You care about the world and those that inhabit it, whether it’s people, nature or wildlife. Therefore, you want a career that gives back and cares for the community. The most rewarding jobs can be those that have a positive impact on the lives of others, and it is true that when you do good to help someone else, it makes you feel good. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that lots of people seek careers that will see them help others. But what careers can make this a reality?
Emergency Responder
Whether you become a police officer, EMT or firefighter, becoming an emergency responder means you can touch the lives of many and help those in desperate medical need. Protecting others will need to be in your blood, along with giving them the care they need and deserve. To be an emergency responder, you will have to be selfless and put others before yourself. It is a challenging career path that might see you putting yourself in danger based on the type of emergency responder you are and the situations you are called out to. All of this will be made worth it when the care you provide could save someone’s life.
Depending on the type of emergency responder you want to be, there are different requirements that you’ll need to hit. However, you will need to have a sympathetic and caring personality, be able to drive, be physically fit, and undergo any training that is presented to you.
Emergency Call Handler
Related to the career path above, an emergency call handler is an equally rewarding job that gives back to the community. Emergency call handlers are the first point of contact for those who require emergency services. Whether they need the fire department, the police, or emergency medical services, call handlers will ensure that the right services get to the person who requires them in a timely fashion.
As well as directing services, call handlers can provide advice and comfort for those on the other end of the phone who might be anxious or distressed until the service gets to them. The way an emergency call is dealt with can be the difference between life and death, so this makes the level of job satisfaction high. You don’t need any specific qualifications to become an emergency call handler, and training is often provided on the job.
Nurse
Being a nurse allows you to feel good, and it is the ultimate career path for those who want to help others. You’ll have a compassionate heart, will be strong-willed and determined, and most of all, will be a people person – some patients love to talk, so communication skills are essential.
You will be tending to wounds, helping doctors, speaking to and caring for patients, and keeping on top of admin and ensuring the facilities are clean and running smoothly. Being a nurse is no easy ride, but it can give you job satisfaction, and it is also becoming an in-demand job.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put those in the nursing profession under immense strain as the pandemic highlighted the shortage of nurses in the healthcare industry. This staffing shortage is likely to get worse over the next decade as there is a deficit in numbers between those training and those leaving the profession, either due to retirement or seeking another career. This means that there is a great need for people to change to a nursing career. If you are looking for a rewarding career that gives back to the community, look no further than nursing. As mentioned above, you will get a lot of gratification from helping patients and seeing the real difference you make to their lives in providing care.
Getting into the profession couldn’t be easier, and it doesn’t matter what background you come from. If you are thinking of pursuing a second career as a nurse, then there are various routes to go down. You will need to decide between a BSN vs MSN. What’s better is that these courses can be completed online, which means you can fit them around your current work and commitments, making it even easier to achieve your career goals.
Occupational Therapist
A profession that is within the care sector, occupational therapists make a real difference to their patients’ lives. They help those experiencing physical, mental, emotional, and developmental concerns complete daily tasks essential for day-to-day life. They help patients who are leaving the hospital adjust to life at home and ensure that they have everything they need to carry out their daily tasks with as much ease and comfort as possible. They work in rehabilitation centers, schools, doctor’s offices, patients’ homes, and hospitals.
RCFE administrator
An RCFE administrator is someone who manages a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. While you may not be providing caregiving to the patients, you will be running and overseeing the management of the facility.
You can learn about administering an RCFE through reputable sources and the courses/training you have to undergo. Typically, you will need to have certain skills already, such as a good character and reputation, a high school diploma, and the knowledge of providing care and supervision.
You will need to maintain the certificate you receive and renew it every two years.
Behavioral counselor
Work with your clients who are suffering from a type of addiction and offer them one-on-one counseling or group therapy. You will be trusted to provide healthy coping mechanisms and offer insight into why they may be acting a certain way. Behavioral counselors are trained in psychology and use different therapies to help their patients change their behavior. They work closely with their patients to help them change behavior that is damaging to them. As a behavioral counselor, you could work at a private practice, community clinics, mental health centers, prisons, rehabilitation centers, or in a support group setting.
It is not just substance abuse and addiction that behavioral counselors help to address, though. Depending on where you work, you could find yourself working with people who are in recovery and those at the very start of their recovery, whether that’s from substance abuse, disordered eating, and mental health.
You will need a bachelor’s degree but also a license and hours of supervised clinical experience.
High school teacher
Influence the youth of today by working with them in developing their skills and shaping them to be healthy adults. Young people look up to their educators and take inspiration from them when choosing their career path and trying to find out where they fit in the world. A good teacher can make all the difference in a child’s life and might even inspire the next generation of teachers. While it’s not an easy job, being an educator can help you give back to the community, and if you enjoy spreading knowledge and being organized, these are added bonuses to the role.
Veterinarian
Animals need to be looked after just as much as humans. Love to care for pets and ensure they have a great quality of life? If so, then improving the life and bringing sick pets back to health can be rewarding. Save the lives of a person’s best friend and watch you bring joy and hope not just to the animal’s life but also the owner’s. To be a successful vet, you must be understanding and show compassion to the animals you are treating who cannot verbally communicate their health concerns and toward their owners, who might find the situation stressful. Nursing an animal back to health is incredibly rewarding, and a pet owner will be forever grateful for you doing this.
Charity Worker
Whether you choose to work for a charity as a volunteer or are looking for a paid job role, it is no secret that charity work is very rewarding. This is especially true if the charity you work for represents a cause that is close to your heart. There might be a local charity near you that helps the homeless and those in need, or you might be passionate about climate change and choose to work for a global organization. The possibilities are endless when it comes to charity work. There are a number of roles available on both a paid and voluntary basis which include those that are managerial, in social media, and marketing and administration.
Fitness Coach
Another career that gives back to the community is that of a fitness coach or personal trainer. People in this career have a direct impact on the lives of the people who choose to work with them. As well as helping someone become a more physically healthy version of themselves, you will also help boost their confidence and self-esteem as the mental health benefits of exercise are realized. Watching someone meet the health and fitness goals that you have helped them to set and achieve is very rewarding. If you have a passion for fitness, you can take a recognized qualification to become a personal trainer, which will help to ensure you provide a safe service.