Have you been considering a career change but when looking, you feel like there aren’t any good jobs available? There may be a few industries you have completely overlooked. For these industries, in both public and private sectors, they have had trouble finding individuals who have the passion, motivation, skills and/or education for the jobs. You can debate a lot over why that is, but the fact remains the same: there’s a sector out there that needs you.
Whether you want to create your own business or you’re looking to get yourself a new job and you’re willing to go the extra mile, there are quite a few short staffed sectors you should explore. With that in mind, here’s are a couple you should think about.
The Mental Health Field
There’s a lot of debate surrounding the effectiveness of mental health programs. Part of the problem is that patients have to wait far too long to get into some type of treatment program. When you finally do get an appointment, you get only a short time to talk to a therapist, and you’re spending $50 to $60 on average per session. This is not an optimal situation. As the patient ratio continues to rise, mental health professionals are in very high demand. What can you do about it?
You could apply to work in a counseling center not far from your home. There are also many medical facilities and veterans programs seeking to hire qualified individuals. If you are considering opening your own business, you can open up your own practice, or you can freelance out of your own home. The jobs in this industry are not just limited to psychiatrist and therapists. There are many other positions available, you can take the time to research the industry to find out more.
But I’m not qualified…
Okay, so you may be thinking, this sounds nice but, “I don’t meet the required qualifications. I’ve never worked in the mental health industry.” Don’t fret; the required qualifications are much more accessible than you think. There are many online programs you can attend such as obtaining a mental health counseling masters online. Depending on the position you are considering, you may only need to take a few classes to familiarize yourself with basic knowledge and terms to get started. If you are someone with very little time on your hands, using the internet as a resource is a great way to get yourself integrated into these short staffed sectors fast.
Do be aware of something that looks too easy. There are a lot of counseling apps surfacing that claim to offer a helping hand for a much lower price. If you sign up to work with one of these programs be sure to carefully read the terms of service. In many of these case, counselors are not required to have any training or experience but are held fully liable for all interactions with clients.
Another industry that is being overlooked – agriculture.
Explore Agriculture
With holistic health and more people eating plant-based diets agriculture is an industry worth considering. You can go so far as to opening your own farm or starting a small garden in your community. As in the mental health industry, there are many positions you can consider in this industry as well. Don’t rule out the research and science aspects, as well as finding ways address shortfalls in underdeveloped countries. Many have overlooked agriculture as a viable career path – you shouldn’t.
Open YOUR own farm
If you would like to open your own farm, that’s a lot easier said than done. There’s a lot of work ahead of you, but if this is your goal, it’s definitely worth it. Start with a smallholding, focus on cultivating your soil and plant yield, and get one or two animals to help bulk things out – your choices here depends on how well you work with livestock. Sheep are easy sources of wool, that won’t go to waste during the winter months we’re currently in. Chickens are easy to keep, with plenty of eggs you can take down to the farmers market on a regular basis. I don’t have the farming touch but I have a very close friend who is slowly acquiring small farm animals by her home in Tennessee.
Start a community garden
In starting a local community garden, you can start off slow with a few common vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, squash, kale, or various peppers. You can find a place to set up your “market” to sell fresh, local produce. Over time you can expand the types of produce you offer. By offering locally, freshly grown produce, you’ll not only be doing the environment and the community a service, but you’ll also be making a profit too.
There’s a lot of short-staffed sectors out there, that often go unnoticed. Because of this, the industries are in high demand and they are looking for the right person for the job. Take time to do your research and find out how you can find your place in one of these industries.
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Executive and Leadership Coach. She is the President of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where she can help you up-level your skills, so you can up-level your income, career, business or life. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, personality assessments, and a signature program, the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
