How to change profession after 30

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Here are some tips to help make the transition comfortable and painless - both for you and for the family budget.

Changing a profession at 30 is not as easy as at 20, when everyone is just starting their career and are not afraid to make mistakes. 30-year-olds have obligations (eg family, children, loans) and fear that nothing will work out. But it can be overcome if you prepare yourself and your loved ones in advance for change.

What to include in your resume

Those who have just finished their studies and are starting a path in a new field often do not know what to write in their resume: there is no relevant experience yet, and the existing one is no longer suitable. Here's what to add to your resume to find a job in a field that is new to you.

1. Educational projects

HR professionals usually search for suitable candidates by keywords. If you haven't developed a design for real projects yet, but managed to work in Adobe Photoshop during your studies, be sure to tell about it in your resume and add all your academic achievements to your portfolio.

2. A rewarding experience

If you are looking to become an analyst and previously worked as a sales manager, tell us how you structured your sales statistics and found ways to increase them. This will show the employer that you are a systematic thinker.

If you have little work experience, be sure to tell us about projects that reveal your personal qualities: the ability to interact in a team, openness, sociability.

Vera Mashkova Vice President for Human Resources, ABBYY

3. Recommendations from colleagues

If someone you know works for the dream company, ask them if there are any vacancies for beginners. Ask for a recommendation. Talk to former colleagues, teachers, and mentors of the courses you have taken. Letters of recommendation from them will confirm your skills and experience, help the future employer get to know you better.

Use social networks, expand the network of useful contacts - no one canceled word of mouth. Many people start with small letters of recommendation from friends.

Vera Mashkova

4. Cover letter

It will add credibility to your story. Write down why you dream of working in this area, what you want to do and how your previous experience will help you in this.

A good cover letter will set you apart from other candidate responses, even more professional ones.

Marina Malashenko HR Director of OneTwoTrip Travel Planning Service

What to do if you can't go for an internship

The most popular advice for those starting out in a new profession is to go on an unpaid internship to gain experience and make useful contacts. But what about those who are not ready to find themselves in a situation of lack of income? The internship has alternatives that can be combined with study and current place of work.

1. Go to the next department

You can find a new place within the company where you work. Try starting over in a different department. “Moving within the company is possible, but, as a rule, to the initial position,” says Konstantin Seroshtan, senior account manager of the recruiting company Coleman Services. According to him, you need to perform well, share corporate values, be motivated and learn. And of course, there must be a vacancy in another department. Get ready to get involved in different projects, be flexible and curious.

2. Look for a part-time job

If you can't find a permanent position right away, look for temporary freelance projects. They will bring you experience, money and a line on your resume. The largest freelance exchange is FL.ru. There are many offers, but the competition is very high. There are other options as well:

Websites:

• Work-zilla;
• Upwork;
• Weblancer.

Telegram channels:

• Finder;
• Freelance Tavern;
• Freelance Chat.

But remember that at first you will have to carry out projects for free or for little money. But you will build a portfolio, and then you will be able to take more complex and large orders.

This option is also suitable for those who are still studying.

The main thing is to accept that it won't be easy, you will have to invest at least 20 hours a week in studies and 10–20 hours in work. Only then will there be a result.

Evgeny Lebedev Marketing Director at Yandex. Practicum

3. Try your hand at contests or hackathons

The main advantage of such activities is the real tasks that the business solves in the market. You put knowledge into practice, develop communication and teamwork skills, learn to take responsibility for decisions and meet deadlines. All these skills will help you to become more confident, to pass an interview and a probationary period.

Typically, competitions and grants are announced by major industry players, so follow the news on their resources. Government grants are published on the website of the Presidential Grants Fund and the Innovation Promotion Fund.

How to cope with a period of low income

If you start a career in a new field for yourself, then a drop in income cannot be avoided. This is due to the lack of stable earnings during the search for vacancies and low salaries at starting positions. This situation can be minimized if you prepare for it ahead of time.

1. Accumulate the airbag in advance

Set a rule for yourself: save 10-20% of your paycheck every month. This will help you build up a financial cushion for times when incomes decline. For example, if you are currently earning 80 thousand rubles, start saving 16 thousand from each salary. For 10 months it will turn out 160 thousand. This money will be enough for a while while you look for a new job.

If you decide to make big professional changes in your life, you should at least for some time be financially secure in order to study a lot, work and not think about the level of income.

Marina Malashenko

2. Enlist the support of loved ones

Before quitting your old job, discuss financial plans for the near future with your family. Review your family budget. Determine the mandatory items of expenditure and spending that you can refuse for a while. For example, buying new gadgets or spending a vacation abroad can probably be postponed. Tell your loved ones how important their understanding and support is to you. With a new job, you will be happier, and your income will soon rise again. These are temporary difficulties.

3. Do not rush to leave your old place of work

“Start with freelancing, see if you are interested in it and if you can make money like that,” Vera Mashkova advises. One of her former employees combined web development with his main job, then quit. Now he has his own website development company.

You can master a new profession, complete test assignments, send resumes and do freelance projects in parallel with your main job.