How to Pivot Careers Without Any Problems

You’ve been out of school for nearly a decade, you’ve received a couple of promotions in your career, and you’re finally starting to make something of yourself. There’s only one problem: You don’t feel like you’re in the right field. You aren’t happy with what you’re doing and you feel like there’s something greater on the horizon. But, at the age of 30, is it too late to make a career change?

4 Tips for a Smooth Pivot

From your view, 30 feels like you’re ancient. To everyone else, 30 is still very young. Not only do you have enough time to make a career pivot, but you have the luxury of waiting for the right opportunity to come around.

Here are some tips to make sure your pivot is a smooth one:

• Try Not to Start from Scratch

While you have time to totally start over if you want, it’s best if you can at least use something you’ve done in your career to feed into the next one.

Let’s say, for example, that you have a business degree and have been working in sales, but suddenly feel the urge to go into nursing. You could pursue a Master’s [Direct] Entry in Nursing (MSN) program for non-nurses. This would allow you to build on your bachelor’s degree and fast-track your education to eventually become a nurse.

As another example, let’s say you’ve been working in product development for a medical supply company but are getting tired of the day-to-day grind. A natural move would be to pivot into medical sales. It’s a totally different job, but it allows you to use your previous experience and knowledge.

• Be Willing to Compromise

As Steve Jobs once said, “I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter into one of the most creative periods of my life.”

With almost any career pivot there comes compromise. This may include taking a pay cut, losing some flexibility, or stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something that makes you nervous. But at the end of the day, you must be willing to take one step back in order to take two steps forward.

• Put Out Lots of Feelers

While you may find a job on an online job board, most people find positions through connections. If you want to find a promising job, you’ll need to work your personal and professional networks.

You can never put out too many feelers. Tell everyone that you’re looking for a job. From your Starbucks barista to your roommate from college, each connection brings you closer to finding a new opportunity.

• Don’t Overinflate Your Expectations

The grass is always greener on the other side – at least that’s what we think. Unfortunately, what you’ll realize after making a career pivot is that there’s no such thing as a perfect career. While you might find new things that you like about your job, there will also be elements that you dislike. Keep your expectations in check and remember that your job will never provide ultimate fulfillment. You’ll have to discover that in your personal life.

You’re Still Young

It’s easy to become frustrated and lose perspective when you feel like you’re in need of a career change, but don’t let a ticking clock add pressure. You may feel old, but you’re still at the beginning of your career.

Making a pivot at 30 is much easier than trying to change careers when you’re 40, 45, or 50. Keep things in perspective and patiently look for an opportunity to arise.