Our society likes to tell a lot of stories about turning 30. We perpetuate the myth that in your twenties you’re “young and free,” but that once you turn 30 it’s time to “settle down.”
Therefore, the idea of being 30 with no career scares people and makes them feel like a failure.
This is not only inaccurate, but it actually borders on absurd. Thirty is not old. It’s just not. Sure, you’re no longer a kid. But you’ve got your whole life in front of you, and that should be exciting.
In fact, even 40 isn’t too old to change careers, though this presents its own unique challenges.
Being 30 with no career means the canvas is blank. Despite this, it’s important to proceed thoughtfully.
Yes, you can always pivot, but because of your age and experience, you don’t need to. Instead, you can put what you already know to work and commit to building the career of your dreams.
One of the best fields to enter if you feel you have no career at 30 is digital marketing. It’s lucrative and growing, and there are tons of ways to get started.
Check out how Seth Hymes, the founder of In Demand Career, flipped his life around by switching his focus to digital marketing. Or, you can dive right in with our free training program.
But let’s also keep talking about why 30 is most certainly not too late to start your career.
The Benefits of Getting Started with Your Career at 30
When you stop to think about it for a moment, it’s actually a bit ridiculous that we ask people to choose their careers when they finish high school and are just 18-years-old.
At this age, we’ve been exposed to so little that we don’t really appreciate all the opportunities available to us. Plus, we don’t really know that much about ourselves and our unique skills and abilities.
Because of this, we make choices based on what other people tell us. Or we just pick something random and test it out. This strategy isn’t so bad, but if you’re attending college and paying anywhere from $20,000-$50,000 a year for it, this turns into a really expensive game of trial and error.
However, when you’re 30, you not only know a lot more about yourself and the type of life you want, but you also have more than a decade’s worth of experience already under your belt. It doesn’t matter if that experience is in five different fields. It’s still experience, and it will count for something. You just need to figure out what.
When you think of it like this, there really is no such thing as being 30 and having no career direction. You have a path; you just need to figure it out.
In fact, when you take this perspective, 30 is actually the perfect time to start a career. It might feel like you’re “behind,” but don’t buy too much into this. Everyone is different and needs time to figure out how they’re going to live their lives.
Myths About Starting a Career at 30
As mentioned, there are a lot of misconceptions about people who are 30-years-old and have no career. And there are also a lot of mistruths about what getting into a new career at 30 might look like.
At In Demand Career, we don’t want you holding yourself back, so we’ve debunked these myths so that nothing can stand in the way of your new career..
Myth #1: You Will Need to Start at the Bottom of the Ladder
There is some logic to this: if you’re new to a field, it makes sense to start at the bottom. But while you’re new to the field, you’re not new to life. You have lots of other experiences and skills to bring to the table, and these will often qualify you for positions a little higher up on the ladder.
If you take the time to learn a few new skills, something you can do in our digital marketing training program, then it’s even possible to start in a management position. Soft skills and experience are often more important for these types of jobs than tangible know-how. So, employers are often willing to spend time training up less-experienced people if it’s the right fit.
Of course, this isn’t a guarantee, but you definitely don’t need to aim for entry level jobs if you’re 30 and just now getting started with your career.
Myth #2 You Need to Go Back to School
If you already have a college degree but are 30 with no career, you’re probably stopping yourself from launching into something because you think you need to go back to school. But that’s simply not true.
Again, starting a career at 30 is much more about identifying your skills and strengths and applying them to something different.
In reality, for most fields, you most certainly should not go back to school. You’d end up spending a couple of years and tens of thousands of dollars to get a job you can probably get tomorrow.
Myth #3 No One Will Hire You Because You’re “Old”
First off, let’s remember that 30 is not old. So that right there disproves this myth. But it’s also not true that employers won’t hire you because of your age.
What matters most to employers is fit. They want to hire people that can do the job, embrace company culture and help it evolve, and help grow the business.
If you can prove your ability to do this, then people will hire you. And that’s just a fact.
Myth #4: You’ll Have to Accept Less Money
Another common misconception is that if you’re 30 and have no career, you’ll have to accept less money to get started.
There is some truth to this in that you likely won’t make the same amount as someone your age who’s been in the field for 10 years. But if you’re after a decent salary, then all you need to do is pick the right field.
For example, starting a career in digital marketing will open up lots of earning opportunities for you. It’s a growing field, and there is a lot of money to be made.
This is true for other areas, too. So, as you start looking at which career you want to start, make sure to hone in on fields where there is lots of demand, as this will help you land a great salary, even though you’re already 30.
The Best Career to Start at 30
If you’re unsure about which career you want to launch, here’s a hint: digital marketing.
For those who don’t know, digital marketing is simply marketing in a digital setting. It involves using search engines, social media, websites, pay-per-click advertising, and much more to help companies reach audiences and make money.
It’s a great field to jump into at 30 because it’s:
- In-demand — Everything in our world takes place online, so there are lots of jobs and will be for the foreseeable future.
- Well-paid — Because there is so much demand, salaries are high and rising. In just a few short years, you can be making more than $100,000.
- Easy to enter — You don’t need a special degree or any special qualifications. Just take the time to learn the basics with our free training program and then apply what you already know.
- Flexible — Digital marketing takes place online, so there are tons of remote jobs. This means you can start making money in an exciting career while still lounging in your pjs at home. Or by the beach in Mexico! Your choice.
If you have no career at 30, don’t stress. In fact, get excited! This is the moment for you to take ownership of your life and decide the direction it’s going to go.
If you are curious how to find these high paying jobs with very little experience, register for on of our free classes that outline everything you need to know on landing that next dream job. Those who are serious about giving digital marketing a try can sign up for our full training program today, and why not? Every day you wait is a day not spent working in and towards an exciting and rewarding career.
