More on job-swapping (and turning thirty, which I will be doing in nine months) in an article from the National Post. I particularly like this encouraging advice:
Perhaps this is what separates thirtysomething swappers (a.k.a. “blithe spirits”) from twentysomething artistes living hand to mouth (a.k.a. “unemployed louts”) — the elder swappers have the wherewithal to cushion their landing and the experience with building a career slowly over time to weather the slings and arrows of outrageously little fortune. Ron credits that ability to ride things out to the fact that thirtysomethings are more “comfortable with change, and the time it takes to get somewhere.” Nick notes that swappers-in-waiting can gain confidence watching similarly situated friends “take risks and do well.” Josh thinks it’s a blend of confidence — the confidence that you can fall back on your past and the confidence that maybe you won’t have to.
I’m trying to think if I have any friends who have changed careers. One fellow left corporate marketing to start his own branding strategy business. Another swapped technical writing for yoga instruction and nursing. But in both cases, the move was involuntary (that is, they were laid off). Most of my writing friends have jobs as well, where they work three or four days a week in government or for trade journals. That or they’re retired. Did I mention that most of my writing friends are older than me? 🙂
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