by Vicky Oliver, author of “Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots”
This is an extraordinary time to be embarking on a career. Surrounded by the doom and gloom of the high cost of living, AI displacing entry-level positions, and political turmoil’s effect on the economy, you somehow need to find a way to make a living.
It’s become evident that answering online job posts, even with your undergraduate degree and choice summer internships, isn’t getting you anywhere. What now?
Time to take matters into your own hands. Your best course now is to craft an alternative career. (And, truthfully, do you really want to spend your days in a fluorescently lit monochrome cubicle?) This means pursuing an interest or need you’ve pinpointed and shaping it into a way to pay your rent.
At first, the thought of striking out on your own may seem daunting. But think again. In devising your own alternative career, you’re able to put your particular skills to work for you. You’re able to tap your vibrant imagination toward your own purposes — not some undeserving or unimaginative boss’s vision. You’ll only have to answer to yourself, and you can test out your own hunches without naysayers casting doubt on your plans.
Perhaps you already have an idea brewing that you’d hoped one day to give more attention to. Think about it. Here’s an example: Did you always enjoy wearing the mantle as the best babysitter in the neighborhood? Did devising the clever games and craft projects to entertain your young charges provide enjoyable hours of creative inventiveness? Did your ability to channel their young energy give you a true sense of fulfillment? Why not parlay these points of pride into a business that offers day camps during the summer and after-school programs during the school year?
Or maybe you’re the one who always helped your siblings with their homework. Why not become a private tutor? You’ll have flexible hours so you can go on any job interviews that arise. If you’re particularly brainy, and scored over 700 on your math or English SAT, you may be able to become an SAT tutor. You’ll help yourself while helping others, which is truly fulfilling.
If, instead, you’re uncertain what direction to take when for an alternative career, take a close inventory of your interests. In setting out to uncover ideas worth exploring, ask yourself these questions:
1. How do you like to spend your free time?
For example, would you rather spend your Saturdays rebuilding the engine of a recently purchased clunker than watching sports on TV? Then you’re someone who feels at home under the hood of your car. You’re the one that all your mom’s friends are asking to diagnose and fix their car problems. At this point, all you may need to earn money with your hobby is to secure an auto mechanic’s certification.
2. What activities do you do that don’t feel like work?
If hours can go by without notice as you put together playlists for an upcoming party, you may want to consider making the leap into hiring out as a DJ. Or if you find yourself in a flow state whenever you work in your garden, you could be a natural at landscaping. Think about those activities you do where the project perfectly matches your skills, your interests, and your curiosity — where you’re able to eliminate external distractions or find your mind wandering. Are you a gym rat? Maybe you can teach Zumba or yoga while earning cash and getting your gym membership for free. Whatever it is that you’re truly a natural at may just be what you’re meant to pursue in your career.
3. What problems do you like solving?
If you read the novel or saw the film, “Lessons in Chemistry“, the female protagonist was a talented chemist in the 1950s when women weren’t considered true scientists. Instead, she applied her expertise via a televised cooking show. Whether the problems you enjoy solving are related to chemistry — or fitness, fashion, or pet behavior, consider ways to apply your focused attention while making it marketable.
4. What topics or issues energize you to learn more?
A friend of mine from New York City was everyone’s confidante whenever it came to relationship issues. None of us were surprised when he became a personal coach. He asked those questions that led to an understanding of someone’s motivations and provocations. That enabled him to see the 10,000-foot view and offer more perspective. Ask yourself where you frequently find yourself diving in just because you’re interested? In what issues have you become a bit of an expert, but are hungry to know more? Your extracurricular research may be the source of a worthwhile professional pursuit.
When you curate a career specifically from your own talents and interests, you’ll be doing what you love. And you’ll be paid. Instead of succumbing to just any available job offer, you can arrive at a career more fulfilling than you ever imagined.
