I also remember hearing about people who proclaimed to be in their ‘dream job’ and that they had found their ‘true calling’. “What a load of codswallop”, I remember thinking. I rolled my eyes when I heard anyone saying they started their business from nothing and was always quick to respond with the opinion that those opportunities just didn’t happen anymore.
A career change at 30!
Fast forward to motherhood and, well, six years ago, motherhood truly had me inspired to try different things with my life. I’m very much a person that dreams up something and has to go and do it the next day. One of those dreams was to start a blog.
Sitting at home with a six-month-old drove me a little crazy. I needed something more stimulating to do – changing nappies, feeding, and playing just didn’t cut it. I’d heard of blogs, so I decided to start a blog as a hobby. Little did I know that six years later my little hobby blog would have thousands of readers a month, be a huge source of inspiration, and lead to career options I’d never dreamt of.
Before kids, I coordinated a service department and looked after quality management and occupational health and safety for a business. But instead of going back to what I knew, I decided to start my own business (with no money), initially as a Virtual Assistant. Now, six years later, I contract to other businesses as a content writer, copywriter and social media manager, a completely different career. Writing and social media are my passions, and I know it’s a cliché, but now I get paid to do what I love. The old me would have rolled her eyes, but now I’m so thankful.
Career change isn’t by chance; it’s through hard work and KNOWLEDGE!
But where I am now in my career is not by chance, it involved lots of hard work, thousands of hours of learning and reading, jumping in the deep end and tonnes of persistence. Starting from nothing and turning it into something is possible and the key success, if you want it bad enough, is knowledge. When you equip yourself with the knowledge you need, you can pretty much do anything you set your mind to, dreams become attainable and yes, a career change at 30 is possible, even 40 or 50!
Understandably you may feel anxious about the whole career change thing because it is the complete unknown, but don’t let it hold you back from chasing your dream job. Changing career direction like this will always involve risk and putting yourself in less than comfortable situations, but its character-building at its best.
But if you’re still unsure whether to make the leap, follow some of these steps first:
Take a step back
It’s imperative to step back and determine what is making you happy or unhappy in your job and what it is you’re looking for. For years people told me I was good at writing, but it never crossed my mind I could make it my career. Think outside the square.
Take a step forward
Talking to people experienced in your preferred niche is often the best way forward and a way to gather information on what is required to get where you want to be (and if it’s even for you).
Know what the goal is
It is always a good idea to share your goals with friends and family, it makes you more accountable, and it builds your support network.
On your mark, get set, go!
Just do it. The more you procrastinate, the more likely it won’t happen. Seriously, what’s the worst that could happen?
It’s never too late to make a move and never think that your true career calling isn’t out there like I did early on, I certainly proved myself wrong. Equip yourself with the knowledge you need and the world is your oyster. Knowledge truly is power, and life is too short not to make the jump and do what you enjoy. If I can do it, you can too!
Are you searching for your dream job? What is it?
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Good post. And it’s never too late to change!
Well done Eva!
I love this! You are so inspiring Eva. How brilliant that you’ve been able to do so many amazing things and are now doing exactly what you love!
Great post, Eva! I am at a point where I can either go a complexly different way or merge back into my same career path. It’s always reassuring. Hear of other people doing it successfully. Thanks!
The idea of doing what you love, and getting paid for it, is very enticing! I’d love to do a bit more study, I just need to work on my time management! Perhaps I can do a time management course???
Love this post! I have just turned 34 and desperately want a career change. I want to be a Social Media Manager also. I do this in my current role, but it takes a back step to all my other responsibilites unfortunately. I want it to be a full time job. I have the passion, I have done courses – I just need to put myself out there! I admire you for doing what you love. It is never too late!! Well Done x
You’re so inspiring and always amaze me Eva! I’d love to be able to push paid freelance writing gigs more, but timing isn’t great right now – with a baby due in less than two weeks my priorities are elsewhere right now. But I hope to return to that in the future, and for the moment I’ll continue to build and enjoy writing for my blog.
I did much the same thing after having kids, although it was online selling back then as the internet was still new and social media barely existed. Now it’s blogging and social media. A work in progress.
Good on you Eva. I’m right in the middle of attempting this change. I have just finished s degree in writing, done lots of courses on social media and now just need to market myself. Where did you start?
My dream job is as a photographer and I am working my way towards that now. I’ve only done a few paid jobs so far, since making the decision in October to really make a go of it, but at this stage I’m more focused on study and learning as much as I can. I’m currently doing Cert IV in Photo Imaging, which finishes in a couple of week, and then I’ll study for my Diploma next year. The rest of this year I want to dedicate to practice, getting work experience and assistance work with established photographers and also learning more about running a small business, the legal and tax side of it all as that is a bit of a mystery to me still. I’ve got an ABN and am set-up as a sole-trader, but my first job on the to-do list once Tafe has finished is to make an appointment with the accountant to find out what exactly I have to do come tax time as it will be my first tax time since having an ABN and I have no idea what I need to do!
Nice post Eva! I’m in the process of my fourth (is it?) professional reinvention. I was a fashion designer, sometimes photographic and in-house model, then I moved into Sports Marketing (after a few false starts) then I ended up working in Investment banking (support rather than a Banker as such) before I had my dream job as a financial journalist (which I managed to have more fun with that I should have). Now I’m learning to make my former hobby/passion of photgraphy into a paying business. Oh and theres the novel still going _ another month tops!….
I acutally had advice from seek learning but I’ve found a new direction. In saying that – they were extrememly helpful.
Thank you for hosting. This is great information you shared and hopefully it will encourage anyone who is considering or dreaming about a way to do what they love for their career.
It’s exciting to think at 30 you can have a career change. I started the wheels in motion for mine at 31 (last year) when I decided I was fed up with psychology and wanted to be a teacher. I’m half way through the grad dip but now it’s writing & blogging that has my passion so for now that’s the focus. Age shouldn’t limit our possibilities… And besides, 30 is the new 20 😉
Kids really do change our perspectives doesn’t it? I had a massive career change a couple of years ago, giving up what I’d imagined would be my dream of working in Finance, for a job in publishing and media!
So happy that your change went so well and thank you for all of the useful advice on career changing. I agree it takes a lot of hard work and cultivating of knowledge xx
Yay you! I really admire your go for it attitude Eva. I like the “what’s the worst that could happen?” question. You don’t want to look back and regret not taking the chance to do what truly makes you happy.
Definitely still looking! What I do from 9-5 is merely for bills.
Snap! This is exactly where I am at right now. Thinking about a career change, trying to decide the best way forward and juggling it all around being mum. It is tricky but exciting.
Now that’s what I call a well written sponsored post. Very inspiring. Thanks Eva.