The flexible, fulfilling career

Q: I want to make a career change. I’m tired of working long hard hours and the stress of a hard driven career-type of job. Where would I go to find a job/career that would satisfy my need for flexibility, fulfillment and passion without the stress and the need for additional advanced degrees? ………..Steve, S

A: As America ages there is an ever expanding group of people who are done with the stress of highly driven careers and are ready for a more enjoyable, yet fulfilling, way to enjoy working and meeting their financial and social needs. The criteria for job seeking at this point would be focused on the amount of personal satisfaction the job brings, the benefit it has to society as a whole, the level of stress it creates internally, and its flexibility.

The following suggestions have been rated by Money magazine as the most likely to fit into your criteria.

Grant Coordinator/Grant Writer, median pay $47,800 to $90,000, estimated growth rate of 12% and estimated 10,000 total jobs. Grant Coordinators combine professional skills with a cause you believe in by writing and coordinating funding requests for a nonprofit school or government agency. Find a workshop at grantwritingusa.com and agwa.us.

Personal Trainer, median pay $52,600 to top of $136,000, 10 year growth opportunity of 29% with a total of 30,000 jobs.

Energy Field Auditor, median pay $41,000 to a top of $66,500, a 12% increase in next 10 years and total jobs of around 10,000. Homeowners looking to cut their energy bills are hiring auditors to check for leaks and recommended improvements. You will need a six-week training course for state certification. Find out more at aeecenter.org.

Online Content Marketing Writer, median pay $51,000 to top of $104,000, growth potential 13%, with total jobs estimated at 10,000. Helps to have a marketing and writing background. Check for more information at emarketingassociation.com.

Tutor, median pay $52,400 to $106,000 with a 15% growth potential and total 20,000 jobs. Private tutoring, one on one, but also groups, give students the edge they need for advancement. No special degree is required, but teaching experience in helpful.

SEO Specialist, median pay is $52,100 to a top of $71,400 with a potential 13% growth rate for jobs. Search Engine Optimization specialists know how to hone a website’s pages so they will land near the top. It’s an online home-based opportunity for the tech savvy person. For more info check online forums and local community classes. Be careful about the hundreds of “certified” specialists who want to train you for this position.

Pilates and Yoga Instructors, median pay $62,400 to top earners nearing $140,000. Growth potential is 29% in the next 10 years. As the mind body spirit integration movement becomes more and more accepted there is a growing need for trained instuctors. Check out Pilatesmethodalliance.org and yogaalliance.org.

Technical Writer, median pay $68,100 to $95,000 with a projected 18% growth in the next 10 years. Job potential of 50,000. A fast growing technical field with work-at-home potential. Strong writing skills are a must and any degrees add to your credibility. Check out the Society for Technical Communication’s website at stc.org.

Patient/Health Educator, median pay $63,900 to $87,000 with a growth potential of 18%. Entry levels do require a bachelor’s degree in health education. Learn more at aahperd.org/aahe.

Fitness Consultant, median pay $34,00 to $60,800 with a 10 yr. growth potential of 29%. It’s about designing programs that integrate fitness, wellness and health into a single system. A strong fitness background is helpful, a degree in physical education or health care helps.

Substitute Teacher, K-12, median pay is $28,100 to $42,000 with growth potential of 9%. This important job of keeping students on track with their studies is fulfilling and flexible. Qualifications vary by state, longer stints requiring more education. Check with local schools for their requirements and availability.

Assistant Actuarial Analyst, median pay $62,000 to a top area of $82,300 with a growth potential of 5%. Using sophisticated modeling techniques, you calculate the likelihood that something will happen. Strong background in math and business is key. Go to soa.org or casact.org for more info.

And a few more, R&D Technician, median pay $52,400 with 13% industry growth potential. Risk Management Analyst, median pay $71,000 with growth potential of 11%. Data Analyst, median pay $56,000 with growth potential of 5%.

So if you are unhappy with your current work situation, give some thought to what would make you happier, more fulfilled and less stressed. Find out what your strong points are and what you love, then take the plunge and try it out. Being happy with that you do all day, will be much healthier for your mind and body.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about. Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

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