Teaching as a Side Hustle: The Pros & Cons of Adjunct Teaching

Posted on June 25, 2018June 25, 2018 by Bre Smith

If you’re in need of a side hustle, you should consider a job as an adjunct teacher at a local college, or in the case of online classes, maybe even a distant one. The entry barriers may be fewer than you think.

Colleges generally require teachers to have a master’s degree in the subject they’d like to teach or any master’s degree plus at least 18 graduate credit hours in the subject. However, hiring committees may also consider candidates with alternative qualifications such as high school teaching experience or industry certification. Past formal teaching experience is also usually not required—the interview will likely include a follow-up teaching demo.

Here are the pros and cons of adjunct college teaching.

The Good Things About Adjunct College Teaching:

Fulfillment

If you love helping people (and especially love sharing your knowledge or skills), there’s no field as rewarding as education. Ask yourself if you’ve sought out opportunities to teach informally—perhaps by training colleagues at work, leading a Sunday school class, or volunteer tutoring. If so, you’ll probably find this work very gratifying.

Reduced Commuting Time

You generally only have to be on campus when your class meets and a bit before and after to answer student questions and/or hold office hours if they’re required by your school. Most traditional college classes meet once, twice, or three times per week, and colleges are increasingly offering more and more online and hybrid (reduced meeting time) classes to keep up with the evolving way today’s students learn.

Convenience

In the same vein as a reduced commute, much of the work—grading, preparing for class, answering student email, etc.—can be done at home. This is handy because, as we’ll discuss in the next section, you’re probably going to need a separate full- or part-time job.

The Things You’ll Want to Consider Carefully:

Low Pay

It’s no secret that teachers don’t choose their careers for the money, but unfortunately adjuncts earn the worst pay of all. They’re paid per class taught, not per hour worked. The adjunct rate of pay at the college I taught at was $1,700 per class. Classes are generally four months long (a semester), so the harsh reality is that depending on how much time your teaching duties take, you could end up making less than minimum wage. This means that for most, adjunct teaching can only be a side hustle.

What’s more, colleges often limit the number of courses an adjunct can teach per semester—the one I worked for had a cap of three per semester. You may be allowed to work as an adjunct at other schools (check with your college to make sure), but keep in mind that you might have to adjust your material to meet their requirements.

No Job Security

Adjunct teaching is contract work, so there’s no certainty about the number of classes you’ll get to teach or if you’ll even be hired next semester. Also, the full-time faculty at the college are required to teach a certain number of classes each term, so if one of their sections doesn’t fill up, a class that was originally assigned to you may be given to a full-timer at the last minute.

Possible Lack of Autonomy

In attempts to ensure uniform student experience and outcomes, your college may require everyone who teaches a course to use the same materials, exams, etc. If so, full-time faculty are usually in charge of choosing and creating these items, so as an adjunct you may feel as though you don’t have much say in how your class is taught. On the other hand, it’s easy to see how receiving a highly-structured premade course could be a blessing for first-time teachers.

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The Verdict on Adjunct Teaching Jobs

Did the cons in the last section scare you straight? Just remember that although working as an adjunct is low on financial rewards, it’s big on personal ones. While adjunct teaching is more viable as a side hustle than a way to earn a living, if you feel called to teach, it’s a great way to try out a career in education and make extra money without a big commitment. In any case, please thank a teacher in your life.

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6 Ways to Avoid a Loss of Income

Posted on June 22, 2018June 22, 2018 by Edna Crane

No one wants to experience a loss of income. Depending on how much you earn and how much you lose, it could mean that you end up struggling financially or it could just mean a hit to your savings. However it affects you, it’s better to prevent it if you can.

All kinds of things could affect your income, from being unable to work to having an investment go wrong. If you want to avoid losing money, it’s best to be prepared for any situation. You can prepare for almost anything, even situations completely out of your control. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself.

1. Know Your Employment Rights under the Law

It’s always smart to know what your rights are when you’re employed. You should know they ways the law protects you, and the ways the law doesn’t protect you, so that you can prepare for any situations when it might not be on your side.

