assistant is not as difficult or unpleasant as you might think. Also, you don’t really need experience in the dental field to get this job.

In fact, you only need a high school diploma or an associate’s degree to qualify. As a dental assistant, you will have to prepare patients for dental procedures, speak to them, and assist dentists during the said procedures. 

Sometimes, you will also be required to book appointments and keep the records of the patients up to date. As time goes by, you may be able to qualify for a more advanced position through proper training.  

If you want to become a dental assistant, you should know that you can get an average of $17.65 per hour. 

It can certainly feel challenging to make a career move at 40 when you feel that very few companies will accept you without any experience in the field.

But as you were able to see, there are multiple positions that you can have even if you haven’t worked in the industry before. We hope that one of them has sparked your interest and you’ll do all your best to get the job you want. Good luck with your career change!

The Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers and Side Hustlers

Millions of Americans work as freelancers or juggle side hustles alongside their 9-to-5 jobs. Whether they use a formal business entity or not, and regardless of how they think of themselves, these people are small-business owners. 

That doesn’t mean they have the same degree of access to the business banking system, however. Just as the universe of credit cards for freelancers is smaller than the universe of small-business credit cards, many business-friendly banks choose not to deal with freelancers and people with side gigs.

Fortunately, many do. If you’re looking for a bank account to manage your freelance or side hustle finances, it’s time to get familiar with the names on this list. 

The Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers and Side Hustlers

These are the best bank accounts for freelancers and people with side gigs right now. Each does at least one thing really well, and we believe that our best overall pick offers the best value for the greatest number of would-be users.

Best Overall: Lili (Lili Account)

The Lili Account is one of the few checking accounts designed specifically for people who work for themselves — whether they call themselves freelancers, side hustlers, microbusinesses, sole proprietors, or anything else. 

It’s built around a powerful package of tools that simplify and streamline business:

• Tax management tools for those with lots of revenue streams and expenses
• Internal invoicing capabilities
• Instant expense categorization for qualifying purchases
• Cash deposit at 90,000 locations around the U. S. (fees may apply)
• An automated savings tool that lets you set aside as little as $1 per day in an “emergency bucket” that earns up to 1.00% APY
• The option to get paid up to two days early with qualifying direct deposit

And Lili works for managing personal finances as well. It could be the only bank account you need as a self-employed person.

Additional features:

• Use your business debit card anywhere Visa is accepted
• Enjoy fee-free ATM withdrawals at nearly 40,000 locations
• Earn cash-back rewards on eligible purchases
• No minimum balance or hidden fees

Open an Account with Lili

Best Bank Account Bonus: Chase Business Complete Checking

Chase Business Complete Checking has the best new account bonus opportunity of any freelancer-friendly institution. Simply open a new account online or in person with no minimum deposit required to earn a $300 bonus. 

Additional features:

• Avoid the $15 monthly maintenance fee by maintaining a qualifying minimum daily balance or making qualifying purchases on your Chase Ink Business credit card
• Enjoy unlimited electronic deposits, ACH transfers, and mobile check deposits using Chase QuickDeposit
• Access ATMs and branches in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MI, NV, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA, WV, WI

Open an Account with Chase

Best for Interest on Checking Balances: BlueVine

Bluevine Business Checking is one of the few business checking accounts that pays interest on checking balances — currently 2. 00% APY on balances up to and including $100,000 when you meet a monthly activity goal. Just do one of the following:

• Spend $500 per month with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard®, OR
• Receive $2,500 per month in customer payments into your Bluevine Business Checking account via ACH, wire transfer, mobile check deposit, or directly from merchant payment processing provider

Bluevine is one of the only freelancer-friendly business checking accounts with this benefit, making it a strong choice for anyone looking to earn a little extra on their walking-around money. 

Bluevine has plenty of other features worth noting:

• No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees
• Unlimited transaction allowance
• Connect your account to QuickBooks Online, Wave, and Freshbooks — some of the top online accounting platforms around
• Link with external revenue and expense management tools, including Expensify, PayPal, and Stripe
• Add up to 2 subaccounts to your existing BlueVine Business Checking account

• Enjoy mobile features like mobile check deposit and biometric security
• Pay no fees at nearly 40,000 ATMs in the U. S.
• Deposit cash at more than 90,000 Green Dot locations in the U.S.

