Is Miscellaneous a Good Career Path?

With the fast changes in technology and economies, new kinds of jobs seem to appear out of nowhere in the landscape. If you ever felt like you don’t fit in particular careers or industries, or do not see yourself working in your current job for any longer, then it may be time to take a look at career paths in miscellaneous jobs. 

Miscellaneous jobs can go from niche or particular to one industry, to something more flexible that can allow you to jump from one industry to another with ease. While this career path is not traditional, it is perfect for those who want to explore industries and gain skills and experience.

What Are the Best Miscellaneous Jobs?

As previously mentioned, the job landscape is evolving faster than ever; technology plays a large hand in the creation of new jobs that businesses and other clients may require, looking for people with skills that will optimize workflow or help them keep up with trends. The following jobs are currently  the most sought after, providing a good career path to those interested:

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants (VAs) provide administrative support to companies at home. This job is perfect for those who prefer home-based jobs and would not mind time differences if their client is based abroad. Virtual assistants perform tasks that a regular, in-office assistant would perform, such as scheduling appointments, taking minutes of virtual meetings, and organizing digital files. 

Being technology savvy is the prime requirement of being a virtual assistant, as their entire platform is digital. They must be well-trained in the work management platforms, as well as the other software clients use, especially when it comes to files and communication. Virtual training programs can help as one ventures in this career path.

Content Creator

Becoming a content creator, or also known as an influencer, is currently one of the most lucrative careers that many aim to have, from young people to those who are of retirement age. In general, a content creator produces audio-visual content on multiple platforms, gathering followers and eventually sponsorships where their income comes from. Content creators usually have accounts in most social media platforms, on top of partnerships with other content creators, and their own website. 

With the attractiveness of the job, the field is currently saturated and hopeful content creators have to start small and work hard towards bigger engagements and networks. Most content creators do their own writing, recording, editing, and posting, so the job requires considerable knowledge in social media platforms and editing programs. There is also a call for content creators to be more responsible with their content, and be aware of copyright and licensing to properly credit owners. While most content creators work freelance, there are businesses that seek services from content creator agencies, which provide the content or posts that they need. 

Consultant

Consultants are experts in certain fields, programs, or processes that provide consultancy services to businesses. Their expertise is usually acquired from years of work, or specific certifications for their field. Consultants can work for different areas, from production and information technology (IT), to human resource and up to executive management. 

Consultants do not report for work every day; they are usually called in as needed and provide an invoice for a specific service or length of time. A bachelor’s degree in their specific field is the minimum requirement for consultants, usually followed by a master’s degree, certifications, licenses, experiences, and even awards to exhibit their knowledge. You can acquire certifications for human resources, financial consultancy, IT, and more.

Social Media Manager

Social media managers are critical to a lot of businesses. While most hire in-house social media managers, there are also those who tap freelance workers to handle their social media accounts. Small businesses require social media managers to help them introduce their business to their target markets, and for larger businesses to maintain their relevance. 

Social media managers are usually individuals with bachelor’s degrees in communications or marketing. Freelance social media managers usually handle multiple brands, so being organized is required in order to avoid posts that may lead to negative feedback from both clients and followers. Due to the specialized nature of the job, many certifications are available for those seeking to create a career in social media even without the aforementioned degrees, such as the Google AdWords certification, Facebook Blueprint Certification, and the American Marketing Association Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) Certification. 

Multi-Passionate Careerist

If you have multiple varying skills, without a specific career in mind, then there is still a career path for you: multi-passionate careerists work in multiple industries and can take on different roles as they see fit. This can range from being a virtual assistant for one client, and a copywriter for another. 

This Jack (or Jane) of all trades acquire experience and training in whatever field they find interest in. This kind of career requires significant networking and engaging with possible clients to let them know that you have many skills that they may be interested in hiring you for. Various tests are available online to help you identify your top interests and strengths. One of the most famous personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which helps individuals identify their tendencies in communication and decision making. Another is the CliftonStrengths Assessment, which helps identify strengths and talents.

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Why You Should Consider a Career Path in Miscellaneous Jobs

A career path in these jobs might seem worrisome due to the relative newness of the job, or the lack of job security as a freelancer. However, these jobs also provide the freedom to pick clients, fields, or specific projects you want to work on. With this, salaries in a miscellaneous career path varies widely. 

Opportunities and Compensation

In general, freelancers usually work at an hourly rate, beginning from $20 to $150, depending on the type of work, their field, and their expertise. Some are also paid per project, with a set time and amount to be invoiced. Multi-passionate careerists can expect an income flow in this pattern. Virtual assistants start in the lower range at $15/hour; full time VAs will earn bigger than those who work part-time, and also depend on the services they provide. 

For consultants and content creators, a higher range in salary is to be expected, especially for those with higher level or experience and followers on social media, respectively. Consultants can earn anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000 a year; while full-time content creators with consistent engagement and following can expect an annual salary of $30,000 to $100,000, even more. 

On the other hand, social media managers can expect an annual salary of $35,000 to $80,000, depending on their fields, number of accounts handled, and their services provided.

Outlook

Given the flexibility of their jobs, the outlook for those in the miscellaneous career path is positive. This is due to the increased demand in their services and more and more people seeking to be their own bosses as well. This is reflected in the rise of the gig economy, which has evolved from small jobs on the weekends to full time careers.

While the miscellaneous or freelance career has many advantages, it also comes with challenges for those who take on this path. One has to be flexible when it comes to services needed by clients, is able to adapt to changes in their industry, and most of all, be able to continuously expand their network to provide themselves their own job security. Being your own boss entails the entire management of your career: from time, to expenses, to skill upgrades.

Forward-Looking, Flexible Future

Building a career path with a miscellaneous job might seem worrisome. Some of your friends or family may not even understand it. But the job market is becoming more open to home-based, contractual services providers. And given the fast changes in technology, paired with a demand for specialists and other skilled professionals, there is definitely a good career path waiting for you in the miscellaneous job industry. It is a progressive, highly-adaptive industry that changes along with the world, and thus requires open-minded individuals who are willing to go with the flow and grow their own skills as time goes.