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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
Are you the type of person who loves to help people? If so, working as a salesperson or writing code all day long is unlikely to appeal. You probably want a job with more meaning: a job that feels worthwhile, one where you can really make a difference to the lives of others. So what are your options?
Counselor
Counselors help people come to terms with difficult experiences and work through trauma in their life. Some people consult a counselor when their life is in crisis, whereas others believe a weekly counseling session is essential for their emotional well-being. An online counseling degree should start you on the right path, but if you already have a medical background, you could sign up for an online masters in counseling.
Medical Practitioner
There are many different career paths available if you choose to study medicine. From nursing and surgery through to pediatrics and mental health: any one of these career paths is right for you if you yearn to help people. Many medical careers require that you study for a degree, but there are many degree paths available. For instance, if you are interested in nursing there are entry level jobs you can get with an associate degree. However, if you want to move up in the profession, you may choose to pursue your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and then perhaps even look at nurse practitioner programs. If you want to be a doctor you will have to go to medical school, but then certain specialties will require more schooling. There are also some jobs you can do without studying to degree level. These include physical therapy or becoming a paramedic.
Social Worker
Social work is a challenging career, but if you want to work with dysfunctional families and children, this is the job for you. Social workers tackle all kinds of difficult problems, from abused children to parents who don’t have the skills to take care of their kids. You have to be mentally tough to cope to be a social worker, so it is sensible to undertake in the voluntary sector before you decide to study for a social work degree.
Teacher
Teachers shape young minds and show students how much fun learning can be. We all remember our favorite teachers so if you like kids and are a good communicator, consider being a teacher. Teaching is a great career with excellent job prospects, and if you are good at your job, you can make a huge difference in many lives.
Aid Worker
Aid workers travel all over the world to help people whose lives have been torn apart by conflict, disease and famine. This is not an easy job and you will need to be comfortable living in difficult places with very few home comforts to hand. Many areas in need of aid are dangerous and you could end up facing enormous peril, but without the tireless efforts of aid workers, many more people would die needlessly.
Caregiver
Caregivers work with the elderly, handicapped and sick people. This is generally not a well-paid job, but it is a worthy one. There are many people out there who need help with cleaning, bathing, cooking and eating. Some have no family and without visits from caregivers, they would be helpless. Caring is a job you can fit in around family, so if you love to help but have family to care for, this is the job for you.
There are many options available if you want to retrain for a new career, so see what opportunities are out there.
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