Knowing what you want to do with your life is a gift.
It takes most people years of education plus a bit of trial and error to discover their true interests.
If you’re starting with a strong sense that you want to do something to help others, you have many options.
Here are helping professions that make a difference.
Nursing
Pandemic burnout has taken a serious toll on the nursing profession. The US Department of Labor Statistics estimates that as many helping professionals that make a difference as 500,000 nurses plan to retire or leave “bedside” positions by the end of 2022, resulting in a staggering shortage of over 1 million nurses. Nursing schools can only train about 188,000 nurses per year.
Out of this crisis may rise opportunity. By the time new classes of nurses finish training, hospitals may be forced to change the conditions that drive nurses out their doors.
In the meantime, many experienced nurses are making far more money as temporary “traveling” nurses or managing their own schedules as agency nurses, choosing when they want to work and what type of work they’ll do.
Speech and Language Pathologist
These professionals help people with problems speaking or swallowing. They help stroke victims relearn how to speak. They also help children with disabilities learn verbal communication skills.
Helping someone who is frustrated by the inability to communicate verbally or who can’t swallow the food they love properly can be incredibly fulfilling. A master’s degree from an accredited institution and licensure is required to enter this profession.
Financial Advisor
Helping people manage money isn’t the first thing that usually leaps to mind when thinking of helping professions. But economic upheaval coupled with growing financial illiteracy has made this a helping profession that meets an urgent need.
In order to perform most functions of this profession, a graduate degree, licensure, and continuing education are necessary. Bad financial advisors who don’t know what they’re doing can wreak havoc and rain ruin down on their clients’ lives—that’s why preparation and education are so critical if you want to help people in this profession.
Youth Services Worker, Teacher, Social Worker
Children and young adults are regarded as “at-risk” when their lives present significant barriers to health, education, and stability. Many professionals can step in and help young people stay on the right path, find services that will help them, and navigate the juvenile justice system in a way that increases the odds they won’t have to deal with it again.
other related articles of interest:
Great Career Choices for People Who Like to Explore the World
Those contemplating entering helping professions should work on developing excellent communication skills, including both speaking and listening. These professions require compassion, patience, and in many cases, endurance and the ability to cope with stress.
But the rewards of helping professions that make a difference are many, including the satisfaction that comes from changing lives for the better. Consult your school counselors, college advisors, and professors to get their perspectives on your career ambitions and what you need to do to achieve them.
Image Credit: helping professions that make a difference by Adobe Stock royalty-free image File #: 274229642
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