Successful People Share Little-Known Career Paths College Kids Should Know

_Some of us can go through a myriad of jobs over a lifetime and finding the perfect career can be one of life's most arduous challenges. What's unfortunate is there are so many jobs available we never know about; jobs with great pay and can be tons of fun. There are many roads to success and thinking outside the box for work can lead us places we never dreamed. _

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FLUSH YOUR WAY TO RICHES!

Wastewater treatment. Most people don't have any clue what happens after they flush. I never even thought about this as a career before I had a friend work here and if you can get over dealing with a slightly bad smell occasionally it's a great option. Decent starting pay ($15.21), easy enough work (I usually spend about 4-6 hours per day monitoring equipment from a computer, studying for licensing, or on Reddit like now), and finally get to utilize my biology degree after looking for something in my degree field for 5 years. I also am eligible to get 8% raises with each wastewater license I get ( D,C,B,&A). I started in May and I'm already a licensed "D" operator.

SIX FEET UNDER CAN BE A LUCRATIVE PLACE TO GO.

Funeral director, mortician, and embalmer. It takes very little college to become one and they pay well. Funeral directors usually even get a free house out of the deal!!

AN ACCENT IS ALWAYS WORTH THE COIN.

If you're from the UK/US, some people in China will pay you great money to babysit their kids so their kids can learn the "right" accent and manners. They'll prefer someone with a college education since it's more prestigious, and I know someone who was earning $50k straight away.

WHAT ACCESSORIZES BEST WITH A LAB COAT?

Going to say Medical Lab Science is a great path. It's a 4 year degree. You will have minimal patient contact. Usually just draw the blood at some smaller hospitals. You run around the lab doing many different tests on body fluids and tissues. Start out of school at about $50K a year.

GET THEE TO A KEYBOARD.

Technical Writer. "Page intentionally left blank" for $17/hr starting

UTILIZE YOUR ARTISTIC SIDE.

If you can write, can manage a project and have some basic graphic design skills, there are always jobs in instructional design (specifically online course development). Not difficult at all to be making 75k within 2 years, or 100k after 5. I hire a lot of web designers and graphic artists since work in hardcore creative roles can be harder to find. They pick up the tools in no time, and make good money.

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT...

Tow boats. If you get on with a good company you can start off making $30-40k a year. After a year and a half or so you can get a tankerman certification along with a significant pay raise. Within a 10 years, if you work hard and do everything you need to do, you could be looking at $100k+ working 6 months out of the year. You could do it faster if you're willing to pay for some school.

My grandpa is a captain and $500 a day is the lowest he'll go out for, and that's only if he's desperate to get out of the house. On top of that, he's what they call a tripper, which pretty much just means freelance. He goes out when he feels like it and stays home when he doesn't.

HOW MANY WAYS CAN I SAY IT?

Interpreter. In NYC being one for the courts is very lucrative and in demand. Not that everyone can be proficient in 2 languages, but if you are (proficient) a degree isn't needed so long as you can pass a series of tests.

PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT!

My g/f's brother is doing HVAC/sheet metal work. 22 years old and already making $23 an hour, which is pretty damn good where we live.

UNION! UNION!

Municipal worker!

My dad works in a New York City municipal agency. Not only does he make an honest, good wage, he has a 401k and a pension. He is nearing retirement age and I don't have to worry about how he will take care of himself financially, which makes me feel so good. He is backed by a union that protects him, he has excellent health care, and he can frequently choose to do overtime which basically doubles his pay. Not only that, he's been to every single neighborhood in this city and has seen all there is to see.

When my mom got sick with cancer last year, he had accrued enough time off to take the entire 4 months off, paid fully, and be with her every day until she passed away. No private sector job would have allowed that, and I will forever be grateful not only to NYC but also to unions for that.

Also, many jobs have ranks or grades, so if you stay long enough you are guaranteed seniority and pay raises.

