With the rapid tech progress, it’s hard to comprehend how drastically the labor market is changing every year. Career paths for college students that were prevalent just a decade ago are now outdated and nearly vanished.
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So, if you are in college or have just graduated, now is the right time to ask yourself what you are going to do with your life. We believe that choosing unconventional jobs might be the key to building a future-proof career.
Read on and learn about some off-beat jobs or uncommon career paths for college students that you should consider for yourself.
Essay Writer
We know what you must be thinking right now. After so many years of struggling with your own academic papers for school and college, why would you do more writing purposefully?
Of course, if you hate essay writing (or suck at it), you don’t want to consider this option. However, if you know that you are good at it and you don’t mind helping others, this is an option for you.
For decades, students of all academic levels have been seeking to hire someone to write essay for them and save their time. That is, the demand for such services is enormous. On top of that, it is a flexible and well-paid job.
Virtual Tutor
One of the most obvious career paths for college students is tutoring, specifically in a virtual setting. Although this option might sound rather obvious, it’s not a very typical career path for students to choose.
However, it can have plenty of benefits. While you are still in college (or freshly graduated), you must possess a solid knowledge base in one or several subjects.
You might be strong in math, language, economics, or any other field. Or, possibly, you are well-versed in arts, music, etc. Whatever knowledge or skill you have honed to perfection, you can always use it to change other students’ lives for the better by providing them with tutorship.
In the short run, a tutor job can give you a flexible source of income that allows you to pick when, how, and where you will work. In the long-term perspective, this job can help you earn a variety of crucial soft skills, such as communication, patience, empathy, active listening, and leadership. All these skills can help you scale your career further.
Drone Pilot
Drones have become incredibly popular in recent years. At the moment, they are already used in a variety of fields, including fire fighting, photography, delivery, rescue operations, services provision to isolated locations, and many others.
As the span of application of drones grows, the demand for drone pilots grows as well, which makes it another good unconventional path to try. Learning how to fly a drone can open doors into many different industries and bring a high and stable income. So don’t hesitate to consider this option.
Mystery Shopper
A mystery or secret shopper is an independent specialist hired by third parties to visit and assess restaurants, hotels, stores, banks, and other facilities or to test their products and services.
The core goal is to evaluate the quality of customer service. This path is also somewhat unconventional. To tell the truth, many students don’t even know that there is such an option.
However, it’s a great way to start making some money while also turning our world into a better place. The best thing about this job is that it can help you acquire unique and valuable experience for your future career.
Namely, by assessing other businesses, you can gain a better understanding of how a good business works, how to provide exceptional customer service, etc. Besides, it’s a relatively easy, flexible, and fun way to make money.
Food Stylist
If you are earning (or already have) a degree in Culinary Arts or other creative fields like design or photography, you can try out the next opportunity. Although most people have no idea this kind of job even exists, a food stylist is, in fact, a very respected career in the culinary world.
Simply put, it’s a person who arranges the food to make it look breathtaking and delicious. This opportunity can teach you a lot of knowledge and skills.
It will help you develop an eye for making something look brilliant and your creativity. Additionally, this job pays well, which makes it a great option to consider.
Cryptocurrency Analyst
With the rise of the cryptocurrency market, career paths for college students related to this field are also starting to trend. Yet, they still remain rather off-beat for most people.
cryptocurrency analyst might be a way to get into this fast-growing market for students who want to work in the financial sector. These specialists earn money by watching market trends, assessing investment opportunities, and sharing unique crypto insights with others.
This job opportunity can help you earn a wealth of knowledge and skills in the financial, blockchain, and investment fields. However, mastering the art of cryptocurrency analysis will likely take a while.
To break into it while in college, don’t hesitate to find the best dissertation writing service for you right now. This will let you get more free time for honing your knowledge and skills without risking your grades!
Career Paths for College Students – FAQs
Why Should I Look for a First Job While Still in College?
Landing a job while still in college has a wealth of perks. Apart from the obvious opportunity to make some money for a living, it will help you discover existing career paths for college students and find something that suits you.
Also, it is an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge and gain valuable and employable skills even before you graduate.
How Do I Choose the Right Career Path for Me?
Picking a suitable career path should always start with thorough self-assessment. You want to identify your personality, values, goals, passions, skills, and knowledge to find opportunities that perfectly match who you are.
Still, while you are young, you have the time to experiment and try different options to find something that feels right for you.
Why Opt for an Unusual Job?
These days, the world is changing too quickly, and most careers that are traditional and “comprehensible” are projected to disappear in the future. Due to this reason, trying an off-beat job can let you get more future-proof.
Besides, unconventional roles often offer you unique experiences and skills that can be beneficial in entrepreneurship and other careers.
Where Do I Look for Unconventional Career Paths for College Students?
There are many ways to discover uncommon career paths for college students. First and foremost, you can sign up for different job search platforms like Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, and others and regularly review new listings.
Also, you can land your first job through networking. LinkedIn works great for this purpose, but you can also try networking in person, for example, by attending different events relevant to your niche.
