When it comes down to it, most people want a job that they enjoy. Sure, there are jobs that are prestigious: Doctors, scientists, firemen, teachers and military officers were identified as those carrying the most prestige in a 2004 Harris Poll. But wouldn't it be great to have a really cool job? Don't you want a job that makes people say "She is so lucky" or "He has the best job"? And how many people are lucky enough to truly love their jobs? Here are some occupations that offer some of the coolest jobs around:
Wine Promoting Do you have a passion for food and wine? How would you like to have a job where some meetings include tasting a nice Pinot Noir with hints of cherry paired with some wild king salmon? Many jobs in the wine business, from winemaker to salesperson, offer this type of perk and other tasty benefits in a career that is as much a lifestyle as it is a job. Athletic Training One person who is vital to any athletic team is the athletic trainer. Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC, for Athletic Trainer, Certified) ensure that athletes and others are prepared physically for any challenge and help when injuries and problems occur. According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), athletic trainers "specialize in injury and illness prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for all physically active people, including the general public."
Broadcasting Having a career in television or radio sounds exciting -- and maybe even glamorous. Whether it's delivering the 6 o'clock news or hosting a drive-time radio show, what could be better than working in an environment where you get to listen to music or interview interesting people all day, right? Those in the broadcast industry can attest to the fact that while their careers are certainly interesting, there is more to TV and radio than just sounding or looking good on the air.
Image Consulting You might have seen them while watching TV shows such as "Extreme Makeover," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," or "What Not to Wear." Or you might have heard that Martha Stewart needed one to give her advice on how to look sympathetic to a jury. And all the faces that grace the cover of US Weekly have one. We're talking about image consultants, and they have one of the hottest careers today. Also known as wardrobe consultants, fashion stylists or makeover specialists, image consultants are paid to show people how to create a fabulous impression.
Music Therapy Would you love to have a career in music, but fear you wouldn't earn a regular paycheck? Do you want to pursue a career in the medical field, but don't want to go to school for the next dozen years? Would you like to have a job in which you can help others and still bring in a decent salary and have a manageable schedule? If you answered "yes" to one or all of these questions, then perhaps a career in music therapy is for you.
Event Planner When it comes to event planning careers, there are two different routes to choose. A corporate event planner works as an employee of a corporation to plan only that company's events. These can range from client entertainment dinners and trips to annual meetings and incentive trips for employees or partners. The other avenue is to work for an event planning company like In Focus Events that plans and produces corporate meetings, events and incentive travel for a variety of clients.
Fashion Buying Love to shop? You can make a career of it as a fashion buyer. Get the inside scoop on this important function on the business side of the fashion industry. Buying and merchandising refers to the process by which stores purchase merchandise from wholesalers and, in turn, sell it to customers.
Crime Scene Investigation Do you think of naming your children Gil, Horatio or Warrick? Are songs by The Who frequently playing in your head? Chances are you are a huge fan of CSI, the TV phenomenon that has spurred three hit series and has a hot syndication following. Thanks to the popularity of the hit series, there's a growing curiosity in careers in forensics and criminology. Criminalistics and forensics, which is projected to grow as fast as the average industry growth by the BLS, is the science and profession dealing with the recognition, collection, identification, individualization, and interpretation of physical evidence and the application of the natural sciences to law-science matters. Read more...
Bottom line: Whatever you do, your job should be fulfilling for you personally -- whether it carries prestige, allows you to help people, brings in the money, gives you great travel opportunities or is just plain cool. At the end of the day this will keep you satisfied on the job and in life.