So, my husband is looking at a career change, maybe a couple of years from now. He’s brainstorming ideas which are in any capacity related to his training, but he keeps coming back to this idea that he wants to help people and make a difference.
So this got me thinking, what are some jobs we’re doing in this community in which we’re helping people directly? (So, not asking for my husband but in a general way).
I’d make a difference between a job where one helps someone directly (say, any role in healthcare) and a job like mine (teacher in higher ed), where obviously I hope my colleagues and I are helping students to become productive and decent members of society, but we’re not directly helping them in a situation or with a problem.
So, if you’d like to share about your people-helping role, go right ahead. Also, is it a fulfilling job? What do you like most about it?
I have been working directly with people for almost 14 years. I reallty enjoy helpijng people!
For 5 years I worked in a halfway house helping men who were coming out of prison and that had been diagnosed with mental health issues, find employment, gain sobriety, and find stability in their lives. It was a really good career path honestly. It was a tough job at times but overall very rewarding.
And as of right now (for the past 9 years) i have been working with adults who have complex needs (a combination of mental health and intellectual disabilities). Again it can be a tough job and i have to be pretty thick skinned to handle what gets thrown at me but i enjoy the job!
I hope ur husband is able to find something that he enjoys and that he has a passion for
Hi, Merry. I don’t know what your husbands training is, but it’s great he is looking for ways to make a difference in people’s lives. I am retired from a career in Early Childhood Education. I taught at university and ran a lab school on campus which provided care and education for young children as well as training for college students. Switched jobs after ten years to focus on preschool program for Hmong refugees, Then several years later switched again to teach kindergarten and mentor student teachers. After retirement I substitute taught for several years and also volunteered to mentor new teachers. I loved my career and had a very hard time letting it go.
When Covid hit, I had to stop working in classrooms and to this day, I know it has been the source of much of my depression the past few years! I wish you and your husband well!
Hello. I work in a hospital laboratory and very much love my job. I always knew I wanted to be in a helping field but I also tend to suffer from compassion fatigue in face to face helping settings which I learned while working in social services. My job as a medical laboratory scientist is to run all the tests that a doctor orders.
There are two tiers, a MLT (medical laboratory tech) requires an associates degree or two years of school and a MLS (medical laboratory scientist) which is 4 years of school.
I work in hematology, chemistry, blood bank, urinalysis, and microbiology and I really enjoy doing something different every day. I process all manner of samples (complete blood count, Covid tests, urinalysis, type and cross, basic metabolic panel) to be sure the patient gets the best results and maintain the machines we use to run the tests. I have zero patient interaction in my position but still feel like I am helping people in a healthcare setting.
I found this job in my 40s and could not love it more. Happy to talk more if he wants more info.
I had a landscaping company for over 35 years took on guys and gals who wanted to learn about gardening , also people with learning difficulties, today i sponsor take guys through the program so they can live a better life sober ,great when you meet one of your guys and they are looking health and happy some of my guys over 30 years sober now makes it all worth while
My time working in a public library has been some of the most fulfilling time in my life. There are many different roles with different requirements, but nearly every single position involves helping someone (usually for free).
Researching family history, helping with online job searches, notary services, getting materials to those who can’t come in on their own, cooling/warming centers, social gatherings, programs, outreach … and BOOKS of course! peace
My hubs and I both have a degree in social work. I’ve worked with adults who have learning and developmental disabilities and also in a kids’ day care. I changed fields because it was mentally too taxing and frustrating. Hubby used to work with food aid; gathering donations from local supermarkets, transporting them and managing the distribution for people in need. It requires planning and organising skills with our strict hygiene regulations. He has moved on to child protection services.
Thank you, everyone, for your generous share! We’re all so different, but that motivation to make a change for the better is underlying all these stories.
@Pattycake I can see so much love in your post for your work with young kids. It takes a village, and you must have been part of so many children’s villages. Thank you, and I hope you start feeling better very soon.
@TrustyBird Thanks for your kind offer of information. My husband is a bit squeamish, so maybe this is not for him, but your career actually sounds fascinating to me! Im glad to learn of this job and how it challenges you. BTW, I guess “type and cross” refers to blood type and Rh? If it does, I’m proud I could figure it out (not a native speaker of English). Thanks!
@Ray_M_C_Laren Thank you, Ray. I should have figured out the landscaping from your photos in the garden topics! It sounds like beautiful work, and even more so when you were helping others gain skills and experience. And of course, thanks for your service with sponsoring others. You must have made a difference for so many.
@InSearchOf42, library work was one of the fields that really appealed to me as a career when I was starting college, but I ended up in languages. I can well believe you love it, as I’m convinced I’d love it too!
@Olivia Thank you, and all my respect for the work you and your husband have done and are doing. All branches of social work sound taxing at the same time as very rewarding. It definitely takes special people.
