Kicking off your career in your 20s is a whirlwind of growth. The learning curve is steep — and the transformation is rapid. Think of it like early childhood: in the first five years of life, we go from crawling to running, babbling to speaking, relying on others to slowly becoming independent.
Similarly, the difference between Day 1 and Year 2 of your career can feel just as dramatic. You’re figuring out how to send emails with the right tone, leading meetings, and speaking up with confidence in a room full of experts. Over the course of your 20s, the basic functions of work life — once daunting — become second nature.
But just like growing up, the pace of visible transformation slows over time. What got you through the early years — saying “yes” to everything, grinding through long hours, learning through repetition — won’t necessarily serve you in the same way a decade in.
As you move from your 20s into your 30s, growth becomes about evolving into a seasoned leader and shaping rather than building. Here are a few things to consider during that transition:
Focus on the Right Opportunities to Learn
As I mentioned above, when you’re starting your career, there’s so much to learn. You’re developing foundational skills, such as business etiquette, accountability and entry-level skills within your domain. Finding a job that supports this kind of learning is relatively easy because these skills tend to overlap across roles and industries.
As you move from your 20s into your 30s, you’re still learning — but now your career decisions carry more weight. You’ve mastered the basics, and it’s time to focus on building skills that will shape the trajectory of your long-term career.
In your 30s, it’s important to remember that you’ll soon be approaching the threshold of 20 years of experience. Just like that, you no longer have unlimited time to make a major career pivots without sacrificing your level of leadership. That’s why this is the decade to be intentional, honest with yourself, and highly selective about the moves you make.
Be a Decision-Maker
One of the hardest transitions I’ve experienced as I approached 10 years into my career was stepping into the role of a decision-maker. Even without a formal leadership title, when you are 10 years into your career, you are expected to act as a seasoned mentor — guiding the next generation of employees, rather than simply being assigned tasks to complete.
Being a decision-maker is both a mindset and an action you must embody as you transition from your 20s into your 30s, because it drives career growth and opportunity. To reach the next level in your organization, you need to demonstrate that you’re not just executing tasks. You’re the gatekeeper, ensuring that what flows upward is thoughtful, strategic and well-executed.
Optimize for the Things Most Important to You
I’m a firm believer that your 20s are the time to grind. You have energy, excitement and passion — use that momentum as a catapult for your career.
As you transition from your 20s to your 30s, it becomes the time to optimize for what truly matters to you. Maybe you’re no longer interested in 12-hour workdays or you’re seeking more flexibility in where you work. That’s fine!
Your 30s are when it really sinks in that a career is a marathon, not a sprint. This is the decade to prioritize a path that aligns with the life you want to build — because you’re not just laying the foundation for your career anymore, you’re laying the foundation for your future.
You spent your 20s building the foundation of your career — now your 30s are the time to shape its direction.
This is the decade to move forward with greater intention. Focus on the right opportunities to learn, step confidently into the mindset of a decision-maker, and optimize for what matters most — not just in your work, but in your life.
Growth doesn’t stop — it evolves. And when you embrace this decade with purpose, your 30s will take your career — and life — in the direction you truly want.
