Every workplace has its dangers; painters are exposed to chemicals, truck drivers become insomniacs, bankers dodge paper cuts and glares, and agency animals suffer the long term effects of ergonomically challenged chairs and computers below eye level. No matter what you do, and how safe your working environment may be, very few occupations are truly adrenaline pumping. (And no, having chair spinning competitions on a Friday afternoon to the bemusement of everyone else does not make the cut.)
Related: 3 Tips To Avoid Missing Out On New Job Opportunities
In lieu of living a life more exciting, I have decided to compile the following list of vicarious and precarious roles you’ve never considered. Break the mold, leave the suits, skirts, and ties behind, check out three careers out of the ordinary:
Window Cleaners
I can almost feel the lack of enthusiasm from here. Cleaning is not exactly a pulse driving vocation, destined to inspire sharp gasps and accusations of insanity from those nearest and dearest to you, right? Wrong. Window cleaning is one part abseiling, one part elbow grease and two parts courage, as cleaners must repel down the tallest building in the world, scrubbing up a storm.
Imagine cleaning the Burj Khalifa, secured by a harness and rope, shimmying and wiping 24,348 windows and being buffeted by high speed winds, biting heat and the reflective glare of this gleaming sky needle. Of course, not every building makes the same impression as the architectural darling of Dubai, but tell me… how do you feel about heights on a veranda? A secured platform? Behind a viewing panel? Wrap your mind around working at heights (secured by safety equipment – don’t worry, window cleaners don’t double as base jumpers); do you think you have what it takes?
Companies like Safe @ Heights can provide you with a comfortable basis and instruction, answering your questions regarding height safety and PPE, the lifeline of every window cleaner out there.
Parachute Tester
Do you like heights? How do you feel about sky-diving? Pumped already? Great. Imagine the parachute secured snuggly against your back hasn’t been tested; in fact, the manufacturers aren’t quite sure if it makes the cut or not, as this is the first of many… hopefully. Now, pretend every sky dive you make is equally uncertain, a continuous game of Russian roulette, where you hope beyond hope that your chute will release. It sounds pretty straight forward. Board a plane and jump out again, pulling a lifeline that may not be your ticket to terra firma, but one of pure terror. Do you think you have what it takes?
Paramedic
Medics, ambo’s, para support… By any name, paramedics are the unsung heroes of the health sector, often driving into horrendous and harrowing situations (think fires, natural disasters, car accidents, shootings and other tragedies) when everyone else is speeding in the opposite direction. They see the worst of humanity, and the beautiful, too, as lives can end and begin in the back of an ambulance.
A paramedic can never completely prepare themselves for what to expect, a quiet shift can turn hectic in a single call… or a sudden stream. Imagine waking up every morning, knowing you will have to drive hard and fast, make a difference and maybe decide the fate of somebody you’ve never met, depending on how you pump the accelerator. Your days would never be boring or typical. Your contribution will always be valued. And your heart rate will always rise when the business end of a call presents itself.
Instead of bemoaning your creaking shoulders and collection of paper-cuts, take a breath and wonder what life would be like if a client required you to clean their windows suspended by a coil of rope first, before they sign the contract. See, all we need in life is a little perspective.
Finding a job after college can be tough! There's stiff competition, and sometimes students are at the mercy of the economy that they graduate into. Many college grads often take minimum wage jobs or jobs that they're overqualified for in order to make ends meet.
The key to landing a job out of college is preparing for the job search process while still in school. Unfortunately, they don't always teach you about the job search process in school, so it's up to students to take responsibility for their future careers.
Here are some tips to put yourself in a position to land a job after college.
Be Thoughtful About Your Career Path
Do you know what the career options are for your degree? How competitive the industry is? What the average salary is for the type of role you're pursuing?
These are not questions you should be seeking to answer after graduation. These are all questions that should've been asked prior to declaring a major.
Research...research...research!
Knowing what you might be in for after graduation can help you with planning. You could meet with your advisor well in advance of graduation and look at potential internships and identify potential companies to work for, giving you a head start on your networking efforts.
If you failed to prepare like this prior to graduation, you did put yourself at an initial disadvantage, but you're certainly not doomed!
What If You're Unsure About Your Career Path?
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Even after college, some people are unsure about what they want to do for a career. If you find yourself in this situation, don't panic. You need to do an honest assessment of yourself and determine the valuable skills that you possess. Most importantly, ask yourself, "What are some of the things I love doing?"
Work It Daily also has resources that can assist you in your search. Our FREE Career Decoder Quiz will help you determine your professional persona. Knowing your professional persona will help you understand the skills you have that bring value to the job and what you find professionally and personally fulfilling.
In addition, whether you're a graduate or still a student, don't limit your opportunities to learn new skills.
Chances are you have interests outside of your course of study. You should be open to pursuing those interests. It could be that you're a health/science major with an interest in computers. Why not take some computer courses?
Interested in learning a trade? Electricians, plumbers, contractors, and auto mechanics are all in demand.
If you're still in school, you have an opportunity to take additional courses or decide on a double major or minor.
Options may be a bit more limited for recent grads, but there are always online courses, certification programs, or specialty course programs available. As long as you have a hunger for more knowledge, you should never stop wanting to learn. The more skills you have, the more career options are available to you. Options are important during the job search for recent grads.
Educate Yourself About The Job Search Process
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College can't prepare you for everything, and most of the lessons people learn from the job search process come from real-world experience. However, there are some things you can do to prepare.
First, research as many potential jobs as you can before graduation and identify some potential companies that you would like to work for (this is called your interview bucket list). Second, prepare multiple resumes tailored for the specific positions for which you're applying.
A recruiter needs to see the skills you have that apply to the position within the first six seconds of reading your resume. You should also prepare a disruptive cover letter where you really bring attention to yourself by telling a story about how you connect with the company.
The last thing you need to do is reach out and network. It's not enough to just send in a resume and cover letter and hope that you'll be contacted. Reach out to people who work at the company through LinkedIn and introduce yourself. Use the fact that you're a graduating student seeking knowledge to your advantage. There are professionals who enjoy the opportunity to mentor.
Even if these new connections don't translate into an immediate job, you've made your first professional contacts which could come in handy at some other point in time. Knowing how to conduct a proactive job search will serve you well throughout your professional life.
Remember, There's Nothing Wrong With Changing Career Paths
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Sometimes you find happiness and success in a career field that you didn't go to school for. That's okay (and normal). Life happens!
For new grads, the goal is usually to find work in your field of study and it's great when things work out that way. But as the job search process goes on you may fall into a job that you weren't planning to and end up liking it. If the job makes you happy and there's room for growth, there's nothing wrong with keeping it. It's a personal decision.
This will be true throughout your professional life. You may end up working in your field, but, as time goes on, priorities and life circumstances change. You may develop new skills that draw you into a new career direction. The goal is to always put yourself in a position to succeed and sometimes that means making a change.
Preparation and keeping an open mind are the two common themes when it comes to the job search for recent grads. There are no guarantees for new graduates, so you have to be ready for anything. Hopefully, by knowing what to expect, you'll know how to land a job after college and can land a job that matches your talents.
Here at Work It Daily, we understand how difficult it is to find a job and grow your career as a recent college grad. If you're struggling to find a job that's right for you, we can help.
We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.
It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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