10 Best Jobs for a Career Change
A career change is something that many people consider. Whether it’s the pursuit of a salary increase, career satisfaction, or a more flexible job, you might be thinking about quitting your current career and looking for something more. There are many lucrative career fields with a high annual salary that can give you more satisfaction.
If you’re thinking about making a career change, check out this guide. We curated the 10 best jobs for a career change to help you lead a balanced and fulfilling life. You can also read below for more tips on how to change careers and things to consider before you make the career transition.
Why Are People Changing Careers in Their 30s?
People in their 30s are changing their careers due to lack of fulfillment, upward mobility, and loss of interest in their current jobs. However, according to Forbes, millennials are job-hopping to find better careers with better salaries and upward mobility. The site also suggests a lack of positive work culture, poor work-life balance, and mismatched core values contribute to the shift.
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According to research by LinkedIn, people aged 25 to 33 years look for new careers when they start experiencing a quarter-life crisis. The platform indicates that 61 percent of the professionals face difficulty finding a career path they are passionate about. Some attribute the crisis to comparing themselves with their more successful friends.
How to Know When It’s Time for a Career Change
Quitting your job and trying to find a new position is a big decision. You don’t want to make a midlife career change for the wrong reasons and end up regretting it later. Use the signs we listed below to ensure you make the right career choice before embarking on a new path.
- Poor well-being. If you feel overwhelmed and are currently suffering from burnout from your current occupation, you should consider a change of career. Feeling physically and emotionally exhausted from your job isn’t normal.
- Bad work-life balance. It’s easy to get caught up with the modern pressures of life. If you have increased job responsibilities and barely see your family or friends, it is important to reevaluate your career path.
- Financial motivation. As much as financial security is a huge aspect of your career, it’s not enough to tie yourself down to the wrong career path. If it’s only money that is making you stop in your tracks and avoid exploring other options, you should choose a new career.
- No inspiration. When you start lacking motivation for your work, it’s time to consider a new career path. Lack of inspiration will reveal itself in your work, and you may constantly miss deadlines and underperform. Even if you don’t end up in your dream job, you should find a career that motivates you.
- Lack of self-esteem. Working in a toxic environment is not a healthy choice for your emotional well-being. If you are not receiving the recognition you should, it is time to consider other options. No amount of money should make you sacrifice a positive work environment.
5 Tips for Career Changers: How to Change Careers
Plenty of people are seeking a new career direction, especially due to the pandemic. If you want to learn how to change careers, we list five tips for career changers below. These are key pointers that you cannot overlook if you are looking for more viable career options.
1. Assess Your Reasons
Before taking the leap and changing the direction of your career, you need to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. If the reasons mentioned above do not resonate with you, you may not need to quit your job. If you are simply suffering from burnout, you can take days off or speak to your manager about changing your workload.
You need to establish valid reasons for leaving your career and firmly stick to the decision. Starting a new career can be mentally and physically draining for anyone, so make sure you have the strength to face the uphill battle. There is a difference between a job change and a career change, so make sure you’re on the right path.
2. Conduct Research
The best way to find out about a new industry is by conducting informational interviews, and this is an excellent way to garner inside perspective before changing your career path. You can also choose to talk to a career coach and gain insight into multiple industries to help you transition. This will give you more information about alternative career paths.
Before settling on a decision, you should determine the financial impact, family repercussions, and career alternatives. Changing your career will probably affect you and your loved ones, so make sure you’re prepared. Find out the skills you will need to navigate the new venture and save money in case things get rocky.
3. Gain Experience
Once you establish what is needed for the new career, you can easily fill in the gaps of your current skillset. You must look for opportunities to gain real-world work experience before you change your career. Often, job seekers rely on apprenticeship programs, freelancing opportunities, internships, and part-time jobs.
Getting more work experience is also a fantastic opportunity to extend your professional network. You can gain entry-level, intermediate, mid-level, or senior-level job opportunities depending on your skill level. You can also look at big data internships, media internships, or internships for any other skill you’re interested in learning.
4. Develop a Professional Network
It is important to reach out to existing friends who are in the career you desire. They might have valuable insight regarding your career ideas. You can also rely on platforms like LinkedIn, which help professionals in the industry connect with potential employers. There are many career opportunities out there, you just need to know where to look.
You can also research the professional associations in the industry you aspire to join. These associations tend to have thousands of members, training courses, and resources to help you transition successfully. Developing a professional network will cushion you against the challenges of the industry.
5. Curate Your Resume
Once you’ve garnered all the information you need from your research and networks, you can curate your resume and cover letter. You must update your resume to fit the job description of the job you want. Some companies rely on automatic systems, so make sure you include keywords and important phrases.
You should also work on your cover letter to reflect the job requirements advertised. Being in a new industry can be challenging, so consider seeking help from career advisors on how to curate your documents to fit the bill when it comes to job applications. Try to find out how to write a resume with no experience to land a job.
