8 Jobs For People Who Don’t Know What To Do

Not knowing what you want to do for work is more common than you think. The quest of figuring out what job you want to do is a little more complex. There are so many different jobs out there today that figuring out what you want to do with the rest of your life can be difficult.

If the feeling of being unsure about your career sounds familiar, read on through the following eight best jobs for people who don’t know what to do.

Key Takeaways:

• The top three jobs for people who don’t know what to do are home health aide, police officer, and physical therapist.

• To help figure out what to do, taking a career compatibility test can help narrow down a job based on your personality test.

• Taking some different courses on different subjects you find interesting or just trying out different jobs will help you know if it’s something you really want to do.

8 Jobs for people who don’t know what to do

1. Home Health Aide

   Average Annual Salary: $24,000

   Being a home health aide is a great starter position for people who want to get involved in the business of healthcare and helping people but aren’t sure exactly what they’re looking for.

   Approximately 3.6% of the United States population currently relies on home health services’ thorough and empathetic care to get through the day comfortably – a figure that increases annually. A home health aide typically provides these vital services.

   The role of a home health aide provides an extremely necessary service to both patients and their families. It’s a position that makes you feel good about what you’re doing.

   Additionally, becoming a home health aide doesn’t entail years of advanced degrees before you get to work on the job. Most home health aide positions only require that candidates have a high school diploma, are over 18, and pass a background check.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Assisting their patients with daily tasks like dressing, washing, and a hygiene routine

   • Routinely checking the patient’s vital signs

   • Giving prescriptions when required

   • Occasionally doing light housekeeping work like laundry or dishes

   • Coordinating with other members of the patient’s healthcare team to provide the best care

   • Maintaining reports on the patient’s condition

   Find Home Health Aide jobs near me

2. Police Officer

   Average Annual Salary: $47,000

   If you’re not sure what career you want, but you get a kick out of some adrenaline, then a career as a police officer might be a perfect fit. It’s a fast-paced, thrilling job and comes with new situations every day.

   Police officers help to maintain a sense of security in the community by deterring criminal activity and upholding the law. Their main goal is to prevent crimes from occurring, but they also sometimes assist in investigating when the situation arises.

   It’s very different from the typical 9-5 office position, which can be an attractive quality to someone who isn’t dead set on what they want to do.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Policing a designated area of the community to maintain safety and order

   • Responding to emergencies when required

   • Pulling over vehicles and issuing tickets for traffic violations

   • Understanding and following all police protocols

   • Conducting investigations, including interviewing and collecting evidence

   • Providing evidence in court when needed

   • Completing all administrative duties and paperwork

   Find Police Officer jobs near me

3. Physical Therapist

   Average Annual Salary: $69,000

   Working as a physical therapist might be the perfect fit if you are unsure of what career you want. Many things go into improving a person’s movement or managing their pain after a scenario like an accident. A physical therapist is one of the key members of the trained medical team that works cohesively to put a treatment plan into action.

   Physical therapists utilize hands-on techniques, strengthening exercises, and other bodily tactics to bring patients back to normal functioning or ease their discomfort.

   Being a physical therapist is a position that requires a great deal of empathy and communication skills, but it’s for a rewarding purpose in the end. It’s ideal for you if you are eager to help others during difficult periods but don’t want to deal with the pressure of working in a hospital or with critically-ill patients.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Going through every patient’s medical history

   • Providing diagnostic insight by observing movements and listening to symptoms

   • Creating and enacting a personalized treatment plan

   • Discussing with the patient to explain treatment and outline milestone objectives

   • Combining different exercises, stretching, and equipment according to the patient’s goals

   • Maintaining a record of patient progress and updating their treatment plan when required

   Find Physical Therapist jobs near me

4. Pharmacist

   Average Annual Salary: $119,000

   If you’re not sure what career you want but know you want to be guaranteed a high salary, consider the role of a pharmacist. While becoming a pharmacist takes a few years minimum, it’s a reasonably low-pressure job that still brings in a hefty paycheck.