Open an Account with Bluevine

Best for ATM Fee Reimbursements: NBKC Business Checking

The NBKC Business Checking Account has virtually no fees, which is better than most freelancer-friendly accounts can say. The account has no balance requirements, no monthly maintenance fees, and no transaction fees.

Particularly notable is the offer of up to $12 in monthly refunds against ATM fees charged worldwide — not just in the United States. That’s on top of the 30,000-plus U.S. ATMs at which NBKC business customers pay no withdrawal fees at all. 

If your side hustle or freelance enterprise requires a steady stream of cash to cover expenses, NBKC is your best bet. And you can take advantage of a slew of additional value-added features here as well:

• Seamless mobile and desktop check deposit
• Use mobile bill pay to cover expenses on the go
• Take advantage of NBKC’s courtesy overdraft sweep (see its account disclosures for details)
• Enjoy unlimited free transactions
• Pay no monthly maintenance fee
• No minimum balance or deposit requirements

Open an Account with nbkc

Best for Payment and P2P Money Transfer App Integration: Novo 

Novo is another freelancer-friendly bank account sponsored by Middlesex Federal Savings, F. A. It has no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. But its best value comes thanks to an unusual breadth of integrations with complementary small-business tools like:

• Zelle for peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers and payments
• Freshbooks, Zoho, and QuickBooks for easy accounting
• An internal invoicing tool that integrates with Stripe and PayPal, allowing clients to pay you with a few clicks or taps on your invoice 

Novo boasts some additional features worth noting as well:

• Easy application process that takes just 10 minutes to complete
• Thousands of dollars in exclusive perks (see Novo’s website for details)
• $50 minimum opening deposit
• Virtually no fees other than an overdraft and returned item fee

Open an Account with Novo

Novo is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services provided by Middlesex Federal Savings F.A.; Member FDIC.

Best for Earning Checking Account Rewards: LendingClub Bank Tailored Checking

LendingClub Bank Tailored Checking is a rewards checking account that earns up to 1% cash back on eligible signature-based debit card purchases when you keep an average balance of $5,000 or more.  

There’s a rewards-free period of 30 days after account opening, so you won’t earn anything during the first month. But moving forward, there’s no limit on what you can earn. 

Additional features:

• Earn interest on balances over $5,000
• No transaction limits or fees
• Make check deposits and lock your debit card on the go using the LendingClub Bank app
• Maintain a minimum daily balance of $5,000 or more to waive the $10 monthly maintenance fee
• Enjoy unlimited ATM fee rebates

Open an Account with LendingClub Bank

Best for High-Yield Savings: Small Business Bank Business High Yield Savings

Small Business Bank is an aptly named financial institution that caters to freelancers, microbusinesses, and growing small businesses. Its Business High Yield Savings account is aptly named as well — it offers an impressive yield on all balances with no maximums or fees. That makes it a great choice for successful freelancers and side hustlers looking to grow into something more.

The Business High Yield Savings account’s tiered yields range from 0.20% APY for balances under $25,000 to 1.00% APY for balances of $500,000 and above.

Additional features:

• Free mobile check deposit
• No monthly maintenance fees
• Rapid online approval
• Link to a free checking account with a Mastercard debit card and other great features

Open an Account with Small Business Bank

Best for Savings Subaccounts: NorthOne Business Banking

NorthOne Business Banking is one of the few freelancer-friendly bank accounts that offers savings subaccounts. These accounts-within-accounts make it easy to manage piles of money earmarked for specific purposes, like estimated taxes, payroll, or new equipment purchases. 

For a limited time, get $20 off when you open and fund a new NorthOne account.

NorthOne Business Banking does have a $10 monthly fee. But it’s worth the cost thanks to a slew of additional features:

• Unlimited payments, transfers, deposits, and debit card transactions
• More than 300,000 in-network ATMs
• Mobile check deposit and bill pay
• For a limited time, NorthOne is offering an exclusive deal for Money Crashers readers who sign up for a new account: one month of free business banking when you sign up using the link below.