For example, in most states in the US, you can be fired for almost any reason at all. However, there are protections for employees to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender, race, and other factors. As well as knowing the general law, you should check your employment contract to see what protections it might offer you.

2. Choose Supportive Employers

Everyone knows that there are good employers and others that aren’t so good. You don’t always have a great choice between employers, but when you are able to be more selective, it’s worth looking for an employer who takes care of their employees.

Many employers recognize the value in treating their employees well and offering them various protections or allowances. For example, you might look for an employer that offers flexible working hours, which can be useful if you’re a parent. You should also look for an employer that offers disability insurance, which can protect you in the long-term if you become disabled.

3. Understand What to Do After an Injury at Work

Your employer needs to have worker’s compensation insurance, which protects both you and them if you are injured at work. It’s important to know how this helps you and what you should do after a work injury.

Worker’s compensation helps you to recover the financial loss an injury might have caused. If the insurer doesn’t come through, you can get in touch with a firm like mcmahanlawfirm.com today and take legal action. If you sue the insurance provider, you’re not suing your employer, and you shouldn’t lose your job. Suing can help you avoid losing income due to your injury.

3. Stay Healthy to Avoid Sick Days

It’s impossible to completely avoid ever getting ill. We all catch coughs and colds, and common illnesses like the flu or stomach viruses can hit us hard too. Even if you live a very healthy lifestyle, an illness can always come out of nowhere, whether it affects you for just a few days or for months or even years.

However, staying healthy can make getting ill less likely. You can support your immune system and avoid behaviors that could cause serious or chronic illnesses. For example, not smoking can help you avoid long-term diseases like cancer and heart disease. Eating a healthy diet may help you avoid diabetes. In the short term, a balanced diet can boost your immune system and help you fight short-term illnesses like colds and the flu.

4. Make Childcare Arrangements in Advance

Juggling work and being a parent is tough. Even when your child is at school all day, and perhaps even at an after-school program after, there are unexpected things that can happen. If your child is ill or injured or their school unexpectedly closes for the day, you need to make other arrangements. Having a supportive employer can help with this, but it’s also useful to try and make plans before anything happens. Know who could look after your child if they can’t go to school so you don’t have to take a last-minute day off.

5. Always Be Prepared to Look for Work

Losing your job can be devastating, but it’s often unavoidable. If you’re going to be out of work, you don’t want to be for long. That’s why it’s a good idea to always be prepared to look for a new job. Even if you feel secure in your current position, you never know when things might change.

If you want to be ready to find a new job as soon as possible, keep your resume up to date. Continue working on your professional development, even when it’s not necessary for your current role. And maintain a network of professional contacts so that you can reach out to people for advice, recommendations and tip-offs about jobs.

6. Manage Investments Carefully

Investments are another form of income that can benefit you both now and in the future. But if an investment goes wrong, it could upset your financial plans. It’s especially annoying if an investment is paying out a regular income that you’ve been using for daily expenses.

It’s always important to be cautious with investments, but it’s especially wise not to rely on them as a main source of income. If you only have a few investments, one of them going wrong could have a huge effect on your budget. Manage your risk carefully by hiring a wealth adviser, and it will help you avoid any real disasters. Investing is a good way to increase your income, but only if you get it right.

If you want to protect yourself against a loss of income, you need to be prepared. If you’re prepared for anything, it will be less of an impact if something unexpected happens.

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5 Books to Make You Wealthier and Wiser this Summer

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Katie Evans

If you’re looking for a good book to read on vacation this summer, you’re in luck. This summer’s best wealth and wisdom reads are hopeful, humorous, and actionable, and they’re all a good length for reading on the plane! Here are five books we’re loving this summer:

1. Crushing It: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too

Gary Vaynerchuk gives us a good look at how modern entrepreneurs are rocking their businesses and shows us how we can implement their strategies into our own businesses right now. If you own your own business, or are thinking about starting your own business, Crushing It is a must-read.

