This week, we have a guest post from Regi Publico. Regi is a full-time writer based in Manila who is also an artist for fun. She takes pride in her towering collection of books and loves reading about anything under the sun. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge through every article that she writes. Here, she shares her thoughts on why it's important to take the leap, despite changing careers in your 30's being a scary prospect.
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Thinking of switching careers can be really scary, especially in your 30's and above. Right now, you are likely pondering whether or not to take the big leap and start your career change. I am telling you this though: it is pretty normal for someone, who started their career in their 20's to, all of a sudden, change the life they've been living. Here is a beautiful and inspiring quote from Shannon Adler, which is highly relevant to fear in a career change: “Sometimes the one thing you need for growth is the one thing you are afraid to do.”
Ultimately, we are all working in order to earn money and live a good life. Some also manage to bring their passions in to their work, which is highly admirable. Either way, we all have one thing in common: the desire to live a quality life. A quality life may centre around making lots of money for some, but it could also pertain to living a life with a burning passion, doing what you really want to do, including all the things that undoubtedly bring you happiness.
Sure, it is quite scary and uncomfortable to make a big decision, especially in your 30's. You might feel like it's a little too late to change your career or field now. You might also worry that you are throwing away your previous experience and current status by starting again. But, even if this is how you are feeling right now, there are still reasons why you still can muster up all the courage you need to take the leap.
It will help you grow.
Fear, doubt, anxiety - these are probably just some of the emotions and feelings you have been experiencing whilst considering a career change. Remember that managing these feelings and emotions, and learning to overcome these feelings, will strengthen you as a person.
Growth begins when you do doing things that are out of your comfort zone. The moment you change career, you broaden your experiences and inhabit new perspectives. This leap can also be a way to get to know yourself better. You might discover something about yourself, such as a new strength, interest, or skill. A career change may lead you into an unknown field, and probably out of your expertise sphere, but it also creates a whole new field of opportunities.
You can always seek out guidance.
When you're feeling overwhelmed and confused by your choices, it can be helpful to seek out help, support, and guidance. Career coaches are there to help you when you're contemplating a career change. There are also a lot of other people out there, like you, who are thinking about switching careers. Some might have already done it, or are currently in the process of making a change. These people can be super helpful to chat to and get advice from. There will always be a way to seek out guidance, assistance, and support as you work through the ups and downs of career change.
It's never too late.
As a society, we are now likely to be working till our mid-60's, maybe even our 70's. This means that changing careers in your 30's will never be too late because you will still have plenty of years left in your career to build new experiences and continue your growth. You will meet new people whom you can ask for advice and insights along the way. And even if, at some point, you take a wrong turn, you can always find the right track back, because there will still be lots of time left to utilise.
It may lead towards happiness and passion.
There are many reasons why someone may consider a career change in their 30's. The most common reasons include the pursuit of the original career path the person wanted to take when they were younger but shied away from, craving something new, learning and grow, experiencing new opportunities in a new environment, and, of course, finding your passion or chasing their ultimate dream.
Not all people have found their passion yet, and that might be why they are starting a career change. Often, switching careers is just the beginning of their journey. Some are bravely considering detaching themselves from their previous field, just to find the real path they need and want to take - the path where they could experience the burning passion and drive to do something they love.
Because, sometimes, even when you earn a big salary or live a life that looks great on the outside, you might still feel like something is missing - even more so if you have already achieved your goals at an early age/ in your 20's. You might feel empty and incomplete. You might feel that you are not happy because you are not passionate about what you are doing. Switching careers might be one way for you to reach happiness, find your passion, and satisfy the emptiness within you. That’s why taking a leap could be worth it - you might just find your purpose in life.
Alice coaches those who want to change career but don’t know what they want to do instead. She offers Career Coaching designed to help graduates, early to mid-level career-changers, and parents returning to work gain a clear vision of what career is right for them, and how to achieve it. She is also an accredited Coach Supervisor, and host of The Career Change Diaries podcast.
