There are plenty of careers that make a difference (a positive difference, of course, though there are plenty that has a negative impact too).
But when it comes to choosing a career, people tend to look for a position that combines two things: what they’re interested in, and how much the job pays.
What if we rethought our careers, not in terms of what they can do for us, but what they can do for the world?
If you’re on a mission in life to make the world a better place, and wouldn’t mind getting paid for it at the same time, then take a look at some of the best career options below. Your job satisfaction is going to be high.
Careers That Make a Difference
1. Into the Great Game
If you have a negative view of politics and the people who work in it, then OK, we don’t blame you.
There are, undoubtedly, a few bad eggs who make headlines for all the right reasons. But there is also many a politician who really is trying their best to improve lives both locally and abroad.
The thing about politics is that it’s nowhere near as difficult to enter as you might think.
Take a look at how you can get involved, work your way up, and you might one day be in a supremely influential role, one in which you can enact much positive change.
2. Figuring Out the Future
Like it or not, there’s no getting around the fact that climate change is going to hit us in the not too distant future, and it’s not going to make for pretty viewing.
However, while the window of how bad the effects might be is rapidly closing, there’s still time to figure out how we’re going to respond to the impending crisis.
If you’re a natural problem solver looking for the best career options, then look at working for companies who are going to lead the charge when it comes to finding solutions.
It’ll be the poorest and most vulnerable people who get hurt by climate change the most. You’ll be doing them a great service.
Read also: Finding a Job Based on Your Zodiac Sign
3. The Next Generation
It gets said often that the kids are the future, but only because it’s true.
If you’re involved with the running of the educational system and for improving outcomes, you’ll have done your bit to ensure that tomorrow’s children are brighter, more confident, and more able to make their dreams come true than the generation that came before them.
That’s a powerful, important role in any society!
If you’ve already got an education or teaching qualification, you can complete a Master of Education course from SCU Online, and expand your influence and role within the educational system.
Once you’ve finished, you’ll be eligible to choose some of the best careers that make a difference and can play a big role in shaping the lives of the youth.
4. The Third Sector
People often think that they only have the career option of working for a profit-making corporation or starting their own business. There’s another route you can take, however, and that is working with a charity.
There are a million and one registered charities all doing their best to reduce one problem or another.
Pick an issue that’s close to your heart, research related organizations, and see what positions they have available. That’s one of the best career options you can pick to make a difference.
5. Healthcare Options
Have you thought about a career in healthcare?
From doctors to physicians to nurses, this industry and its careers that make a difference undeniably make the world a better place.
There is good news for people who want to make a difference and make money, too. Health-related jobs are usually well-paid and are about as close to “a job for life” as you’ll find these days.
6. Psychology and Responses
There’s some grim reading on the state of the world’s mental health if you’d care to look. It shows that the rate of depression is rapidly rising, and is, in fact, on course to become the world’s leading illness in the not too distant future.
Other issues, such as anxiety and body image problems, are also on the rise.
If you know anyone who has suffered from these issues before, then you’ll know that they’re real conditions that dramatically reduce the quality of one’s life.
Because of the rapid increase in sufferer’s, there’s a greater need for professionals who help treat sufferers and get to the root cause of the issues on a more general life.
Enter a psychology-related career, and you might just make the world much more bearable for millions of people across the world.
7. Protecting The Environment
Climate change is rightly regarded as a serious threat to the lives of humans, but the impact on humans isn’t the only environmental problem we’re facing.
There’s also the matter of the state of the environment in itself, and the lives of the other creatures – the ones that aren’t human – that call it home.
If you think that the natural world and other animals should be protected for their own sake, and not just because of their relation to humans, then look at becoming an environmental defender and campaigner.
There’s no shortage of organizations who are doing great work demanding that governments do more to keep the natural world in a healthy state.
By getting involved in this one of the best careers that make a difference, you’ll be doing your bit to save a countless number of lives, and ensuring that the impact that humans have on the natural world is kept to a minimum.
Final Thoughts
It’s possible that we’ve all been sold the wrong ideas about our careers. We’re told that we should look out for ourselves, try to make as much money as possible, and retire early.
But maybe it’s time to change how we think.
Studies have shown that money can only increase your happiness levels so much. The joy and satisfaction that comes from helping others, however, seems to limitless.
If you’re driven more by a desire to make the better place than you are to make money, consider one of the best career options above. No-one regrets making a positive difference in the world!