I enjoy Vaynerchuk’s writing style. It’s approachable and his advice is very practical. I like that the strategies in the book aren’t the usual vague stuff we see in most career and business guides—this is a “so and so did it this way, and here’s how you can do it too” approach. A lot of his advice is on how to rock social media (Twitter and Facebook, but also newer platforms like Spotify, Soundcloud, and iHeartRadio), which is an ever-changing target if there ever was one.

2. You are a Badass at Making Money

If you aren’t rolling in fat stacks of cash every night, it’s probably because you have some deep-seeded belief about money that’s holding you back on your road to wealth. In You are a Badass at Making Money, Jen Sincero gives you strategies to break your money-repelling cycle so you can begin building wealth.

In some places, Sincero’s book is a little like a potty-mouth version of The Secret, but her advice is very good. She tells it like it is, and weaves short exercises for breaking through your money roadblocks at the end of every chapter. I’m not rolling in the dough yet, but maybe if I repeat “I love money and money loves me” enough times, it might just happen. You are a Badass at Making Money is a good before bed read to help you visualize the life you want at the end of each day.

3. What Color is Your Parachute? 2018

If you’re struggling with your career in any way, it’s time to pull out the job hunter’s bible, What Color is Your Parachute?

Even if you’ve read it before, the book is republished every year with the latest in job hunting and career soul-searching advice. It’s a fantastic read every year. Sadly, Richard Bolles died last year, but his son continues the tradition of updating the book for 2018.

Seriously, if you’re stuck in your career path, and you only have time to read one book, this is the book you must read.

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4. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong about the World and Why Things are Better than You Think

If you haven’t heard, Bill Gates is giving all 2018 college graduates a copy of the book, Factfulness. There’s a good reason why. We are bombarded by media messages that life sucks and our planet is on fire. Hans Rosling proves that this simply isn’t true. The world is in a better place than it’s ever been.

Bill Gates describes the book in this short video:

This isn’t a political rant about “fake news” or that sort of thing. This is a logical look at what’s really going on in the world, and how we can change our perspective to continue making the world a richer, better place. This is a book about using our brains instead of our reactionary emotions. Hooray!

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5. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World

Despite the title, Make Your Bed is about the author’s experience as a Navy Seal and how it taught him to think about leadership, teamwork, and how making small efforts can lead to meaningful change. It’s about perseverance in the face of adversity.

William H. McRaven gives us 10 principles to follow to change our lives, and then the world. It all starts with making your bed (which you should do anyway. It only takes a minute!).

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Is a Career in Human Resources Right for You?

Posted on June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 by Katie Evans

If you love working with people and feeling needed, a career in HR may be right for you. Human Resources professionals keep businesses staffed and act as liaisons between managers and their staff. They manage employee benefits and are responsible for maintaining training and employee records.

Careers in Human Resources

As a human resources professional, you can find several types of HR jobs. Smaller businesses may have only one person to handle HR tasks, while larger corporations may have hundreds. The most common HR career titles are:

HR Director

In a larger corporation with a great many HR employees, the HR director oversees budgets, policies, procedures, and strategic planning for an HR department. Most HR directors have at least 10 years of experience in human resources.

HR Manager

In medium to large companies, an HR manager oversees the daily operations of the HR office. They are responsible for ensuring HR tasks are completed, and they do the hiring for their department.

Training Officer

You know that boring sexual harassment training you have to take every year? Somewhere in your company, there’s a training officer that makes sure everyone takes that training. Training officers identify employee training needs and either create or find courses to meet those needs. They may be responsible for employee on-boarding and orientation as well.

Recruitment Coordinator

One of the most important roles of HR is to recruit talented employees. A recruitment coordinator advertises vacancies, sorts applications, and is in charge of shortlisting candidates for interviews.

HR Officer

An HR officer performs many tasks in the HR office, such as employee absence tracking, record keeping, performance evaluations, and even payroll in some cases.

HR Administrator or Assistant

Everyone has to start somewhere! If you’re just starting a career in HR, you will likely start in this entry-level position where you will handle data entry, paperwork, phone calls, emails, and other employee communications. You will assist HR officers and managers with the daily tasks of running the HR office.

