Choosing our career is an important decision, especially if you want one that is meaningful and fulfilling in addition to paying the bills. Some people are fortunate enough to know exactly what they want to do from an early age, whereas for others, it takes a bit of soul searching and life experience to figure it out.
Sometimes we just have a vague idea of the type of work we want to do but haven’t quite filled in the details yet. A common example of this is when you know you want to work in a role that involves caring for others but are unsure of exactly what shape this will take. If that sounds like you, read on to hear about seven career ideas that might just help you to choose the perfect job.
Nurse
When we think of careers that involve caring for other people, being a nurse is probably the first one that springs to mind. This role involves working as part of a multidisciplinary medical team alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals to care for patients of all ages with all sorts of health issues. This could involve conducting physical exams, taking patient histories, administering medication, maintaining patient records, taking blood, and treating wounds.
One of the key parts of the job is educating patients about healthcare, including steps they can take towards disease prevention, managing existing medical conditions, and living a healthier lifestyle. Nursing also gives you the opportunity to specialize in an area that interests you the most, for example, oncology, midwifery, obesity, pediatrics, or intensive care.
Senior living facility assistant
With the percentage of elderly people in the US increasing rapidly, caring for our aging citizens is becoming a more and more important task. By working as an assistant in a top-quality senior living facility for the elderly such as Belmont Village Senior Living, you can play a key role in helping older people continue to live fulfilling and independent lives well into their old age.
The exact tasks that the role involves will vary depending on the health condition and mental faculties of each individual in your care. The job may require you to wash and dress patients, assist with their meals, ensure they take their medication, and also be an important source of companionship – all while treating each person with dignity and respect.
Childcare worker
At the other end of the spectrum, if you’re an energetic and friendly person who loves working with children, then a career in childcare might be ideal for you. The precise nature of the job will depend on the age of the children in your care but essentially, it means looking after children when their parents are unable to.
This could involve preparing and feeding them meals, changing diapers, reading with kids, taking them to play outside, doing creative activities with them, ensuring they take their naps, supervising their safety, helping with homework, and much more. You could work at a childcare center or at the child’s own home as a nanny. The job requires a good deal of patience, good humor, and a fun-loving attitude!
Fitness trainer
Another great position for those who are energetic and like to stay active is to work as a fitness trainer. This role involves helping people to achieve their personal fitness goals in a safe manner through exercise and nutrition..You can also get personal trainer certification online.
For example, you could work to assist someone in losing weight, train them to be able to run their first marathon or help them to regain their fitness levels after an accident. You could also work from a gym running group exercise classes such as spin, yoga, or Pilates. With obesity rates soaring in the US, along with associated health conditions such as diabetes, being a fitness trainer gives you the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives.
School counselor
If you would prefer the care you give to be less physically demanding, a school counselor could be a good choice to consider. This involves working with students in either a school or college, helping them to make the best of their education and develop into well-rounded and productive adults.
For example, you will counsel them on their future career options, advise them on good study habits, and assist with college or scholarship applications. Providing support around emotional issues – such as bullying, low self-esteem, problems with misuse of drugs, and relationship difficulties – is one of the most important aspects of the role. You may also have a part to play in helping develop relevant school policies.
Therapist
For those with an understanding and empathetic personality, plus a passion for helping people with their mental health, a career as a therapist might be ideal. You could find yourself helping people deal with childhood traumas, get over phobias, or cope with conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Alternatively, you could work as a marriage counselor, helping couples to overcome difficulties in their relationships or with entire families to resolve a range of interpersonal issues. Other specialisms include treating substance abuse and holding group therapy sessions. Whichever path you choose, having good listening skills is vital, as well as the ability to stay impartial and positive as you help people to change destructive behaviors or damaging thinking patterns.
Veterinarian
Slightly different to the other roles on this list, a veterinarian is a good option for those who would like to care for animals. It involves examining people’s beloved pets and diagnosing any health conditions they may be suffering from and then going on to treat them. This could be by dealing with wounds, performing surgery, administering medication, and so on.
Another important aspect of the role is educating owners about how to care for their animals, whether that’s in managing a specific medical condition or keeping them in good health more generally. This is especially important with the prevalence of conditions such as pet obesity, as well as those such as arthritis that affect elderly pets. You’ll need a degree in veterinary science, plus compassion, empathy, observational skills – and of course, a love of animals!