The COVID pandemic has been just one of the many catalysts spurring people on to make a career change. A study done in May 2020 revealed that as many as 3.3 million Aussies were considering a career change - including around 1.31 million gen Xers. So if you’re in your 30s and considering a career change, you’re not the only one.
While a career change is no small feat, it is definitely achievable, and with preparation and realistic expectations can become a reality more easily than you’d expect.
Research, research, research
There are two things you should investigate deeply before making any big decisions about changing careers:
Yourself
Thanks to the internet, discovering careers that might suit you has never been easier. You should take into account not only your career history, but also how much of your lifestyle you are willing to change.
There are many online quizzes that can give you an insight into the kinds of careers that might suit you, including ones created by universities and the government, backed by research. You might want to complete a few quizzes and see which patterns repeat themselves in the results.
The Career Path
Once you have determined which career trajectories suit your personality, it is now time to look into the careers themselves. You can do this in a number of ways.
Reach out to someone in that career
If you know someone in the career path you wish to undertake, contact them and ask them earnestly what the upsides and downsides of the career are. You might have a true passion for teaching, but be underprepared for the amount of paperwork that needs to be done, or want a career in consulting, not knowing that a normal 9-5 schedule is often unlikely. Set yourself up for success by going into any career change with your eyes open.
Research online
If you search “A day in the life of _” you’re likely to find articles, videos and other media detailing what a normal workday looks like in the given career. This can affirm the aspects that you wish to see in your future career, as well as give you a sobering reality check of all the aspects you didn't know came along with it. You can also check out our blog for some insights into careers and courses we’ve featured.
You should also consider the overall viability of your prospective career. You can check the job growth, average salary and demands of a role you are interested in on joboutlook.gov.au.
The Preparation
Qualifications
Once you know which career path you’d like to pursue, you may need to consider upskilling or gaining further qualifications. Make a note of the qualifications most frequently repeated in job ads, and research whether these qualifications are mandatory or just viewed favourably - many positions would accept equivalent experience or demonstrated competency instead of a formal qualification.
You may find it helpful to reach out to a recruiter of a position you would be interested in and ask whether the lack of a qualification would be a “deal breaker”.
Emergency funds and back-up plans
In the lead up to your career change, it is recommended to save up a 3-6 month emergency fund. This should include all your fixed and variable expenses, such as rent, bills, groceries, etc. This fund will give you an immense peace of mind when taking the plunge into a new career by giving you a softer landing in case of any setbacks along the way. Sacrificing lifestyle expenses such as subscription services, your morning cafe coffee or other disposable income in the short term will be worth it in the long run.
If you are a full time employee, you could consider going part-time, casual or freelance to still have some income from your previous career while training or preparing for your new one.
If your current career can be done remotely, consider doing online freelancing on job marketplaces or other job boards by searching “_ freelance job boards” with your job in the blank space.
Making the change
Once you’re confident you know as much as you can and are qualified to the appropriate degree, start working on your resumes and cover letters. You should highlight that you are undergoing a career change and be upfront about your experience. Be sure to highlight your transferable skills, address any gaps in your working history and explain why you’re the right fit for them as a company. Make sure you customise it to each job application, including the recruiters name and why you are interested in that specific position - sending the same resume and cover letter to every employer will leave you dead in the water.
Finally, make sure you update your online professional presence on LinkedIn to reflect your career change. Networking through LinkedIn may also be of tremendous benefit.
Conclusion
Changing careers can be very daunting, but you can make it less so by knowing you have prepared well mentally, financially and professionally.
Trust your instincts, prepare well and be realistic and kind to yourself along the way - if you get overwhelmed, simply ask yourself if what you are doing today is setting yourself up for where you want to be tomorrow, and break up your path to success into achievable steps.