Open an Account with NorthOne

Best for Free Checks: Axos Bank Basic Business Checking

Plenty of business bank accounts offer check-writing privileges, but only Axos Bank Basic Business Checking delivers your first order of business checks for free. That’s up to 50 payments made the old-fashioned way — perfect if you have vendors or contractors who prefer to get paid with paper.

There’s more. Axos Bank Basic Business Checking’s notable additional features include:

• Unlimited free transactions
• No monthly maintenance fee
• Get a free debit card when you open your account
• Make mobile check deposits and bill payments with the mobile app
• No minimum balance requirements 
• New account bonus offer worth up to $200 if you’re a new business incorporated after June 1, 2020, or $100 if you’re an established business new to Axos Bank

Open an Account with Axos Bank

Methodology: How We Select the Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers and Side Hustlers

We use several important factors to assess the best bank accounts for people with side gigs and freelance jobs. Each relates in some way to the overall cost of the account, its ease of use, its flexibility, or its ability to create value for the account holder.

Monthly Maintenance Fee

The monthly maintenance fee isn’t necessarily the most important or costly bank account fee. Overdraft fees can add up quickly if you’re not careful, for example. 

But the monthly maintenance charge is the fee that first comes to mind for most would-be account holders, and it’s often the most difficult to avoid. So, all else being equal, we prefer freelancer-friendly banks with no monthly maintenance fees or low maintenance fees that can be waived with a minimum balance or other qualifying activities.

Other Account Fees

Other common bank account fees include overdraft and nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees, paper statement fees, ATM withdrawal fees, and wire transfer fees. Few bank accounts are truly fee-free, but we give preference to those that are, then look to accounts with fewer and lower fees than average.

Transaction Limits

It’s rare for consumer checking accounts to limit transaction volumes, but many business bank accounts do just that. These limits can be quite low for businesses with lots of expenses — sometimes just 50 or 100 transactions per month.

Freelancers usually aren’t as prolific as small or midsize businesses when it comes to payments. But side hustlers with complex gigs, like successful dropshipping businesses, can quickly run over their monthly transaction allotments. That’s why we prefer banks and accounts that waive transaction limits or set them so high that they don’t trouble most freelancers and side hustlers.

Minimum Balance and Deposit Requirements

Many business bank accounts impose high minimum balance or initial deposit requirements that price out sole proprietors. In some cases, these minimums don’t prevent you from opening an account but you’ll need to meet them to avoid maintenance fees or other charges.

We prefer banks that dispense with minimum balance and deposit requirements entirely. Failing that, we look to banks with reasonable minimums or alternative options for avoiding fees tied to those minimums, such as recurring direct deposits.

Account Yield (Interest Rate)

Most business checking accounts pay minimal interest, if any. Business savings accounts are more likely to pay interest, but you shouldn’t expect your return to keep pace with inflation. Still, any yield is better than no yield at all, and we evaluate banks and accounts accordingly. 

Mobile Features and Functionality

Many freelancers and side hustlers do business primarily on their mobile phones. If you have a successful dogwalking or handyman business, for example, you’re likely to be out of the office more than you’re in it. You no doubt use your phone to interact with clients, make purchases, keep notes, and so on.

So why should you have to bank on the laptop or desktop computer you rarely use? You shouldn’t — which is why we prefer banks with comprehensive, fully functional mobile apps or account dashboards.

Budgeting and Savings Features

You don’t have to commingle your business and personal finances to appreciate the importance of keeping a budget and spending within your means. In fact, if you’re serious about growing your side hustle, you have a powerful incentive to track every expense and spend less than you earn. 

That’s where internal budgeting tools and automated savings capabilities come in. More and more freelancer-friendly banks offer these tools at no additional cost, including many of the selections on this list.

Accounting and Tax Features

Some freelancer-friendly bank accounts have built-in or external accounting and tax management features as well. When external, these features typically take the form of seamless integrations with well-known third-party products like Xero or QuickBooks. All else being equal, we’re fans of banks that go the extra mile to simplify things at tax time. 

Freelancer Bank Account FAQs

You have questions about bank accounts for freelancers and side hustlers. We have answers.

Should You Have a Separate Bank Account If You’re a Freelancer?

