Are you looking for a career with a purpose? Tired of doing the 9 to 5 grind with nothing but a headache to show for it? Sure, your current job pays the bills and keeps a roof over your heads, but it doesn’t bring you passion, joy, or peace. If you’ve been feeling this way, perhaps it’s time for a career change.
Though there are hundreds of job descriptions to rummage through, some of the most fulfilling careers are often those that provide a social impact. Working a job that gives back to the community provides a level of passion, joy, and peace you’ve never felt before. Of course, there are pros and cons to any career path you should take, but when you’re helping others to improve their lives it makes it all worth it.
What kinds of careers are available for those who wish to give back? The list is plentiful, but here are a few to consider:
Teachers
Shaping the minds of young children essentially helps communities to flourish. Whether you teach pre-K or high school, you have an opportunity to provide an educational experience that far outlasts the classroom. It is because of educators that anyone is able to accomplish anything in life. From cooking to choosing a career path, the fundamental lessons taught in subjects like reading, math, science, and history provides a foundation to the future.
Becoming a teacher can take a few years depending on your previous education and experience. You’ll need to obtain a bachelor’s degree (ideally in education or the subject you’re most interested in teaching). Then, you’ll need to get certified in your state to teach by completing field hours and passing an exam. From there, you can start applying to become a teacher.
Architects
This one might come as a surprise but architects definitely have a social impact. It is their visions and experience that help to build the very communities that we live in. In recent years, architects have been doing more to give back to communities by developing greener establishments. This, in turn, reduces the carbon footprint.
If you’ve got an eye for design and are interested in helping to build communities around the world then start making the shift to become an architect. It is ideal that you have at least a bachelor in architecture under your belt. Then, you’ll need to complete a few internships so that you can get certified and licensed.
Personal Trainer
It’s unfortunate that so many people today are suffering from preventable illnesses and disease. With essential lifestyle changes like dieting and exercise, many medical conditions can be avoided or treated. As a personal trainer, you’d be doing your part to help the community by helping individuals to reach their fitness goals. You’d be the motivation and support system that keeps them on a path to improved health.
To be a personal trainer you don’t have to jump through too many hoops. As long as you have a high school diploma, making the switch is fairly easy. You’ll need to take CPR and AED classes and receive a certification. Then, you’ll need to get certified as a personal trainer by passing an exam. Once you’re finished you can begin applying for jobs or freelancing and building a portfolio of clients.
Therapist
Mental illness is more common than not these days and unfortunately, not many people are doing much to get treated. If people could essentially learn how to cope with traumatic experiences and overwhelming emotions or simply be treated for serious mental health problems, many of the issues communities face today wouldn’t be an issue. From crime and addiction to broken homes and toxic relationships, there’s a lot that can be resolved through therapy.
If you’d like the opportunity to talk with members of your community and help them sort through overwhelming experiences in their lives and improve their mental health, then a therapist is the job for you. To become a therapist you’ll need to get a master’s degree in psychology. Upon completion, you’ll need to complete supervised clinical work. Finally, you apply for a license.
If you watch the news or simply step outside your front door you can see how poorly society is doing. From high crime and natural disasters to poverty and disease, there’s just so much going wrong. You may not be able to change all the world’s problems yourself, but obtaining a career in the social impact sector is a step in the right direction. Consider these jobs and more as you look for a job that gives you the passion, purpose, and peace you’re searching for.