Are you the type of person who enjoys adrenaline and high-risk, high-reward opportunities? You’ll probably fit perfectly in one of these risky career fields below.
Career choices are never easy. Whether you’re a high schooler, a college kid, a young professional, or a middle aged adult, it’s difficult but crucial you find the right job.
A large portion of your happiness and future depend on it.
While there’s advice all over about how to find the right career based on your personality, sometimes this can lead to overthinking and feeling paralyzed on what to do next.
It’s best to know yourself and trust your gut when it comes to making the right career choice.
Since every choice you make in life will come with its own risk that it may not pay off, sometimes the ones with the most risk are the ones worth risking everything for to be happy.
For the risk-takers out there who need to have a sense of fulfillment in their work, the following high risk jobs could be right up your alley.
Starting Your Own Business
If there’s one career move that a lot of us will want to make, but can often be afraid of, it’s starting a business from scratch.
Starting your own business will always be a risk. Even when you have the capital, a solid business plan, and a lot of experience in your field; you can never guarantee that it’s going to work out.
But if you’re willing to work hard and work at it, it’s a risk that can often pay off.
Becoming A Freelancer
Similarly, choosing to leave job security and go freelance can also be risky business (albeit less than starting your own business), but it’s often worth it.
The risk of going freelance is real and it will also depend on how well you are at adjusting to freelance life. Work won’t always be handed to you; you have to chase it. The investment you need to give here is both your heart and time.
By putting everything you’ve got into going freelance, you should see success.
Working In Another Country
When you do own your own business, or if you have a side project that you’re working on, there may be a time that you decide to go international. And there are always risks associated with this move.
When you’re moving into a market that you don’t know and that you have no experience in, there is a greater chance that you fail.
If you can do your research and plan your entry carefully, the potential successes will always be worth the risk.
Real Estate Investing
There’s always the option to turn to real estate investing.
If you’ve wanted to start a career for yourself that you can operate alongside your work, for the time being, property investment is a strong option.
Whether you look into buy to let options, BTO, or decide to start flipping properties, you have the potential to earn more money than you know what to do with on your own.
Many beginner investors need to first just build up capital, and then be willing to patiently wait until the property and price is right.
Becoming A Professor
When you’re starting out on your career path and still in college, or considering going back to study for your graduate degree, you may consider becoming a professor.
This is a risk for two reasons.
Firstly, the cost of getting your doctorate can’t be ignored. Debt and risk go hand in hand together.
And secondly, the idea that you’re missing out on being in the working world and getting paid a high salary for your skills.
Now if you make it through academia to become a professor and earn tenure, then your job security will be at an all-time high and career risk at an all-time low.
Becoming A Doctor
For those considering becoming a doctor, you may wonder if it is entirely worth it.
Medical education is long, challenging, and expensive.
So you have to be able to analyze the cost vs. the reward relationship when it comes to training to become a doctor.
If you’re skilled, passionate, and willing to work hard, you should be able to both out-work and out-earn your student debt before you know it.
Training As A Pilot
As far as adventurous careers go, if you want to enjoy job security and a good salary at the same time, you’re often limited with choice.
However, a strong option would be to train as a pilot.
Of course there are risks with any kind of job like this, but you should find that although the training is costly, the salary you receive in return will repay your investment, and your security will shatter any risk.
You’ll also gain the flexibility to fly commercial or private, which can’t be said in many careers.
Joining The Army
An army job does not need as much of an investment upfront in terms of experience or money, but it does require a few years of your life.
Although some positions will require a college education like an army officer, it’s not required across entry-level positions. Out of all the options on this list, this one may be the easiest to begin.
Keep in mind a career within the army may prove a risk to your life at times, but the security, skills training and experience may make it the best investment you could make.
Working For The Government
You may also want to consider joining the government.
Working for the federal government, although not a risk in itself (depending on your role) can be worth the investment in your education that you may need to make.
You will often benefit from great working rewards and enjoy a varied working day, especially if you decide to go into an intelligence field.
Mentoring Others
At some point in your career, you may also want to think about going into mentorship.
Mentoring is often a great way to give back to the industry and encourage bright talent for the future, although it can mean you have to give up your time with very little financial gain in return.
Often times mentors find that the personal rewards make any risk you take entirely worth it.
