These jobs require adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to think and react quickly.
By Terri Williams
While some people like predictability and certainty, others prefer a
life less ordinary. They hate work that is so monotonous it could be
performed while blindfolded with one hand tied behind the back.
If you count yourself in this crowd, you might be the kind of
adventurous soul who needs new challenges every day and who finds the
thrill of the unexpected is what wakes you up in the morning. You
probably adapt quickly to changing environments and actually thrive in
chaos and ambiguity. So how do you find yourself a job?
According to Clarissa Kenty, a career expert in Birmingham, AL,
"People who hate routine jobs need a variety of duties as well as the
opportunity to formulate creative solutions to problems."
Many of these individuals work in emergency roles, which is a good
thing because, let's face it, there's nothing routine about a
life-and-death situation, and people who can think quickly can save
countless lives.
However, quick thinkers are also needed in other roles where job
duties can change in the blink of an eye. Keep reading to learn about
seven good career choices for people who hate routine.
There's no such thing as a routine day for police officers. Even a
"routine" traffic stop can quickly morph into a high-speed chase or a
dangerous shootout. That's why it's great for those who love
unpredictability.
Why It's Unpredictable: "Each day, police officers
are presented with different challenges. There are different crimes,
different levels of crimes, and different perpetrators," says Kenty. "In
the course of a single day, they may respond to a domestic dispute, a
robbery in progress, a hostage situation, or they may provide testimony
in a court case." However, keep in mind that according to the U.S.
Department of Labor, police officers may also have less exciting
responsibilities such as writing reports and filling out forms.
And police work also offers a variety of career choices, as according
to the Department of Labor, there are different types of police
officers, including state troopers, transit and railroad police, and
fish and game wardens. Opportunities at the federal level might include
working for the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, and the U.S. Secret Service.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Criminal Justice Program.
Educational Options: Usually candidates must have a
high school diploma or GED, says the Department. However, many agencies
require college coursework or a college degree. In addition, applicants
must graduate from their agency's training academy, be U.S. citizens at
least 21 years of age, and pass physical and personal qualifying tests.
Coordinating every aspect of a major meeting, convention, or event
allows planners to go from manager to negotiator, from organizer to
problem-solver - and frequently shifting gears keeps the job exciting.
Why It's Unpredictable: "Each
client has a different style, different needs, and a different budget
amount," explains Kenty. "And based on these factors, it may be a small,
medium, or large event. It may be held indoors or outdoors and may be a
strictly formal or a casual event."
Kelly Peacy, senior vice president of education and meetings for the
Professional Convention Management Association agrees the work is never
routine because of the various types of events they produce. "We may
organize black tie events and fundraising galas, manage exhibit halls or
trade shows, plan educational sessions, and handle off-site excursions,
she says.
"And the variety of duties we perform include food and beverage
arrangements, event site selection, audio visual arrangements, hotel and
venue contracting, budget and financial management, speaker and
entertainment management, decorating and design, and also transportation
management."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Program.
Education Options: According to the U.S. Department
of Labor, many employers prefer those with related work experience in
hotels or planning and a bachelor's degree. Event planners come from a
variety of different backgrounds. Related bachelor's degrees might
include hospitality management, marketing, business, communications, and
public relations.
Career #3: Firefighters
Most people think firefighters spend all day, well, fighting fires.
However, they do much more than this. And even the firefighting aspect
is unpredictable.
Why It's Unpredictable: "Firefighters
may respond to a house fire, a car fire, or a commercial building fire,
and it may be a small fire or a three-alarm blaze," says Kenty. "Each
situation presents different challenges based on the type and level of
fire."
And according to Battalion Chief Raymond Williams of the Birmingham
Fire Department in Birmingham, AL, firefighters actually respond to more
medical emergencies than fires. "We handle all types of
life-threatening medical situations such as strokes, heart attacks, and
injuries resulting from car wrecks, violence, or accidents in the home,"
he says.
Williams says that firefighters also respond to hazardous spills,
floods, forest fires, and explosions. In addition, he says they educate
the public on fire safety by "conducting fire drills and teaching
classes on how to use fire extinguishers."
Education Options: While in many jurisdictions the
entry-level education requirement is a high school diploma, the U.S.
