“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”
– Confucius
While we are aware that the workplace structures of the world need many more than 3 categories to describe, we have nonetheless simplified “career opportunities” for postgraduate students into three fairly large categories. These include “white collar”, “blue collar” and “travel and adventure”; these categories can then be further sub-divided into countless more categories, but given that for now this is a blog and not a novel, we will stick to a few.
When we refer to a white collar job, we are referring to the Google definition of, “of or relating to the work done or those who work in an office or other professional environment”. We subdivided white-collar work into:
- Traditional hierarchy
- Flexible/ unconventional arrangements
- These may include employee owned companies, as well as flex time in regards to scheduling, unlimited vacation time, or any other unique aspects of organizational life
We used the Google definition of “blue collar” which states, “of or relating to manual work or workers, particularly in industry”. This is an all-encompassing definition, so we took it a step further to specifically pertained to “skilled trades”. This would include jobs such as an electrician, plumber, commercial diver, etc.
Finally, we did not use a formal definition for our “travel and adventure” section, as it is the most creative, and unconventional “career path” on our list. However, we chose to focus on the life of a scuba diving instructor, and other comparable recreational activities.
Some make the argument that scuba diving instructors are actually skilled tradesmen, and while aspects of their jobs may involve technical training, (especially in terms of gear inspection, and repair, boat maintenance, etc.), these skills are not necessary when becoming a scuba instructor. Furthermore, the lifestyles being described by the blue-collar careers are wholly different than those of the recreational scuba instructor.
It is also important to mention that, although we chose to discuss scuba diving instructor as an example of a unique “travel and adventure” career, the points we are trying to make are less about the specific job we are promoting, and more about the lifestyle change, challenges, and opportunities it presents.
It is about recognizing the ability to live a less predictable, less “comfortable” life, but one that is arguably more freeing and authentic than the more conventional one. Again, our goal is not to try and make one career sound more appealing than another, we are simply trying to show that there is more than one route that can be taken to reach personal fulfillment.
Nevertheless, while researching the process of becoming a recreational scuba instructor, the first argument being made as for why it is an appealing option, had to do with a change of physical setting. One article started with,
“Where are you right now?
Sitting in an office with no natural light and that annoying guy sitting next to you, or crammed in on a hot subway on the way to work with your nose way too close to someone’s armpit, or watching the rain through the windows at home on another wasted weekend preparing that presentation for your boss?”[1]
An image was created of an all too familiar situation for most of us; the long commutes and lack of natural lighting are all things that we experience and most likely do not enjoy. A second article summarized the essence of pursuing a career change when it said, “Remember, no one is forcing you to work a predictable, sedentary job.”[2] These quotes allow us to feel more in control of our lives, reminding us that we have the choice to pursue things that make us happy, or to stay right where we are.
Oftentimes, people look for high paying jobs that they do not enjoy as the means to an end to do the things that they love, such as traveling. However, I feel as though there is a huge issue with working for 11 months and 2 weeks doing something you hate, just so that you can have 2 weeks of doing something you love. Why not just do what you love to begin with and have that be the end itself?
Well you can, but you may need to compromise other conveniences such as eating out frequently, or fancy clothes. But if you love traveling, becoming a scuba instructor with an internationally recognized school such as PADI, or SSI, your job opportunities are literally everywhere that there is a body of water. The universal standards of the sport also allow for easy transitions to new places. Any commitments to the new place are set between you and your employer, so you can realistically move as much or as little as you’d like.
However, it is not all fun and games, while the pay does vary, scuba instructors do not make a lot of money. Most say that they get enough to live decently, but not have a huge savings account. Hours can be long and tiring, and the responsibilities are immense. Unlike diving for fun, being a professional diver means being responsible for the lives of your students.
There are also little acknowledged downsides to being in the water every day, such as the fact that cuts and scrapes that typically take a week to heal, may take a month or more to heal because of the constant exposure to water.
Nevertheless, there are other “travel and adventure” type jobs for post graduates, such as joining the Peace Corps, which requires a college degree to join. The Peace Corps has hundreds of different opportunities world wide, from South America, to the Pacific Islands, in many different sectors from agriculture to healthcare. That being said, every person who joins has their own unique experience. However, there are some facts about the program which do not vary.
For starters, the program is run by the United States government and was founded in 1961. A Peace Corps volunteer term is generally about 2 years long, and housing and food is covered under the program, as is medical and dental insurance. You also get 48 paid vacation days and are allowed to leave for family emergencies. Some projects even allow you to serve with a spouse or significant other. Peace Corps volunteers also have the potential to have their student loans deferred, forgiven ,and or “readjusted” (though this depends on the specific lender). Nevertheless, the greatest selling point of the Peace Corps program tends to be the authenticity of the experience. The Peace Corps allows you to immerse yourself into a local culture, while (as the name implies), hopefully helping to make a difference in the community. You are doing this while being part of an internationally recognized group, and essentially being sponsored by the United States government for your efforts. Being a volunteer also offers you “unique graduate school opportunities”. Ultimately, if you have an interest in travel, culture, community development, etc. and are looking for an impermanent adventure, this would be perfect for you. Needless to say, for those looking to return to normal life after serving, the Peace Corps is certainly a resume builder. (“What Are the Benefits?” What Are the Benefits? Peace Corps, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/learn/whyvol/>.)
If you are interested in learning more about the day to day life of Peace Corps volunteers, feel free to check out this link: http://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/learn/whatlike/
However, while an excellent opportunity, the Peace Corps may still be too structured a program for some people, who are looking for complete freedom. That brings us back to pursuing scuba diving and other less structured opportunities.
