9 Unconventional Careers You Probably Didn’t Know Existed
Simply Hired Staff
Are you interested in a second job or a side gig? Maybe you’re playing with the idea of changing careers. Corporate life isn’t for everyone. Maybe it’s not for you. Don’t limit yourself to traditional careers and jobs. Here are some part-time and full-time opportunities you might not have considered yet.
1. Dog Walker
- Average Salary: $36,000 (all salaries according to Simply Hired)
- A day in the life: Frolic with dogs
- Requirements: A way with animals
A relatively new profession, this job is a chance for animal lovers to work with animals and also get paid for it. The amount of money you make will depend on the number of dogs you walk, the length of each walk and the city you work in. It’s fairly easy to enter this profession, but it’s beneficial to take a few classes in dog training programs. There are a variety of opportunities. You can become an individual for hire or join a dog-walking business. Best of all, you get to have a positive impact on a dog’s life.
2. Blogger
- Average Salary: $32,000
- A day in the life: You make the rules
- Requirements: As long as you have a talent, anything goes
The age of the Internet has ushered in professions not imaginable two decades ago. If you’re creative or have a specialized skills, such as a passion for makeup and fashion or a killer sense of humor, you can capitalize with a blog. Bloggers have the option of working for a company blog or monetizing a personal blog. For those of you who would prefer to talk to your audience instead of write to them, blogging can also be done in video form, such as YouTube vlogging. Full-time or part-time, this can be a personally- and financially-fulfilling career path.
- Average Salary: $36,000
- A day in the life: “Shine the spotlight please!”
- Requirements: Apprenticeship is recommended. On-the-job training is sometimes provided.
In the theater world, electricians help create lighting design and fixture installation for shows and productions. Electricians can work freelance on small gigs in local theatres or seek employment by prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Hall. Generally, these electricians read the script and work with the lighting design director to set up the lighting equipment. You can take pride in knowing that you are critical to the production. After all, the performance would not be the same without the lighting that you expertly implemented.
4. Location Scout or Location Manager
- Average Salary: $59,000
- A day in the life: “Where to today?”
- Requirements: A sharp and aesthetic eye
This type of job presents the opportunity to travel everywhere. Location scouts need to find proper locales and backdrops for every distinct scene in a film, TV show or other work that is filmed or photographed. The role requires a bit of creativity and understanding the bigger picture, as the location should complement the cast, scene, theme and possibly any props. In the end, you can say proudly that you contributed to a work of art. The most common way to enter this career is by getting a foot in the door into the film industry.
- Average Salary: $45,000
- A day in the life: Play with kids to improve their well-being
- Requirements: Certification for the Child Life Profession, as well as tender loving care and a knack for cheering up kids
Make the world a better place by tending to children who need emotional and physical help dealing with hospitalization and illness. In this profession you will support children and their families and promote the development and growth of children with special needs. However, this isn’t a “happens overnight” kind of career. Becoming a child life specialist involves meeting academic requirements as well as completing an internship. If you enjoy the idea of interacting with kids and are looking for meaningful work, this could be a good opportunity for you.
- Average Salary: $50,000
- A day in the life: Educate and learn at the same time
- Requirements: Top-notch grammar, speaking and writing skills, as well as patience
As a foreign language teacher, you can help educate those around the world with your mastery of the English language. Work abroad, experience other cultures and even learn a new language yourself. There are different programs in many countries, from Nigeria to Thailand to Austria. Some programs will require a TEFL or TESOL certification. Many programs cover your rent, food and a stipend, allowing you to explore a new country while making a difference in the lives of children.
- Average Salary: $42,000
- A day in the life: A Tetris battle of turning chaos into order
- Requirements: Attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Certification is available.
Are you a pro multi-tasker? An expert coordinator? A process improver? Capitalize on the organizational skills that come naturally to you and apply them to any number of challenges, from time management to home staging. Your work may be methodological, but it will be interesting because you get the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and with a variety of people. One way to enter this field is to join a professional association, which will help qualify you for projects and connect you to a network.
9. Uber Driver
- Average Salary: $38,000
- A day in the life: Explore your city as you help people get to their desired destinations
- Requirements: A driver’s license, insurance, and background check
Thanks to technology, drivers today have the opportunity to turn this ordinary skill into a full-fledged profession. Working for any rideshare company, whether it be Uber, Lyft or Sidecar, allows you to learn the nooks and crannies of your city while meeting new people. Opportunities with rideshare employers tend to exist mostly in large metropolitan areas and your income will be based upon the time and effort you allot to picking up riders. The best way to get started is to see if a rideshare employment opportunity exists nearby your area of residence.
