Our jobs play a significant role in our lives. Unless we win the lottery or are independently wealthy, most of us need them to survive. Jobs can also allow us to express ourselves, help our community, build friendships, and be contributing members of society. If we enjoy what we do, it can be enjoyable getting up and going off to work each day.
But if we don’t, our lives can be made miserable at the very thought of working. Several factors can make or break our work lives, including a lack of personal fulfillment, conflict with co-workers or a boss, workload, a stressful pace, and physical and mental demands. Even one of these issues can make us want to pull the covers over our heads when the alarm goes off. While we’re under there, we start contemplating winning the lottery or quitting and running off to join the circus.
While neither of those choices is realistic, they are signs that you need a new job. While the thought of switching careers can be scary, sometimes we need to make an uncomfortable decision to improve our lives. If you’re considering a career change but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll cover six great occupations that could bring joy to your life.
1. Bookkeeper
If you’re looking for a fantastic occupation and love working with numbers, bookkeeping could be for you. This finance-based job is one of the oldest in recorded history, dating back to 2600 BCE. There’s evidence of the Babylonian Empire keeping financial records on clay tablets. So it’s safe to say it’s a pretty stable occupation.
Bookkeepers are vital to the running of just about every business. Some of their responsibilities include data entry, recording daily financial transactions, processing invoices, recording payment information, providing receipts, recording incoming cash, and processing the payroll. A bookkeeper may also be tasked with creating financial statements and maintaining a business’s annual budget.
Bookkeepers must be observant and detail-oriented because they’re also charged with finding discrepancies and odd transactions within financial records. While college is not required to become a bookkeeper, many people pursuing this occupation have at least an associate’s degree in business administration or accounting. Many bookkeepers train themselves to use programs like Quickbooks before applying for jobs.
Several employers are willing to train their record keepers. Though a certificate or license is not required to work as a bookkeeper, it can significantly improve your chances of getting a job at a larger company. That means more money and better benefits.
To become a certified bookkeeper, you must work in the industry for two years and pass an exam from the American Institute of Certified Public Bookkeepers. Some pros that make bookkeeping a great occupation include flexibility, a consistent routine, in demand, and you can make extra money by offering bookkeeping services on the side.
2. Teacher
Do you love kids and making a positive impact on society? If you answered yes, then being a teacher may be a great occupation for you. Teaching offers an outstanding work-life balance, especially if you have children of your own. Teachers enjoy many paid days off and holidays throughout the year, as well as the coveted summer vacation.
You don’t need to worry about working weekends or having unexpected schedule changes. This is not to say teachers don’t work extremely hard, but there are excellent opportunities to spend time with family, as well as home and self-care. The profession offers flexibility depending on your area of interest.
You can teach a subject you’re passionate about, like history or science. You can work anywhere from urban high schools to a small, local private school. If it’s job security and stability you’re worried about, the teaching profession is always looking for qualified people. In fact, the occupation is expected to grow by 7% over the next few years.
In addition to vacation time and a pleasant daily schedule, teaching has many other aspects that make it a fantastic occupation. Most school districts offer excellent medical benefits, a pension, and tuition reimbursement. There’s also plenty of time for teachers to have fun with their students and colleagues through field trips, cultural celebrations, parties, assemblies, and other special events. Teaching can be an excellent occupation for people who like to be creative and work independently while still having the support of others nearby.
You get to work with a variety of other professionals like social workers, speech therapists, music and art specialists, parents, and people from the community. Best of all, teaching allows you the chance to help young people learn and pursue their dreams. There’s nothing quite as fulfilling as seeing a child engaged in a topic you’re teaching.
To become a teacher requires a bachelor’s degree and a passing grade on the state exam. The average teaching salary is $57,000 a year. Even in the best private elementary school, a new teacher won’t make a fortune, but many veteran teachers make over $100,000.
3. Home Builder
Home building can be an excellent occupation for anyone who is good with their hands, has good organizational and problem-solving skills, and wants to take pride in their work. There are several sub-professions to choose from under the umbrella of home building. To build a house takes not only a general contractor but plumbers, electricians, carpenters, architects, and residential painters. If you decide to become a local home builder, you must team up with these other professionals and local officials to ensure seamless, good-quality homes.
Though college is unnecessary to build homes, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Most people who take part in home building have completed trade apprenticeships and classes through a local union. The most important qualifications are a desire to build quality structures and the skills to follow through.
Now is an excellent time to switch to this great occupation, as there’s a shortage of almost 600,000 home builders in the United States alone. It’s a profession that technology has yet to conquer. While machines can build a car, they can’t yet assemble a house. This is part of the reason general contractors do so well finally. The average salary is 53% higher than the general population.
