Ninety-hour weeks are very common across the Investment Banking world and there are great rewards for those who are prepared to put in the hours. That said, it’s not for everyone. Not everyone’s dreams are sat in the office working until 2am on a client presentation.
In this career zone, we’re looking at jobs that are not stressful where you can focus on your work-life balance, whilst having a successful career. Remember, just because you not working ninety-hour weeks in an investment bank, doesn’t mean that you cannot have a great life and a successful career.
Below are ten great jobs that don’t require you to be sat in the office working every hour of the day and night.
Acupuncturist
Acupuncture is a great career for those who believe in natural medicines to treat health imbalances and disease. It involves using thin, sterile needles to stimulate pressure points on the body and help the healing process.
If you want to become an acupuncturist, you will first need to complete a recognised acupuncturist qualification, such as those accredited by The British Acupuncture Accreditation Board in the UK or those accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) in the USA. Most Acupuncture programs welcome students from all educational backgrounds, so if you haven’t studied any form of medicine, you can still pursue a career in Acupuncture.
Most acupuncturists start by joining an acupuncture clinic in their local region before branching out and starting their own private clinic where the can choose their own clients and working hours.
Resources:
Yoga Instructor
Yoga Instructors help their students learn the techniques involved in the is ancient form of physical and mental wellness that has been developed over the few thousand years.
Generally, there are no qualifications needed to become a yoga instructor, however instructors may have received training through a Yoga school or through a mentor that they follow. Given there are many different variations of Yoga to include, Ashtanga, Anusara, Hatha, Vinyasa, and Bikram yoga, instructors will be masters, having spent years mastering the art of yoga.
Typically, Yoga Instructors will start their career working in a local school, before branching out to start up their own business. Remember, the art of a good Yoga instructor is not just being master yourself, it’s learning how to teach and guide your student to make sure they become passionate about yoga.
Resources:
Ski Instructor
Becoming a ski instructor is fantastic job for those who enjoy the mountains and the great outdoors. Whilst there are no formal entrance qualifications to becoming a ski instructor, you will need to be able to ski very well and have passed some form of ski instructor qualification.
Generally, there are three main programs to follow, BASI, CSIA and NZSIA ski instructor qualifications. BASI is the British Association of Snowsport Instructors, CSIA the Canadian Ski Instructors Association and NZSIA the New Zealand Ski Instructor Association. There are all centrally governed by the ISIA (International Ski Instructor Association), and all offer worldwide recognition.
Once you’ve passed your qualification, getting a job in the mountains in a relatively easy process and can give you a long rewarding career working six months of the year, with the other six months leaving you free to travel if you choose.
Resources:
Farmer
If you love the outdoors, and only if you really love the outdoors, you can consider becoming a farmer. Farmers get up at the crack of dawn and will often work late in the night in every weather condition from driving rain and snow, to the searing sun. If this is really for you, then a career in farming could be right for you.Before you start farming, you need to decide which part of farming do you want to get into. If you’re want to minimise the environmental impact then organic farming is your preferred choice, whereas if you enjoy herding cattle, then a livestock farm might be a better choice. The last option could be working a traditional pastoral farm where you’re involved in feeding the world.Generally, the career progression of a typical farmer, starts off as a trainee where your farm work will be quite varied. You’ll likely spend your days involved in manual labour from cleaning, tractor driving, general handiwork, tending to livestock, ploughing, planting and harvesting crops.
Resources:
Librarian
Librarians help people find the information they need to conduct personal or professional research and generally will have a passion for both information and storing that information over time. Whist the job profile may change slightly whether you’re in a small or larger library, there are two key focuses.
- The General Public – Librarians will help people find the information they need to conduct their research using both electronic and print resources. Part of working in a public library, may also be involved in teaching people how to find the information they’re looking for.
- Academic Librarians – Tend to assist students researching topics related to their coursework. Generally, college and University libraries are larger and often on more than one campus and therefore the librarian is likely to specialise in one subject or area of focus.
Libraries like to see librarians will a degree in library science or a related subject, however it’s not a prerequisite to becoming a librarian.
Resources:
Massage Therapists
Massage therapists, whether they’re female “masseuse” or male “masseur” help clients relax by manipulating the soft tissues around their joints with the overall aim of improving health and wellbeing.
To become a massage therapist, students will generally take a certificate in Massage Therapy Practice that teaches you the basics to allow you to practice professionally, however most massage therapists will continue their studies whilst specialising in a part of therapy, for example Swedish, shiatsu, sports and deep tissue.
The career path of a massage therapist typically starts off in a massage clinic where they can learn their trade before moving on to work for themselves.
Resources:
Writer
Writers research, write, and edit written content across a range of genres, from non-fiction to poetry, fiction to technical writers, blog and feature writers, and as editors.
10 years ago, you had limited career options as a writer, however the internet and social media has not only transformed publishing, but whole communication industry. Today the career options for writers are endless allowing to you focus your time not only working for others, but also working for yourself.
Becoming a writer generally starts off in a very similar way, having a fantastic knowledge of the English language and completing a degree program, however it’s not uncommon to find writers with no formal qualifications.
The next step before you start applying to writing jobs is to build up your portfolio which you can use to show potential employers your writing style. Once you’ve built your portfolio, getting a writing job is very easy given the internet requires so much content to be written each day.
Resources:
Gardener
Like many careers within this post, becoming a gardener requires you to have a passion for gardening but no formal qualifications are needed. As a Gardner, you’ll take responsibility for every type of plant in you from perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees. Growing plants is a long process as plants are very sensitive to the changing seasons and small mistake can have grave consequences later in the year.
Whilst no formal qualifications are needed, most gardeners will spend a lot of time studying and taking courses to improve their knowledge, whilst making sure their up-to-date with the latest plant growth techniques.
The career part is varied, however most start with landscaping jobs in the commercial and residential sectors before moving on to working in botanical gardens, garden centres, landscaping firms, parks, private residences, real estate, and private businesses with clients that are looking for gardeners.
Resources:
Driver
Becoming a driver doesn’t just mean becoming a taxi driver. Today there are many more options available to you from being a personal driver, an Uber Driver where you choose your own hours to becoming a driving instructor where you’re teaching others to drive.
Obviously the one requirement to becoming a driver, is for you to have a driving licence yourself, but there are very few other qualifications that you need. The career path is very open, however generally drivers start of driving for companies before branching out to set up their own business.
Resources:
Dog Walkers
With around 30 million Dogs in the UK (Source: RSPCA) and around 80 million dogs in the USA (Source: ASPCA) becoming dog walker in a great way to earn some extra income each month. Generally, dog walkers have a passion for animals and like the outdoors.
Throughout the world, many pet owners simply to not have the time to take their dog for a walk each day. Dog walkers will take their dog for a walk each day on behalf of the owner.
Before you simply set yourself up as a dog walker, make sure you do some research in the different breeds and how they interact with each other. Some breeds will be very territorial, others predatory and some are adventurous and will likely cause you problems.
Resources:
Nick Jones
Latest posts by Nick Jones (see all)
- What Job Should I Do? It Depends on Whether You’re An Introvert Or An Extrovert - November 17, 2021
- Ten Ways to Unplug and Recharge During The Holiday Season - November 3, 2021
- 10 Jobs for Teenagers to Earn Extra Money - October 13, 2021