Skills Important in an HR Career

Human resources offers you a variety of job options, but they aren’t for every personality. Outgoing personalities do best, as you will be dealing with people and their problems most of your workday. Other qualities of a good HR professional include:

Strong leadership abilities: The HR department is the go-to place for employees and managers who need support. People will look to you to lead them in the right direction to solve their problems.
Problem-solving skills: You will see problems of all shapes and sizes in the HR department, and you’ll need the skills to navigate all of them!
Exceptional communication skills: You must be able to communicate in-person, on the phone, via email, through company memos, and during presentations.
Strong sense of ethics: You must clearly know the difference between right and wrong and make the best decisions for the people who trust you with their issues.
Strong organizational and time-management skills: You must be able to manage stacks of documentation, meetings, and a variety of daily tasks. Your time-management skills must absolutely rock!

Education for a Career in HR

You can take a variety of educational paths to a career in HR, but most jobs will require you to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Most HR professionals pursue degrees in fields like psychology and business. To advance to the ultimate HR Director position, you will need a graduate degree.

A career in HR isn’t for everyone. If you prefer to work on your own and never see another person, you might want to choose a different career field. HR professionals love to solve problems and get a thrill from finding the perfect person to fill a vacant position. If this sounds like you, start reworking your resume with HR keywords like “problem-solving,” “active listening,” and “talent acquisition.”

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9 Careers for People Who Love to Travel

Posted on June 7, 2018June 10, 2018 by Katie Evans

Travel broadens your mind and delights your senses. If you love to meet new people, try new things, and eat exotic food, a career that allows you to travel and make money too is a perfect fit for you.

You can find a career that allows you to travel more easily than you think. Believe it or not, most people prefer to take jobs that allow them to stay home most of the time, so jobs that require travel aren’t very popular—at least not in the corporate world. Here are nine career options for travel lovers:

1. Teach English Abroad

If you love teaching, you don’t have to stay in your local elementary and high school. You can train as an English teacher for foreign students and travel the world, hopping from one country to another. You will find schools that teach English as a foreign language in most foreign countries and even within the United States.

Popular destinations will invite you to a formal interview in the same way that you would in any other school. Schools in lesser-known destinations are happy to accept any teacher as long as you can show your certification. Some schools in China will allow you to teach with a bachelor’s degree in any subject, so even if you aren’t a career teacher, you can still find a job teaching English while you travel.

2. Au Pair

If you love taking care of young children, you can see the world as an au pair, or governess. Upper class parents in the United States and European countries hire college-educated young people to take care of their children. You will read stories, help with homework, plan field trips, make lunches, and become a huge influence in your charges’ lives.

Au Pairs accompany children on family vacations, too. So even if you land a gig in your dream travel destination, you will likely be able to see other exotic locales as well.

3. Pilot or Flight Instructor

Commercial and private pilots travel constantly. You need a pilot’s license and proper training, and then you’re all set for takeoff. On your days off, you can hop a flight to any destination you like—free of charge if there’s an empty seat.

If you’re dreaming of the jet-set life with your own yacht and plane, you might be interested in taking control of your destiny by becoming a certified flight instructor—you just have to meet the CFII requirements.

4. Flight Attendant

If you don’t want to take the trouble to learn to fly an entire plane, you can still see the world as a flight attendant. You’ll learn about air safety rules, and you’ll be in charge of keeping your passengers stocked with peanuts. You’ll help passengers put their luggage in the overhead compartments and serve sodas once the plane reaches cruising altitude. Meanwhile, you can travel anywhere you want on your days off!

5. Cruise Employee

If the flying in an airplane isn’t your thing, you could consider a career on a cruise ship. You will live on the ship, so your room and board is paid while you’re at sea. No matter what your education, cruise lines have a job that will suit your talents. You can be a photographer, activities director, steward, server, destination guide—you name it. You could even become a captain with enough sailing experience.

6. Travel Blogger or Writer

Travel blogs may not seem popular anymore, but in reality, bloggers who have embraced modern digital channels such as YouTube and Instagram have developed a broad audience base. Travel agencies and hotels are always looking for influential bloggers to promote their destinations and services. In short, if you can establish yourself as a popular vlogger and Instagramer, you might be able to land exciting projects.

