Are you one of those rare people who smile at the notion of a Monday morning, or do you dread that moment you lock your door to head to work at the start of the week? While so many of our life-altering decisions reside in the idea of profitability, and it makes sense to choose a profession that will bring you financial stability, more people today are eager to make a switch for something that is meaning-oriented.
Making a difference seems to trump many perks and a high salary, leading to more people looking into occupations that will give purpose to their existence. Still, searching for your value-based position to help you leave the world a slightly better place than you found it? Here are a few ideas that are both profitable and meaningful to consider on your career hunt.
Become a teacher in your trade
No matter what you know and where you’ve completed your education, passing on the skills and knowledge that you have is a priceless way to grow and shape the young, malleable minds in your community and beyond. There are high-paying schools that give you access to some of the finest teaching tools and ongoing certification, while you can volunteer your work on the side and fork for non-profits as well.
As a teacher, you can give free lessons, teach others to teach, and find organizations in your area that specialize in your subject matter to help you find the students that will benefit the most from your skillset. You can help prepare kids for their exams and thus inspire them to continue their education.
Provide care and support
We all want to age in a dignified manner, with as much independence as possible, and without feeling like a burden on our families. People with a disability or those who have survived an injury want the same quality of life, which is why more individuals are happy to hire support workers that provide aged care, psychological and physical support, medical support, and companionship alike.
You can determine which occupation suits you best depending on your level of training and education, and you can use a platform such as Mable to find the people who will benefit from your abilities and your dedication. Such digital tools take the hassle out of the application and approval process, and as soon as you’re approved for your new role, you can manage your clients online to be able to devote all of your care and energy to those who need it most.
Various search and rescue positions
These positions are certainly not for the faint of heart, as they can be extremely stressful, and these jobs don’t come with the promise of a happy ending. Of course, the feeling of accomplishment and meaning is all the greater when the stakes are higher, as you’ll be able to experience first-hand situations that depend on your skills and your ability to react fast and in a smart, calculated manner.
Think firefighters, park rangers, animal rescue, military positions that specialize in rescue operations, to name a few. These vary in the level of danger you could find yourself in, as well as the education and training you’d need to qualify. Still, saving lives and minimizing trauma for those involved is incredibly rewarding work.
Give people a new beginning
Social workers are the unsung heroes of our society. They are the ones who come running when there’s a child in an abusive home when there’s a woman that survived domestic violence, or a troubled teenager struggling with addiction and crime. Social workers help restore their lives, their health and wellbeing, and they are there for the long haul.
While so many of these violent situations are invisible to the rest of the community, a social worker needs to find their way to reach the people involved and help them in every way they can.
Tend to the environment
Much like people and animals, our planet is in dire need of immediate care and innovation. Even if your degree doesn’t provide you with the abilities to invent the next ocean-cleaning initiative, you can still contribute in so many different ways to preserve our natural world and all living creatures around us.
You can try finding work in the renewable energy sector in your region or work with volunteering organizations on projects that have hands-on tasks in cleaning the environment, farming, and animal protection. The options are numerous, it all depends on your proclivities and your education, so choose wisely.
Wrapping up
The money will always play a vital role in choosing a career path since it ensures that we will be able to contribute in our humble ways even outside of the office. However, opting for a meaningful career is by far the most rewarding high-road you can take, one that will not only give you a feeling of purpose, but that will help you truly make a difference in measurable, valuable ways.
