Just turned 30. Single. No responsibilities. 1 bachelor degree plus graduate certificate in health science and exercise science. Failed subjects to health and going through a severe bout of depression during uni and not having the marks for graduate school physiotherapy.
Worked in government from 25 – 27. Promoted 2 times and worked alongside management. I have managed to gain some good skills after working full time for almost 6 years now. I also worked on weekends from 24 to 29 to save more money. I have developed a nice financial cushion as a result.
After contemplating once turning 30, I thought about what I wanted to do down the track. I realised sales is not a fit for me long term. I went in sales to make money and because I didnt know what else to do. I especially hate business sales and have preferred account management.
Been in corporate business to business sales for 3 years and have done pretty well for myself. I am being offered and head hunted for roles putting my base just shy of 6 figures plus a bonus. Once turning 30 I had an existential crisis that lead to a nervous breakdown and anxiety has been peaking since. The impossible targets and really bad product and pressure lead me to resigning a few days ago.
Has anyone gone through the same thing and made a change at 30?
Advice from all the older guys would be helpful. I feel like just checking out of work all together for a few months all together or working part time while I recover my mental health and study some certificate courses.
27 comments
I got divorced when I was 30 and started my first company when I was 32. That was almost 10 years ago. I cannot imagine how miserable I’d be if I hadn’t done both of those things.
It’s never, ever too late to make a change.
The material world is constantly trying to force you into a category, a box, an easily classified slot in a never-ending series of slots. Don’t let it do that to you.
Take some time off if you can, and consider devoting some time every day to meditation or prayer. Try to begin visualizing what your perfect life would look like.
What would you do if you could do anything? Start there, and start writing it all down. Then start making a plan, working backwards.
30 is so, so, so young. You have no idea. I remember how lost, sad, and afraid I was when I was going through what I went through when I was 30. You’re stronger than you think, you just need to find your footing and recalibrate your life towards what you want vs. what you’ve been told to want.
Feel free to DM me if you need further guidance. Good luck young man!
I went back to college at 35 and became a teacher. It’s never too late to change, my dude.
Take a look at “port authority” in the tri-state area jobs. They love previous government work, pay well, and if you are willing to play the government job routine it is relatively a great gig. A gardner at ewr made 120 with overtime. The government application is usually the biggest hurdle.
I switched careers at 37, with a wife and two young kids. It was scary af but the best possible decision I ever made.
Find a job that motivates you to go to work every day. But FFS do not make your job your life. Make your job the thing you do to make money so you can HAVE a life.
I was 31 when I quit my day job and took my side business full time. It’s weird now to look back and realize that the peak of my *previous* career was close to 20 years ago.
I changed careers at 35 and worked in industry for 15 years. Then got tired of that and went to law school from age 52 to 57 then studied a masters in Environmental law. I am 70 now and have my own law firm and work as much as I want. I love what I do.
I changed careers at 33, ditching a dead end but cushy corporate job to become a software developer.
I’m 2 jobs in to that and think daily that I’ve probably made a mistake, but only because I’m very lazy. I had my corporate job down to about 4 hours of work total a week which I’d split over 2 days in the office. With my 3 days at home, I’d engage my hobbies, bike, work out, shop, hang with friends, anything really.
Now I’m chained to a computer fighting broken builds and Visual Studio all day, but making 33% more and able to afford a house. I desperately miss my previous setup. I was impervious and invisible. Now I’m a drone.
Anyway it’s definitely possible to change careers and up your salary, living situation, etc. Just make sure what you go to is something you actually want to do.
I have a great friend that hit a glass ceiling working for a large corporate television company. He left and learned a trade at 40. His first year he matched his previous salary. His second year he doubled his income. Don’t look back and ask “what if…”. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I didn’t even go to college until I was in my 30s. I was in class with people that made me feel like an old man, but there were also people twice my age. It’s never too late to make a change.
Sometimes a big career shift can help you through the malaise, though it comes with risk of course.
In my case, I made 5 very big changes which has led to a series of jobs requiring different skills and kept me challenged.
* Started in academia as an adjunct lecturer
* Moved to management consulting
* Moved to trading (during which I self-taught SQL and VBA to automate trading tools)
* Promoted up to management – did business development, strategy, recruiting
* Moved to an IC role – doing everything from negotiating mergers & acquisitions, strategic planning, and advising board members.
Pay was never the main motivator, though I’ve done well enough for myself. Each time I shifted it was due to my deciding that I didn’t enjoy my work anymore. I gave each career at least 3 years to try out.
The last 3 moves were all done after age 30. And that’s while being the sole breadwinner and having 2 kids.