Finally, when you live in NYC and you are a municipal worker or are backed by a union, you are more likely to be chosen for affordable housing or union housing (there are certain housing developments dotted throughout the city with strong union ties). As a result, my family of four was able to live in NYC (and we still do) in a 2 bedroom apartment with all utilities included and a garage for $1000 a month. My brother's apartment is also a 2 bedroom with a parking spot and he pays under $1,000. I truly feel like my dad's job has allowed us to be a normal, middle class family and has shown me that sometimes college isn't the right path for everyone and that is okay.

BE A PROUD GEEK SQUAD MEMBER.

Less conventional or glorified IT positions like QA Analytics or NOC Technicians. They pay from $45k to $75k, depending on experience, location and schedule.

BE STRONG. BE PROUD. BE A MARINE.

Merchant Marines.

I graduated from a 4 year maritime academy and got a job immediately working one month on one month off and an 80k a year salary. 5 years later I make 100k a year and only work half of it.

STAND UP. TAKE A BOW.

Stagehand, I am 22 I started at my local community college that I went to school. The starting position was $16 an hour and I was learning stagecraft, how to mix, focus lights, use the rail. Soon after doing that I started working for my local IATSE Local (Stagehand Union) and I am currently an apprentice there. I make about 40$ an hour doing the work and it is fantastic. I get to work for cool artists like Prince, Fleetwood Mac, the Who and see some really cool gear. Many people don't really think about it.

PLAY BY THE HOUSE RULES.

Card dealing, just moved to Vegas. In 4-5 years you could work your way up to a top tier casino (cousin made it into Ceasers in 18 months but was a special case). Depending on your game could easily net 6 figures a year.

I LOVE FANTASIA!!

i always say if all else fails i'm going to be a janitor at a university so my kids can go to school for free...

SMOKEY THE BEAR ALWAYS NEEDS A FRIEND.

Outdoor guides and instructors. Also, Forest Rangers and Game Officials.

WELL IF IT WORKS FOR HOMER.

Become a operator (imagine Homer Simpson) at a power station , oil refinery , chemical processing plant, electricity distribution network or similar. Sometimes the job title comes under 'Operations Technician' , 'Desk Operator' or "Panel Operator".

You don't usually require any high level qualifications for the role, just be prepared to work 12 hour shift work, including nights and weekends. Be willing to learn how to control the plant , remember that auto mode is your friend: the computer has your back and is designed to shut down the equipment safely even if you f--- up.

As you work longer hours, you work less days. I get paid 38k a year to work 140 days of the year. There are apprenticeships with every power company out there (in the UK). If there's a nuclear power station being built near you GET ON THAT!! Nukes are built to last many years and are a easy job for life , but opportunities are rare because nobody leaves because they have it so easy.

BE A MAD MAN.

Advertising Copywriter. We're the lucky ones who get to write Super Bowl commercials. Business majors think we're nuts. English majors think we're hookers. Just the nature of the business.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM.

Museums! I am currently in my third year of an awesome museum studies program at my university and I also work part time in a museum on campus. It is an extremely diverse field. You could do: • Curatorial work - basically object preservation, both preventative and repairs • Collections Management - overseeing the accessioning, deaccessioning, cataloguing, and storage of objects • Educational coordinator - create and execute educational programs and collaborate with exhibit designers • Exhibit design - making those awesome exhibits you see, from the placement of the text and pictures to the actual physical construction • Basically anything else - museums need all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds. Digital design, video production, fundraising, HVAC, etc.

Museums are amazing and fun and creative. And you can pair museums with any area of study too.

BE A FOODIE!!

Agriculture. The need for food isn't going away and is actually set to increase dramatically. Many companies are recruiting for innovators who can develop technologies and practices to grow more food using fewer resources and with less environmental impact. The problem is, so few students come from farm backgrounds today that enrollment in university agriculture programs is low and there aren't enough graduates to go around. Many companies are hiring a lot of people with no AG background but would put someone with an AG degree at the front of the line for new jobs.