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One of the most quintessential parts of the 30s experience is questioning your career path, no matter what it may be. However, it’s also okay to explore that path without fear and find what does and does not work for your career.
As long as your heart is still beating, it’s never too late to change careers. Here are the signs it may be time to change your career, as well as the first steps you need to take.
There are several symptoms you might have that indicate you have a fever, and the only prescription is a career change:
Once you’re north of 30, there’s a good chance you know more about yourself than you did once you hit your 20s. You might have a better idea of who you are and the type of work you enjoy at this point in your life, as well as the things that matter most to you.
You’re not starting over from your first job after high school. Chances are, you’ve learned from the life experiences you’ve had since entering the workforce and have developed the durable skills to match. Use this to your advantage.
Don’t feel guilty about switching jobs if the current one doesn’t cover your expenses—or just plain doesn’t pay enough for your skill set. Your life probably looks different now than it did at 20, and you may have more responsibilities in your personal life that require financial stability.
This isn’t your parents’ job market anymore—companies aren’t willing to keep all their employees on for 40 or more years like they used to, and employees are responding by changing jobs to survive.
Fortunately, available jobs are becoming more flexible than they once were. Many companies are recognizing the benefits of hybrid or remote work models for employees because it allows for more productivity from anywhere, and higher employee satisfaction as a result.
If you’ve realized you’re ready for a career change, you’ve already made the first step. However, you should also explore why you want to make a change. Reflect by asking yourself these questions:
You may want to use some exercises and assessments to find your “why,” such as our work styles quiz—if your current job doesn’t match your preferred work style, that may be an indication of why you’re aching for a change of pace.
If you’re trying to change careers, you may have options available to you that are easy to pick up with your existing skill set or easy to adapt to. This allows you to find that coveted balance between the skills you’re good at and the work that interests you.
There are plenty of jobs both in new and upcoming industries like tech and AI, as well as in fields like healthcare, dentistry, and human resources. Finding positions that will always be necessary, such as medical assistants, phlebotomists, and community health workers makes it easier to find a career that’s sustainable and future-proof.
You may have some existing skills that you can transfer to your new field of choice without even realizing it. After all, switching careers at 30 means that you probably have several years of experience—whether it’s in writing, communication, management skills, or another area.
A skills gap analysis can help you assess the skills you already have and compare them to what you need to learn. From there, you can use upskilling courses to fill in those gaps so you look more employable to potential hirers.
Depending on your specific circumstances, it may be better to either change your career gradually or make a full transition to a new one all at once. Whatever the case may be, having a plan can make it easier to complete the shift when you need to.
This may involve budgeting for specialized training or setting aside money for the job hunt, as well as any funds you need to sustain yourself in the meantime. You should also set this budget based on your goals and a realistic timeline to complete them.
Most of all though, it’s important to have a backup plan. If the job market takes a turn and your new dream career is seeing a lower demand than usual, be prepared to take another job in the meantime—after all, you’re more employable when you’re already employed.
Dust off your resume and LinkedIn profile before you start applying, and make networking in digital and physical groups a regular part of the job hunt! By making it clear that you’re open to work and eager to take on the challenge of a new career, you’re presenting an opportunity to employers looking for skills like yours. Paired with a summary of who you are in your profile, it serves as an elevator pitch that shows employers your personal brand.
In addition to participating in industry- and career-related groups, you could also potentially update your profile to have the Open to Work status on LinkedIn. If you’re currently employed, this status is visible only to recruiters. However, if you’re between jobs and actively looking, it’s public so you can spread the word more effectively.
Applying and interviewing often takes practice, especially if you haven’t done it in a while. For people making a midlife career change, it also often comes with plenty of questions about why they’re changing careers.
This might lead you to question why you’re making this change—don’t let yourself fall victim to that version of imposter syndrome. You deserve to be in your new field! By explaining why you’re changing careers, you can also illustrate your eagerness to learn and the fact that you’re more than just someone to fill a seat at a desk, but a human who wants to help their company grow.
In addition to networking with professionals in your industry of choice, it can also be helpful to connect with a career coach. These professionals are determined to help you get the job you want and can help you write the perfect resume, hone your interviewing skills, and otherwise help you stand out in even the most crowded industries.
While making a career change after 30 can set you on a better trajectory for your health and mind, it won’t always be an easy road. This is especially true if the career you want is starkly different from the one you have now. Be mindful of these challenges.
While some people are eager to quit their jobs all at once and immediately make a sudden and immediate career change, this isn’t always the smartest idea. Set up your path to your dream career in steps so you can more easily handle the transition and be prepared for a long, successful career.
Your career change might take time, and it might not be sustainable if you aren’t financially ready for it. Make sure you have a substantial emergency fund in place so you can sustain yourself during your career transition.
You may feel like you need to quit your previous job to focus on your new career training full-time, but you shouldn’t take that risk if your finances don’t allow it. For example, if you don’t have a sustainable emergency fund, start building one so you can survive at least twice the amount of time you need to complete your training so you have time to find a job.
Ideally, you should have at least eight months’ worth of funds you need to cover your expenses saved up. Otherwise, having enough to cover even three months of living expenses reduces your financial stress while you’re trying to change careers.
Making a career change is still possible, but you need to know your realistic limits and work with them.
For example, even if you really want to live out your childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, you can only reach for the stars so much. While you could realistically get a master’s degree in a STEM field and complete NASA’s rigorous astronaut training program, this could take 10 years or more.
For reference, the average age of an astronaut is 34.
However, there are still ways to make a career change at 30 and work in the field you love. You could still become a human resources specialist, accountant, IT specialist, or any number of other roles that help NASA run its space programs. The same applies to any other job, from a veterinarian’s office to the dispatcher at your local fire department.
Changing careers can be an uphill battle at times. This is especially true if you’re trying to get into a field that’s already crowded.
We aren’t going to force you to grin and bear it if you’re feeling nervous—that’s just a natural result of fear of the unknown. However, keeping your eyes on your goal and focusing on every win can help you navigate the transition between careers.
For anyone who is familiar with the phrase, “Keep calm and carry on,” this will feel familiar. Keep persisting. While you’re allowed to let yourself feel less than fine when that feeling emerges, focusing on your long-term goal of getting into that industry can go a long way in helping you maintain your morale.
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