By the time you’re 30 years old, you may feel as if you’ve been in the workforce for a long time. But in reality you’ve only been working for around twelve years or if you attended college even less. By now your job may not be the best match if you’re not enjoying it as much as you had hoped.
You’ve discovered a lot about yourself since you originally decided on your choice of career at the age of 18, or perhaps a year or two later. A second chance would be an opportunity to choose a different direction to go in. The good news is that, in a sense, you can start afresh. A job move might be the finest decision you’ve ever made.
Why Is It a Good Idea to Change Careers at the Age of Thirty?
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If you aim to retire at 65, you still have 35 more years of working life. You might have even more if you have to remain working longer because of financial needs. It’s a good idea to look for a job you’ll like for at least the next three decades.
Changing careers at any age has a profound impact on one’s personal life, relationships, and health. You’ll feel better about yourself as you move away from the job you don’t like and toward one that you enjoy.
Due to our increased obligations as we become older, changing occupations becomes more difficult, but not impossible. At 30, many people don’t have the obligations they will have when they are 40 or 50 years old.
Millennials are increasingly delaying life-changing events that need greater job security and prospects in one’s profession. The median age of marriage in the United States, for example, is presently 29.9 years old for men and 27.9 years old for females. Pew Research Center found that in 2012, 58 per cent of young people between the ages of 25 and 34 were unmarried, and 85 per cent had never married (Record Share of Americans Have Never Married. Pew Research Center. September 24, 2014). People are postponing having children until they are over 30, despite that the average age at which a person has their first kid is just 26.2 years old, according to the CDC (Births and Natality. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. 2015).
Living costs are also cheaper for those in their twenties, thirties, and forties. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they pay an estimated $7,390 every year on food and $19,927 on housing. Spending on housing and food for 35-44-year-olds goes up by $23,805 and $9,376. (Consumer Expenditure Surveys. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2017). No rule says you can’t make a job shift later in life, but it will be less difficult to do it now rather than wait until you’re in your forties.
How to Make a Career Transition at the Age of 30
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After deciding to change careers, the next step is to figure out which one you want to pursue. Take heart, even if you don’t know where to go from here. There are a few simple actions you can take to get to the bottom of things and make the right decision.
Determine your strengths and weaknesses by evaluating your own career path to this point. This is a crucial aspect of career planning. Take a look at your hobbies, skills, and work-related values to understand your personality. Check in with yourself now and again, even if you’ve done it before. Your replies will be much different now that you’re 30 than when you’re 20. This process will help you get a list of jobs that are a good fit for your personality.
Next, look into the professions you’ve listed. Discover as much as you can about any vocation you’re considering pursuing, regardless of whether you already have an idea of what you want to do or haven’t given it much attention. Find out the specifics of a job’s responsibilities, potential growth, compensation, and required education and training. Some professions particularly healthcare roles may require further training or qualifications and may also require you to pass further exams such as this one here. Analyze your options to determine which professions are a good fit for you.
Try and consider all of the variables. Familiarize yourself with the regular responsibilities of any potential profession you’re considering. Make sure your wages can at least cover your bills and enable you to live the way you choose, even if money isn’t the main priority for you in your new career. You should also check the current job market to ensure that you can get a position when the time is right. Consider completing an internship as an adult to gain a first-hand look at a career before making a long-term commitment.
Consider education and training while deciding on a job path. Because it may take several years or more to achieve the standard necessary, it is essential to avoid excluding an option from your list just because it may take a long time. Ultimately, your selection will come down to how much effort and time you are prepared to put in and how much money you have available to spend.
Consider your transferrable abilities as well. You may put the experience and knowledge you’ve gained from one job to use in several alternative roles. Using websites like Lensa can help you find a better job since you can more exactly match your qualifications and expertise to what employers are looking for. A few companies may even enable you to place with them to train their other staff, making your shift smoother and quicker. There are several factors to consider while deciding between a job where you can use your existing talents and one that needs extra education. However, if you choose to take the longer path, you have the freedom to do so.
Cons of a Career Change at 30
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It’s never too late to alter your professional path, but it may come at a price. Quitting your employment may be necessary to free up time to pursue a vocation that requires more study or training. As a result, you may find yourself without a steady source of income until you become ready to start your new career.
You’ll also have to get a job to pay for your schooling. Ensure you have funds or other financial resources before making a job move. Spending a little extra time in your present position while building up money to pay for your career change may be worthwhile.
