Outside-of-the-Box Career Paths

With the start of a new year, you might find yourself evaluating every aspect of your life—one being your career path. If you’ve been daydreaming at your mundane desk job, wondering if you’re meant to be doing something else, it may be time to switch it up. Thinking outside of the box (or outside that cubicle) can help you discover career fulfillment or at least exercise a hidden passion. Here are few different, unconventional ideas for jobs you could enter that could completely change and uplift your professional route in life.

Translator

Being able to speak another language is not only a talent but a valuable and profitable skill to possess. If you’re fluent in another language, consider becoming a translator. The type of translating role you take on varies for a wide range of needs. For example, you could work as a translator or interpreter for the government or at the hospital to facilitate communications for staff and non-English speakers. Or if reading and writing is your strength, you could work for a publisher. Sites like Upwork.com is a platform for freelance translators to find work that fits their exact proficiencies.

Fitness Instructor

If you spend an exponential amount of time at your gym or in your local yoga studio, take the leap from student to instructor. There are many ways to get certified in your exercise passion. Talk to the fitness studio owner to see how you can train to be an instructor. You get to work out and help people get fit while getting paid for it. It’s a win-win for overall health and well-being.

Direct Seller

Those with entrepreneurial spirits can practice their sales chops through direct selling. You can work for a company like Amway which provides a platform to sell exclusive products for a low start-up cost—essentially you can be your own boss and manage your own business using Amway’s support network, training and tools. Once you sell a product you get a margin as well as monthly bonuses and growth incentives.

Teach for America

Sick of selling your soul in corporate America, wondering if what you’re doing even matters? Consider a more altruistic career path like Teach for America where you can really make a difference. Career professionals from just about industry and college grads with all different types of degrees can apply to teach in high-need classrooms throughout 53 regions across 36 states and the District of Columbia. The experience can be challenging, rewarding, eye-opening and an opportunity to expand your mind. At the same time, you’ll be helping kids that need you the most and your guidance could help make or break their future.

Freelance Remotely

Freelancing, whether it’s video editing, writing or consulting, often times gives you flexibility in your schedule and ability to work from anywhere. For those that currently work at the office but hold a niche expertise that can be made into a full-blown freelance job, try it out. Programs like Remote Year let you travel the world while working remotely by taking care of travel planning and accommodations. You’ll get to see the world, meet other traveling freelancers in the program and have a guaranteed workspace with numerous social events and activities set up. It’s the perfect job for anyone wanting to combine both work and leisure.

The world is your oyster when it comes to work. You don’t have to stay within the guidelines and norms of what a standard or “acceptable” career is. Instead, think outside the box and do something that makes you happy. After all, you spend most of your life working, why not make it something you want to do or are truly passionate about?