"Where you are now is based on the decisions you made 5 to 10 years ago. Where you will be in 5 to 10 years is based on the decisions you make now." - Vala Afshar, June 2020

Time for a career change

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong time to change careers - it's a question of circumstance and ambition versus confidence and opportunity. During difficult times, there are plenty of factors that can influence whether or not you feel ready for a career change; in the end, however, it comes down to you as an individual, your own determination, and your own faith and belief in yourself.

Many people have discovered a lot about themselves during lockdown. This applies to those placed on furlough and to key workers who have continued to work through this extraordinary period, but it's especially true for self-employed individuals whose work completely dried up when the lockdown began. For everyone, though, it's a question of whether now is the right time to change and why. Should you take that leap of faith? Or have you been pushed into making life-changing decisions when, actually, you feel hesitant to make a bold move?

Maturity allows us to reflect on decisions made earlier in our lives. During your younger years, you may not have had the confidence or the opportunity to go for the career you really wanted. But now, most students at Access Training Academies (who are mainly in their 30s) believe it's now or never. It's a case of 'Why not?' and 'If I don't do it now, am I going to have the chance again?'

Lockdown has given many the chance to think about this more than ever before. It has also provided the space and the time - away from a 'normal' routine - to have positive thoughts, against the overwhelmingly negative situation everyone was facing up to. Without a doubt, the decision to change can be quite scary; this is only natural, as it's an unknown quantity with an unknown outcome. But it could be an amazing opportunity for change, backed with the certainty that skills shortages remain and opportunities abound.​

Here at Access Training Academies, we learned very quickly during lockdown that many were confidently changing careers and still focusing all their energy positively into their online learning during live webinars that taught them the theory aspects of various trades. Many seemed to be using the lockdown as an opportunity to focus on their future lives and careers.

Confidence is a crucial factor when considering a career change, and a transition into the trades offers a clear potential for future prosperity. COVID-19 did limit on-site work at first (with many sites closing completely and homeowners unable to allow tradespeople into their homes), but the construction industry has become the catalyst to lift the country out of the COVID-19 economic crisis, and with that, many skilled people will be needed to get the work done and the country back on its feet.

So, if you're around 30 years old and you're considering learning a trade, is now the time? Here are 3 fundamental points for you to consider right now:

  1. Think about what trade you want to do and what kind of lifestyle you want. The kind of work you choose to do for a living will dictate what kind of lifestyle you'll have. Each trade offers something different that suits different personal characteristics and aspirations. We can advise you on this and many other aspects.

  2. Think about what service you can provide for paying customers. Consider what you would be able to provide with your newly-learned skills and qualifications gained. What skills do people need? And just importantly, what are you interested in? Talk to us so we can help you.

  3. Think about where you want to be in 5-10 years time. 5 to 10 years ago, you probably wouldn't have had the inclination to make the decision to change, or you may not have had what it takes to make a success of a new career in the trades. But you have amassed a great amount of valuable life experience since then - this can only come with maturity and the challenges that come with everyday life. Talk to us about your options.

Of course, the COVID-19 situation is a major influence on everything right now, but it won't be forever; 'the new norm' will eventually become second nature, and the trades sector will be one of the first - if not the first - to recover and grow markedly.

In fact, 'normality' appears to be returning already. Signs of economic improvement have been reported by Pimlico Plumbers. with company sales up £150,000 compared to the first two weeks of July last year. Pimlico has even set a company record by booking more than £280,000 worth of pre-scheduled jobs in a single week. Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, said:

"There has been little good economic news since lockdown began, but I think there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Some experts have speculated that this time the recovery could be as lightning-fast as the collapse, and in our business, we are seeing sales data to back up that theory."

The time to change may never be 100% clear, but one thing's for sure: time waits for no one. Your career decisions right now will dictate where you will be in 5-10 years from now, and the opportunities are out there; it all depends on whether you have the confidence to make a change.

Talk to us today - our Career Support Team is here to help.

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Career Change at 30

If you’ve landed on this post, then it seems you're looking for a career change at 30. You may have got to a stage in your life in which your current occupation just doesn’t feel fulfilling - financially, spiritually or physically. You’ve found yourself stuck in a rut in which your working life lacks productivity, stability, motivation, and more importantly, enjoyment.

But don’t worry, very rarely do people find the right job for them the first time around. Often, people venture down one route only to discover that it hasn’t led them to their desired destination. And if this scenario sounds familiar, it isn’t too late to change your career and take a different route, even at the ripe old age of 30!

People often feel a pressure to know what they want from life at a young age, and by the time they're 30 and realise they're not where they want to be, they're told that they're 'too old' to make a big life change. Well, we're here to tell you the truth - you're never too old to start a new career! 

Making the decision to change your career can seem daunting, but it’s the most important step towards a more enlightening working life. By not making this step you may be hindered from reaching your true full potential, and it may be something you regret later down the line.

If you're ready to find a new career at 30, read on. 

Career Change at 30: Top Tips for a Successful Career Change

The Biggest Obstacle is Yourself

Changing your career at 30 would be a far easier task without the fear that is brewed by overthinking. But that’s something, as humans, we will always do when faced with an important decision like this.

When making the decision to actively change your life in a dramatic way, the first obstacle to surpass is your own conscience - to let go of the fear of the unknown.

The Question Won’t Be Answered In Your Head

A question which concerns important life-changing situations will naturally provoke much thought. It’s understandable that loads of questions whizz around your mind in long, endless cycles when considering a career change at 30.

But these cycles offer no resolutions. The only way of coming to any definite conclusion is by carrying your motives out in practice. Otherwise, you have no real way of knowing what will work.

It’s Never Too Late!

One of the most deflating thoughts concerning a career change at 30 might be that you’ve missed your chance, that starting again is impossible and that there’s no point in risking your current compromise for another attempt.

This is certainly not the case; the longer you think about it, the longer you do nothing about it, and the longer that time passes. One day, you might find yourself years, perhaps decades, into the future and realising regretfully that it was never really too late!

Here at Access Training, we accommodate a wide variety of accredited trade skill courses for people of practically any age, so don’t let such excuses stop you from making the leap.

Don’t Go it Alone

Big decisions like this require the support of family and friends. Without them to talk through your decisions and to help you out, financially or emotionally, the right path will be much harder to come by.

Whether you talk to your friends asking for career recommendations, or even simply to unload the burden of your thoughts, you will have a far less load to carry on your shoulders. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.

Do Something, At Least

The worst thing you could do after reading this article is to carry on living complacently in your state of comfortable discomfort.

It doesn’t matter specifically what you do. The vital thing is that you do something, at least. It matters not how big the step is or whether that step is even the right one to take. Just start to build your momentum - even the smallest action will contribute towards something and could even get you that dream new career at 30.

If you are reading this article then chances are you aren’t happy in your current occupation. If this is the case, enquire today about a trade skill course with Access Training and take a positive, and happy, step forward in your career. Our friendly advisers will be happy to guide you towards the right career path.

 

Last updated 5th July 2022

Read More: Career Change at 30: Is Now the Right Time?

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