6 Ugly Myths About Changing Your Career In Your 30s That You Should Totally Ignore

By Lilian Wamaitha
“My career took a path that I would never have chosen myself in 2007. I was working in Rift Valley by then when the region was rocked by post-election violence. And just like that, I lost my job and ended up moving back home.
And by the time the economy was stabilizing after the violence, I was already working another job as a project officer for a small company.
In 2007, I was on my fourth year of work and looking at a promotion in a year or so in a career I loved with all my heart. The violence set me 100 steps behind, forcing me to take just any job to make ends meet. Now I am 34 and completely miserable in my current role. I love communication and I have a feeling that the more I stay here the harder it will be to go back to my career. Am I a lot of years behind to changing my career?”
Naturally your 20s are a time to let loose, conclude your education and try out a few career options. And by the time you are 30 you are expected to have settled and be working on ways you can advance in your chosen career field.
And that is where the problem lies; societal expectations of professionals in their 30s. You are not expected to complain, let alone even think about changing your career at that age.
And because of that we have been forced to conform to certain myths and “accept” the situation we are in even though we are miserable.
Here are 6 myths that you should totally ignore about changing your career in your 30s.
1. It’s totally unpractical
This myth is usually based on our fear of change.
Just think about this; do you still want to be what you wanted to be when you were 10? Chances are probably not.
So why is it ridiculous that you want to change your career in your 30s? Why would society look at it as if you have no right to a happy career life?
Our ideas change and so do our visions. It’s called being human.
On average you will spend 40 hours a week at work, which translates to 2,000 hours in a year. So the question is; why would you spend that many hours, miserable, complaining and regretting the career choice you made?
2. You are too old or it’s too late
Who decided to be judge of when you get to change your career?
You still have a lot of years till retirement to be stuck in a career you have no passion in.
It’s not too late and neither are you too old to be thinking about a career change.
I have interacted with a lot of professionals who have managed to do exactly what society is telling you you can’t do.
At the end of it all, your career is what you make it and if you want to enjoy what you do and be proud of the choices you have made, age shouldn’t deter you from going after what you want.
3. No one is going to hire you at that age
Changing jobs in your 30s is one thing but changing a career is a whole different issue because your career defines you and not your job.
What holds most people back is wondering what employers will make of such a candidate looking for a job at that age.
But it doesn’t matter. They will probably be even impressed that you have the guts to change your career at that age.
Just identify your transferable skills and couple it with your experience to ace any interview.
4. It’s absurd to start over
While this is a valid concern for a majority of us, we get so caught up in this fear of never finding a similar job that we end up doing nothing.
Being stuck in a dead end career will only drain your passion and energy. What you don’t know is that starting a career, regardless of your age may be just what you need right now.
5. You are not the only one in that situation
You are probably still holding on to that career because you believe that you are not the only one. Yes, many people are stuck in their careers but you are not them.
Your life is yours to live and only you can make a decision to change it. Don’t live your life with the “we are many” mentality.
6. You will have to start from the bottom if you are to get hired
A majority of people you ask will tell you that if you are to change your career in your 30s, you will have to start in an entry level position and spend so many years trying to re-establish yourself.
While you will not jump right into a senior level position, never underestimate the amount of experience and skills that you already have.
Think of a way you can use those skills to help employers.
With this in mind
There is never a right or wrong time to change your career unless you have two years to retire. If you are in your 30s you need to start ignoring those voices telling you that you can’t do it. You are at your prime and your age should not be used to make you stay at a career you have no passion for. But not everyone has the ability to do that which is where Corporate Staffing Services come in.
When you join our Career Mentorship course you will develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and connections that you need to thrive in your career and make the necessary changes you need to succeed.
In the past, we have successfully mentored different professionals in their careers such as Managing Directors, Audit Managers, Finance Managers, Accountants, Sales and Marketing Managers, IT specialists among others on how to make the right choices in their careers.
The next class is starting on Wednesday, 14^th November 2018 from 6pm to 8.30Pm and registration is happening now.
To get more information and book your spot, email lilian@corporatestaffing.co.ke and cc muthoni@corporatestaffing.co.ke.