Your 30s are a divergent decade—between life milestones and relationships, you develop into the adult you want to become. With shifting priorities and life perspectives, you might come to realize the career path you're on is not the final destination. (You may also be experiencing burnout.) Maybe it's time to consider pivoting in your career.
The good news is that your career doesn’t have to follow a linear path. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and you are not being graded on your commitment to your first career path. You get to reinvent your work life as many times as you want. Just because it sounds daunting does not mean it's not doable.
So, where do you start when you’re looking to change careers, or maybe you don’t know what kind of change you’re seeking. We know it can be overwhelming to contemplate a complete change, so whatever your mindset, the following tips will help you begin your journey.
1. Assess your network
The benefit of changing your career path in your 30s is that you’re not starting from square one. First, go through your contact list, starting with your email address book and LinkedIn connections. Is there anyone you already know in a role that interests you? Do you have a mentor at your current job that could advise you on the next chapter of your career? Make a spreadsheet of your closest contacts and note their job title, your relationship with them, and why they could be a promising resource for your new career journey.
The goal is to begin researching new career directions with the support and guidance of peers you’ve already established relationships with. This might be a good time to try out a LinkedIn Premium account to maximize your networking, and you'll also have more access to hiring managers.
2. Assess your skills
Ask yourself what top skills your current job requires. Do you interface with high-profile clients or oversee your company’s internship program? Do you have project management software development experience? Maybe you write your company’s social media posts or sell marketing automation solutions. No matter what you are currently doing, your skills are transferable. As an exercise, write out the primary responsibilities of your current role and what skills are required for each. Brainstorm how those skills will translate into a new career field.
3. Take classes
The internet has democratized access to continuing education opportunities. Research the kind of certificates or credentials that can introduce you to, and give you experience with, a new career field.
Platforms like Udemy and General Assembly are great resources for education and career transformation. Both companies specialize in in-demand skills and offer thousands of courses online. Through ongoing education, you can hone new skills, while also understanding the full scope of interesting new career paths.
4. Be open-minded
Maybe you know what career field you want to go into, but if you don’t The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great resource for beginning your research. It outlines different industries and career sectors, as well as qualifications for becoming that type of professional. You might not know your dream career already exists!
Another free resource to check out is "The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings." It's an ebook from The Wharton School that details data-driven strategies for advancing your career through job-hopping. No matter where your research takes you, be open-minded to careers you have never considered before.
5. Plan for salary changes
Lastly, changing career paths will affect your salary in the short term. But don’t fret! This is a temporary reality of starting anew. Salaries, like career paths, are not always about incremental growth. Consider side hustles or part-time work that pays the bills, but still allows you the time to develop into your new career path.
Written by Dana Kelly