Finding A Career...

[admin]

That Works For You

“Don’t live to work – work to live” That’s what we’re told, anyway. Most of us have learned from experience to create an artificial distinction in our minds between “work” and “play” – if it’s tedious and unpleasant, it’s classified as “work” even if nothing is accomplished (how much time do people spend in their jobs doing “busywork” – shuffling papers around, etc.?). On the other hand, if it’s fun, it must be “play”, right? Even if something valuable is accomplished. How many corporate lawyers play in a band or write stories in their spare time, just for fun, even if they’re not being paid to do so? On the other hand, how many musicians do you know of who practice corporate law in their spare time, just for fun?



Because of the fact that most people find their jobs at least mildly unpleasant, and because these days Americans spend even more time pursuing their careers than the Japanese do, most people are looking for a way to find the ideal “work/life balance” – as if “work” and “life” were mutually exclusive.

Here are some ways to revolutionize your career:



1. Find a way to turn your hobby into a career. If you are still reasonably young, then you should have plenty of time – the only missing ingredient is guts. Do you design and make all your own clothes? Become a fashion designer. Enjoy writing? Become a freelance writer on the Internet. “Do what you love doing and you’ll never work a day in your life”. If you’re gonna spend half your waking hours between 22 and 65 on the job, it might as well be something you enjoy doing.



2. Find a job that will allow you to telecommute. Most people who live in big cities spend 2 - 4 hours a day commuting to their jobs, and this figure doesn’t even count the time spent putting on a suit for a job that could be done just as well in pajamas. If you decide to work for yourself, though, remember - eight hours is still eight hours. So if you decide to sleep in and don’t get started until 11, then you won’t finish until seven. Be creative about finding jobs - the Internet has opened up a wealth of previously unavailable career opportunities. It is possible for a writer, for example, to specialize in composing university admissions essays for Chinese students seeking admission to U.S. universities, simply by using the Internet to contact companies in China that offer such services but don’t have a native English speaker to write the essays for them. If you find that telecommuting is impractical under your circumstances, then look for a job in your neighborhood.



3. Find a company that knows how to treat its employees. Some companies understand that well-rested, well-rounded employees put out better quality work than exhausted, workaholic drones. Research various companies in your industry to find out about the culture and work philosophy of the companies in your industry.


Ultimately, if you want to create a good work/life balance, you’re going to have to give something up. A high-flying career with lots of money and status that also offers plenty of free time is almost impossible to find, even if you’re a rock star. It really comes down to a trade-off - how much money and status is your peace of mind worth to you? How important is your job to your self-esteem?



Here are some good careers that offer relatively low-stress environments and banker’s hours:



l. Academics: University administrators and college professors generally enjoy decent pay, high social status, and reasonable working hours (note: a job as a teacher in an inner-city high school will not allow you to enjoy a low-stress academic life unless you also happen to be a licensed ninja warrior!)



2. Paralegals: If you’re willing to give up the prestige (and public revulsion) associated with life as a lawyer, then you might want to “settle” for becoming a paralegal instead. Paralegals generally enjoy a much better work/life balance than lawyers, and they make decent salaries as well. Furthermore, it only takes a few months to a year of training to get your foot in the door.



3. Physician Assistant: Like lawyers, physician assistants sacrifice the career prestige enjoyed by their well-respected brethren, doctors. But physician assistants, unlike doctors, work 40-hour weeks and make solid middle-class salaries.



4. Real Estate Appraiser: Uh…but what about the housing crisis? Even houses being foreclosed on need to be appraised, and that’s why there is still strong demand for this job. If you get on with the government, you can work eight hours a day assessing home values for taxation purposes. If you’d rather work on your own, you will still find many self-employment opportunities that are lucrative enough to keep you from having to work 80 hours a week just to make ends meet.



5. Pharmacist: Becoming a pharmacist normally takes a five-year undergraduate degree, but the rewards are worth it – pharmacists are well-respected, work 40 hours a week (although graveyard shifts are not uncommon), and make good salaries. The lower-stress jobs are generally available in drug stores, not hospitals. Just be sure you have the ability to read doctors’ handwriting – your patient’s life may depend on it.



Whatever career you are currently pursuing, if you are spending too much time in activities that are boring and meaningless to you then at least try to do something about it. Nobody on their deathbed ever went to their grave wishing they’d spent more time at the office.

by David Carnes