   Pharmacists prepare and dispense needed medicines to individuals after being diagnosed with an illness, injury, or other form of ailment.

   Pharmacists also use their expertise in the pharmacy field to ensure medications that negatively interact aren’t mixed and provide advice about taking the prescriptions to patients.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Giving medications to people as prescribed by physicians

   • Informing people about their medicines, including any side effects

   • Explaining the proper way and schedule to take the medication

   • Providing other minor medical services on occasion like immunizations

   • Maintaining an accurate record of customer information

   • Adhering to the operational requirements for a pharmacy

   Find Pharmacist jobs near me

5. Dietician

   Average Annual Salary: $55,000

   Starting a career as a dietician is an excellent option for people that are wishy-washy about their career because becoming knowledgeable on the subject is a skill that’s helpful to the individual and their clients.

   A person’s relationship with food impacts their daily life. In the United States alone, 70 million adults are obese, representing nearly 40% of the country’s entire population. That’s a lot of folks who have a poor relationship with food and could use the enthusiastic support of a dietitian to help them better this aspect of their lives.

   Dieticians supply a much-needed outlet of support and insight for people hoping to foster a healthier lifestyle. The educational requirements for dieticians tend to vary from an associate’s degree to more specialized courses in nutrition.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Speak with clients thoroughly to understand their struggles, needs, and goals

   • Assessing their client’s health and nutritional requirements for their body

   • Providing advice about problems that may be related to nutrition

   • Working with clients on their healthy eating habits and meal plans

   • Monitoring client progress over time and the effectiveness of their diet plan

   • Staying educated about the latest relevant news in nutrition

   Find Dietician jobs near me

6. Army Infantryman

   Average Annual Salary: $32,000

   Many positions make up the United States Armed Forces. However, the first notion that arises when you hear the word ‘army’ is specifically infantrymen. Army foot soldiers act in land combat to protect the country when times are peaceful and overcome enemies when required.

   The role of an army infantryman can vary dramatically depending on their experience level and title.

   It serves as a strong option for people that don’t know what career path to take because the army offers extensive benefits, including a 401(k), generous amounts of paid time off, covering relocation costs, and other tempting offers. Plus, you get the opportunity to defend your country and buff up your nationalism.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Assisting in reconnaissance operations

   • Maintaining and using communications equipment

   • Using tactical and technical knowledge to embark on combat operations

   • Evaluating terrain and the issuing of ammunition

   • Mobilizing troops and weaponry

   • Honoring the army’s rules and regulations

   Find Army Infantryman jobs near me

7. Genetic Counselor

   Average Annual Salary: $78,000

   Being a genetic counselor is a promising option for people who don’t know what they want to do because almost everyone has a connection to someone that has been affected by a genetic medical condition.

   A genetic counselor’s job is to evaluate an individual or their family as a whole for the risk of inherited conditions like genetic disorders and congenital disabilities because understanding your genetic history is key in uncovering potentially deadly diseases before they take action.

   In addition to assessing patients, genetic counselors need the communication skills to explain the situation to people who run the risk of inheriting a medical condition.

   It’s always better to know what you’re up against when it comes to medical conditions, which is why the guidance and knowledge of a genetic counselor are so crucial in many people’s lives.

   It can feel good to provide insight ahead of time for someone else if nothing else. That’s a pretty big pro for a job to have, especially if no other career is tempting.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Speaking with patients to fully understand their individual and family medical history

   • Assessing given medical information to determine whether a patient is at risk of particular genetic conditions

   • Writing consultation reports that include details on the genetic situations for the patients and their referring physicians

   • Educating patients on testing options and their risks

   • Supporting patients through the difficulty of being at risk for a genetic disorder

   Find Genetic Counselor jobs near me

8. Real Estate Agent

   Average Annual Salary: $99,000

   Being a real estate agent is the perfect professional opportunity if you’re looking for a job with positive career growth and many opportunities to make money but don’t have time to attend a four-year college or more.

   Real estate agents help home buyers find their dream homes or help sellers make the profit they’ve been keen to turn.

