Mid-career crisis in early thirties

Having a mid-career crisis in your early 30’s is becoming increasingly common

Since the start of the year, I’ve noticed a sharp rise in the number of clients in their early 30’s facing career crisis and seeking career change. They are feeling stuck, under-valued, and shoe-horned into roles that no longer fit. And they are happy to  invest in their future direction. A dream job in the music business offers little financial reward and prospects for career growth, while the ambulance service that once appealed to my task-focused, action-driven client, is now too limiting.

Traditionally the mid-career crisis has coincided with crucial developmental stages of life, kicking off around the late 30’s when we’re asking ourselves big philosophical questions such as “is that it?”  through to the 50’s when we’re staring down the barrel of retirement and want a last hurrah.  

It’s made me ponder the early 30’s cohort. Did their time in school coincide with the demise of the Connexions career service so there was little advice? Did they sail through university when tuition fees were affordable, coinciding with an abating financial crisis and improved job prospects, leading to a more relaxed approach to careers?

Or maybe there’s a restlessness about this generation. They watched their parents overwork for inflexible employers and understandably want something different. Now we can take our dogs to the office and work from home. I remember research from High Fliers around 2014 saying top of the list for recent graduates was the opportunity to take a sabbatical from their job.

It feels like there’s research to be done on this and I’d love to know from fellow coaches and people in their early 30’s seeking career change.

Whatever the reasons, mid career-crisis, across all ages, can manifest itself in myriad ways, outlined in this article from Forbes. This might be deep dissatisfaction with work, lack of motivation, health issues including stress and burn out, and no desire to commit long term to your career.

To handle your mid-career crisis, develop some new skills, reflect on where you are and where you want to be, work shadow people in jobs that interest you, volunteer in a new field, seek the support of a career coach to provide a neutral sounding board and clarity, or embark on a side hustle to fill the gap.

And remember, a mid-career crisis is a reflective process that can go two ways – either you make changes, which is great, or you stick with what you know, from a position of self-knowledge and deep learning, which is also positive.