As a home builder, you can decide whether to work for a company or start your own business. You can also exercise creativity and craftsmanship and take pride in knowing you’ve created something that could potentially stand for the next hundred years. Imagine showing your grandkids a home you built years ago.
4. Event Planner
If you love throwing a good party and entertaining friends, consider taking it to the next level and becoming an event planner. Event planning is a great occupation for people with excellent communication and organizational skills. As an event planner, it’s your job to plan the details of a celebration and ensure it goes smoothly.
This profession offers a lot of flexibility in that you can work for a business, freelance, or do both. It can be a part-time gig or a full-time career. Event planners can be hired for several functions, such as weddings, birthdays, corporate events, fundraisers, and retirement parties. They meet with clients to discuss budgets and locations. A good event planner can work within any price range and suggest places off the top of their head.
For example, if the client needs a birthday party venue for a 12-year-old, the planner can suggest fun places like an escape room or water park. After the client has made their needs and wants clear, it is time for the event planner to make it all happen. This means sending out invitations, finalizing the menu, hiring entertainment, decorating, ordering flowers, and planning activities. It’s also the event planner’s job to follow up with vendors and keep in contact with the clients. They often need to attend the event to make sure everything is in place and handle any emergencies that might pop up.
Like any other job, event planning can be stressful, but if you love helping people make lifelong memories, then it’s worth it. You don’t need to go to college to be an event planner, but taking some marketing and business classes helps. You can see if it’s the right career path for you by working in an entry-level position for an experienced planner. While seeing if it’s right for you, you’ll also gain valuable knowledge and skills for your business, should you decide to pursue this great occupation.
The average event planner makes about $56,000 a year. This varies considerably based on experience, clientele, and reputation. Event planning is very much a word-of-mouth job. The more great parties you put together, the more people will recommend you to others.
Another great way to improve your reputation is to get certified. As an event planner, there are several opportunities to take classes and get approved for different aspects of the business. Not only will you gain new skills, but adding certifications to your website or business card will surely make you stand out.
5. Fire Sprinkler Designer
If you hold a degree in mechanical engineering, you have several great occupation options. Mechanical engineers design machinery like generators, air conditioning units, and elevators. Mechanical engineers can also work as fire sprinkler designers. These are professionals who design and implement sprinkler systems that combat and prevent fires in a variety of structures.
Designers work with a team to create blueprints that follow building codes and are within the legal requirements. As a fire sprinkler designer, it’s also necessary to know the water and electrical supplies supporting the sprinkler system. The designer may also follow up with the installation and maintenance of the system.
Often, supplemental education is needed to be a fire sprinkler designer. Many engineers take fire sprinkler design training courses and attend workshops on fire science, safety, and local and state building regulations. A good designer will have excellent observational and problem-solving skills.
A few of the perks of this occupation are getting to work with a variety of people, traveling to different locations, and you work from home some of the time. Most of all, you’re helping to keep people safe. The average fire sprinkler designer makes about $58,000 per year.
6. Dealership Salesperson
If you’re a charming and friendly person who loves helping people get themselves into a new vehicle, becoming a dealership salesperson could be worth considering. Dealership salespeople don’t need to go to college; they can find an entry-level position and work their way up. Many dealerships will train the right person and help them get their sales license.
Dealership sales offer flexible hours, commission bonuses, health benefits, vehicle discounts, and a chance to meet new people. No two days are ever the same, and you can stay active, go for test drives throughout the day, and participate in exciting promotions. If selling cars is not your thing, no worries; there’s always a Powersports dealership. Powersports vehicles include motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, UTVs, and personal watercraft. So, if you’re an adrenaline seeker, working at places like Polaris dealers could be an excellent occupation.
You’ll get to work with interesting people who take part in racing, off-road trail riding, and hunting. Many folks also use these vehicles for businesses like farming, water rescue, and landscaping. So you’ll have the potential to make new contacts and get even more clients.
Remember that, regardless of whether it’s a car or a power sports vehicle, you’ll need to know the machinery and your dealership’s policies. Things like parts, possible mechanical issues, warranties, the loan process, and special offers are all things you need to be able to reel off at a moment’s notice. If you think you have the hustle for sales, dealerships are a great place.
The decision to change career paths is not easy. There’s a lot to consider, from finances to loss of benefits. Before making a career move, do your research. Map out a plan and have it in place before quitting your current job. That being said, a great occupation can do a lot more than give you a paycheck, so choose something that you enjoy.