7. Scientist

Scientific roles, like biologists and archaeologists, often travel for their research. For example, a marine biologist who works outdoors who isn’t attached to a zoo or a marine center) can spend several months at sea and along the coast of remote locations. Archaeologists spend several months on all sorts of excavation sites around the world. Of course, scientists spend a long time in college, and most have PhDs.

8. Motivational Speaker

If you love talking people, a career as a motivational speaker may be a worthwhile avenue for you. Motivational speakers travel from town to town, giving speeches at conferences and even church revivals. You don’t need any specific sort of education to be a motivational speaker, but you will need to create a following online or in your local community before you’re invited to speak anywhere else. Try joining your local Toastmasters group to practice your skills and make connections.

9. Corporate Sales Specialist

Most corporations have large sales teams that focus on finding clients. If you work in a sales team for a big enough corporation, you will be able to travel the world to meet new clients. Look for an international company, or one with offices in exotic locations.

What other jobs can you think of that allow you to travel while earning a paycheck?

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9 Careers for people who love to travel - #career #travel #careeradvice

If You Can’t be a Princess, Be a Paralegal

Posted on June 6, 2018June 10, 2018 by Edna Crane

Meghan Markle is living out every girl’s dream in her new role as a Princess of the United Kingdom, but before she was the Duchess of Sussex, she played perfect paralegal Rachel Zane on the TV show Suits. While your chances of becoming a princess are probably slim, you can still rock a law office as a paralegal, just like Meghan’s character.

“Rachel Zane is the best paralegal in the best law firm in New York. She is relied upon by the best lawyers who have graduated from the best university” – Louis Litt.

Rachel Zane was the wonder paralegal. Her research was flawless, her speed was unbeatable, and her knowledge of the law far exceeded many newly qualified lawyers. Meghan made the role look like worlds of fun. Believe it or not, starting a career as a paralegal is easier than you think.

Paralegal Education Requirements

As an aspiring paralegal, you need at least an associate’s paralegal studies degree, a post-baccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies, or paralegal courses on your bachelor’s degree transcript. Sound complicated? It really isn’t. Ensure the American Bar Association has approved your program and you’re all set!

Paralegal Experience Requirements

While no experience is necessary to find your first paralegal job, you will have a much easier job search if you have some experience in the legal field you want to enter. One of the best ways to gain experience is to intern at a law firm while you’re going to school. You can find both paid and unpaid internships by visiting your college’s career center and watching internships.com.

You can also gain experience by taking a job related to the kind of law firm you want to join. For example, you can find a job in a bank if you want to go into estate or financial law. You might consider a work-from-home court transcript job, too.

What do Paralegals Do in the Real World?

Paralegals are basically whizz kids. Not only are they outstanding at administrative work, but their legal knowledge has to be great too. They provide integral support to legal executives, barristers, and solicitors. Daily job duties usually involve:

Administration support
Drafting legal documents
Filing documents
Project Management
Negotiations
Client Progression and Care
Legal Research
Investigating facts in pending cases
Drafting contracts
Gathering statements and affidavits that can be used as evidence in court

Most often paralegals work work solely in one department. Much like lawyers, they specialize in a specific part of the law.

How Much Money Do Paralegals Make?

Most paralegals make between $35,000 to $60,000 per year, depending on location and specialty. If you want to make serious cash, move to the District of Colombia where the average paralegal salary is $76,620!

So, while you probably won’t get to wear a diamond tiara to the office, you can still rock an inspiring career as a paralegal. If you’re great at research, love playing a supporting role, and look great in a pants suit, you’re sure to love being a paralegal.

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5 Jobs for Nosy Snoops and Busy Bodies

Posted on June 5, 2018June 10, 2018 by Mister Watson

A right to snoop is something only Sherlock Holmes is allowed. Everyone else should be humble, unassuming, and believe what they are told. Being nosy is a nasty habit…or is it?