It’s not strictly necessary to have a separate bank account if you’re a freelancer. Many freelancers receive income and pay expenses out of their personal bank accounts. 

This is especially common for part-time freelancers who don’t have formally incorporated business entities and don’t spend a lot of time on freelance work. At some point, it’s just not worth it to maintain separate business and personal accounts.

On the other hand, if you freelance full-time or have a formally incorporated business, a separate business account could make sense. As this list shows, freelancer-friendly bank accounts are free or cheap and can make managing a side business much easier.

Do You Need a Separate Bank Account for Your Side Hustle?

You don’t need a separate bank account for your side hustle either. If your side hustle is a casual, part-time effort, a separate account might not be worth the trouble. You can still take advantage of the tax benefits (and obligations) of self-employment without one.

Many side hustles grow into full-time business enterprises, of course. If you have ambitions to quit your 9-to-5 and work on growing your business around the clock, you’ll want to separate your business and personal finances sooner than later — and consider formally incorporating the business while you’re at it.

Do You Need to Incorporate Your Freelance Business or Side Hustle?

Most of the banks on this list don’t require business account holders to formally incorporate. You can open a business bank account for your freelance or side hustle finances without setting up an LLC or partnership.

Even if you’re not formally incorporated, you can benefit from tax deductions and credits available to business owners and self-employed individuals. You don’t need a business bank account to reap these rewards either, but you might find one useful as your enterprise’s income and expenses grow. Having a dedicated account for your business inflows and outflows will make your life easier come tax time and ensure no potentially valuable deductions (or wayward income streams) fall through the cracks.

Do Freelancers Automatically Qualify for Business Bank Accounts?

It depends on the bank. 

Most of the banks on this list are outwardly freelancer-friendly. Either they offer accounts specifically designed for freelancers or they’re lenient about who qualifies for a business account to the point that pretty much anyone with an active side hustle makes the cut.

But you shouldn’t expect this everywhere. Some banks reserve business bank accounts for formally incorporated enterprises with substantial revenue and expenses. Even if you freelance full-time, you might not qualify unless you’re willing to create a legal business structure.

How to Choose the Best Bank Account for Your Freelance Business or Side Hustle 

Choosing a bank account to handle your freelance or side hustle finances isn’t all that different from choosing a personal bank account. As you review your options, consider factors like:

• Account Fees. No one likes paying bank account fees. Unless there’s a compelling reason to choose otherwise, you’ll probably want an account that either doesn’t charge a monthly maintenance fee at all or makes it easy to waive with a minimum balance or recurring deposit. Watch out for “minor” fees like ATM withdrawal fees and overdraft fees too.
• Transaction Limits. Many business bank accounts limit the number of transactions you can make in a given month or statement period. If you make lots of little withdrawals or payments, this could be a real problem.
• Minimum Balance Requirements. If you’re a part-time freelancer or side hustler, you probably won’t have an impressive bank account balance, at least to start. And your balance might fluctuate from week to week and month to month, depending on how much you earn. That means you’ll look to bank accounts with low or no minimum balance requirements.
• Account Yield. Business bank accounts aren’t known for high yields. However, if you want to set aside business funds that you don’t need right away, it pays to look for a rewards checking account or high-yield savings account that accepts freelancers and side hustles.
• Additional Features and Capabilities. Do you want a mobile-friendly banking experience that lets you manage your finances on the go? Do you earn a significant amount of your income through money transfer apps like Venmo and PayPal? Do you want a built-in budgeting or accounting framework that simplifies your business finances and keeps them separate from your personal money? These questions — and others along these lines — could help you zero in on the best bank account for your freelance business or side hustle.

How to find a job if you are over 40 and have no professional experience — Work.ua

Starting a career from scratch, even if it seems that this is a hopeless business, is quite realistic.

Work.ua will tell you what you need to do to still find a job.

Life is different. Just as there are different reasons why after 40 you may not have work experience. And if you still have to start a career at that age, or you change your field of activity to one where you had no experience before, we suggest you turn to advice from Work.ua.

