Career switch at 29-30. Is doing a course worth it?

r/

Hi all,
I’m 29 and thinking of switching careers by taking a course or certification. Is it too late to start over? Has anyone here made a successful switch around this age? Would love to hear your advice or course suggestions. Thanks!

Comments

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  2. Individual-Royal-717 Avatar

    I switched at 30, it’s never too late, go for it

  3. Ahshitbackagain Avatar

    Do it. Do it now.

    I left a management job to go to entry level of a different company just to change fields at 26. By 34 I was executive level. You have a lot of years ahead of you. Make them something you’ll enjoy.

  4. Firm_Bit Avatar

    It depends on the field and location imo. An IT/SWE cert in Silicon Valley? Very low chances of success. Cuz it’s a field/location that’s saturated with qualified and credentialed people.

  5. hunduk Avatar

    I switched careers at 28, almost 29, and now I am 32. I can say that I am glad I made the change, because I found a type of work that provides the intellectual stimulation and opportunities I don’t believe I could have had in my previous field. However, it significantly impacted my financial situation, as I had to start with a very low salary. Shortly after I began, inflation heavily hit my country, and I was effectively losing money each month. I am now planning to leave my current role and move to a higher position, primarily due to financial reasons. That said, the career switch was absolutely worth it.

  6. ShinyApple19 Avatar

    Nothing wrong with taking a course or certification! I’m doing some online courses myself

  7. The_Singularious Avatar

    Had my second career change at 41.

    If you’ve done the math and know you’ll be better off mentally (long term) with the switch, don’t look back brother.

    I’m wealthier, happier, and more fulfilled at work than I’ve ever been.

    Get ready for the first 18-24 months of jobs/job hunting to be tough, but once you break in, you’re gonna take off.

  8. spaceporter Avatar

    I’ve radically changed careers four times since 29 🙂

  9. 84Vandal Avatar

    Changed careers completely and got a second bachelors and a masters at 30 to become a teacher. It’s never too late.

  10. im_in_hiding Avatar

    I switched at 31. My income has tripled in ten years.

  11. JCMidwest Avatar

    > Is it too late to start over?

    You aren’t even 30, don’t worry about it being to late for pretty much anything in your life. Plenty of people your age haven’t even found a job they would consider a career. Starting a new career in your 30’s is extremely common, and still pretty common into your 40’s.

  12. djaycat Avatar

    I switched at 28. Took a SQL course and started doing SQL projects at work. Expressed my interests to my manager and she made it happen

  13. Hand_Sanitizer3000 Avatar

    I took a coding bootcamp in 2017 and have been a software engineer since. Previously worked in finance

    Edit: just for clarification i dont think i would recommend a coding bootcamp in today’s tech job market. I got extremely lucky that by the time i was ready to start applying the market was getting hot and the entry level jobs werent as saturated as they are now. Even with favorable market conditions i had to rely on my network to get my first job, and alot of the people i graduated with as well as subsequent cohorts ( ended up working part time for the bootcamp after completion) ended up not getting a job in tue field. In todays job market its significantly harder.

  14. MNmostlynice Avatar

    Switched at 27, switching again (hopefully) at 31. Never too late

  15. KickGullible8141 Avatar

    Never too late. My best friend just finished his master and is embarking on a new career, he never plans to retire, and he’s 55.

    I’m completing some training, now, for my post-retirement consulting career. You’re never too late to the game.

    Go for it.

  16. u6crash Avatar

    I did a switch at 40. Pivoting again just three years later.

  17. AceSouthall Avatar

    When I got with my partner she was 27 and expressed interest in skilling up and get out of her dead end job so we pulled things together and she started within a year, she recently graduated university and is now a qualified Midwife. She had a year out to have our daughter and then got back to it and is happier than ever with her ‘calling’ at 33. It’s tough but definitely worth it!

  18. Fat_Bearded_Tax_Man Avatar

    I graduated college at 29 and got a masters at 39. It’s absolutely worth it.

    I went from managing retail to working for a government doing tax work, to a manager at a large company hhandling theory taxes. Where I am at a 43 is miles away from where I was at 29.

  19. contentatlast Avatar

    I switched at 29. Never too late my dude. You’re still young. What’s a few years for the rest of your life? Could even try an apprenticeship. Experience, money while you learn – can’t beat it.

  20. Training_Swan_308 Avatar

    It’s not too late but make sure to research exactly what credentials you need and how easy it is to get a job once you have it. A course or certification can be sold as a more attainable goal but leave you short of where you need to be.

  21. bucketface31154 Avatar

    Switched at 31. Best choice ever totally worth it

  22. Plenty-Giraffe6022 Avatar

    I’ve made several career switches over the last 35 years. The onlly time I’ve done courses is for those legally required; security and traffic control.

  23. Mirindemgainz Avatar

    I’ve switched multiple times. Never is too late for anything in my opinion.

  24. The_RaptorCannon Avatar

    Shit I’m in my 40s in IT and considering switching just don’t know what I can switch to that I’m interested in besides going from the worker been route to management.