If you want to make a difference in life choosing the right career can be a good way to do it.
There are certain careers where you can offer protection, help, guidance, or education to people.
These careers can be rewarding and give you a real sense of achievement.
There are several career paths that you can take if you want to make a difference. We are going to take a look at six of them.
1. Fire Safety Manager
Working as a fire safety manager means that you can help to protect other people.
The role involves controlling the potential risk to people and property that fire can present.
It's a demanding job that carries a high level of responsibility.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities that you can expect to carry out if you decide to embark on a career as a fire safety manager include:
- Having knowledge of all fire safety features in a building.
- Identifying any fire safety risks that are present.
- Having knowledge of the correct fire safety procedures and ensuring that they are carried out.
- Understanding legislation and making sure that it's complied with.
- Developing fire safety strategies and plans.
- Liaising with the managers of organisations to ensure that fire safety is maintained.
- Ensuring that fire safety inspections take place on a regular basis.
Training required
If you want to work as a fire safety manager you will usually need to have some form of formal accreditation, such as a NEBOSH National Fire Certificate. You may also be required to attend training courses that are accredited by the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM).
Salary
Although many fire safety managers value the responsibility of the role above financial considerations, salary is still important.
The average salary for jobs in fire safety in the UK is £30,750.
2. Live in Carer
Many people are carers by nature. If this applies to you then live in care may be a good option.
You can be a great help to individuals who struggle to manage on their own.
This is because as a live in carer one of your main responsibilities will be to provide support to individuals who have difficulty completing everyday tasks.
Responsibilities
There are a range of responsibilities associated with working as a live in carer, depending on what type of care is being provided and who the care is for.
These responsibilities can include:
- Helping to identify the care needs of individuals.
- Providing personal care to individuals.
- Carrying out everyday tasks such as shopping or cooking for those who need help and support.
- Ensuring that the person being cared for feels comfortable and supported at home.
Training required
In many cases people do not need formal qualifications to be hired for a role as a carer.
However, some employers do like applicants to have knowledge of first aid and a Health and Social Care NVQ qualification at level 2 or 3.
Salary
For many carers the fact that they are helping someone else is the reward that they want.
However, it's still important to be able to earn a living wage. The average salary for a caring role in the UK is £21,000.
3. Doctor
Doctors vary in the roles and responsibilities that they have.
However, they are all involved in helping people who have an illness or disability that they need to recover from or deal with.
If you are looking to have a career in medicine you need to be very dedicated.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a doctor vary depending on where they are working and what type of medicine they specialise in.
However, there are certain responsibilities that are common to all medical doctors.
- Examination of patients.
- Diagnosis of medical conditions.
- Prescription of treatments and drugs.
- Ensuring that medical knowledge is up to date.
- Working in teams with other medical professionals such as nurses
Training required
In order to become a doctor in the UK you must gain a medical degree from a medical school that is recognised by the General Medical Council.
Once you have graduated you need to embark on a foundation programme for two years.
During this time provisional registration to practice is provided with full registration being provided once the foundation programme is completed.
Salary
There is a great variation in doctor's salaries in the UK.
Doctors who work for a primary care trust normally earn between around £54,000 and £81,000.
Partners in a practice can expect to earn around £103,000.
This is a similar salary to the top of the scale for hospital consultants whose salary expectations start at around £74,000 per year.
4. Nurse
Anyone who is looking to embark on a career as a nurse needs to be dedicated.
It can be a difficult job but it can also be very rewarding.
The overall role of a nurse is to provide care and support for patients from all backgrounds
Responsibilities
The responsibilities that a nurse has differ depending on what type of nursing they have chosen a career in.
However, there are some responsibilities which generally apply to all types of nursing including:
- Recording the medical history and symptoms of a patient.
- Working with a team of medical professionals to plan patient care.
- Monitoring patients and recording vital signs.
- Giving medications and treatment to patients.
- Educating people about certain health issues.
Training required
In order to work as a nurse in the UK you are required to have a nursing degree.
It's also compulsory to be registered with the nursing and midwifery council (NMC).
There are four nursing specialisms that you can choose from; adult nursing, children's nursing, mental health and learning disability.
During formal training time is spent taking part in practical work as well as in the classroom.
Salary
The salary you can expect to earn if you embark on a career as a nurse rises as you progress up the pay scale. The median salary for a registered nurse in the UK is around £23,000.
5. Police Officer
The main role of a police officer is to protect people in the UK by maintaining law and order.
They do this by implementing crime prevention techniques and investigating crimes that have taken place.
If you enjoy helping people, and believe that maintaining the law is important, a career as a police officer may be a good choice.
Responsibilities
Duties that come with being a police officer are varied.
They can include:
- Apprehending and interviewing suspects.
- Completing crime reports and dealing with other paperwork.
- Gathering evidence so that a prosecution can take place.
- Attending court to give evidence.
- Patrolling the local area and maintaining good relations with the people there.
- Responding to emergency calls.
Training required
There is a level 2 or 3 Diploma in Public Services that you can apply for before applying to join the police.
It's not essential to do this but it's a route that some people take.
It's also possible to start out as a police constable by gaining an apprenticeship.
Don't forget, it's always possible to apply to join the police directly.
If you do so you will be expected to have knowledge in certain areas including public safety, leadership skills, communication, and dealing with traumatic situations.
Anyone who is successful with their application then has to attend an assessment centre before they are accepted.
Acceptance into the police force can be difficult and you cannot apply a second time until 6 months have elapsed.
Salary
People often start their career in the police as a police constable.
The starting salary for this role is between £19,971 and £23,124. In Scotland this starting salary is a little higher at £24,204.
The maximum salary for a police constable is around £38,000.
6. Teacher
Teaching is one of the most difficult careers to embark on but it can also be one of the most fulfilling.
Working as a teacher means that you get to play a vital role in the lives of young people.
It's your job to impart knowledge, act as a mentor and make sure that children are protected.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities that you can expect to have as a teacher may be wider than you would expect.
They include:
- Teaching the national curriculum for children.
- Creating a classroom environment that is nurturing and conducive to learning.
- Acting as a role model.
- Mentoring children throughout their school career.
- noticing signs of trouble and making sure that safeguarding procedures are followed.
- Devising lessons.
- Marking the work of pupils.
Training required
In order to teach in a state school in England you need to have gained a degree.
You also need to have qualified teacher status (QTS).
You get this by embarking on a teacher training programme.
There is no requirement to have QTS to teach in non-state schools but it is a distinct advantage.
Salary
The rate of pay for teachers varies depending on where in the country they are based.
Newly qualified teachers can expect to earn between £23,720 and £29,664 with the higher salaries being paid in London, due to the higher cost of living.
Ultimately
Any of these careers can provide the opportunity for you to make a real difference.
The career that you choose depends on your personal skills and preferences.
Choose wisely and you should get the rewarding career that you are looking for.
Good luck!
