CAN YOU CHANGE CAREERS IN YOUR 30S?
The events of the last year or so have spurred many to rethink their careers. An occupational psychologist offers some advice on how to make the leap
Arecent poll by Aviva suggested that 60 per cent of UK workers plan to make changes to their career. Some want to find work that helps others, or that creates an income from a hobby, or allows for more flexible working. Those in the 25 to 34 age group are most likely to want to retrain to pursue a completely different career path from their current one. These numbers have increased since the pandemic started.
There was already turbulence in the workplace, with many people and organisations feeling the impact of new technology, demographic changes, political decisions and climate change. The pandemic has brought new disruption, creating further uncertainty as well as the opportunity to review career direction.
Prof Herminia Ibarra, from the London Business School, asserts that the change many people seek is a fundamental shift in working identity and that this requires a ‘test-and-learn’ approach rather than a ‘plan-and-implement’ one. Her research shows that, on average, career transition takes three years. It is more successful when people gain new experiences to base their decisions on, rather than attempting to think it all through in theory before acting. This takes courage and needs support to go through the challenging but rewarding ‘liminal’ period between a past that no longer fits and an uncertain future. It can be both exciting and frightening. It’s not easy.
MAKE THE CHANGE
Difficult childbirths brought Sarah (chartered accountant to registered nurse at 36) into close contact with health professionals. She learned what their jobs entailed and was inspired to make a change that led to work that impacted directly on people’s lives. Over the ensuing 20 years, she has progressed to teaching student nurses and leading research aimed at improving the healthcare of people with dementia.
Jon (architect to children’s author at age 30) had been writing for five years alongside his first career. When he was made redundant, he and his family gave him a year to focus on writing full-time as a serious experiment – which worked. Now in his 50s, he has made a living from it ever since.
In my experience, as an occupational psychologist supporting people undergoing such change, motivation is the key element
that enables success. People find ways of doing things that they really want to do, despite the fear and perceived barriers. The ‘doing’ is important. Career change can falter when people get stuck in their imaginations, at their desk, trying to create a failsafe strategy before gaining any real-world experience.
Before making the leap, there are experiments you can do, like evening courses, voluntary work, working holidays and shadowing. Think about who you need help from, and what you are prepared to do, in order to make the change. Consider what you can live without, at least on a temporary basis. What is the pay-off, emotionally, for you and your family?
Andy (chartered engineer to plumber and gas fitter at age 35) had a climbing accident and lost the sight in one eye. “I came to realise that I was not invincible,” he says. “I started thinking about how I was going to spend my remaining days on Earth. Working in an office wasn’t for me and probably never was. Time to go.” The pandemic has given many people similar pause for thought. Andy says his retraining was a ‘leap of faith’ that was fully supported by his wife. He has no regrets.
Jill (marketing executive to primary school teacher at age 39) changed direction after having children. Once she’d taken the plunge, her determination and motivation were at all-time highs, allowing her to prioritise effectively in whatever hours were available. In addition, her corporate experience gave her valuable project management and communication skills.
I have learnt from working with many people that nothing is wasted in terms of prior experience. It all feeds into new careers, often in surprising ways. Age was not seen as a barrier for anyone I have asked or worked with. Usually, their experience was more of a benefit than a drawback.
Career change is possible. It takes courage, support and experimentation, and it rarely happens overnight. There will be setbacks as well as progress. But the pandemic has highlighted that life is precious and finite, and that there is plenty that needs doing in our unsettled world. Now could be the time.