What's Next?: Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties and Beyond

by Kerry Hannon

Reinvent your own career or pursue a long-held dream.

You may never have a better chance or reason to do so—to get excited about work again and feel passionate about making a difference in the world.

Your new career could easily outlast your first one.

Breaking into a new industry or pursuing a different career can be intimidating, especially when you’ve built up years of experience in your current field. But jobs expert Kerry Hannon believes that you can start your next act at any age. In What’s Next? Hannon shows you how, with inspiring real-life profiles of people who have successfully changed careers midlife, as well as advice

• Determining how your next career will work with your spending habits and family situation
• Creating your transition network
• Finding a mentor to guide you along your new path
• Turning a hobby into a profit
• Finding capital to start your own business

Whether you’re fantasizing about a new path or ready to pursue it, What’s Next? provides the roadmap that will afford you long-term success. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2010

About the author

Kerry Hannon is a leading authority and strategist on retirement, jobs, career transitions, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal finance. She is a frequent TV, radio, and podcast commentator and is a sought-after keynote speaker at major conferences.
Kerry’s books and appearances focus on how the shifting demographics are transforming the way we work and create wealth, purpose, and happiness. Millions of viewers, readers, and listeners have been motivated by Kerry’s can-do, down-to-earth message.
Kerry’s new book is Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future (Hachette Book Group, 2025)
She is the award-winning author of 14 books, including In Control at 50+: How to Succeed In The New World of Work (McGraw-Hill), Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy . . . And Pays the Bills (John Wiley & Sons), Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Working From Home (John Wiley & Sons), and Never Too Old to Get Rich: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business Mid-Life (John Wiley & Sons)
Other books include: Money Confidence: Really Smart Financial Moves for Newly Single Women (Post Hill Press), Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness (John Wiley & Sons), Getting the Job You Want after 50( John Wiley & Sons), What’s Next?: Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties and Beyond (John Wiley & Sons), and the updated What’s Next?: Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job (Chronicle Books).
She has covered all aspects of careers, business, and personal finance as an expert columnist, editor, and writer for the nation’s leading media companies, including The New York Times, Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report, and USA Today. Kerry’s work has also appeared in BusinessWeek, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and The Wall Street Journal, among other national publications. Her advice as a work and jobs expert has been a regular feature in AARP publications, and she is currently the featured expert in an AARP webinar series.
Kerry is also currently a senior columnist and on-air expert at Yahoo Finance. Kerry has appeared as a career and financial expert on TV on The Dr. Phil Show, ABC News, CBS News, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, NPR, Yahoo Finance and PBS.
In addition to offering practical advice for mid-life workers seeking jobs, financial, and personal rewards and riding the age wave of longevity with grace, a key passion for Kerry is helping and advising people on how to take charge of their own financial planning, at all stages of their lives, to prepare themselves for a financially secure future.
Kerry was a National Press Foundation Fellow, a Fellow of the Columbia Journalism School, a Fellow and currently a featured moderator in the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center’s Age Boom Academy, as well as a MetLife Foundation and New America Media Fellow on Aging.
She has testified before Congress about the importance of older workers in the workforce and retirement readiness. Kerry was awarded the 2023 Retirement Pioneer Award issued by the Retirement Coaches Association for her efforts to expand and enhance the lives of retired people seeking encore careers, tools, and resources.
Follow Kerry on Bluesky, X @KerryHannon, visit her website at KerryHannon.com, and check out her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/kerryhannon. For Instagram users: https://www.instagram.com/kerryhannon/. Read her columns on yahoo.com/author/kerry-hannon/.

Reviews

[Amber Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book disappointing in that each person profiled started their second stage career backed by a sizable savings or an executive level severance package. I was hoping to find ideas on how to craft a second career when your first one hasn't worked out as planned and isn't providing financially. I personally don't see changing careers as particularly brave or difficult when you are backed up by a financial reserve.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're a high level executive with a sizable savings account and already comfortable retirement account, then this book is for you. If, instead, your earnings are low to middle-income and you a) have debt, b) don't have considerable savings set aside, and/or c) don't have a healthy retirement account or home equity available to tap into as needed, then look elsewhere. The author asks every person she interviews how much finances considered into their decision to shift careers; nearly every single person says some variation of "none."

While I'm sure this book would be useful to people with considerable means (or partners with high paying careers) who can chase their dreams and not worry about taking a financial hit, for folks like me who are single-income, with significant student loan (and other) debt, and have worked most of their careers in the nonprofit or other low-paying sectors (aka not as a corporate C-suite executive), this book was depressing. If anyone knows of a good career shifting book for the rest of us, please let me know...

[Jennifer Duncan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m disappointed with this book. All the stories are of people who are financially well off enough to switch careers for one which is typically lower paying but they are passionate about. If you want to switch careers but absolutely cannot afford to, this book is not for you.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok book. I'd say not that much of an inspiration for me, but a lot of good references. I would recommend it for that reason, and it's a quick read.

