Tips On Choosing A Helping Career Path
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If you have been called to a job that helps people, you are on a special path. It can be extremely difficult at times, but service careers can also give as much as they demand. Whether you want to pursue a degree in medicine or take a more spiritual journey, there are many ways to benefit others’ lives. To help you decide the right job for you, consider these questions and how they align with your goals and preferences.
Be Aware Of Time Commitments
Some careers are high-stress and incredibly demanding. They require not only years of dedication to learn but a packed schedule for your entire career that isn’t right for everyone. For example, doctors and surgeons are some of the most selfless, hardworking professionals out there, but they have to spend a minimum of eight years in school to even practice medicine. However, for someone who feels drawn to helping treat people through compassionate healthcare, the sacrifice is worth the reward.
You don’t have to be recently out of college to apply for med school either. Earning your graduate medical degree can happen at any age with enough dedication and the help of some financial aid. Private loans for graduate medical degrees make covering the cost of tuition easier. You can look into various options and weigh yours if this is a path you want to pursue.
Think About Your Own Growth
When you want to have a job helping others, you must also consider how it will help you. Service jobs are opportunities to nurture your natural strengths, but they can also be immensely challenging. Think about what a career will ask out of you in return for serving others. For example, a counselor or social worker will have to address their own mental health before they practice. At times, you may feel like you are even lost because clients are coping with the same struggles as you.
Not everyone is interested in the emotional labor some helping careers require, and that’s okay. There are still so many choices available. You could go into teaching and help children or adult learners better their lives through education. You may look into jobs that offer relaxation through massage therapy or yoga. By considering the effect your job will have on your own emotional and spiritual growth, it becomes easier to know whether or not a career is the right choice for you.
Consider The Cost
There is nothing selfish about being concerned about your finances. Even though your true compensation may come through helping others, you still have real monetary needs that have to be met. Your job must be able to provide for you just as much as others. Give yourself permission to be assertive about how much you would like to earn and what a fair pay is for your services. There is a fine line, of course. Some coaches and spiritual mentors will charge thousands of dollars for their services solely to exploit their clients’ loneliness, anxiety and the like. You do not have to be that person, however. There are ways for you to find a rewarding career that is both emotionally fulfilling and financially secure.
Jenna Christine is a corporate relations specialist with over ten years experience in employee relations and brand development roles. She is a dedicated volunteer within the disability advocacy space, and loves to bake and run marathons.
