Many people suffer from job burnout, but making the decision to change careers can be a bit overwhelming, especially after decades of building expertise. Yet millions of workers are switching careers when they're in their forties, fifties and even their sixties, transferring their skills to a new field--or getting the education or training that allows them to make a fresh start in a new profession. Such encore careers allow them to pursue a passion, undertake work with a social impact or scale back from a demanding profession.

Before you make the leap, study up on the skills or credentials you may need--as well as the cost of earning them--and talk to people in the field that interests you. Volunteering, moonlighting or job shadowing are all ways to get a feel for a new career, says Kerry Hannon, author of Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy...and Pays the Bills. Hannon advises taking two to three years to do the research and make the transition.

We profile five people who have made their second acts work for them, and we provide tips on how you can make it happen for you, too.

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

Lori Volk had two kids in college and one finishing high school when her local school district cut its budget and booted her from her part-time job coordinating substitute teachers. "Not only did I need to figure out how to pay for college, but I thought, Who is going to hire me at 50?" says Volk. While visiting her daughter's high school one day, she joked with a friend that she'd like to bottle and sell the lavender lemonade she created