People spend a huge percentage of their life working, so it is understandable why so many people seek out careers that allow them to make a positive impact on the world. A job is a huge part of your identity and it should be viewed as much more than just a way to put food on the table for your family. A career which allows you to make a positive change to the world can be incredibly rewarding and help you to feel like you have purpose and meaning in your daily life. There are many brilliant career options to consider for those that want to do good in the world – read on for a few suggestions.
Healthcare
The most obvious industry to look at as healthcare as this allows you to save lives, treat illnesses and help people to be happier and healthier. There are many areas to consider in healthcare and, while some will require many years of training and studying, there are also jobs which are easier to land. The work in healthcare can be demanding and at times upsetting, but it can also be immensely rewarding and it is often well-paid. A few good options for a career in healthcare include:
- Doctor
- Registered nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Pediatrician
- Surgeon
- Midwife
- Medical assistant
- Dental hygienist
One area of healthcare which is becoming increasingly important is mental health. Issues such as anxiety, depression and body issues are causing mental health problems all over the globe, and if you or anyone that you know has suffered with these issues, then you know just how devastating they can be. There is a great need for mental health professionals right now, and this will see you make a big difference to people’s lives and help them to overcome serious problems.
Teaching
There are few jobs as important as a teacher as this involves shaping the lives of future generations and helping young people to become smart, independent, skilled and compassionate individuals. There are various age groups that you can work with, and each one will bring its own rewards. If you have a passion for education and you enjoy working with young people, then this could be an excellent career path to follow and one which will provide great job satisfaction.
Whether you want to be a kindergarten teacher or a college professor, you will need to earn the relevant qualifications and possess a wide range of skills, such as:
- Communication skills
- Presentation skills
- Mentoring
- Patience (very important!)
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Enthusiasm
- Organization
- Empathy
- Confidence
Politics
Politicians are the people that can make a big difference in the world which makes it an important and noble profession to enter. Politicians often get a lot of stick and there are certainly those that are not serving the people and make the headlines for the wrong reason, but this should not taint your view of the profession as the world needs more good politicians that want to make a positive change to the world.
It can be hard to know how to get started with a career in politics as there is no set path, unlike many professions. The best ways to get your foot in the door and to start your political career include:
- Volunteering for campaigns
- Getting involved in community projects
- Joining parties
- Contributing money to candidates
- Interning
Charity Work
Charity work is important and noble and a superb way to make a difference to an issue that is close to your heart. There are millions of charities and causes all around the globe, so it should not be too challenging to find something that you feel passionate about so that you can find a charity and get involved in improving the situation. There are, of course, many voluntary opportunities working with charities but you can also find paid work in some cases. There are many different roles that you can take in the charity sector with a few examples including:
- Copywriter
- Grant writer
- Fundraiser
- Office manager
- Nonprofit director
- Lawyer
- Event planner
- Program manager
Alternative Energy
Environmental damage is a huge topic in the news with scientists urging people and organizations to make big changes in a bid to slow down this damage. Advances in alternative energy in recent times have meant that it is possible for businesses and people to reduce their carbon footprint drastically and there are many different areas to consider for a career in this field. Here are a few good options to consider:
- Solar photovoltaic installer
- Urban planner
- Environmental engineer
- Sustainability officer
- Environmental lawyer
- Geoscientist
- Environmental scientist
- Conservation scientist
Emergency Services
Those that work in emergency services are hailed as heroes by many, and it is easy to see why as they can save people’s lives from dangerous situations on a daily basis. Paramedics, firefighters, and police officers carry out incredibly important work each and every day and help to keep people safe. There is a lot of training that will go into working in the emergency services and it can be physically and mentally demanding work, but it can also provide great job satisfaction and you get to make a difference to the world each and every day.
Criminology
Leading on from this, those with an interest in criminal justice and the prevention of crime on an individual and social level ought to consider a career in criminology. It is a shame, but crime is a huge problem all over the world and there needs to be more work done than simply policing. Criminology involves the study of crime and criminals which can help an individual to gain a deep insight into the cause and effect of crime on all levels.
