The 7 Best Careers for Helping People

Avatar photo Michael Yi

Everyone’s dream job should suit their personality, and for a lot of people, that’s a career helping people. If you’re one of those people, then you should be happy to hear that you have several options to choose from.

Here’s a list of career goals you can aspire to make a difference in a person’s life, while also giving you the job satisfaction you need.

1. Healthcare worker

One of the more direct options here, healthcare itself has a variety of opportunities for you. The most obvious one here is being a doctor, though even that can be quite broad. You can obviously help someone with their overall physical wellbeing in a hospital environment, though there’s definitely more to it than that. While many require a medical degree, positions such as a medical assistant are attainable even without a bachelor’s. So, there are still options for you even if you didn’t attend university.

2. Mental Health worker

Of course, let’s not forget about mental healthcare as well. Psychologists and psychiatrists can provide life-changing treatment for people suffering in silence, not to mention social workers and nurses can also provide people with mental illness treatment for specific areas like addictions and issues that come from isolation

3. Teacher

Now here’s something that’s always in high demand on the job market: teachers. No matter if you’re a primary or high school teacher, you have the opportunity to change a child’s life forever, by giving them the direction to pave their own future. For some children, they may not have many good role models in their life, and you have the opportunity to provide that for them. Not only will you create a positive impact on individual lives, but also for the community and society itself, since you may be raising its future leaders. Even if that’s not the case, you can still instil that passion you have for a particular subject into others. If you find yourself wanting to share your knowledge with others, then a teaching position is the best career for you!

4. Education support worker

This is an interesting line of work because it can intersect with the other career options listed above, particularly with education. Many consider it a very rewarding experience, since not only would you be providing a child with valuable knowledge and life skills, but you’ll be helping someone who has a greater need for aid, considering that many children with special needs often find it difficult to learn. You could also work with someone with a disability in their own home. A support worker can help a disabled person live independently at a place they feel comfortable with. Not only can you help them with their overall treatment and basic necessities in the long term, but you’ll also be able to give them company and provide them with a better quality of life.

5. Aged care worker

Speaking of keeping someone company, this is where working with elderly people also come in. While technically not working with special needs, old people are often forgotten and are prone to depression because of how often they are isolated. An aged care worker can provide comfort for some of the most vulnerable members in society. Common jobs that help the elderly are a personal care aide, who usually work in nursing homes and hospitals that can plan activities to keep the brain active while helping seniors with their basic routine, and a home health aide, who complete similar jobs for the elderly in the comfort of their own home.

6. Police officer

If you want to maintain peace and order in your neighbourhood, then you should perhaps consider becoming a police officer. They serve justice to those who harm others and help those who have been victims of these crimes. While it is a high-risk job, you can save lives every day, not only for those personally affected by crimes but also for those who commit the crime. You can redirect criminals and bring them onto a brighter path. So, as you can see, a police officer can affect a lot of lives here.

7. Personal Trainer

This isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of jobs to help people, but I definitely think that this should be included in this career guide. Fitness is something a lot of people have difficulty with, and considering that, according to the Heart Foundation, six million Australian over the age of 18 in 2014/15 were overweight, obesity is becoming a widespread problem. Once you become a personal trainer, you can use your knowledge on nutrition and exercise to guide your client in their fitness journey. By learning more of your client and their current fitness levels, you should be able to help them become strong and healthy.

As you can see, there’s quite a variety of different jobs when it comes to helping people. All you have to do is decide which one gels well with your personality.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick something that interests and looks into its requirements to get started now.

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