Choosing a career isn’t always easy. While some people know from a young age exactly what they want to do with their lives, for most of us, it’s more a case of figuring it out as we go along. Ideally, you want to find a role that not only enables you to pay the bills but also satisfies your soul. However, in many cases, this is easier said than done!
One path that appeals to a lot of people is having a job that enables you to help other people. What’s great is that these days there are a huge variety of altruistic career options, meaning you have a high chance of finding one that suits your personal interests, skills, and temperament. So if you’re looking for some ideas, below are five fantastic job roles to get you inspired.
1. Nurse
One role that immediately springs to mind when thinking about careers helping others – especially after the recent pandemic – is being a nurse. This job involves a wide variety of tasks such as taking medical histories, assisting with procedures, dressing wounds, administering medications, taking blood, and educating the public about disease prevention and healthy living. As you progress in your career, you’ll usually have the chance to specialize in an area of medicine that is of particular interest to you. For example, this could be working with a specific patient group, such as pediatrics or geriatric care, or focusing on a specific health condition, such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.
In order to become a nurse, you are typically required to have either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master’s (MSN). The key attributes that you’ll need in order to excel in the field include compassion, dedication, attention to detail, good communication skills, as well as the mental strength to cope with long hours and stressful situations.
2. Charity Worker
Working for a charity or nonprofit organization is another fantastic way to dedicate yourself to a good cause. Whether it’s helping animals, people, or the environment, Houston charities and others all around the country could use your help! There are a wide variety of job roles available in this sector, such as campaigning, fundraising, and general administration. It means you have lots of opportunities to find a position that matches your talents. For example, if you have strong writing, research, and presentation skills, then you might excel in a role lobbying lawmakers for improvements to the law. Alternatively, if you’re good with finance and organization, then you could help organize events to raise much-needed funds.
There are generally no official requirements for working in the charitable sector, but many companies prefer you to have a degree. The best way to give yourself an advantage when applying is to be genuinely committed to the charity’s cause and also to have a clear background of volunteer work. The latter will also help you to build all the skills required to succeed.
3. Teacher
For those who enjoy working with children, being a teacher might be the perfect choice of career. You will be responsible for shaping the minds of the next generation and helping kids to grow up into kind and well-rounded adults. Generally, you will be required to hold a degree in the subject you want to teach or in education itself, although the specifics will vary depending on what age group you want to work with. In addition, you will have to complete a teacher training program and pass a background check before you can get your license.
In order to thrive in a teaching environment, you must be passionate about working with young people and also exhibit plenty of positivity and patience. You’ll need the ability to motivate your students and get them interested in the subjects that you teach. As an alternative to teaching, you might like to consider a job as a school counselor. This involves helping students with career guidance, good study habits, and college applications, as well as to cope with issues such as bullying, mental health, and truancy.
4. Mental Health Counselor
If you’re interested in psychology and human behavior, becoming a mental health counselor could be a great way to combine this with helping others. Mental health conditions are all too common, so you’ll find yourself working with a diverse selection of people of all ages and backgrounds. It could be in groups or on an individual basis. The role involves helping your patients cope with and overcome an equally varied range of conditions, from depression and anxiety to PTSD, addiction, phobias, eating disorders, OCD, and stress. This sort of job can be done in a clinic, hospital, college, specialist treatment center, or even a correctional facility.
In addition to a strong interest in mental health, you will need compassion, patience, strong, active listening skills, and a willingness to stay up to date with all the latest treatment methods. The best route into the job is to get an undergraduate degree in a field such as psychology or social work, then a Master’s degree in counseling. After that, you’ll need to complete a certain amount of supervised work before you can get your license.
5. 911 Dispatcher
Another job that puts you on the front line assisting people in an emergency is being a 911 dispatcher. This role involves answering emergency calls from the public, quickly and accurately getting the relevant information to prioritize them based on the specific nature of the emergency, and then sending out the appropriate emergency services to assist the callers. You might also find yourself having to provide life-saving instructions to the person on the phone, so it’s vital that you can stay calm under pressure in addition to being able to reassure others who are in distress. Other vital skills include verbal communication and the ability to use a range of computer software.
You generally only require a high school diploma to apply for this position, although having a college education can be helpful. You’ll receive a lot of training on the job regarding how to operate the systems, as well as on topics such as first aid, domestic violence, and suicide prevention. Unlike becoming a firefighter or other front-line roles, no physical fitness standards need to be met – but you will probably have a psychological evaluation.