Finding the flexibility to pursue a job that fits your lifestyle and pays well really is possible. - By Danielle Blundell
Maybe you're out of work, or not happy with your current job, but you feel too busy to prepare to pursue a new one. Continue.....
Perhaps you've got an existing work situation, daily activities, and/or responsibilities to friends, family members, or other commitments.
The good news: You have options.
"The short answer is that yes, you can certainly find a career that pays well and doesn't require a tremendous amount of schooling," says Chad Oakley, president and chief operating officer at worldwide executive recruiting firm Charles Aris, Inc.
It's not necessarily schooling that's the key element in snaring that dream job. Education will only take you so far without intangibles like work ethic, emotional intelligence, and a winning personality, says Oakley. "Long term, it's all about the skills and expertise," says Oakley.
Sound promising? Read on for our picks for careers that pay well and won't have you in school for what feels like an eternity.
Career #1: Web Developer
Love to design, enjoy coding, and mathematically inclined? Well, even
the busiest bees might be able to pencil in time to prepare for a job
as a web developer, where according to the U.S. Department of Labor, you
could be responsible for the look and technical aspects of a website,
as well as writing code and in some cases creating content.Why It Can Pay Well: "Every business or non-profit, journalist, artist, musician, doctor, and lawyer all need to have a website in the contemporary marketplace," says Daisy Swan, a California-based career coach and counselor. "That means there's a great need for website developers who can design and maintain every level of website on the Internet." And that demand, she says, has caused salaries to steadily rise and should continue to do so, as "this need will not subside for some time.
Career #2: Dental Hygienist
How'd you like to make a career out of helping people have brighter,
healthier smiles? Well, most dentists have a right-hand person when it
comes to examining teeth. That's the dental hygienist, who, according to
the U.S. Department of Labor, may clean and examine teeth, apply
fluoride and sealants to help protect teeth, and educate patients on how
to take care of their oral health.Why It Can Pay Well: "Dental hygienists are a good example of a career that pays relatively well and without a huge amount of formal education," says Oakley. "The job pays well because it combines emotional intelligence - a good "bedside manner" is important for dental hygienists - and technical skills, as dental hygienists are expected to be able to identify most oral hygiene issues without help from the dentist."
Career #3: Police and Detectives
Have the ability to connect the dots when it comes to situations and
events? Fancy yourself a Good Samaritan, always willing to stick your
neck out to protect others? Then you might be well-suited for a career
as a police officer, and one day down the road, possibly a detective.
And you can get started down this path more quickly than you might
think.As a police officer, the U.S. Department of Labor says you could be responsible for patrolling a specific area and upholding laws, protecting lives and properties. Detectives, says the Department of Labor, collect evidence and facts once crimes have been committed.
Why It Can Pay Well: While Oakley notes that no one starts out as a detective, and one has to earn his or her way there, this career can pay pretty well once you've reached the top of the pyramid because of the dangerous nature of the work - risking your life for the safety of a community. "No one joins the police force for the money - people join because they love to help others," he says.
Career #4: Computer User Support Specialist
Are you the go-to computer expert in your circle, always helping
friends figure out why their laptops crashed or their iPhones won't
work?Now's a good time to think about putting your tech savvy and people skills toward pursuing a career as a computer user support specialist, where you might help companies and employees with advice regarding computers and software, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Department of Labor also says you could be setting up or fixing computer equipment and similar devices, as well as training users how to work with new computers, devices, or programs.
Why It Can Pay Well: For Oakley, salaries in this field can be high due to the very specialized skills needed to successfully troubleshoot very technical problems that few people are able to understand. "Computer user support specialists can pay well, but only for highly technical positions where the computer concepts are extremely advanced, such as in advanced programming," he says.
Career #5: Applications Software Developers
Are you up on all the latest apps and games, do you think you could
make some of them better, and do you maybe have an idea or two for one
of your own?Then you might have just the right mix of creativity and tech savvy to pursue a position as an applications software developer, where the U.S. Department of Labor says you might build programs to be used by consumers for specific tasks like word processing or playing games.
Why It Can Pay Well: With the prevalence of smart phones, laptops, tablets, and readers today, apps and software are big business, and Oakley says the supply of folks with the skills and creativity to make great products falls way short of the demand. As a result, because the highly technical skills needed to do this job are possessed by few, Oakley says salaries are relatively high and on the rise to attract the interest of prospective professionals.
Career #6: Management Analysts
Good with numbers and love being efficient in nearly every task you
take on, big or small? Then management analyst might be a career for you
to explore.As a management analyst, the U.S. Department of Labor says you would gather information on the ways a company conducts business, and make recommendations to increase efficiency and corporate profits.
Why It Can Pay Well: According to Oakley, management analysts have the ability to see the big picture when it comes to the health of a company, and for that reason, they are often integral in discovering, interpreting, and conveying the information that executives use to make big decisions. "Management analyst is a position that tends to pay well, as oftentimes these people are helping senior executives to answer the company's most pressing strategic questions," he says.
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