Department of Labor says that most firefighters enter the job with
postsecondary education, usually a postsecondary non-degree award in
fire science or a related subject. The Department of Labor notes that
associate's degree programs are available as well.
The phrase "emergency room" is a not-so-subtle hint that this is an
ideal job for those who like the excitement of handling random medical
emergencies.
Why It's Unpredictable: "Different
patients will present different medical challenges, and there may be
fast periods and slow periods. So emergency room nurses constantly
multitask, and they quickly shift gears," says Kenty.
JoAnn Lazarus, president of the Emergency Nurses Association board of
directors, echoes Kenty's sentiment. "In one day, you may help a mother
birth a child into the world, and also hold the hand of someone in the
last stages of their life," says Lazarus. "One minute you're taking care
of a child who placed a foreign object in his nose, and a few minutes
later, you're treating someone who had a heart attack."
And Lazarus says that there are a variety of settings in which
emergency nurses may work. "Besides the emergency room department,
emergency nurses may be flight nurses, a part of the transport unit in
an ambulance, or they may work in an urgent care center.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
Education Options: There are three paths to a career
as a registered nurse, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Students can obtain a bachelor's or associate's degree in nursing or a
diploma from an approved nursing program. They must also be licensed.
As Warren Buffet once said, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation
and five minutes to ruin it." And the delicate balance act required to
manage a company's reputation is anything but routine.
Why It's Unpredictable: "Not only do these
professionals handle communication with an organization's clients, but
they also craft the information that is shared with investors and the
public," says Kenty.
Sonya Grigoruk, director of public relations at Paramount Farms in
Los Angeles, confirms that this career is never routine. "Public
relations specialists and managers are involved with everything from
developing PR campaigns and handling media training for executives to
staffing media events, writing press releases, and pitching possible
stories to the media," she says.
Grigoruk says job responsibilities may vary by organization, but
says, "In my career, I've done everything from holding ribbon cutting
ceremonies at solar farm openings and conducting pistachio harvest media
tours to managing PR agencies around the world, including China, India,
and South America."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Communications Program.
Education Options: Public relations specialists
typically need a bachelor's degree. Employers usually want a candidate
who has studied public relations, journalism, business, English, or
communications, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
These dispatchers serve as the link that connects people in
distressing and urgent situations with the help they need, which is
never boring or mundane.
Why It's Unpredictable: "Each call
is different and many of the callers are frantic," says Kenty.
"Emergency dispatchers decipher what the caller is saying, while trying
to calm them down."
And according to Jamie Zeller, president of the California Emergency
Dispatcher Association, dispatchers work at various times of the day,
"from the day shift to the graveyard shift." The calls can vary widely,
too. "We take calls for immediate emergency assistance, as well as calls
from people who need advice in non-emergency-type situations."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Educational Program.
Education Options: The U.S. Department of Labor
reports that most dispatchers have a high school diploma, although there
may be additional requirements that vary by state. The Department of
Labor adds that some employers may prefer to hire those who have an
associate's or bachelor's degree in a related subject, such as criminal
justice, communications, or computer science. Many states require
dispatchers to obtain certification.
If there's an element of routine in the day-to-day duties of medical
and health service managers, it's that they routinely wear more than one
hat.
Why It's Unpredictable: "These
managers are dealing with patients, staff, doctors, and vendors, and all
of these relations must be handled differently," says Kenty.
For example, "We hire and fire staff, keep up with human resource
laws, and are responsible for accounts payable and accounts receivable,"
says Pam Lewis, a certified medical manager and chair of the
Professional Association of Health Care Office Management.
Dorothy Thompson, a certified medical manager and the practice
administrator at Carolina Medical Consultants in Rock Hill, SC, agrees
that the job is far from routine. "You're also the liaison between the
staff and the physicians and also between the patients and the staff,"
she says. "Sometimes, you're also a disciplinarian, and at times, a
comforter." Thompson says she's never bored and is constantly learning
new things.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Health Care Administration Program.
Education Options: "Prospective medical and health
services managers have a bachelor's degree in health administration,"
says the U.S. Department of Labor. Master's degrees are also common,
according to the Department of Labor, in fields such as health services,
public administration, long-term care administration, public health,
and business administration.