by Jean Stone
Most students choose to pursue popular degrees, such as those based in business, technology, or the arts. In fact, these types of degrees dominate most colleges and universities. Remember hanging out with your friends during the last year of high school, talking about the “right” school, the “right” career, the “right” choices for your futures? Remember when Steve, a close buddy, excitedly announced that he would be leaving in the Fall to become an Astrobiologist. What?
Yes, the position really exists. Astrobiologists analyze the origin of life, both on Earth and (possibly) outside of our planet. While a formal degree in Astrobiology exists as well, sometimes the right combination of science and space-related courses are sufficient enough to find employment in the field. Both physical and biological sciences are important and, as with any other similar subject, a PhD in a science-related field is often required for a scientific position.
Although Steve’s announcement may have put a dent in your otherwise-mellow group chat session, Astrobiology is a respectable field that offers high-paying positions. As for Steve, now it all makes starts to make sense… waking up to find him hovering above you at sleepovers with tweezers and a collection bottle in hand, the box marked “top secret” under his bed, and his strange obsession with the Jacksons. From what you can tell, this may be the perfect avenue for Steve to follow.
So Steve finishes university and accepts a self-proclaimed “wonderful” job as an Astrobiologist. Unfortunately, he becomes too involved in his work and starts asking family members and friends (including you) if they would like to be probed. Tired of his odd requests, you and your crew decide Steve’s job is a sham and cut him from the circle of friends completely.
Years later, out of the blue, you receive an invitation from Steve to accompany him to an important business event. Your wife convinces you, the struggling artist, to attend the gala. Much to your surprise, Steve is presented with a prestigious award, celebrating his breakthrough discovery in the field. You find yourself holding your breath as Steve pulls out his old “top secret” box and presents the crowd with a small piece of the first confirmed alien spacecraft. You begrudgingly apologize to Steve and graciously accept an exhilarating trip home in his private jet.
Once you arrive home, you begin reflecting on the past decade. How many friends did you turn your nose up at for choosing peculiar careers? You think about Lisa, the fish bather, and David, the furniture tester. Ashamed, you drag out your high school yearbook and attempt to make contact with every, single person you ostracized on account of their unconventional career paths.
As for Astrobiology, you are surprised to learn that all of Steve’s colleagues are perfectly normal, and deem the field reputable and interesting. As for Steve, you face the fact: He was always just plain weird.
You look back on your string of failed careers and consider pursuing something new. Of course, you’re used to “working” at home, so you look for a great job based online. You find your niche in the field of online customer service jobs, and begin raking in a great salary as the head of an Internet customer response team.
Truth is, most people change their career goals several times throughout the span of their working lives and not all jobs are prestigious. The best way to find your match is to think about what makes you happy. Is there something you love to do so much that you can picture yourself making a living at it? If so, perform some research and determine which jobs fall within your target field. With a little bit of time, determination, and exploration you can be just one of many who look forward to working each day.
About the Author
Jean Stone is a staff writer and customer service specialist for Jobs Online. In her spare time she tracks down lost colleagues on LinkedIn.