10 Highest-Paying Jobs for Career Changers
You don’t have to start from the bottom simply because you are entering a new industry. We conducted in-depth research to help you transition to the highest-paying jobs. Below you will find the top 10 highest-paying jobs for career changers, the education requirement, and the average salary.
| Job Title | Education Requirements | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | Bachelor’s Degree | $86,523 |
| Public Relations Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | $78,391 |
| Project Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | $78,087 |
| Human Resource Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | $72,097 |
| Social Media Director | Bachelor’s Degree | $70,954 |
| Business Consultant | Bachelor’s Degree | $70,252 |
| Financial Planner | Bachelor’s Degree | $69,180 |
| Customer Success Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | $65,005 |
| Fundraising Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | $49,039 |
| Sales Representative | Associate Degree | $47,187 |
Software Developer
Software developer responsibilities often depend on the hiring company. However, most software developers are in charge of designing, building, and maintaining applications and systems on devices or networks. They fix software errors, improve system performance, and test and debug applications.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the job growth for software developers is 22 percent by 2030. The site indicates that there will be over 189,200 new job opportunities in that time. You can also choose to become a freelancer or a consultant.
Public Relations Manager
Public relations managers develop and implement a company’s public relations and media strategy. They are responsible for building their reputation and liaising with the media. In this job role, you will need to create or supervise media releases of the company. You will also be responsible for creating lasting relationships with media personnel and influencers.
Project Manager
A project manager plans, executes, and monitors large-scale projects. They supervise the project team, budget, and resources. Their roles and responsibilities vary depending on the industry and company they work for. However, all their duties revolve around the project lifecycle. The cycle encompasses initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and closing.
According to the Project Management Institute, there will be over 22 million new jobs for project managers by 2027. The 33 percent job growth will ensure you have job opportunities regardless of the company or industry you want to join. This will ease the job search for beginners and experts in the field by a considerable margin.
Human Resource Manager
Human resource managers are in charge of planning, directing, and coordinating the administrative functions of a company. They are part of recruiting and interviewing new personnel and often liaise with executives for strategic planning. The professionals are the key link between the company’s management and its employees.
Companies rely on human resource managers to match them with qualified staff. This means that the professionals need to earn a degree in human resources, business management, or equivalent. To increase employment prospects, the professionals seek certifications as well as soft skill training.
Social Media Director
Social media directors are also referred to as social media managers. These professionals create content, schedule posts, and monitor metrics on social media. Often, social media directors meet with stakeholders to develop viable content and schedule for posting.
To become a social media director, you can get a degree in communications or media. However, media training opportunities are available that can help you master the ins and outs of the position. To land this position, you need to be familiar with various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to mention a few. It is also beneficial to have experience in social media graphic design when creating posts.
Business Consultant
Business analysts, also known as business advisors, provide advice, solutions, and analysis to companies. Companies rely on them to create business plans, provide direction in finance, and identify opportunities for growth in the company. A business consultant needs to have prowess in collecting information about the company.
Business consultants often work in conjunction with management analysts to ensure the maximum efficiency of the company, and they also liaise with stakeholders and executives. Depending on your skills, education, and position, you will be able to earn even more than the base salary of $70,252 each year.
Financial Planner
Financial planners are excellent at helping clients come up with personal budgets. Their background in finance helps them learn how to manage expenses. They also help with developing budgets and other strategies. Often, you will find financial planners working in conjunction with investment managers, financial analysts, and financial advisors.
Companies often rely on these professionals to maintain relationships with top clients. To achieve success, financial planners must have extensive skills in communication, analysis, and salesmanship. An advanced degree in finance will help you land a job quite easily. However, the basic degree requirement of a financial planner is a bachelor’s degree.
Customer Success Manager
Customer success managers play an active role in helping prospective clients of a company become loyal clients. The professionals are highly skilled in customer relations, and they focus on customer loyalty and long-term relationships. To become a successful customer success manager, you will need industry knowledge and strong organization and leadership skills.
Fundraising Manager
Known for their extensive communication skills, fundraising managers often inspire clients and donors to offer the company money. They need to conduct research on different fundraising opportunities and liaise with the press to reach the wider public. They also are responsible for raising awareness and preparing budgets.
To become a fundraiser, you will need a degree in public relations, fundraising, or equivalent. You may have an added advantage if you have experience managing teams and marketing. Hiring companies often seek fundraising managers with written and verbal skills, and you can easily polish these skills before you attend any job interview.
Sales Representative
Sales representatives often have a degree in marketing, communication, or equivalent. Their background in sales and marketing enables the professionals to sell products or services of a business to consumers. The professionals play a vital role in ensuring the company’s products and services align with consumer needs.
Having relevant work experience will help you land this job position. However, it is not a requirement. Just make sure you develop your communication and customer service skills to set you apart in the interview. If you don’t want to struggle during a job search, you might want to consider becoming a sales representative.
Should You Make a Career Change?
Yes, you should make a career change. It’s never too late to change your career. Regardless of your age, your physical and mental well-being should always be a priority. If you want to rewrite your career goals, you should have the freedom to do so.
Changing your career might be a difficult decision to make, but it will be worth it. There is no reason to hold on to a job position that is unfulfilling and draining. There are plenty of job opportunities that pay well without a college degree, and you can always transfer your skills to a different career.
Jobs for Career Change FAQ
You can ensure a successful career change by setting the right career goals. Having a clear vision of what you want and where you want to be will help you achieve your career objectives.
Do I need to attend a four-year degree program to change careers?
No, you don’t need to attend a four-year degree to change careers. Traditional models of education are becoming phased out. These days, hiring companies seek professionals from bootcamps, vocational training programs, and community colleges.
What are the challenges of changing my career at 30?
Career transitions at 30 may come with a pay cut, some employers may want professionals with extensive experience, and it may take longer to solidify your career.
Can I change careers without experience?
Yes, you can change careers without professional experience. However, you should get some experience from internships or volunteer opportunities to increase your chances of landing a job. It is also worth having transferable skills.
