Thinking of Shifting Careers in Your 30’s? Why it’s Something You Should Consider

Shifting careers later in life can be terrifying. While your friends and contemporaries may be well-established in their careers, starting at the bottom is not only risky, but it might also feel like career suicide. However, if what you’re doing now is something you don’t see yourself doing for the rest of your life (or until you’re ready to retire) that daily dread can quickly consume you. We spend eight hours of our lives, five days a week, working; that’s a long time to be stuck doing something you hate. So, the prospect of doing something else, even if it means starting over again, seems less scary.  

Don’t waste your youth pursuing something you don’t enjoy just because you’re afraid to start again. When you’re old and gray and look back on your life, you’ll just be filled with regrets that you didn't enjoy your life. Sure, stepping out of your comfort zone or leaving a well-paying job is a risk not everyone is willing to take but if you don't do it now, when will you?  

Besides, you’re not alone in considering a career change. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 years old hold an average of 4.5 jobs; meaning it’s never too late to switch careers, especially if it's towards a career that brings you fulfillment and joy. Changing career at 30 just needs a bit of planning and patience.  

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” - Mark Twain  

Imagine spending your days just doing your hobbies. As soon as you wake up, you start painting or writing poetry or tinkering and creating something out of nothing. These are the moments when time seems to stand still. If your hobby, passion, or something you’re good at can make you money (not necessarily make you rich), go for it. Or if that's not realistic - some of your passions may not pay the bills - why not try it as a side hustle while keeping your soul-sucking dead-end job? If it becomes more profitable and can support you, send in your resignation letter ASAP.  

There’s a reason why you’re thinking of shifting careers, it’s because you feel something is missing. You might feel you’re doing something that is not worth doing, or you might feel you’re wasting your talent doing something menial. If you explore the opportunities available, you might discover what you’ve been searching for.  

Also, stop thinking that you’re too old or that no one else will give you the time of day. Jeff Bezos was 30 years old when he started Amazon and in a survey conducted by LinkedIn and CensusWide in December 2022, 66% of millennials are considering changing careers.  

Changing careers in your 30s is ideal since you already have substantial personal and professional experience, a transferable set of skills, a wide network, and more or less an idea of where you want your career to go.  

When you change your careers, you might realize you have a knack for sales since you discovered you could sell sunscreen in Antarctica or a comb to a bald man. You might also find out you have a way with the written word working for a media company instead of being someone else’s secretary being at their beck and call 24/7. The truth is, you’ll never know what you’re capable of until you take that leap of faith.   

Starting a new career will take time, so patience is key. You need to put in more effort since you’ll be competing with younger people or those more experienced than you. It’s important to keep your expectations realistic and your goals achievable. After all, you have already accomplished the most difficult part of shifting careers—taking the first step by considering it.