So, you’ve reached your thirties and you’ve done pretty well for yourself. You enjoy your free time, you have great friends and possibly a family of your own. And, on paper, your career looks quite good as well. Your paycheque is decent, your title is decent, your coworkers are decent. But it’s not great. It’s where you thought you wanted to be ten years ago but right now it simply feels wrong.
No matter how much you try to enjoy your current job, you can’t help daydreaming about changing the direction of your career. And that’s perfectly okay. Yes, even when you have responsibilities and bills to pay. Yes, even when you’re in your thirties.
You see, there are ways to change the direction of your career without starting all over from the very beginning. And here is some helpful advice on how to do just that.
See if there are opportunities within your current company
If there are multiple departments in your company and there are other areas of the business you’d like to explore, why not give it a try? If you’re unable to make the switch immediately, start small. Learn more about the department and the job role you’d ultimately like to fill. For example, if you’d like to join a more strategic part of the business in a managerial position, start by partaking in project management training. Or if you’re handling the business side of things and you’d much rather be working in a more creative area, ask the head of department for some advice on how to make that happen.
However, before you do any of these things, you need to speak to your direct boss or manager. They need to be aware that you’d like to transfer out of the department. You don’t want any bad blood between you and a head of department or a director. You want the transition to be smooth and to still be on good terms with your previous team as you will most likely have to continue working with them, just in a different capacity.
Start a side hustle with the aim of turning it into a full time business
If you have an idea for a business that you fully believe will work. If it’s something you can start with minimal resources and during your spare time. And if you have faith that you have what it takes to turn it into a success. Then what could possibly be stopping you? So many businesses start small and as a side hustle and then turn into fully fledged money-making enterprises.
Of course, you need to start as small as possible. At this point, you shouldn’t cash in on your retirement savings and emergency fund to finance something that is currently only an idea. Instead, think of it as a hobby that will hopefully bring in a little extra cash. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s something you enjoy. Because you don’t want to come home from a day job you’re not satisfied with and do something that you’re not particularly interested in.
If this option appeals to you, you’re going to have to be committed. You’re going to have to work mornings, nights and weekends, no matter how tired or overworked you are. You also need to have excellent organisational skills. You need to know when to focus on your day job, invest in your side hustle and also manage to have a life outside of work. There will be times when you have to turn down an invite to an event you really want to attend simply because you side hustle requires your attention. So, if you decide to do this, you have to be sure you want it. However, if it doesn’t work out, you will easily be able to cut your losses and move on.
Look at your skillset and try your luck
There are few things more annoying for hiring managers and recruiters than receiving CVs and job applications from people who clearly aren’t qualified for the job. It wastes both their time and yours. However, there are times to make exceptions. Keep your eye out for positions available in the field you want to work and see what the criteria are. If you have the necessary skills and the ability to do the job without further training, you should try your luck. You never know when someone may be willing to take a chance on you.
At the end of the day, it’s perfectly possible to change the direction of your career in your thirties. You’re still young but have knowledge of the working world. You know how to conduct yourself and there are opportunities out there for you. Life’s too short to hate your day job.