   The road to becoming a real estate agent typically takes four to six months, depending on your state. Additionally, you’re constantly interacting with new people and making their dreams come true.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Generating a variety of leads to buy, sell or rent properties

   • Explaining the current housing market and pricing to clients

   • Posting listings for real estate properties that include all relevant information

   • Taking possible renters or buyers through various properties and their features

   • Extending offers to property sellers and organizing negations

   • Reviewing purchase contracts and making sure all the terms are met

   Find Real Estate Agent jobs near me

Tips for people who don’t know what job they want

Not being sold on a particular profession is lonely at times – especially in a world where everyone seems to be so abundantly passionate about their careers.

However, it’s a nearly universal experience to look at your life at some points and be unsure of how you want it to pan out in the future. If you’re struggling with not knowing what job you want, consider trying out the following tips.

1. Take a career compatibility test. After mustering around with the question of what job you should pursue a while, it might be best to leave the choice up to your personality by taking a career compatibility test. These assessments gauge your personality traits and preferences to determine the career path you’d be best suited for.

   These types of intricate tests have the potential to see qualities that you may not be able to see in yourself and uncover an absolutely perfect career from that.

   Some examples of career compatibility tests include:

   • Strong Interest Inventory

   • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

   • MAPP Career Assessment

   • Pymetrics

2. Write down what your interests are and what you are good at. When it comes down to it, finding a job that you’re perfect for is a simple combination of something you like doing with an activity that you’re good at. When you’re at a loss for what to do, take stock of these aspects of your life.

   Alternatively, suppose you excel in coding and all things technological and appreciate the comfort of working from your living room couch. In that case, it might be time to consider a career as a web developer.

   For example, if you like going out to parties and you’re really great with public speaking and leadership skills, you could be missing out on thousands of dollars in tips working as a bartender.

3. Enroll in some courses on interesting subjects. If you’re at the point where you’re unsure of the things you’re even interested in, then taking a lesson or two on a fascinating subject like embroidery can be extremely helpful.

   You don’t have to be wholly invested in a subject to peruse a few free online classes, audit a local college class, or even take a 3 to 6-month certification program.

   As long as it inspires your interest at first glance and you can afford it, take the opportunity to broaden your horizons. The more intriguing topics and fields you’re exposed to, the more likely you’ll find a job that you want to do.

4. Consider your ideal work environment. While thinking about the things that interest you, you should also consider the type of environment you want to work in, and the type of people you want to work with.

   Research a company and what their work culture is like before applying. Working in an environment that you don’t feel comfortable in can make doing the job more difficult and you might eventually hate doing it.

   For example, If you are a shy person who doesn’t like talking with large crowds or speaking up in meetings, try finding a job that doesn’t have a lot of employees.

5. Try working at different places. If you still aren’t sure what you want to do after taking a career test or taking some interesting courses, just start applying to jobs that you find interesting. If you qualify for these positions, why not just try them out for a few months?

   The worst-case scenario is you end up hating the job and you quit, which is okay. You shouldn’t stay at a job you hate. The best-case scenario is you end up loving the job and stay for a while. No matter what happens you will be one step closer to finding what you love doing.

6. Talk to people in different careers. When on a job hunt, it’s important to talk to those that hold the job that you are interested in. They can help give you insight into what the job is really like. They can also help answer any questions that you have.

   They might even be able to help you get your foot in the door if it’s something you really want to do.

Jobs for people who don’t know what to do FAQ

1. Is it OK not to know what you want to do for a job?

   Yes, it is OK to not know what job you want. Many people don’t know what they want to do for a career and just pick a job that sounds good or makes the most sense based on their experiences and qualifications. There are many different possibilities for a job that it is OK to not know what you want and explore different options until you do.

2. How do you know if the job is right for you?

   The best ways to know if the job is right for you is if the job reflects your values and needs. The job should align with your personal values and morals and it should help fit your needs in life. These needs could include salary to afford your life-style or what you need to make you happy.

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.