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Career Alternatives
Are you tired of the 9 to 5 grind? Maybe your industry or the company you work for is headed for failure. Or maybe you are just tired of working for other people and want to manage your own destiny. Whatever your reasons for thinking about making a drastic change in your career, there are tons of career alternatives that you can consider. You may even be starting your own business.
The best place to start is to focus on products and services that you know a lot about. There are many things to consider when starting your own business (which we will cover in a future post). First, you need to know what business you are going to start.
If you don’t really know where to start, then consider one of the following ideas:
Online Discount Blogger
Yes, this is a career. There are many websites that aggregate discounts, promo codes, and coupons. They help people save money on trips, products, services, online gambling as well as reviewing products and sites.
What You Need
You need to have really good Internet research skills and be able to develop relationships with sites that offer coupons in order to get affiliate income
Education and Training Requirements
While no degree is required, extensive experience in software engineering, programming, or web-based design would be ideal.
How to Get Started
This is a fast-growing career and very competitive. The good news is that most of the growth is as a result of demand, mostly from aging Baby Boomers who looking to save money or those who are in entry-level jobs looking for “deals”.
Great sales and marketing skills are key, but more importantly, your online network is the most important. Starting your own practice/business can be a bit challenging, but is not impossible. Hooking up with similar sites as a “complementary” business (such as with travel companies) is also a good business model. Try different ways to market your business using social media, which is currently the easiest (and most effective) marketing strategy you can use. Gaining popularity on platforms like Instagram requires a little effort but it is worthwhile. You can also try to use common marketing strategies such as consumer engagement and content creation. Hooking up with similar sites as a “complementary” business (such as with travel companies) is also a good business model.
Most importantly, find some aspect to specialize in and create a niche market.
Required Reading How to Be a Blogger and Vlogger in 10 Easy Lessons: Learn how to create your own blog, vlog, or podcast and get it out in the blogosphere! (Super Skills)
Manufacturing Business
Starting a manufacturing business can be challenging, but if you have a great idea you want to bring to market, then this may be your business. One really big challenge is making a business as efficient as possible if you want to be competitive and profitable.
Keep in mind that the systems that are used to manufacture products are not always checked during the production phase. There are software platforms that can help to check on these systems, and manufacturing software will make it easier for you to note successes and flaws in the system (and correct them where necessary).
What You Need
Efficiency is a key component of the process. Plan out the entire process before you build it so that you can have the maximum efficiency in place from the start. A key component of being efficient is to log and track all
Producing items costs money, and you need to be careful with your cost of production as well as the cost of your raw materials. Location is key and creating a plan before starting to build your manufacturing process. Leverage as many experienced individuals as you can learn from their mistakes.
Education and Training Requirements
No specific education is required. Of course, engineers have a great head start. More important is your understanding of the product you are creating (materials, refining, etc.), as well as the level of skills, required to manufacture (technology products versus furniture).
How to Get Started
As with real estate, location is key. The old “starting from your garage” would be ideal if practical (just make sure you don’t run afoul of any local laws). Make a list of all of the materials and equipment you will need. If possible, rent equipment rather than buying from the start. Finally, you must have a plan, the most important part of which is a “cash burn plan”. You must fully understand how much real cash you will need over how many weeks/months to cover all expenditures (including your own) until your new business is cash flow positive. Set up bank lines of credit where possible.
Required Reading How to Start a Manufacturing Business – A Step by Step Guide to Starting a New Small Manufacturing Company
Business Planning Service
Business planning is a form of
What You Need
You need to be well-versed in basic business models and all of the aspects required to start a business and run a business. This includes familiarity with finance, accounting, law, project management, and budgeting.
Education and Training Requirements
If you start your own practice, no specific degree is required. However, if you specialize in any one area such as human resource management, financial services, or technology, having a degree in one of those areas certainly helps. Having an overall business degree will help as well.
How to Get Started
As with some of the other careers in this post, you must be good at marketing yourself and leveraging your networks. Join professional organizations such as the Association for Strategic Planning (www.strategyplus.org) – there are some great resources here.
Create an Internet presence for yourself by creating a website with a good logo. To help you with this, you can use this free logo maker from Looka. Then link up with some business partners who offer complementary services
Required Reading How to Work for Yourself: 100 Ways to Make the Time, Energy and Priorities to Start a Business, Book, or Blog
Consulting
Consultants leverage their knowledge and experience in a specific professional field to help clients in need of specific expertise. A consultant should be able to demonstrate and leverage experience and accomplishments.
What You Need
You need excellent interpersonal skills, great marketing skills, and the ability to summarize information for senior executives. Great presentation skills are also a plus.
Education and Training Requirements
Most consultants typically have a bachelor’s degree in a focused subject, such as technology, accounting, or finance. Experience is a huge plus, as this is what most companies will look for when deciding whether or not to hire a consultant.
How to Get Started
If this sounds very similar to Business Planning, it is. Marketing yourself and leveraging your networks will determine much of your success. Join professional organizations such as the Institute of Management Consultants or Association of Management
Required Reading Getting Started in Consulting
Personal Trainer
So what is a personal trainer? A personal trainer is an individual who helps create a personalized fitness and training plan for clients based on their needs. They set up goals and provide regular feedback to their clients.
What you need
Having an interest in health and fitness is a given. Many additional traits are required to become a personal trainer. In addition to good interpersonal skills, you need to be able to both motivate and nurture your clients. It helps if you lead are knowledgeable health and fitness and, while you don’t need to look like a bodybuilder, being in good shape goes a long way to getting your clients to have faith in you.
Education and Training Requirements
Education is not as important as becoming certified as a Personal Trainer. To do this you need to find the right certification course for you. How and where you receive your certification will have a significant impact on your ability to get and retain clients. There are several recognized and respected certification programs (such as those offered by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America).
How to Get Started
Once you’ve got your certification, it’s time to get clients. Creating a plan regarding “client acquisition” is a great start. Word of mouth, friends, family, etc. If you are great with the gift of gab, the health club is one of the best places to do this (just be careful they don’t toss you out!). Another great option is to start out working for a fitness club to “learn the ropes”, and then break off on your own and create that business!
Aswath Damodaran guides readers through the fundamentals and step-by-step process of picking winning companies to invest in.