When I was studying abroad in Mexico this past winter, studying coral reefs, my teacher’s assistant said to me (during a conversation about post graduation career plans) that,
“the real world will always be there when you’re ready for it”.
This was coming from a man in his early thirties who had spent the last ten years working in marine laboratories around the world, diving for research, work, and pleasure. He is now pursuing his master’s degree in Colorado, but uses his summer and winter breaks to keep diving and doing what he loves.
His statement and experiences brings up multiple excellent points. Whether you decide to become a scuba instructor, a ski instructor, join the Peace Corps or any other volunteer program; there is always the possibility to return to the “real world”; to the life that you probably left behind (though whether or not you’ll want to is a different story). It also brings up the point that it is possible to combine passions. For example, scientific divers are able to combine time in labs and universities with their passions to have the excitement they are looking for, with more stability and job security than solely being an instructor.
I like to imagine that we can all live “multiple lives” during our lifetimes, and that when making decisions on a day-to-day basis, we should be aware of and sensitive to these “future lives”. For example, it is important to get a college degree, even if you think that you never want to work somewhere that requires one, simply because, at some point in the future, you may change your mind, and it will most likely be easier to get the degree now than later. It is also important to recognize the inherent benefits of the freedom to explore different disciplines while in college. But given that this is a blog directed towards post grads, I’m sure you all know the benefits of college already.
Getting back to the point, it is quite realistic and possible to enjoy the freedom and adventure that comes with just living day to day and exploring new places, and still have the long term family life and stable careers that most people pursue immediately upon graduating. With that in mind, take a deep breath, and take the plunge.
At this point, I hope that everyone at least recognizes the possibility of being able to travel and explore, without having to be rich first, or anything like that. However, I also recognize that some people may realize these possibilities, and know that they are not for them. That being said, I want to talk about pursuing more conventional careers, but those which are more sensitive to individuals’ lifestyles and personalities.
Although they are certainly not the only two companies which offer such positive balances, I am using the companies Clif Bar, and Patagonia to exemplify the benefits of employee owned companies with flexible work arrangements and powerful mission statements.
Clif Bar is an employee owned company which, as the name implies, means that all of the employees own a share of the company. This business model has been proved to help incentivize productivity while decreasing upper level corruption and greed .
Clif Bar also recognizes the importance of a work life balance through their flexible work arrangements. According to the careers section of their website, “Flexible work week? Sure. Within a two week period instead of 10 8-hour days, employees can work 80 hours in 9 days and get every other Friday off. Or, if they prefer, telecommuting is available with the flexibility to work from home one day per week.” (“Clif Bar.” – Careers. Clif Bar, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015. <http://www.clifbar.com/careers>.)
Furthermore, Clif Bar acknowledges the importance of physical activity and health in employee productivity and satisfaction. That being said, their offices have a full gym, rock climbing wall, and personal trainers to help employees get into shape, stay in shape, and be happy.
As aforementioned, Clif Bar is not the only employee owned company, nor the only company which invests into its employees’ happiness as a way to increase productivity, the purpose of acknowledging the positive attributes of Clif Bar, is for you to then raise your standards when it comes to choosing a career. Contrary to popular belief, there are opportunities to find happiness at more conventional companies.
I also think that fulfillment and productivity can also come from working for a company which has similar values to you. For example, the popular clothing company Patagonia’ mission statement is one that I certainly agree with,
“Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”
Their mission statement not only influences their business practices, which surely helps to attract like minded clientele, but Patagonia’s “careers” section on its website, describes that they are looking for people who share the company’s mission statement to work with them. Finding a company who’s values line up with yours is another way to find fulfillment, while not having to compromise the benefits of a more conventional, stable career. (“Patagonia’s Mission Statement.” Patagonia Company Information: Our Reason for Being. Patagonia, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=2047>.)
However, if these opportunities are still not for you, if you are not an activist, or an explorer, just keep on reading, we’ve got you guys covered too.
Works Cited
Brodwin, David. “We Need More Employee-Owned Businesses.” US News and World Report. US News, 7 Nov. 2013. Web. 5 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fblogs%2Feconomic-intelligence%2F2013%2F11%2F07%2Fwhy-employee-owned-businesses-work>.
“Clif Bar.” – Careers. Clif Bar, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015. <http://www.clifbar.com/careers>.
Dahl, Melissa. “Unlimited Vacation Policies Can Make Taking Time Off Kind of Awkward.” Science of Us. NY Mag, 10 Dec. 2014. Web. 05 May 2015. <http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/12/when-an-unlimited-vacation-policy-backfires.html>.
“How 20 Leading Companies Are Making Flexibility Work.” Boston College(n.d.): n. pag. Web. 5 May 2015. <http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/centers/cwf/research/publications/pdf/5.%20How%2020%20Leading%20Companies%20are%20Making%20Flexibility%20Work.pdf>.
Sahadi, Jeanne. “Unlimited Vacation? It May Not Be as Cool as It Sounds.”CNN Money. CNN, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 5 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F11%2F19%2Fpf%2Funlimited-vacation%2F>.
The Muse. “Could Unlimited Vacation Time Work For Your Company?” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 05 May 2015. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2014/10/29/could-unlimited-vacation-time-work-for-your-company/>.
*All photos were taken by and/ or belong to Christopher Wassif
~CKW
[1] Sanford, Trevor. “PADI Instructor – A New Career and Endless Possibilities.” PADI Blog. PADI, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.padi.com/blog/2013/10/08/padi-instructor-a-new-career-and-endless-possibilities>
[2] Scott, Brandon. “When You Live the Dream, the Sea Is Your Office.” PADI Blog. PADI, 17 July 2013. Web. 07 May 2015<http://www.padi.com/blog/2013/07/17/when-you-live-the-dream-the-sea-is-your-office/>