Cool Careers for
Dummies
In the clever book, Cool Careers for
Dummies by
Marty Nemko and Paul and Sarah Edwards (2001), the authors focus on
careers and how to find the best one for you. Specialized training
is needed for some of the categories listed below, but, if you like
this category, you may want to look into it further. Training is a
life-long pursuit.
Chapter
3 includes 25
questions that help tease out career
musts: the
things people really want and need in a career.
While you are probably not looking for a CAREER per se, you may
find something in the listings that will pique your interest and
motivate you to google for more information.
In
chapter 2, the
authors divide the careers into different categories, divided
according to working with people, data, words, and/or things. Skim
through the list and take a look to see if any category jumps out
at you. If so, again, google it and see what you can find.
Remember, in this
Next Phase you
want to do something that excites you and gives you great
satisfaction.
WORK
WITH PEOPLE
Caretaking and coaching
Geriatric Care
Money Counselor
Personal coach
Time Management coach
Parenting Coach
Personal organizer
Image consultant
Victim Assistant
Child-care provider
Personal assistant
Concierge
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
Personal Recruiter
Employment interviewer
Headhunter
Matchmaker
Friend Finder
Sales-oriented work
Salesperson: Commercial security sales,
electrical component sales, sales of instruments and consumables to
Biotech companies, Internet Ad sales, department store sales,
Fundraiser/Development Specialist
Auctioneer
Event Planner: conventions, reunions, weddings.
Trial Consultant
Temp Agency
Relocation Consultant
WORK
WITH DATA
Scientific data: Biologist, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Plant
Geneticist/Botanist
Toxicologist
Environmental Analyst
Hydrologist
Meteorologist
Agricultural Scientist
Food Scientist
Statistician
Cryptanalyst
Cancer Registrar
COMPUTER DATA
Programmer: wireless device, virtual reality, education software,
web, game, computer security programmer.
Newspaper Publisher, using your home computer
BUSINESS DATA
Actuary
Economist
Expense Reduction Consultant
Government Procurement Consultant
Credit Risk Manager
Securities Analyst
Portfolio Manager
Web Store Owner
Adventure Travel Organizer
Exporter
Export Agent
Appraiser
WORK
WITH WORDS
Writer: web, medical, political, industry publications,
ghostwriter, copywriter, technical writer
Journalist
Book/Magazine/Web Site Editor
Resume Writer
Librarian: private, public, Information Retriever/Independent
Search Specialist
Web Content Finder
Information Abstractor
Indexer
Social Science Analyst
Ethicist
Legal Transcript Digester
Radio Guide Publisher: Celebrity Web Chat Listing Service
Graphologist
WORK
WITH THINGS
ARTISTICALLY
DONE
Special Occasions Cake Baker
Artist/Graphic Artist: Animator, Special Effects Artist, Textile
Designer, Demonstrative Evidence Specialist, Muralist, Commission
Artist
Technical Illustrator: Biomedical Visualization Specialist
Conservator
Cinematographer
Lighting Designer
Exhibit Designer/Builder
Neon Sign Maker
Holographer
Die Maker
Perfumer
STRUCTURED PROCEDURES
Computer Chip Layout Designer
Tugboat Operator
Heart-Lung Perfusionist
Prosthetist/Orthotist
High-Security Driving Instructor
Irrigation System Specialist
Musical Instrument Repairperson: Piano Tuner
Avionics Technician
Conference Taping Specialist
Computer Repairperson: Notebook Computer repairperson, Music
Synthesizers, Hard Disk, Robotics, Personal Digital Assistant,
Biomedical Equipment repairperson.