Where to go to work

☝️Jobs without work experience

Most job search sites have a category of vacancies for which the employer considers candidates without experience. If you are over 40 and have no time for courses and education, this option may suit you. Usually, people without experience are looking for workers for the following positions: chat or call center operator, translator, sales assistant, driver, courier, cleaner, seamstress, waiter, bartender-cashier, sales manager and many others .

So even if you haven’t worked anywhere before, or if you had experience for a long time, there will be vacancies.

👉 How to create a resume without experience

You can create a resume that will help you attract the attention of a recruiter even when you have no experience. Work.ua HR Director Olga Tarasevich recommends applicants to write about:

• Achievements in education : what practices and internships did you have, what success did you have in your studies.
• Skills you already have . For example, you could use your organizational skills in your personal life when you were organizing some kind of family event or trip, and your creativity could manifest itself while helping a child create a school project.
• Ability to learn quickly . So that employers understand that you will quickly begin to benefit the business.

☝️Internship, practice, courses

If you have time for training and internships, this option will help you get a higher paying position in the future . You will also reduce the time at the initial stage of your career, when you come to the simplest job and learn only by doing.

Internship . Contact companies that have suitable positions for you and ask to take you on an internship, even unpaid . You will have a chance to prove yourself and gain experience. Also, some companies independently open a recruitment of candidates for an internship and, after completing it, select the best graduates to invite them to work.

If the words “internship” and “free” in the same sentence confuse you, consider the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, based on a true story. In it, the main character is in a very difficult financial situation, but agrees to a free internship in a reputable company with a vague prospect of further employment.

“If you have a dream, you must protect it. People who can’t do anything themselves will say that you can’t do it,” the hero says to his little son.

Courses . Now there are many schools in Ukraine that offer their students assistance in finding employment after graduation. But keep in mind , usually after courses, schools find work only for those who showed themselves best during their studies and passed it with excellent marks .

📌 If you are not yet ready to invest in education, we inform you that during the war, some platforms opened up free access to their courses.

☝️Jobs with experience that you can still apply for

It happens that you are looking at a vacancy and fit all the criteria except work experience. But no one can stop you from sending a response if you think you can do the job.

A recruiter will pay attention even to a candidate with no experience, if before that he attended master classes, courses, or had an internship. After all, a person could already perform similar tasks on them .

☝️Hobby as business

Hand-made is gaining momentum every year. There are a lot of people who want to find a product that “will make you feel warm”. After all, usually things created by hand are endowed with a special charm.

What can be sold? Yes, whatever! Maybe you bake cakes, sew clothes, grow varietal violets? There is a buyer for any product: at this very time, someone is looking for candles with a special aroma, someone is looking for a blanket knitted by caring hands, someone needs a special handbag or blouse to express their individual style.

With the development of social networks, hand-made products have become not only easy to search for, but also to promote. You can sell anything from food to decor to furniture right on Instagram .

☝️Entrepreneurship

Do you have a commercial streak? Try opening your own business. Start small, such as selling household goods, fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits that you grow in your country house . Financial investments here are small, but the prospects are not bad.

Or find profitable suppliers and start distributing products, also initially through social networks and various marketplaces for the sale of goods.

☝️ Freelancing

Freelancing is not only for professionals who are tired of the office and want to go free swimming. Those who do not have professional experience, but have the time and desire to gain new skills, offer their services and create a customer base, can also find their place here. Read more about freelancing in the article “What is freelancing: how to work for yourself”.

Even if you don’t know anything, you can find the simplest orders on freelance exchanges. For example, there are those where the contractor must place products on sales platforms, type text, transcribe interviews or analyze prices for competitors’ services and collect data in an exel table. To do this, you do not need to take long-term courses, gain experience, etc. .

☝️ Services for ordering services

There are also online services in Ukraine, for example, Kabanchik, where you can get orders for online and physical orders in different cities . First, offer your services on such services, select the categories in which you can work, and then receive and complete orders in your locality.

You can offer courier services, cleaning services, repair or babysitting services, a photographer, fix an electrician, fix a water leak, repair appliances and much more.

☝️Sales

The sphere through which it is easiest to get into any company . Some employers are deliberately looking for sales managers without work experience, since it is easier to teach a person from scratch than to retrain. If during work you realize that sales are not your business, you can try yourself in another position in the same company, having agreed on this with the HR department.

