How to change profession after 30
Work And Study / / January 07, 2021
Tatiana Gudimova
Employment Team Leader at "Yandex. Workshop».
Changing a profession at 30 is not as easy as at 20, when everyone is just starting a career and are not afraid to make mistakes. 30-year-olds have obligations (eg family, children, loans) and fear that nothing will work out. But it can be overcome if you prepare yourself and your loved ones in advance for change.
What to include in your resume
Those who have just finished their studies and are starting a path in a new field often do not know what to write in their resume: there is no relevant experience yet, and the existing one is no longer suitable. Here's what to add to your resume to To find a job in a new area for you.
1. Educational projects
HR professionals usually search for suitable candidates by keywords. If you haven't developed designs for real projects yet, but have already worked in Adobe Photoshop while studying, be sure to mention this in your resume and add all academic achievements to portfolio.
2. Useful experience
If you want to become an analyst and previously worked as a sales manager, tell us how you structured sales statistics and found ways to to raise. This will show the employer that you are good at thinking systems.
Vera Mashkova, Vice President for Human Resources, ABBYYIf you have little work experience, be sure to talk about projects that reveal your personal qualities: the ability to interact in a team, openness, sociability.
3. Peer recommendations
If someone you know works for the dream company, ask them if there are any vacancies for beginners. Ask for a recommendation. Talk to former colleagues, teachers, and mentors of the courses you have taken. Letters of recommendation from them will confirm your skills and experience, help the future employer get to know you better.
Vera MashkovaUse social networks, expand the network of useful contacts - no one canceled word of mouth. Many people start with small letters of recommendation from friends.
4. Covering letter
It will add credibility to your story. Write why you dream of working in this field, what do you want to do and how previous experience will help you with this.
Marina Malashenko, HR Director of OneTwoTrip travel planning serviceA good cover letter will set you apart from other candidate responses, even more professional ones.
What to do if you can't go for an internship
The most popular advice for those starting out in a new profession is to go on an unpaid internship to gain experience and make useful contacts. But what about those who are not ready to find themselves in a situation of lack of income? The internship has alternatives that can be combined with study and current place of work.
1. Go to the next department
You can find a new place inside the company where you are working. Try starting over in a different department. “Moving within the company is possible, but, as a rule, to the initial position,” says Konstantin Seroshtan, senior account manager of the recruiting company Coleman Services. According to him, you need to prove yourself well, share corporate values, be motivated and learn. And, of course, there must be a vacancy in another department. Get ready to get involved in different projects, be flexible and curious.
2. Look for a side job
If you can't find a permanent position right away, look for temporary freelance projects. They will bring you experience, money and a line on your resume. The largest freelance exchange is FL.ru. There are many offers, but the competition is very high. There are other options:
Websites:
- Work-zilla;
- Upwork;
- Weblancer.
Telegram channels:
- Finder;
- «Freelance Tavern»;
- «Freelance Chat».
But remember that at first you will have to carry out projects for free or for little money. But you will build a portfolio, and then you can take on more complex and large orders.
This option is also suitable for those who are still studying.
Evgeny Lebedev, Marketing Director at Yandex. Workshop "The main thing is to accept that it will not be easy, you will have to invest at least 20 hours a week in study and 10–20 hours in work. Only then will there be a result.
3. Try your hand at contests or hackathons
The main advantage of such activities is the real tasks that the business solves in the market. You apply knowledge in practice, develop communication and team interaction skills, learn to take responsibility for decisions and comply with deadlines. All these skills will help you become more confident, pass an interview and a probationary period.
Usually, competitions and grants are announced by major industry players, so follow the news on their resources. Government grants are published on the website Presidential Grants Fund and Fund for the Promotion of Innovation.
How to cope with a period of low income
If you start a career in a new field for yourself, then a drop in income cannot be avoided. This is due to the lack of stable earnings during the search for vacancies and the low salary at the starting positions. This situation can be minimized by preparing for it ahead of time.
1. Save up the airbag in advance
Set a rule for yourself: save 10-20% of your paycheck every month. This will help you build up a financial cushion for times when incomes decline. For example, if now you are getting 80 thousand rubles, start saving 16 thousand from each salary. In 10 months, you get 160 thousand. This money will be enough for a while while you look for a new job.
Marina MalashenkoIf you decide to make big professional changes in your life, you should at least for some time be financially secure in order to study a lot, work and not think about the level of income.
2. Enlist the support of loved ones
Before quit from your old job, discuss financial plans for the near future with your family. Review your family budget. Determine the mandatory items of expenditure and spending that you can refuse for a while. For example, buying new gadgets or traveling abroad will probably be postponed. Tell your loved ones how important their understanding and support is to you. With a new job, you will be happier, and your income will soon rise again. These are temporary difficulties.
3. Don't rush to leave your old place of work
“Start with freelancing, see if you are interested in it and if you can make money like that,” Vera Mashkova advises. One of her former employees combined web development with his main job, then quit. Now he has his own company for website creation.
You can master a new profession, complete test assignments, send resumes and do freelance projects in parallel with your main job.
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