Telecommunications Specialist
Solar and Wind Energy Technologist/Installer
Millwright
Noise Control Specialist
Electrician
Car Mechanic
Mobile Car Detailer
Surveyor
Drafter
Tile Setter
Locksmith
Farrier
Arborist
Gemologist
Specialty Seamster
Personal Chef
Dog Trainer
Pet Sitter
Pyrotechnician
Product Tester
Diver
WORK
WITH PEOPLE AND DATA
Professionals: Optometrist, Orthoptist, Pharmacist,
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Manager: City, Environmental, Nonprofit, Community Affairs,
Healthcare, Public Heath, Human Resources
College Administrator, College Student Affairs Administrator, Court
Administrator
Performing Arts Manager
Information Technology Manager
Government Manager
Work-Family Manager
Telecommuting Manager
Project Manager
Product Manager
Facilities Manager
Associate Manager
Labor Relations Specialist
Political Campaign Manager
Succession Planning Consultant
Debt Collection Specialist
College Financial Aid Counselor
Corporate Intelligence Officer
WORKING
WITH PEOPLE AND WORDS
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Radio/TV News Reporter
Sports Announcer
Talk Show Host
Professional Speaker
Employee Trainer
Health Educator
Golf Seminar Instructor
Teacher
Program Specialist
English-as-a-Second Language Teacher
Vocational/Technical Teacher
Distance-Learning Teacher
Athletic Coach
Clergy
Actor
Musician
Composer
Political Aide
Lobbyist
ONE-ON-ONE
Speech-Language Therapist
College Admission Consultant
Troubled Teen Consultant
Tutor
Home Schooling Consultant
WORKING
WITH PEOPLE AND THINGS
Polygraph Operator
Occupational Therapist
Low-Investment Food Operations Owner: Pizza by the Slice, Food
Carts
Parking Lot Oil Change Business Operator
WORKING
WITH WORDS AND PEOPLE
Attorney: Computer Law, Sports Agent,
Adoption Specialist, Bankruptcy Lawyer, Employment Lawyer,
Education, Patent, Space, Elder, Franchise, Environmental, Tax,
Estate
Mediator/Arbitrator
Paralegal
Administrative Law Judge
Hearing Officer
Public Relations/Communications Specialist for the Travel Industry,
High-Tech and Biotech Companies, Investor Relations
Specialist
Personal Historian/Biographer
Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Language Interpreter or Translator
Regulation Compliance Consultant
WORKING
WITH DATA AND PEOPLE
Technical Support Specialist
Software Architect/Engineer/Developer/Designer
Web Designer: Political Sites, Webmaster
Database Administrator
Systems Analyst
Operations Research Analyst
Purchasing Specialist
Accountant: Forensic, Business, International, Healthcare,
Environmental, Consulting
WORKING
WITH DATA, PEOPLE, AND WORDS
Sports Information Director
Professor
Thesis Completion Consultant
Proposal Writer
Program Evaluator
Marketer: Online, Trend Spotter, Focus Group Leader, Social
Marketer, Film Marketer, Marketing Researcher
Business Developer
Idea Generator
Consultant: Management Consultant, Corporate Identity Consultant,
Organizational Developer, Small Business Consultant, Business Plan
Writer, Client Prospecting Specialist, Private-Practice
Consultant
Specialty Consultant
WORKING
WITH DATA AND THINGS
Archivist
Acoustician
Coroner/Medical Examiner
Microscopist
Oceanographer
Geographer: Location Expert, Area Specialist
Geographic Information Specialist
Geologist
WORKING
WITH THINGS AND PEOPLE
HANDS-ON HEALTH AND BEAUTY
Interior Designer: Housing for Elderly
and Disabled, Home Stager
Landscape Architect
Athletic Team Trainer
Veterinary Dentist, Cosmetic Dentist
Dental Hygienist
Message Therapist: Corporate Massage
Cosmetologist/Makeup Artist: Special Effects Makeup Artist, Wedding
Makeup Artist, FBI/CIA Theatrical Effects Specialist
Electrologist
OTHER
THINGS/PEOPLE CAREERS
Business Equipment Broker/Lessor
Home Inspector
Home Remodeling Contractor
Golf Course Superintendent
Garden Designer
Park Ranger
Fashion Designer
Elder Mover - professional organizer or someone trained to help the
elderly appraise the contents of their homes.
Photographer: Newborns, Government, Industrial, Lithograph
Cameraperson, School, Photo Restorator, Pet Photographer, Real
Estate, Annual Report Photographer
Accident Reconstructor
Sports Referee/Umpire
WORK
WITH THINGS AND DATA
Patent Agent
Engineer: Biomedical, Packaging, Hardware, Telecommunications,
Robotic, Sales, Environmental, Spacecraft
Inventor
Designer: Toy, Packaging, Industrial
Cartographer (mapmaker)
Enologist (wine making)
Brewer
Criminalist: Ballistics, Fingerprint Analyst, Arson Investigator,
Forensic Chemist, DA Analyst, Forgery Analyst
Historic Preservationist
WORK
WITH THINGS, PEOPLE, AND WORDS
Filmmaker/Director
Restaurant Menu Creator
WORK
WITH DATA, PEOPLE, AND THINGS
Nurse: Practitioner, Anesthetist,
Midwife, Obstetric, Transplant Coordinator, Wellness Coordinator,
Patient Discharge Planner, Case Manager, Clinical Trials
Coordinator, Menopause Counselor, Nurse Information, Legal
Consultant
Exercise Physiologist
Respiratory Therapist
Pre-employment Tester
School Computer Coordinator
Planner
FBI Special Agent: forensic expertise
Private Investigator
Risk Management Specialist
Video Yearbook Publisher
WORK
WITH DATA, THINGS, AND PEOPLE
Occupational Therapy
Physician’s Assistant
Audiologist
Veterinarian
Paramedic
Physical Therapist: Sports Physical Therapy
Acupuncturist
WORK
WITH THINGS, PEOPLE, AND WORDS
Curator
Architect
Corporate Security Consultant
Business Home Economist