If you're over the age of 30 and rethinking your career choice or even your job, this article is for you. We’ll go into a deep dive into the options you have at your disposal if you want to make a drastic career change. Use this article as a guide to help you to consider your options in starting a new career at this stage in your life.

Your Why

Career change in your 30's is more than possible, but first, it’s important to ask yourself some important questions to understand your why. Why understand your why? Understanding your core motives to change careers will help you consider your passions, your future prospects, and most importantly, give you confidence that you’re making the right move.

Are you not feeling challenged enough in your career? Does your salary no longer represent the value you bring? Or maybe your career has a zero work-life balance? Whatever your reason/s for considering a new career path, be sure to ask yourself these six questions to better understand your outlook on a new career and to give you more confidence in your decision:

1. Do I want to switch careers to follow my passion?
2. Do I want to switch careers to work in a more fulfilling job?
3. Am I only looking for more money?
4. Am I willing to get the training and education needed to make this career change?
5. Will I be happier if I switch careers?
6. Do I understand the risks involved?

Your answers to these questions will help you understand your motives behind this career change and help you manage your expectations. For example, let’s suppose you say you’re only looking for roles that pay higher than your current salary. In that case, you’ll need to also to be ready to get the necessary training and qualifications to secure the higher-paying roles.

Remember: it can be daunting to plan for longer-term goals, but preparation for your transition will help you get a well-rounded idea of the life and career you want to build for yourself.

“Ok I’ve answered these questions, but what next?”

There are so many different careers out there, so how should you know where to start, right? If this sounds like you, no need to worry, we’ve compiled a detailed list of different career paths here that you can check out and see what role suits your interests and strengths best, and help point you in the right direction for the next steps to make to pursue this career.

If you’re still unsure about what career would best complement your skills and interests after reading through the different career paths, you may benefit from speaking to a career coach to get more of a well-rounded understanding of the right career direction for you. Stay Nimble’s Thrive course offers 1:1 career coaching that’s personalised to: 1. Help rediscover your strengths and interests. 2. Connect your personal values with your work to experience true job satisfaction. 3. Build confidence and belief in yourself to do work that means something to you, allowing you to thrive in your new direction.

Thrive by Stay Nimble: £40 per month across up to 12 months with Knoma.

Your How

Now you’ve understood the direction you want your next career to head, and the skills required to help you transition into your new career, it’s time to prioritise learning these skills.

Building your skills will not only give you the fundamental experience required within your new chosen path but also help build your confidence ahead of your career jump.

Online courses are a great way to help you learn the relevant skills to thrive in your new career. Whether you’re in full-time employment or are currently unemployed, online courses are a practical approach, from flexibility to cost, to building your new skills.

Courses come in different shapes and sizes, some which may be better suited to you and achieving your end goal. Let's discuss them:

Free online courses: Pros: Cheap, short, flexible. Con: Aren’t long enough to properly prepare you for a career.

Expert-led, industry-driven online courses (found in Knoma’s Marketplace): Pros: Led by industry experts, career support and mentorship, prepare you for a new career, are often flexible. Con: More expensive (however there are finance solutions to make payments manageable e.g. Knoma’s pay across up to 12 months feature, interest-free).

There are also pros and cons of courses that are run in person: Pros: In-person contact. Cons: Less choice, less flexibility around your personal schedule, leading schools are often found online.

Ahead of your career move, it’s crucial for you to consider the pros and cons above (you may even be able to think of a few more) to make sure you choose the course you know you’ll get the most from.

With over 500 courses, Knoma’s Marketplace has been built to prioritise you. From cloud computing to digital marketing, from digital marketing to UX/UI Design, we're pretty sure there’s a course that's perfect for you.

Your When

Your first step in figuring out the best time for you to make the move is to be realistic about your time frame. Setting unrealistic goals in an unrealistic timeframe automatically sets yourself up for failure. Developing new skills is a gradual process, a learning process, meaning this generally won’t happen overnight. Understanding this ahead of your career change will allow you to have a much more sustainable transition.

Being realistic doesn’t mean you can’t dream big, both can coexist with the right measures in place. Make small steps in the right direction every day and your big dream will become much more easily achievable.

Next Steps for You

1. Understand why you want to change careers - follow questions 1-6 found earlier in this article.
2. Consider and evaluate different career paths (linked) to find which aligns best with your interests, skills, and your future ambitions.
3. Set realistic goals and timeframes to achieve a successful career change.
4. Upskill!
5. Start your new rewarding and fulfilling career!

Final Thoughts

So the simple answer is: yes, you can change your career when you’re in your thirties. Career changes can be daunting, we understand that here at Knoma, that’s why we’re motivated to make accessing world-leading courses affordable, meaning that within the ____ of changing careers and learning new skills, financial burden is less of a worry for you.

Are you ready?

If you’re ready to make 2022 the year of your career change, find Knoma’s Marketplace packed with leading education providers, to help you upskill and develop new skills for your new career path.