If this sounds appealing then it is worth looking into online criminology programs in Canada which will teach you everything that you need to know to succeed in this field and secure work. A criminology degree could open many different doors and there are many different jobs that you could do with this qualification. A few good examples include:
- Probation office
- Criminal justice faculty
- Paralegal
- Criminal investigator
- Legal secretary
- Liquor control inspector
Military
The military is incredibly diverse and not just an area where you go to become a soldier, pilot or nurse (although these are obviously all options). Working in the military involves defending the country but also promoting peace where possible which makes it important work particularly in today’s day and age where tensions can run high.
There are endless professions to consider in the military, but if you consider yourself a patriot and want to protect your country then this could be an option, and there is sure to be an area that interests you. Careers in the industry generally do not consist of fighting wars and putting your life on the line every day like many believe and instead it is often about protection, promoting peace and helping those that need it.
Social Care
It is unfortunate, but there are many people, families, and groups that have struggled in their life and it is important that these people receive the help that they need. Social care involves assessing situations, studying and then using the services available to make improvements to the situation for the individual, family or group.
Social care could involve providing treatment for people, providing physical or psychosocial support and to help individuals to turn their lives around through helping them to make important connections. To become a social worker you will need qualifications and a range of key skills, including:
- Listening skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Critical thinking
- Communication skills
- Organizational skills
- Time management
- Resilience
Animal Welfare
Animal lovers ought to consider work in animal welfare which can be rewarding, important and challenging. Many people dream of working with animals on a daily basis, but it is important to remember that a lot of work related to animal welfare will involve seeing animals that are suffering and in pain. This means that you must be resilient in addition to having a passion for animals and a determination to make a difference.
There are many different areas of animal welfare to consider with some roles being more “hands-on” than others. Here are a few different roles to consider if you want to work with animals and make a difference in their lives:
- Vet
- Vet assistant
- Animal welfare officer
- Kennel/cattery carer
- Animal campaigning
- Fundraising
- Behaviorist
- Dog warden
- Ranger
Journalism
Journalists often get a bad name, but the truth is that they play a very important role in today’s day and age. Journalists make a difference to the world by shining a light on important issues and educating their readers on what is happening around them. There are, of course, many areas of journalism and some that are not as respected as others, but if you like the idea of educating people and breaking stories, then this could be a superb career choice and one which can be highly lucrative too.
Journalism is competitive especially in today’s day and age when there are so many online publications. This means that you need to earn the relevant qualifications and get any experience possible – this might involve taking an internship or voluntary positions. It is then a case of building experience and writing pieces that stand out from the crowd and have value.
Scientists
Scientists carry out some of the most important work happening around the globe yet sadly they often do not get the recognition that they deserve. Scientists are responsible for bringing about positive change through research, analysis, and testing and this helps to shape the world around us and can impact many different areas of life.
Science is an enormous field to work in with many different areas to specialize in. To become a scientist you, obviously, need to do a lot of studying and earn a number of qualifications. The main areas to consider include:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Geology
- Astronomy
Artist
People are quick to dismiss artists as merely a form of passive entertainment, but great artists can change people’s lives and have a huge impact on society. Any form of art can help people to cope with issues, provide inspiration, encourage people to think differently, improve mood and entertain, plus art can also comment on important issues from around the globe.
It can require great skill and creativity to become a successful artist whether this is a musician, painter, sculptor, filmmaker, dancer or any other type of artist. While it can be hard to make a career as an artist, it is still something that can be done as a hobby which people can find to be therapeutic too.
Lawyer
Lawyers often get a bad reputation, but it is a career that can help you to make a huge difference to the world and protect people that need protecting. Being a lawyer involves being an advisor to clients and representing them in criminal or civil court proceedings, and there are many different areas to consider, including:
- Personal injury lawyer
- Bankruptcy lawyer
- Criminal lawyer
- Employment lawyer
- Family lawyer
- Contract lawyer
- Civil litigation lawyer
To become a lawyer you will need to get into law school, earn a Juris Doctor Degree and then pass the bar Examination before specialist training and earning experience with a law firm. This can all take many years and is notoriously challenging, but it is also a career which can be very lucrative with good progression opportunities and job security.
Anyone that wants to make a positive change to the world in their career should consider the above areas. People spend such a large part of their adult life working, so it is important to find something that you find rewarding and gives you a sense of meaning and purpose. It can be amazingly rewarding to see positive change from your job, but this doesn’t mean that often you will see and experience difficult and upsetting things so you must be emotionally resilient and able to separate your work life from your personal life too.
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