Finding My Way: Career Changes in My 30s

The 30s Career Crossroads: Am I the Only One?

Okay, so, turning 30 felt… weird. Not bad, necessarily, just… different. Like suddenly everyone around me had their lives perfectly mapped out. Except me, that is. I was staring down the barrel of another year at a job that, honestly, felt more like a chore than a calling. I’d been at the same company for six years. Six. Years. Starting to feel like office furniture. Was I the only one experiencing this? Doubt started creeping in. Huge time doubt. You start wondering, “Is this it? Is this all there is?” And the worst part? I didn’t even have a clear idea of what I *wanted* to do. It wasn’t a smooth career path, that’s for sure. Maybe I was expecting too much from a job, anyway.

The Existential Dread (and a Mid-Life Crisis Lite)

It’s not like I hated my job. It was… fine. Pay was okay, benefits were decent, coworkers were… tolerable. But that’s the problem, isn’t it? “Fine” isn’t exactly inspiring. I felt this growing sense of… restlessness. Like I was supposed to be doing something more. Something… meaningful. Ugh, I know, sounds cheesy, but it’s true! I started doom-scrolling LinkedIn, comparing myself to everyone else’s highlight reel. Huge mistake. Cue the existential dread. I even briefly considered buying a motorcycle. You know, a little mid-life crisis lite. Fortunately, my bank account talked me out of that one. I’m pretty sure it just laughed at the idea. And frankly, my mom would have killed me. Motorcycles are dangerous! I mean, seriously, what was I even thinking? But then you realize, a lot of other people feel the same way! I just needed to talk about it.

My Big Mistake: Selling Bitcoin Too Early

Speaking of bad decisions… Let me tell you about my brief foray into cryptocurrency. Back in 2017, I jumped on the Bitcoin bandwagon, throwing a few hundred bucks into Coinbase. I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading about Bitcoin. It felt like I was participating in the future! Then, of course, the market crashed. I panicked and sold everything at a loss. Like, a *significant* loss. Ugh, what a mess! It wasn’t a ton of money, but the regret… the regret was real. It taught me a valuable lesson: don’t make rash decisions based on fear and FOMO. This lesson, of course, has carried over into my career as well. Jumping ship without a plan is just as risky as hodling forever. It was a hard lesson, but one I needed.

Networking My Way Out of Oblivion

So, what did I do? Well, first, I stopped comparing myself to others on social media. That was a huge win right there. Then, I started talking to people. Like, really talking. I reached out to former colleagues, friends, even some distant acquaintances who worked in fields that vaguely interested me. It’s amazing what you can learn over a cup of coffee. I discovered that a lot of people had made career changes, often more than once. And they were surprisingly open about their experiences, both good and bad. It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I wasn’t alone! I ended up finding a mentor. It was a super informal thing, but just having someone to bounce ideas off of, and someone to tell me when I was being completely unrealistic, was invaluable.

Skills Inventory and Honest Self-Assessment

Once I started networking, I began the grueling process of honestly assessing my skills. It’s easy to get caught up in what you *think* you’re good at, but it’s much more important to identify what you *actually* excel at. I made a list of my strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values. It sounds simple, but it was surprisingly difficult. I used a free online skill assessment tool, CareerExplorer. It gave me some surprising insights, some obvious ones, and some results I just outright disagreed with (I’m definitely *not* a natural salesperson, no matter what the test says!). The key is to be brutally honest with yourself. It’s also important to recognize that skills can be learned. Maybe you don’t have all the qualifications for your dream job *right now*, but that doesn’t mean you can’t acquire them.

Taking the Leap (and Facing the Uncertainty)

I eventually landed a new job. In a completely different field. It was scary as hell. I took a pay cut, had to learn a whole new set of skills, and felt like an imposter for the first few months. But you know what? It was worth it. I’m now working in a field that I’m passionate about, surrounded by people who inspire me. It’s not perfect, of course. There are still days when I question my choices. When I feel overwhelmed and doubt my abilities. But those days are fewer and further between.

If you’re considering a career change in your 30s (or any age, really), my advice is this: don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. Do your research, network like crazy, and be prepared to face some uncertainty. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely possible. And who knows? You might just find yourself on a path that’s more fulfilling than you ever imagined. If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into resources for mid-career professionals.

And hey, if you’re feeling lost, just remember my Bitcoin story. Sometimes, messing up can lead you to a better place.