How to Make a Career Change at 30

Are you fed up with your current job? Are you feeling undervalued and overworked? If this sounds like you, you may want to look into a new career.

This is a big step, but unless you are interested in going into a specialized field such as medicine, there is no reason why you cannot make a career change at 30.

Do You Really Want to Change Careers? When you first decide to change #careers, you will likely have to start from the bottom and #work your way up, with an initial drop in pay. You have to ask yourself if you are willing and financially able to deal with these changes?

Consider the following before you take the plunge:

• What do you dislike about your current job?

• What is your interest in other jobs?

• What do you enjoy about your current job?

• What led you to your current career?

Tips to Help Change Careers:

Here’s how to do it:

1. Look at your professional and personal networks. Talk with someone already in your desired field of work. This may not be possible by talking to your colleagues. However, your friends may know someone that they could introduce to you. Once you meet, you can ask them what the job is actually like.
   

2. Do your research. You may think that starting a new career will require a second #degree, which will take time and investment to achieve. However, in reality, you may not need one as many #hiring managers may value your experience and your skills more highly. So, take the time to do your research!
   

3. Work on any missing skills. What skills do you need for this new career path? If you need to develop certain skills, you could try an online course or perhaps some skill-based volunteering where you can work on your #skills in a voluntary position while building your skillset and #resume.
   

4. Gain relevant experience. Fortunately, we now live in a gig economy, where you can build up experience by working freelance jobs. Even if you are working pro-bono, you are still building your #experience and your skills portfolio.
   

5. Recreate your resume. Just because you’re making a career change doesn’t necessarily mean that your resume will be blank. Many skills are transferable and they just need to be presented differently. Look at your past work experience and see if any of the skills you have acquired are relevant to your new career interest.
   

6. Write a cover letter. When applying for jobs in your new career, let potential employers know your story and why you’ve decided to change careers. Talk in a positive manner and show how passionate you are about this potential role.
   

7. Network. If you are new to the industry, your #professional network will be small. It is important to expand this #network, not only to increase knowledge and exposure but also to ensure that you hear about any potential job opportunities.

Making a career change at 30 won't be as easy as making one at 25, but don’t let that deter you. If you are passionate about what you are doing and are willing to work to gain the necessary skills, there is nothing to stop you from changing careers.