🎁 Bonus! Do you think that if you didn’t find a job on the first day, then it’s a pipe? Read a life story on “How to find a job when there is none” .

How else to help yourself

To get a job at 40+, you have to study and improve yourself.

Keep your body and mind in shape . Over time, the body does not get younger, and the brain will not work better without mental stress. Since work is always the stress of the first or second, you must take care of your health and feed your brain with new information.

Get new knowledge . It’s never too late to learn. History knows cases when people received their first education at 50, 60 and even 80 years old. Choose a direction, immerse yourself in the theoretical base and boldly move towards success. If, for example, you decide to become a sales manager, but you have no experience in this area, look at free webinars on the Internet to be in the subject.

Refresh your knowledge . If you have a certain amount of knowledge, but you haven’t used it for a long time, update it.

Try to get an interview . Let this be your main goal – to get to the interview and show yourself in the best light in front of the employer. Look for job offers on job sites, contact an employment center for help, tell your friends about your job search, write a resume, even if there is nothing to write about, send it to all suitable vacancies.

Prepare for an interview before being invited . Find your competitive advantage, formulate how you are better than those who have just graduated from the university. For example, you can say that you have a strong financial motivation, you easily get along with people and understand them, that you are not interested in changing jobs, and so on. Think – and you will definitely find it, your strong point.

Be flexible . Do not rush to refuse work, if you are not satisfied with the level of salary or other conditions, go towards the employer. After all, now it’s better to accept the offer, and in the future, show that you are a cool employee and ask for a salary increase.

Work.ua is sure that you can find a job after forty. The main thing is to act, not to give up and not be afraid to leave your comfort zone.

Image from The Intern, 2015

Read also

What professions will become relevant after the war and where will future specialists study

What professions will become relevant after the war and where will future specialists study

• What professions will become relevant after the war and where to study for future specialists
• How to find work in times of war

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How to find a job after 40

Mature age is not a reason to think that all the good things, including a decent job, are over. And yet, applicants who have crossed the line of 40-45 years old face certain difficulties in finding a job. How to overcome them?

To feel just as good as younger competitors, middle-aged job seekers will be helped by advice from specialists from the Superjob. ru recruiting portal.

Before you start looking for a job, set yourself up for success. Do not allow the thought of the futility of your undertakings. Remember that the reasons for which the job search may be delayed may appear at any age: university graduates are hindered by lack of experience, young employees are hindered by the presence of small children, etc. Your trump card is professionalism and many years of experience. And if you are confident in yourself, then your age will easily turn from a disadvantage into a plus.

Certainly, there are areas in the labor market where the age limit remains strict, although the age limit is contrary to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. These are sales, public relations, information technology. Employers set the upper age bar because they consider young employees more capable of learning, more resilient and active. Hence the conclusion: you should look for a job where your knowledge and experience are primarily needed. Age over 40 is not a hindrance for job-seeking accountants, medical professionals, lawyers, and engineers. But do not forget to keep your finger on the pulse, that is, refresh your professional knowledge, master new programs that are necessary in your work.

As a rule, job seekers aged 40-45 and older who want to find a job as soon as possible significantly lower their expectations, accepting a small salary and an inconspicuous position. This strategy often leads to failure, so we advise you to try a completely different move by sending a resume to a managerial position. Employers understand that the energy and creativity of young people must be directed in the right direction, and this requires a person with life and professional experience, attentiveness and organizational skills.

In order for the employer to understand how valuable you are, you should pay more attention to writing a resume. You don’t have to describe your last three or five jobs. It is enough to indicate one or two last places (name of organization, field of activity, years of work) and distribute all your rich experience into blocks (for example, “Managerial activity”, “Teaching activity”, etc.). Such a resume is called functional and allows the employer to see your strengths without focusing on long years of work experience, and therefore on your age. Don’t forget to list refresher courses if they have taken place in recent years. It should be clear: you keep up with the times and constantly monitor changes in the professional environment, ready to learn and learn new things.

When applying for a job, you will still be asked for a passport. Do not spoil relations with the employer by trying to deceive him, this will negate all your efforts.

Finally, you have received an invitation to an interview.