My only concern for you is you mention your mental state is not where you want it to be. I’d recommend addressing that through professional therapy before embarking on a major career change. Career transitions are best handled when you’re feeling empowered and in control.
Yep, packed my bags, sold everything that wouldn’t fit in my car and moved from Oregon to Utah to meet a girl and find a different job.
Started a cs degree when I was 31, graduated at 33 (it was a second degree), and have been a software engineer for almost 8 years now.
I didn’t make my change because I had a crisis, I was just a minimum wage security guard and got tired of being poor and I still had some gi bill remaining and parents that let me live at home.
Can you do what you’re doing for another 30 years? If no, start looking for something that makes you happier.
Yeah man, you nailed it:
“I feel like just checking out of work all together for a few months all together or working part time while I recover my mental health and study some certificate courses.”
Husband was laid off twice in 3 months at the beginning of the pandemic after being out of work for 6 months due to a hip replacement. He completely started over and now has a thriving business. He was 32 when is started. Do the thing. Start over.
I am 36 and have been contemplating leaving my position. I have been told that I can have at least 2 more successful careers in my lifetime. We will be working longer than generations prior to us. It is understandable to get burnt out and just have enough of a job or career. You may not make the $$$ you did at another position but you can still succeed in another career.
My best friend started going to school for engineering after 30. He’s now completed a graduate degree in engineering and has done pretty well for himself now.
Not over 30 for me, just late 20s. I went from a dead end retail to the automotive industry working for a manufacturer. I met my friend at that dead end retail job. We both decided we couldn’t do this long term and encouraged each other to do something about it.
I made a change at 40. Went back to school. Accountant—>physical therapist assistant (PTA)
My entire life changed when I was around 34. I was completely burned out and hating my industry. I decided to take a massive leap and take a job in a different country outside the US to travel and get a new perspective. It changed my life and I’ve spent the past few years going on the most epic set of adventures, meeting new friends, experiencing new cultures, etc. I took a pretty big pay cut in taking the new job and I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
I switched careers and went into IT sales at 30. I’m now 45 and already semi retired once for two years but am now back in the corporate world at a great company. I moved out of sales after a few years and found more interesting roles with less stress. It was a good move
i worked as an electrician for a while in my 20s, got deep depression, moved back home around 28 tried few different things but nothing would stick i hate working in jobs where you have more managers than someone to help do the job.
i was running short on my savings, so moved back in with my dad and used the rest to go back to university. I am a 3rd year physiotherapist now, worked on my self a lot last few years. Even getting a Gastric Sleeve to lose the weight ( been a life struggle )
I mean nothing is too late as long as you alive. i hope by next year this time to have lost the weight and be in my last year of university.
If you can do it, make a big move. I’m 38, have a great paying job, but also have a wife and a child now. So its not easy to just say eff it and move to the islands or something. I spent some time in the Canadian wilderness after college, but wish I didn’t focus as much on career after school and traveled more or moved to an exotic location.
Not quite 30 but…at 29 I decided to start the path to becoming a pilot and at 31 I’m almost a commercial pilot now. There are accelerated programs to get you there faster if you so choose, especially if you have done well for yourself.
No advice here, but just so you feel less alone. I’ve been in sales the last 5 and half years. I wasn’t getting paid as much as you (between 40k and 50k annually – still felt like a lot to me, was always min before). I was selling kitchens. Anyway I recently burnt the fuck out and quit. Have taken a 4 on 4 off remote job for 20k. Loads of people told me I’m crazy, but I already feel crazy for doing a job I hate for almost 6 years of my life. Good luck in whatever you decide
yea im getting my shit together at 32… depression hit me hard and i was struggling for many years. no motivation to do anything at all. then i graduated from college and found that inner flame for electronics. that kept me focused and motivated enough to score a job in that field. its really all about having a focus in life. the only way to get out of depression. chase after your goals… once you become successful, you will start enjoying life so much again. people can see your energy!
Started over at 38… wasn’t easy, but it just takes time.
I started uni at 30. You are good. I would go around the world for 6 months and come back fresh with new ideas. Take it easy.
I’m a 31 y/o lawyer but have always had a passion for engineering and seriously regret not becoming one. I’m strongly considering going back to school to become an engineer and am trying to figure out how to make that happen. Paying for it is a problem however so I’m even considering a 3 yr contract with the military, at 31, to get the GI bill.
Maybe I’m an idiot but what I’m trying to say is I understand this feeling that you’re in the wrong career and don’t belong there.
Maybe I’ll make a thread myself soon but any advice in the meantime is also appreciated.