With so many career paths out there, finding the right one can be a long and difficult process. It will be even harder over the next couple of years with Education Data revealing that a total of 3,898,000 college students will graduate revealing that a total of 3,898,000 college students will graduate in 2020. This means that there will be loads of competition for the very positions out there currently.
While there’s nothing wrong with considering a mainstream job, being aware of other, non-traditional career paths can help you determine what’s best for you. Sometimes, it’s these specialized jobs that can appeal to you and make going to work all the more exciting. That said, we’ve listed a few, lesser known careers that you could consider moving forward:
Search Engine Optimization
If you’re in marketing you’re probably aware of search engine optimization (SEO), but specializing in this particular field is relatively new. It’s market research, web development, and advertising all rolled into one. On a day-to-day basis, SEO specialists have to try and predict algorithms from search engines such as Google or Bing to increase traffic into their client’s websites and reach their KPIs, which could be anything from increasing sales to gaining more page visits. The median starting salary for this role is around $48,250 to $61,000 per year.
Contract Specialist
If you’re passionate about law, having a career as an attorney or lawyer is the obvious direction you would follow. However, if you lack the time or resources to pursue a law degree, it’s still possible to start a career in the legal profession by becoming a contract specialist. This role requires a lot of negotiation skills, with Special Counsel explaining that contract specialists manage written agreements between two parties. In other words, they negotiate, draft, and review contracts. In terms of the salary, contract specialists can make around $76,342 per year.
Ethical Hacker
Hackers are mostly portrayed as criminals who steal money from big corporations – and while the money side may be appealing, the criminal side is definitely not. Thus it may be surprising to know that you can get a job as a hacker, legally! CPO Magazine detail how ethical hackers use their skills to help companies identify security problems with their network, which will help keep their information safe. To put it simply, you’re paid to hack into a company’s network to find vulnerabilities, so you can help them patch the holes up – and you’ll get an annual salary of around $80,230 to do so.
Property Inspector
If you always want to be on the move and dislike sitting behind a desk all day, consider becoming a property inspector – a position that is in high demand in Nevada and just about anywhere else in the US. A property inspector is responsible for making sure that a client is aware of any problems their potential property has, such as issues with plumbing and flooring that need to be addressed immediately. The median salary for a qualified property inspector is $48,845.
Technical Writer
Anyone with knowledge spanning several topics should consider a career in technical writing. This role involves preparing instruction manuals, how-to guides, and other supporting documents in order to translate complex information into simpler language that anyone can understand. What’s more, you’ll learn a lot about the industry you choose to work in, as you will be exposed to the developments within that sector. For instance, if you get into a high-end technology firm and write manuals on their operations, you’ll see some of the latest innovations that the company is working on bringing to market. Not only do you get exposed to new developments, but you can also rake in an average of $70,930 a year.
While beginning your career can be a daunting task, considering a unique path might make it less difficult. Plus, you’ll be able to hone your skills for a particular niche and stand out in your field.