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter of this book is focused on one person’s journey of mid-life career transition. It’s followed by the author’s interview and practical tips and recommended resources related to the interviewee’s story. I didn’t find the resources very helpful because they were targeted for US citizens. Any non-American readers like myself will not find it very helpful. Later on, I ended up skipping those sections.

I liked that the interviewees’ experiences are very wide-ranged. Some quit their old job right away and took a leap of faith while some held on to their old job little longer and slowly prepared for their transition. Reading about how different styles and choices affected each person’s life helped me map out my own potential journey for a career change.

The author asked the same set of questions to each interviewee, and my favorite question was “anything you would have done differently?” The most common answer to that question was that they hoped they had chosen to make a career change sooner. Also, when asked about the influence of financial reward in their choices every one of them answered that passion, rather than a financial reward, was what drove them.

This book is easy to read. Although this book won’t teach you any ground-breaking ideas and you may find this book maybe a little boring, there were some positive gains in reading about real-life choices that these seemingly ordinary individuals made and the dreams that they eventually achieved.

[Whalente · Rating 3 out of 5]

ho hum, some good stories but it got repetitive. still, there were some helpful passages and a lot of good reference info, particularly for volunteerism and non-profit work. it was also a fairly quick read and worth the time invested.

[MDVinAO · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not finish. Repetitive and obvious advice. Strategic opportunities to advertise organizations. Bad, Bad and Bad. 50% in and that’s a generous waste of my time to stop reading further.

[Kodiyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a good book with couple of examples, but was not up to my expectation for a mid career change.

[Drina Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were shared life examples or experiences that made career switching easy yet also gave details on the business ventures such as creating a business plan, decide how to use your finances, get loans or grants, and/or downsizing to cover the hefty costs that may apply to the career change such as starting your own business. Or how to financially secure your job if it pays less but something you love to do!

Reading since I am venturing on new career by gaining another graduate degree and later licensing to work in state of CA.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't for me. Most examples were someone with a partner bearing the financial burden, or an early-retirement pension. That's not me, and won't be for a while, if ever.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like others have said, its all wealthy people who have the luxury of stepping away from their high-paying jobs to pursue something with a lower income. Bonus appearance though from Carole Baskin!

[Maricarmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice stories about second acts, followed by tips and resources for those thinking about their encore strategy. It was an ok book.

[Todd Christ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read! LOTS of suggestions for more things to read, websites to visit and overall enthusiastic overview of 2nd career options. Check it out!

[Kerry Hannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and extremely helpful book for anyone planning to switch careers--from one of the nation's leading experts on the subject. --RICHARD EISENBERG CBS MoneyWatch.com

A must-read for anyone--at any age--curious about a career change. A perfect blend of inspirational, readable stories and logistical, practical advice, walks you through the nuts and bolts of switching careers so you can follow your passion the smart way and set yourself up for long-term success. (If I didn't love my career so much, this book would be my bible!) --BETH KOBLINER Author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties

Kerry Hannon is a top-rate personal finance journalist filled with smart, practical advice. --DIANE HARRIS Executive Editor, Money Magazine

These profiles reflect the passion of those who have taken a different path. The practical advice will make the journey smoother for others summoning up the courage to take that leap of faith. Tim Smart, Executive Editor, U.S. News & World Report (added by author)

An essential roadmap and guidebook, full of great ideas. Jim Connor, Assistant Managing Editor, CNBC Business News --CNBC Business News (added by author)

More and more people have realized the importance of following their passions. But if you can't make money at it, it's your hobby. Follow Hannon's road-map to make sure you're on the way to a passionate--and prosperous--career. --JEAN CHATZKY Best-selling author of The Difference and Pay It Down

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much help if you aren't moving from a place of excellent financial security and massive savings. All examples are of people who already made a lot of money and can afford to try their hand at passion projects. No advice if you're one of the many who have worked and worked in soul destroying, low paying jobs and not made much money or don't have a nice severence package to fall back on. Still looking for that book!

[Mark Deson Cuñado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really did a big encouragement in my corporate world, I graduated accounting course but what I wanted to be is an artist, and so I tried and accept every piece of signs in doing arts. This book will really help you open your mind and unleash what is the power within you.

[Mitchell Rubin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think even high school and college students can benefit from this thoughtful exploration of second career options.

[Lynne Strang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It provides a good mix of inspirational stories and practical information, with lots of useful resources for those seeking a new career later in life.

[Nichelle Sifontes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read if you're thinking about changing your career!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of inspiring and interesting stories and interviews; even if I can't directly relate to the generation that it is meant for.

[Ida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Examples of people who have changed careers successfully in midlife. It also includes interviews with the subjects and bits of practical advice.

[Debbie Hoskins · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are good resources in this book, but the resources in the 2010 edition are 8 years old. My revised edition is from 2014, which still makes the resources 4 years old. I would not buy this book, but if you happen to find it used or at the library. It's readable. I found it encouraging and I learned some tips.