One minute you’re listening to S Club 7 on your iPod Nano. The next you’re heading off to university or starting a job and earning some ‘real’ money at last! Before you know it, you’ve been in employment for nearly a decade, and you find yourself daydreaming about the next step in your career. The trouble is, you’ve no idea where to turn for advice, and sometimes it’s difficult to know whether the feelings of unrest are job-related or just a product of approaching the next major milestone in your life! You’re not alone. Career change at 30 is very common, and with consideration, it can be a really worthwhile transition.
In this blog, I’ll share my top 5 tips for a successful switch.
1. Know what you want
Our 20s are all about building our confidence and reputation, and working hard to gain more responsibility and money. Climbing the corporate ladder can be exciting, but extra responsibilities and pressure can become exhausting.
By the time you reach your 30s, you may be questioning whether you’re exactly where you want to be. Before you jump ship and make any huge career changes, it’s important to consider what doesn’t feel right anymore.
It may be helpful to ask yourself these questions:
- What do you like and what don’t you like?
- Which kind of environment do you work best in?
- What do you want your life to look like in 5 years?
- What are your non-negotiables?
Having a clearer idea about your career priorities will stop the overwhelm and help you to find your next exciting opportunity.
2. Know your career drivers
Perhaps you’re motivated by money. Maybe it’s status. It could be neither! Again, narrowing down what makes you tick and gets you up each morning will help identify what you want your career to deliver.
Gone are the days of one career for life, and with us all living longer, it isn’t unusual to have multiple jobs in a range of industries. Our careers are such a big part of our lives that understanding what drives us can help us to discover a more energising, meaningful profession we can thrive in.
For more help identifying who you are and where your potential lies, I think you’ll find my blog ‘The importance of building a personal brand for your career’ helpful.
3. Do the figures stack up?
By our 30s, our goals and aspirations may have done a major U-turn because of our personal circumstances. This could be down to a young family, a mortgage, unenjoyable commutes or just the wisdom that a little maturity brings! Balancing the more serious elements of being a ‘proper’ grown-up can be daunting, so the last thing you want to do is add extra pressure with your financial situation.
Before considering a career change, spend time looking at your finances and work out what you can and can’t afford to do. Perhaps you’ll need to do some training? Will you have to fund this yourself or is there financial support available to help? Maybe your ideal new career is in a different area and requires relocation. Can you afford to rent or buy a house in the new place? Have you considered commuting costs?
It’s important to look beyond a new salary and consider other financial elements too.
4. Use your networks
As well as gaining a range of transferable skills and experience, you’ll have no doubt acquired a pretty good network by the time you hit 30. This web of contacts is an ideal place to turn if you’re thinking of a career change. They may be able to offer support, guidance, reassurance and identify untapped opportunities.
Have you read my blog ‘Using networking to secure your next role’? It’s packed with top tips for helping you to increase and use your network to its full advantage!
5. Be patient and be sure
Ideal career opportunities rarely land at our feet the minute we decide we’re ready for the next step. Making a considerable change without a decent amount of thought and preparation could lead to disappointment down the line. What’s that saying? Fail to plan, plan to fail! So, my final piece of advice is to remain patient and be absolutely sure before you jump.
Are you considering a career change at 30?
Did you know that career change at 30 is one of the most searched for topic areas on Google? I certainly see many 29- and 30-year-olds who are considering it.
I really enjoy working with this age group, so if you’re considering a career change and would like to chat about how I can support you, why not book a free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation to discuss your situation?
You can also connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook!
