Remember how inspiring the line from A League of Their Own was when Jimmy Dugan said to Dottie, "Of course it's hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great." Channel that same energy when it comes to starting a new career at 50.

The job market is a whole new ballgame in the 2020s. Certain aspects make trying to figure out how to find a new career path at 50 feel like it's too hard, too late, and too risky. I'm here to tell you it's not. However, you do need to make some creative and calculated decisions as you prepare. 

I walked away from my "dream job" in my mid-40s, and in many ways, I'm still figuring out "what I want to be when I turn 50" this year. With a spirit as gritty as Dotties, I'm going to help you with seven must-try tactics to find a job you love at 50. 

Heads up–we are going to explore some outside-the-box tricks to make this happen for you, so don't expect average advice here. In all of Google, you won't find a list that is this honest. 

Don't Decide on a New Career at 50 Out of Emotion

My career in local news had many highs and a handful of lows. At every low, I checked myself to see if this was the right path. I didn't always face the problem in front of me; I chased the daydreams of an "easier" professional life. 

Avoid making key decisions or talking to co-workers about your possible career change at 50 when you're in a rut of bad professional luck or if you're highly frustrated. This huge move can't focus on what you don't want (long days, unfulfilling work, etc.). It must be focused on what you do want. 

On a GOOD day at your current job, are you still dreaming of something else? Then, keep reading.

Dip Your Professional Toes in a New Career at 50

I lingered half in/half out of my professional problem for a while, stewing in my frustrations. Finally, I decided to see what it would be like to take classes that could lead to a career change at 50. 

Using resources like Appily Advance, I found one class to take in SEO Certification. It was a nice way to ease into ongoing education outside my professional expertise while still keeping the rest of my life afloat. Plus, I learned a new skill that would benefit me either way. 

Get Physical for Changing Careers at 50

They say 50 is the new 40, but a lot happens in real-time during that decade, and I'm not just talking about that nagging pain in your lower back. The CDC reports that by 55, 78% of Americans have chronic health conditions. Nearly half have two of them. 

Tap into your family health history to see what risks of hearing loss, macular degeneration, memory issues, and arthritis risks could be present. Get a physical, have a dermatologist check your skin marks, schedule that colonoscopy, and meet with a psychiatrist or any other medical provider that could help you feel more confident about starting a new career at 50 instead of worrying about "What If?" with your health. 

Know What You Don't Know

The idea of "going back to college at 50" might bring visions of trudging through campus in snow storms or the summer heat to get to a packed class where you're the oldest in the room. Those visions are wrong. 

A wealth of universities offer online learning, hybrid models, accelerated programs, and virtual office hours that can accommodate your working schedule, family obligations, or advanced timeline for a career change at 50. Plus, AARP offers the free BACK TO WORK 50+ program. 

If you're looking for the answer to the question, "What is the best career to start at 50?" The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the career opportunities with the most potential over the next decade. 

MORE: Need help finding a category for a new career at 50? Try these business, health care, and education quizzes to narrow down your potential. 

Changing Careers at 50 Doesn't Mean a 180° Pivot.

Switching careers at 50 doesn't mean you have to go into an entirely unfamiliar silo. We're not suggesting that you go from being a lawyer to a neurosurgeon at 51, though there's nothing wrong if that is your goal.

Look for options to parlay what you already know into a new professional dynamic. I worked in local news for two decades. The frustration of doing more with less was suffocating, but it poised me to change careers in my 40s, focusing on anything from graphic design to SEO research to writing hard news to writing listicles to editing videos. In addition, I know a lot about meteorology, and that still lulls me into natural sciences classes.

If you work in a factory, you might be good at sales within that field. If you're a nurse, you might consider transitioning to an office manager or hospital executive with an additional degree.  

Search Yourself

No, not in a meditative, sweat lodge way. Google your name. Look at your presence on LinkedIn. I found one of the biggest barriers to finding new contacts during my career change near 50 is that I didn't want to let go of old contacts, either. The algorithms fed me content that was suited for the "old me," not Jennifer 2.0. 

I researched brand marketing and found a great resource of old and new logos for major brands. You can see in these examples that refreshing who you are as a commodity in the professional world doesn't always mean starting over. Find your evolution and adapt your online presence.

As you explore new connections on LinkedIn and other professional platforms, interact with the people you admire or comment on posts about your future career. That will get the algorithm to give you more "new you" content than the same old stuff. 

Get Financially Focused on Starting a New Career at 50

Money is one of the biggest stressors for switching careers at 50. It's not just about income vs. bills. You're also eyeing your 401k, savings, health care costs, and planning for retirement. Social Security could run dry after 2037 when today's average 50-year-old will be 63. 

Then, calculate the cost of the additional education you want to gain with the income potential of your new career. It's not too late to start looking for a new career at 50, but you also can't let go of retirement dreams in less than 20 years. You have gained life experience, a curated collection of connections, and a strong sense of who you are and what you want. That's how you find a job you love at 50. 

Switching Careers at 50

You can spend your days wishing for something new, or you can plot a course to your new career at 50 today. A simple, free, easy way is to take a career quiz to see what fits your desires and skills. Open yourself up to the unfamiliar, and use your skills to the best of your abilities in a way that improves your quality of life. 

To paraphrase Dugan in that classic movie, "Find out what gets inside of you, what lights you up." Perhaps that is what truly makes you great.