If your teenager is going to be finishing up high school in the spring, you are likely just as stressed as they are when it comes to figuring out post-graduation plans. Does your child want to go to college? Do they know what they would like to major in? Are they consider entering the workforce right away? Do they want to join the military? With an abundance of options, there is surely something that will fit your teen’s interests and perhaps match their hobbies, too. Here are five unique career paths your teen may consider pursuing following high school graduation or after obtaining a college degree.
Race Car Driver
Has your teen always been into cars? Perhaps they enjoy taking part in fixing them up, or perhaps they are into performance driving and know that there are short tracks, speedways, and superspeedways that range from 0.5 to 2.5 miles long among average races. If being a car mechanic or car salesperson is not really up your teen’s alley, then perhaps they should consider branching off of their hobby in performance driving and knowledge of cars and become a race car driver.
Race car driving is a unique career path. Your teen would be able to travel and learn how to compete professionally and safely. Top drivers can make upwards of $80,000 a year. While race car driving may seem off the beaten path, it is definitely a unique opportunity your teen could try out.
Park Ranger
If your teen enjoys being outdoors, hiking, scaling mountains, and loves the scenic views and little critters that nature offers, perhaps your teen should consider a career as a park ranger. Park rangers take care of and preserve the nature and beauty within the nation’s parks. As a park ranger, you would give tours, answer questions, and be sure that all rules and regulations within the park are met by all visitors and personnel.
Becoming a park ranger takes a few years of training. Your child may even consider obtaining a college degree in environmental science or a related field first. National park rangers can make around $80,000 a year, while seasonal rangers may make minimum wage in smaller parks.
Hotel Manager
If your teen is good with numbers, has great communication skills, and enjoys taking responsibility for projects and leading a group of people, hotel management may be in their interest. Hotel managers are in charge of the hotel’s staff. They coordinate events, are in charge of the hospitality and room accommodations for guests, and overall make sure their hotel is running smoothly.
Hotel managers typically have a college degree, whether it be in hotel management, business management, or a related field. This career path is relatively stable, as more hotels are always being built. Did you know that it is becoming increasingly popular for hotels to be constructed modularly? For example, in 2017, Marriott International pledged to modularly construct 13% of its North American developments. There will always be job opportunities in hotel management, and there is also much room for growth and the ability to move to a different place if desired.
English Teacher in Another Country
Another unique career path your teen may be interested in is becoming an English teacher in another country. If your teen enjoys working with children and seeks a new experience, this may be an opportunity to consider. This kind of job is typically applied for after graduating college. Despite what your teen is interested in for a long-term career, this unique opportunity can still be applied for.
Whether it be in Japan, France, or another country outside of the United States, there is a unique job and traveling opportunity your young adult can pursue in only a few years. Teaching English to elementary students in another country may not pay very much, but it’s a unique experience to work with people, get out of your comfort zone, travel, and experience new things and new cultures.
IT Professional
Becoming an Information Technology (IT) professional is another career your teen may aspire to pursue. With the constant growth and evolution of the Internet, there will always be a job in IT. IT jobs can be found in a variety of workplaces, too. After obtaining a college degree in this field, your teen could work in the IT department at a school, hospital, law firm, marketing company, or nonprofit agency, to name a few.
Your teen may already be into IT, and they may already know that Internet crime involves the use of the Internet to communicate false or fraudulent representations to consumers. Your teen may be interested in helping companies move past this issue. With an abundance of opportunities in this field, your teen may even consider starting their own IT company or agency to help small businesses with their IT issues and malfunctions. There are a variety of jobs and specialties in this field, and you can make upwards of $100,000 a year, too.
Our world is constantly evolving, and there will surely be more jobs created in the years your teen is in college or starting out in the workforce. With so many options out there, be sure your teen chooses a career path that is interesting to them. Did you know that 2.7 million workers voluntarily left their jobs at the end of June 2015? This is a 25% increase compared to two years prior. It’s imperative that your teen chooses a worthwhile career. Whether it includes working with cars, being outside, managing others, traveling, or working on a computer, there is surely a job out there that will earn your teen a living as well as make them happy for years to come.
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