The truth is that a small amount of curiosity is normal. Some people can’t help but dig a little deeper and read between the lines. Far from being reproachable, it’s a fantastic quality to have in some career fields. Sure, regular bosses usually hate the idea of people stepping out of line, but these roles are different.

They are the type of positions that don’t hold back your natural inclination; they release it in full force. Here are the jobs that will make your nosy heart melt with contentedness.

1. Recruitment Specialist

Companies need quality employees yet they don’t have time to waste. As such, they hire experts who can provide the best candidates in a matter of weeks to limit turnover time. These professionals are called recruiters and are often referred to asheadhunters. You never contact them; they get in touch with you. That’s why curiosity is integral to the role.

For starters, this position requires you to read between the lines and spot the workers who are head and shoulders above the rest. Going off hearsay and industry gossip is a surefire way to hire the wrong person. Plus, it’s important to understand the person behind the mask to ensure they will be a good fit. Depending on the recruiter, this can involve spying on their social media accounts and combing through their tweets. Think of it like one of those moments Sherlock Holmes stalks someone in one of his disguises to find out their business.

Finally, a face-to-face meeting is where you can use background research to push them and learn more. If you think a headhunter is like a spy, then you’re not far wrong. They want to find out everything they can about potential individuals. The more they know about you, the better they can match you to a position. A position that gives them a piece of the action. Let’s just call that the snoopers fee.

2. News Reporter

The job of a news reporter orjournalist is to keep the establishment honest. People in power do things to abuse their position and increase their lifestyle, often at the expense of the public. Anyone who needs an example of this should take a look at the work of the Washington Post and New York Times. Their constant reporting is often widely referred to by other networks. In fact, the special counsel is believed to use their contacts in the media to uncover suspicion of collusion.

Journalists get a terrible reputation. This is mainly because hacks exist and people don’t understand the position. Gossip reporting isn’t the gold standard by any means, and it’s not something kids dream of becoming as a youngster. Regardless, being a reporter includes fact checking on sensitive and personal info to uncover the truth. For those who don’t believe everything they read, this is a wonderful career choice. Maybe you can be the one who breaks the news and influences public opinion thanks to your nosiness. Just remember, not everyone thinks like a Holmes.

3. Forensic Accountant

As the name suggests, this role requires an expert grasp of numbers. To find the truth, people will tell you to follow the money. This is where the men and women of forensic accountancy come into play. With their pencils and rolls of paper and calculators, they poke and prod and investigate. If there is anything slightly untoward – fraud, say – then these are the folks that tend to crack the case. Who would hire such a person? It isn’t as if a felon boss is going to hand out a job that puts them in jail. However, some companies are obsessed with financial crimes and these are the ones that will want your services.

An insurance company is a prime example. Although their policies have been less than stellar in the past, the majority do pay out when necessary. Sadly, lots of policyholder’s attempt to defraud them of millions with a couple of simple lies. Thanks to a curious soul such as you, opportunists won’t get very far. Of course, the IRS is the pinnacle of forensic accountancy. If you run into obstacles, try embracing your Moriarty side.

4. Disease Prevention

It’s worth noting from the beginning that this is a difficult industry to break into because it’s exclusive. Without the right qualifications, there isn’t a research facility in the world that will take a chance on an employee. Consider this. Do you want someone working on your health that’s missing certain bits of information related to your physiology? That being said, the ones with a medical background can become the ultimate investigators. But, instead of solving crimes, you can prevent diseases from spreading and save lives. This is a bit more Watson, really, but he’s a bit of a snooper too. Holmes just had to catch him up a bit on the whole genius thing.

In many ways, working with experts such asPoseidais better than being a run-of-the-mill police officer. The role includes targeting genomes to try and modify innate behavior. That way the body will be able to fight back against illnesses which are incredibly dangerous. Imagine being one of the people who helped to cure cancer. Not only would it be a historic achievement but it would be due to your curiosity.

5. HR Manager

A human resources role is by no means as “sexy” as the other positions on this list. But it’s one of the most suitable jobs for people who are curious. For one thing, colleagues interact in inappropriate ways all of the time. The #MeToo movement is just one example.

