Looking for a job in your 20's is completely different than a job search in your 30's. At the beginning of your career, the goal is to find an industry that you really like and search for an opportunity that will develop your skills and give you the room you need to grow your career. However, after 10 years of work, the career goals begin to change, and that means that what you need in a job in your 30's isn't necessarily what you needed when you were first starting out.
For starters, many people decide to start a family in their 30's. Suddenly, instead of spending time after work having drinks and networking, they are worried about picking up children from daycare. It can be a big change.
Here are the keys to finding a job in your 30's:
Think long term - At this point in your career, you should be thinking about your long term career goals. The 20's were a great time to try out new things and work in different industries. Now, you should be thinking about where you want to be and how to get there. It's important to focus on finding a job that gives your room to grow and will help you get to the next stage in your career.
Your needs may have changed - Because you may have started a family, gotten married or are just maturing, what you need from your job will be changing. Now, having health insurance and flexibility may be more important than your salary. At work, you will want to focus more on what the company needs and how you can fill that need. You have had a decade to work on building your skills, so now is the time to start shining. This is the time to stand out and show what you know.
Think about benefits and retirement planning - This is the perfect time to start thinking about retirement planning. You still have a long time to save, but you'll want to get started on it as soon as possible. Don't wait until your 40's, when you'll have to give a larger portion of your income to reach your goals.
Creating your brand - This is also the perfect time to begin creating your brand and marketing yourself as an expert. You have a decade of experience and now it's time to stand out. You may want to start taking some professional risks and working for the next promotion.
What other things do you think are important in your 30's? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Job Searching in Your 30's
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Melissa Kennedy •Thanks for the great comments! @Mark, I have a similar problem. Lots of different types of jobs early in my career. It's all about how you spin it. You could explain that you have a lot of different interests and have pursued them, looking for a job that's a good fit for your skills and experience, rather than you don't like to stick with a job. These days, it's all about how you market yourself. -
Seeking job is always a great problem in all times.The saying that,there is always room for the top,may be true but not in the time of recession.
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Mark C •My issue is with too many positions and no "professional resume service" can hide the fact that you've had too many positions, with not enough tenure at any of them. Big issue that I can't seem to figure out! HELP!
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Annetta A •I concur :-)
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Kaye S •People have different priorities at different ages but what about people looking for a job in their 40 s?
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