There are many things that go into considering a career and there are also many reasons why people make career changes when they are in their 30’s and even 40’s. The dream job that you may have always envisioned yourself working when you were in college may not be everything you had hoped it would be. Maybe you have found new interests in life and realized you feel as though you are getting by just fine but not actually making an impact.
The Trickle Down Effect
We can all live life, work our jobs, go home to our families and live a mundane yet repetitive life. A lot of us strive for a bit more of that. When you are truly happy at work and you are influencing others in a positive way; you feel good about yourself. When you feel good about yourself, you pass those good vibes onto the people you see the most in your life.
When Is It The Right Time To Move On?
You might find yourself questioning your over all happiness at work. Maybe you are an accountant with a love for caring for others. You have always been interested in the medical field, but a regular 9-5 in an accounting department seemed like the logical choice when you were in school. At first, you thought that you were not at the right company. You decided to switch to a different company and you discovered, it was not the people or the establishment, you just really don’t enjoy what you do. Taking the leap of faith to make a career switch can seem a bit scary. You might find yourself second guessing your decision. You might be wondering if you can be happy in a medical setting.
You have two choices when it comes to making a drastic switch in a career:
- Take the leap of faith and begin earning an education in your desired new direction
- Obtain a position in your current specialty within the environment you wish to work in as a trial run
Does this sound a little confusing? It really isn’t. If you are certain that you are done working in an office and want to work in a medical career; begin training in the medical profession. Just understand it will take time to get to where you want to be. If you think you want to work in a medical environment but have never experienced it before, perhaps look for that office position within a hospital. It will give you a glimpse of what it could be like. This scenario is obviously not true for all fields of rewarding jobs, but it will work for some.
What Is Rewarding To You May Not Be Rewarding To All
There are a lot of jobs that come to mind when people consider something rewarding. A rewarding job is one that will make you feel good about yourself and the service you will be providing will make others feel safe and happy as well. Your position could be as common as a barber who makes people feel confident about their appearance and who donates time to volunteering services at nursing homes and homeless shelters. Your position could be as complex as a surgeon that comforts families with facts about medical procedures and possibly offers volunteer surgeries as well to those without medical insurance. These are two examples at far ends of the spectrum but there are common rewarding jobs as well.
Rewarding Jobs
- Paramedic
- Firefighter
- Nurse
- Teacher
- Veterinarian
- Employee at Non-Profit
The list truly can go on and one but these are some of the most common jobs that people describe as rewarding. Those who work with the public can sometimes see them at their worst, but they are also a beacon of light for those in desperate need. Paramedics are there when someone unfortunately needs to dial 911 for a medical emergency. They are the life savers that keep people comfortable and taken care of until they can be seen by doctors in a hospital.
Firefighters are there when tragedy strikes in the event of severe weather, downed trees, trapped individuals and obviously to put out fires. Nurses are the front line workers at hospitals that give their love and attention to those in medical need. How rewarding to work in a job where you are constantly giving and helping others.
Teachers help form the minds of our youth. They take care of children 8 hours a day and make sure they are safe, fed and educated 9 months out of the year. Veterinarians are there for you when you beloved pet is sick or in need of basic treatment. They calm both you and your pet while providing medical attention.
Non-profit employees help those seeking help, guidance and supplies. They give back to their communities and surrounding communities which instantly provides them with a sense of accomplishment. Most non-profit organizations work with housing displacement, food services, educational services, senior services, domestic situations and animal needs. These are all rewarding paths to seek employment in.
Anyone Can Feel Rewarded If They Want To
It truly doesn’t matter where you work or what you do, you can always find ways to give back and better your community. Teachers on summer break can offer some free tutoring hours to students that desperately need it over the summer, accountants can offer a few free tax filings for people who may not normally be able to afford larger corporate tax company fees. There are lots of ways to offer services for free or reduced rates. You may like your job but feel as though something is lacking in your life. Volunteer. Nursing homes, animal rescues, food pantries and park services are always looking for volunteers to help. Whether you work at a rewarding job or not does not mean that you cannot provide a rewarding service to someone in need.
Name/Bio:
Crystal Vuletic – I have been a freelance writer for over 5 years. Writing and Art consume my time. During the school year I am a private school art teacher for grades Pk3-8th. I enjoy creating stories with my students. Drawing students in with words so that they can create images on paper is both empowering and amazing.