Looking for advice on a career change in my 30s, can anyone offer advice?
Hello everyone, I’m looking for a bit of advice.
I’m just after turning 30, I’ve been working for around five years in my field, and I’m just becoming increasingly unhappy with the job, but I don’t know what to do next.
My job is in the communications industry, and I’m not sure I see a future for myself in it. A lot of the job postings I’m qualified for are located in Dublin, while I live in Cork and moving isn’t an option as we’ve bought a home here.
My current shifts already mean I spend a lot of time away from my partner. She works a more traditional 9-5, and I don’t want to switch to an inter-county commute, which would mean I'd have even less time to spend with her.
I have applied to the civil service in Cork, but I didn’t test particularly well this time around, and my OOM put me in the low 200s for EO and around 300 for CO. My scores were in the upper third band, but I’m not holding out much hope for an interview. I’m not that familiar with the CS, so I could be wrong here.
I’m working for the next year to get in shape to lay a good foundation to take on a major change, as I think I can stick things out for another year or so. I have a BA in English and an MA in communications. I studied those as it’s what I was good at, but I’m not sure if I can rely on those degrees for stable employment.
We have a house here in Cork, I have a good chunk of savings, and our monthly expenses are manageable, so I can tough it out for a few years on a lower wage if needs be.
I’m giving myself a year to find a new path in life. I’m planning to get in good physical condition and explore my options before I decide in 2027. I just need a bit of help in figuring out where to start.
I’ve always done well in school and college, I’m open to a lot of different paths, and I find most of my fulfilment outside of work. So, I’m just looking for something that I can study or qualify in that will help me land a stable, Monday to Friday job that earns a decent wage.
I'm interested in a career in tech or IT, but it seems like a terrible time to enter that job market.
My outlook on life changed drastically when I met my partner, and I’m just trying to put myself in the best position to give us a good life over the next 10 years.
I’d love to hear from people who have transitioned to a new career in their 30s or suggestions for industries, apprenticeships and courses to look into.