Secondly, the company has to react professionally for the good of everyone involved. So saying there isn’t enough evidence to rule either way won’t cut the mustard. You will have to investigate by speaking to peers and previous bosses and coworkers to see if there is a pattern that you can prove. Being an HR manager isn’t all boring. In fact, you will likely find challenges you never thought you’d face. Especially if you are a Holmes type. Honestly, when was the last time Sherlock considered someone’s emotions in resolving a situation?

When all is said and done, it comes down to just how curious are you? How do you plan on using your curiosity to get ahead in the business world?

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8 Reasons to Love a Career in Hospitality

Posted on June 5, 2018June 10, 2018 by Edna Crane

Many people want to break into the hospitality industry, and there is a very good reason why. Hospitality is what the public wants. We want entertainment, good food, exciting drinks, and excellent customer service. Together, all of this adds up to a good, fun time, and it’s put on by the people who love the industry. The shifts can be long, the jobs are diverse, but the hospitality industry may be perfect for you if you love making people happy.

Chefs in their hats and baggy chef pants make you a meal you’ll talk about for years on end. Here are eight reasons hospitality is a great career choice:

1. People are Happy to See You

At the end of a tough workweek, you don’t want to just sit at home You want to go out, let your hair down and have fun!

If you’re the person serving up said fun, then there are a lot of people out there who are happy to see you. They want to see your smiling face, ready to help them with whatever they need. The job satisfaction of that alone—knowing that you make someone’s day that little bit better—is enough to a lot of people working in the hospitality industry.

2. You Get to Be Creative

It doesn’t matter what your role is in the industry, you have the chance to get creative. Bartenders can create their own cocktails and cocktail menus. Chefs have the power to create new and beautiful dishes. Concierges can tailor experiences for guests that delight their every whim. You have the power to be as creative as the parameters of your job allows, and who doesn’t want that kind of job satisfaction?

3. It’s a Mad Adrenaline Rush

You get the chance to work in an industry that doesn’t stop moving, evolving, and pushing boundaries. Every day, restaurants, bars and hotels are opened all over the world. Every country has a hospitality industry that they are proud of, which means that you get to transfer your skills wherever they are needed. Adrenaline rush? Yep!

4. There’s Fantastic Job Fluidity

In many jobs, there is a ceiling to how far you can grow. In hospitality, you don’t just grow up—you can grow sideways. The scope in your ability to move through jobs and climb the corporate ladder quickly is tremendous, and hospitality is one of the only industries where your skills count in that way.

5. …and Amazing Flexibility

In hospitality, you have the chance to work in shifts. Most people aren’t fans of the unsociable hours that some hospitality roles face, but others understand that working nights isn’t a bad thing and that the extra supplement for working the weekend shift is going to help you pay for your next vacation. Take the time to bask in the fact that while everyone else is headed to work on Monday morning, you are not!

6. It’s a Vibrant, Fun Atmosphere

How many office jobs do you know of that serve their staff a gourmet meal as part of their day? Not many. One of the many perks about hospitality is that while you’re on your shift and you are a professional, you can have a little banter with the customers and you can really indulge in the fun of your role. There is no need to worry about a lack of fun when you are working in an industry that literally requires your colleagues to be bouncy, vibrant, and full of life.

7. You have Job Security (If You’re Any Good)

Yes, hospitality has a high staff turnover rate, but this is because there are many temporary jobs and contract positions in the industry. You will always find work when you have hospitality skills, because employers always need skilled employees. People will always need to eat, drink and find a place to sleep, and you can provide this to them by being part of an industry that really doesn’t sleep.

8. It’s Easy to Enter the Field

Okay, maybe not ‘easy’ in the sense that just anyone can work in it, but hospitality has many different routes into the industry. You can work from the very bottom in a kitchen and end up head chef one day. You can choose to get a degree in hospitality and management and become the manager of a restaurant. You could choose to open your own place after a few years of experience in a bustling eatery. The point is, the industry is open to possibility, and it’s up to you how you use it.

Hospitality is not for the faint of heart or those who want to slack off, but if you want a fun career and you enjoy helping people enjoy themselves, then hospitality may be a good career path for you.