If you’re not satisfied with your job, you’re not alone. Youth has advantages, but few of us know who we are when we are young. So, while changing careers at any age can be challenging, few things are as discouraging as being stuck in a job that doesn’t fulfill you as a person or a professional. Thankfully, as a thirty-something, your future is just beginning.

Is 30 Too Old for a Fresh Start? 

Careers were once one-off. You could count on the occupation you trained for after high school to sustain you until retirement. But the workplace has evolved, and so have we. The average adult will have two, three, or even four careers. At 30 years old, you’re wiser than you were at 20 and better positioned to take advantage of the many new opportunities available in today’s job market.

Why Do People Change Careers? 

Both personal and practical reasons drive career changes. The most common include:

Personal Fulfillment

Life’s too short to do work that doesn’t gratify you. Your career reflects your identity and should align with your passions, interests, and values.

Burnout 

High-stress jobs with overtime and on-call commitments take a toll on people. In time, your health and home life may suffer. If your job consistently deprives you of personal time or makes meeting family commitments too tricky, a new career may offer a more favorable work-life balance.

Financial Considerations

There’s more to life than money. Still, you must pay the bills and position yourself for the future. Some jobs, however, offer lower compensation than others, meaning that your pay may not keep pace with inflation no matter how high you climb on the career ladder. The good news is that the right career can be personally and financially rewarding.

Job Security

Changes in the market can leave some jobs vulnerable to elimination. If your career is becoming obsolete, transitioning to an industry with better long-term prospects is a sound move. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) could displace millions of American workers.

Health Reasons

Health issues cause many people to change their careers. While most employers are happy to accommodate your wellness needs, the physical demands of some jobs may be too great to ignore.

A Challenge

For some people, jobs are only engaging if there’s something new and exciting to learn. If your current job’s most intellectually demanding task is staying awake at your desk, pursuing new challenges may reignite your creativity.

Relocation

Whether you’re moving for sunnier skies to care for a loved one, relocating may necessitate a career change due to job availability. Select industries are more robust in some areas than in others. Snowplow drivers from Buffalo, for example, may need a new line of work in Atlanta.

Lack of Recognition

Employees consistently cite recognition as a primary motivator; everyone wants to feel appreciated. If it’s been a while since your last round of applause at work, it might be time for a new career in a team-oriented field, such as healthcare.

A Dead-end Job

No one wants to work hard when there’s no opportunity for advancement. But in some industries, the career ladder is short. A new career could revive your potential if you’re at the top of your field with no more room for professional development.

Life Changes

Major life events, such as getting married, starting a family, or becoming an empty nester, can influence career choices. Whether you need to earn more money or want more time off, changing jobs may help you meet your evolving priorities.

An Entrepreneurial Spirit

Some careers lend themselves better to entrepreneurship than others. If you’ve always wanted to own a business, training to be a network engineer or HVAC technician could be your golden opportunity to start a consulting or repair company.

What Career Options Are Available? 

The types of careers available have changed significantly in the last decade. Some jobs, like nursing, are evergreen while others, such as bank teller, are quietly fading away.

Trade and technical schools specialize in programs for in-demand occupations, emphasizing careers in industries that are hiring today.

Choose from these exciting career options:

Career #1: Medical Assisting

Medical assistants handle clinical and administrative responsibilities in doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Their duties include:

  • Scheduling
  • Rooming patients
  • Recording health histories
  • Taking vital signs
  • Administering medications
  • Collecting laboratory specimens
  • Medication Administration
  • Diagnostic testing
  • Phlebotomy
  • Assisting with treatments and procedures
  • Recordkeeping
  • Patient Education

Career #2: Vocational Nurse

Vocational nurses are entry-level professional caregivers. Under the supervision of physicians or registered nurses, they provide primary nursing care in hospitals, clinics, private homes, and long-term care facilities. The work includes:

  • Assisting patients with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing
  • Safety supervision
  • Administering medications
  • Performing treatments, such as tube feedings and catheterizations
  • Collecting laboratory samples
  • Assisting with procedures
  • Maintaining medical equipment, such as oxygen and ventilation devices
  • Mobility assistance
  • Patient and family education
  • Providing emotional and spiritual support

Students gain real-world experience through clinical rotations.

Graduates can sit for the NCLEX-PN, the nationally recognized licensure exam. Pass, and you’re ready to practice.

Career #3: HVAC Technician 

HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair commercial and residential heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment. Their responsibilities are:

  • Installing furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, air conditioners and refrigeration units
  • Cleaning ductwork and fans
  • Indoor air quality monitoring
  • System testing and evaluation
  • Cost estimating for new systems

Trade school graduates are prepared for entry-level positions and essential industry certifications.

Career #4: Network Engineer 

Network engineers design, install, and maintain computer networks. In a tech-heavy world, it’s a critical role. Tasks include:

  • Hardware and software selection
  • Computer setups and upgrades
  • Network configuration
  • Performing software updates
  • Data backup and recovery
  • Staff training and customer support
  • Online Security

Network engineers are employed by businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and government agencies to fill a broad range of flexible positions with advancement opportunities. Experience and additional certifications may lead to leadership opportunities.

Final Thoughts 

Shifting gears is always challenging. Leaving behind the familiarity of a decade-long career can be scary. But trust in yourself and who you’ve become because with age comes life experience and introspection that only time can provide. With training and commitment, success has no time restrictions.

CyberTex offers short-term technical training programs in the Information Technology, Medical, Healthcare, and Construction Trades. We are a student-centric institute that equips students with workplace skills for initial employment, paving the way for desired and financially stable careers. 

Contact us today to learn more about our CyberTex campuses.