5 Surprising Pathways To Some Incredibly Rewarding Careers

The path to finding a rewarding career that also brings financial stability is what most people desire. Although studies show that around 65% of US workers are generally satisfied with their careers, only 20% report being passionate about their jobs. Worldwide, the number is even smaller, at 13%.

Finding a rewarding career can be challenging. If you are considering the possibility of changing careers and looking for something more fulfilling, stick around for this article as we’ll be sharing 5 surprising pathways to highly rewarding careers.

What Makes a Job Rewarding?

A rewarding job significantly contributes to job satisfaction, which in turn has a direct correlation to personal fulfillment and satisfaction. But what exactly makes a rewarding career? Different people may give different answers to this question, but there are a few common denominators:

• Work that helps other people and has a sense of purpose.
• Work that allows for growth and self-development.
• Work that you are good at.
• Work that gives you a sense of autonomy.
• Work that is recognized and fairly compensated. 
• Work with supportive colleagues. 
  
  

Surprising Pathways to Rewarding Careers

The journey to finding the right career is not always linear or conventional. Let’s take a look at some examples of rewarding careers and the unconventional paths to get there. 

1. Become a nurse without a bachelor’s degree in the field

Nursing is considered to be one of the most rewarding career paths. In fact, a UK study found that nursing is considered the most rewarding career in a sample of 1000 people. 

What many people don’t know is that it is possible to enter this field even if you studied something else and have no prior nursing experience. There are direct-entry nurse practitioner programs for non-nurses online that facilitate the transition to this rewarding career.

These accelerated programs made with non-nursing majors in mind provide all the required courses and clinical hours needed to become a nurse. If you ever dreamt of entering the medical field, this could be a great opportunity. 

2. Leverage your language skills to teach abroad

If you ever had the desire to work abroad, but are afraid of not finding work, you can consider using your language skills and become a teacher. Teaching abroad can be highly rewarding, as you get to experience different cultures and broaden your horizons while bringing value to other people’s lives. 

This is a career that has a huge impact on people. According to research, 79% of students say they’ve been encouraged to follow their dreams by a teacher, and 75% of them say they see teachers as mentors and role models.

Using your English skills (or other language skills) to teach abroad can be a surprising pathway to an incredibly rewarding career. 

3. Turn your passion for fitness into a business

Fitness can be a very rewarding and lucrative career path. Many people get scared about turning their passion into a business because of the risks involved. But the truth is that the fitness industry is very stable and profitable, as health becomes more and more of a priority in people’s lives. The fitness industry generates over $30 billion in annual revenue in the United States alone.

If you have a love for fitness and always dreamt of being an entrepreneur, channeling this passion and drive is a fantastic pathway to a very rewarding career. Helping people get healthier and fitter can really bring purpose and meaning into your professional life. 

You can explore the possibility of creating a personal training business, creating an online fitness course, and even opening a local gym in your city.

4. Join a coding bootcamp

Another less conventional pathway to a rewarding career is joining a bootcamp for coding. This is an ideal choice for those who already have an interest in tech but didn't get to pursue a traditional degree. You don’t need to have any prior experience in computer science.  

Bootcamps give students an intensive preparation lasting a few months, equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed in a software development career. Although these bootcamps are not always cheap, they offer their students high employment rates.

Additionally, studies show that professionals in this field report high job satisfaction. A combination of flexibility, creativity, continuous learning, collaborative work, and high salaries make software development a highly rewarding career.

5. Volunteer in a non-profit or social impact organization

Finally, another surprising pathway to a highly rewarding career is volunteering in a non-profit organization. If you are interested in a career that has a positive impact on society (in areas such as culture, environment, social or animal welfare), then you should consider starting as a volunteer.

A study showed that nearly  65% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that volunteering facilitated the connection between their volunteer experience and their nonprofit career awareness. 

Although a non-profit career can have its challenges, it can be incredibly rewarding to know that your work is making an actual difference in people’s lives.

Conclusion

There are many surprising ways you can find the career of your dreams. Career paths are not always linear and predictable, but as long as you are open and willing to work toward your goals, you will find a job that is truly rewarding. 

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