Are you looking for a job?
I loved my college years at the University of California, Irvine. I met some of my favorite people who will become lifelong friends, connected with great companies, and ultimately landed my first consulting job after graduation, earning $70,000. That being said…it's been over 10 years since I went back to being a student, and times have changed.
In today's day and age, college is not as mandatory as it used to be, and there are so many more opportunities to get an education in other ways. Some people prefer broad experience over specialization. Others thrive by pursuing unconventional and unexplored ideas outside of traditional schooling. Also, did we mention the cost? College is a big investment, but not everyone is ready.
With all that said, let's dispel the myth that a college degree is the only path to success. We would like to introduce you to some exciting careers that offer both financial security and positive prospects for your future. Here are six six-figure jobs you might not have considered before, and ways to get into them.
data scientist
Average annual income: $119,000 – $183,000 (glass door)
How to become: Training and certification on big data platforms and programming languages
Big data can be used to achieve great results. Although often overlooked, data collection, analysis, and processing are extremely important aspects to devote resources to, especially as economies become increasingly connected to advanced technologies. In the age of digitalization, data scientists are in high demand!
The work of data scientists is used by businesses, nonprofit organizations, and even governments to identify trends and corresponding problems and proposed solutions. Apart from the high pay, this also means that your work can make a significant difference to the world around you. So you can get rewarded for making a big impact.
Becoming a data scientist requires going through a rigorous training series. This may be difficult, but it's a great learning experience. This is a fairly new field of study and work, so you'll be learning some new technologies that will evolve over time. Check out MITx for free data science training courses. Additionally, if you are ready to commit to a paid program, you can enroll in a DataCamp training course.
UI/UX architect or designer
Average annual income: $129,000 – $203,000 (glass door)
How to become: Studying design fundamentals, investing in software, and a good portfolio
All organizations with websites and mobile applications want them to look good, neat, and appealing to end users. This opens up vast employment opportunities for user interface and user experience (UI/UX) architects and designers. Delivering an experience optimized for faster transactions and streamlined processes is a top priority for today's organizations.
To become a UI/UX designer, you must have an eye for design. This is a necessary skill that combines beauty and functionality. If this is your focus, you'll want to further develop your natural design talent through training and boot camps on current trends and best practices in the field.
Additionally, you need to invest in the right tools and become familiar with them. You can get the benefit of making the most of the software and creating better UI/UX output. A polished portfolio will help you attract the attention of potential clients, and your own website can become a portfolio in itself. Figma is a free tool and a great tool to get started. Eventually, you can subscribe to a professional plan with Figma or try other software like Axure or Unbounce.
real estate agent
Average annual income: $130,000 – $230,000 (glass door)
How to become: Real estate training courses and licenses, market know-how and professional qualifications
Real estate remains one of the most profitable industries. And the good news is that you can usually become an agent in 4-6 months. Immediately after obtaining your high school diploma, you can take a short-term real estate brokerage course, take the qualification exam, and obtain your license.
However, it's a competitive field, so you need to work hard to improve your reputation. You can build yourself on the testimonials of satisfied customers. Read this article to learn how a good reputation in the market can be a huge advantage for agents. Obtaining additional professional certifications is another aspect to focus on.
air traffic controller
Average annual income: $97,000 – $133,000 (glass door)
How to become: Training courses, age requirements, medical assessments, on-the-job training
Becoming an air traffic controller is an unusual and exciting job opportunity, but one with great reward potential. Training at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy he completes in two to five months before proceeding to on-the-job training.
Once you pass this stage after a year or two, you are well on your way to becoming a certified air traffic controller. However, three years of general work experience is required. A medical evaluation and drug test will also be conducted to ensure you are suitable for the job. All applicants must be 31 years of age or younger at the time of recruitment. Please see the FAA website for complete requirements.
advertising and marketing manager
Average annual income: $103,000 – $127,000 (glass door)
How to become: Strategic planning and brand campaign skills, communication and emerging trends abilities.
This job is perfect for creative minds and communication professionals. But to become an advertising or marketing executive, you need to hone your strategic planning skills, because campaigns aren't one-time, short-term projects. They must adapt to trends and adjust to client feedback to get the results they are looking for.
Also, it's a competitive world, so prepare your portfolio and try to stay 10 steps ahead when planning and running different campaigns. This field is constantly changing, so you need to constantly update your skills based on best practices. Start by checking out Google Digital Garage, which offers free courses on a variety of topics.
startup CEO
Average annual income: $200,000 – $300,000 (glass door)
How to become: The product, the team, the capital and technical requirements, and a lot of guts.
An exciting but risky path to a professional career is to start your own company. His CEO of a startup can earn a high salary, but he also needs a lot of investment to get the company off the ground. Creating innovative products, building and caring for teams are important aspects. Other things to look at are start-up capital, required permits, and logistical requirements, depending on your industry.
After all, it takes courage to take this path less traveled, but it can also help you achieve professional and salary heights that may not be possible as an employee. But you might be the one creating the next big thing. 🙂
It's all about skill and enthusiasm
In the end, it is up to each person to decide what kind of job they can pursue and find a high income and sense of fulfillment. Whatever path you prefer in life, don't get caught up in what others think is right for you. You know yourself best, so finding ways to develop and improve your skills can help you get the career you've always wanted.
