You don't need to sacrifice having a high-powered career to juggle family, friends, and the rest of life's obligations.
By Danielle Blundell
If you think that having a good work-life balance means that you can't hold a high-powered job, you're wrong. Having it all - an important job and time to spend with friends and family - comes down to smart choices and prioritizing your goals.
But truth be told, not all jobs are created equal when it comes to the division between work and leisure.
"It is easier to maintain an appropriate work-life balance in some careers more than others," says Cheryl Palmer, career coach and owner of career coaching firm, Call to Career.
"Some careers, like physicians for example, are extremely demanding, and you have to modify your life to accommodate your career, depending on which specialty you go into," Palmer says. "In other careers it is easier to balance both life and work - even in careers that are high-powered."
Wondering which professions could give you this work-life balance you're looking for? Read on for careers where you can have a fruitful professional and personal life.
Career #1: Teacher
Love kids and think you'd relish the task of shaping impressionable young minds? Then pursuing the important job of a teacher could be the type of career you need for both job satisfaction and good work-life balance.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a day in the life of a teacher could include tasks such as planning lessons, setting up classroom rules and discipline procedures, and working with individual students to challenge them and overcome their weaknesses.
The Balancing Act: It comes down to having a regular schedule and summers off. "Teaching is an important role that has the advantage of offering work-life balance, because teachers typically do not have to work year-round unless they choose to," says Palmer. "That two-month vacation [during the summer] gives teachers a chance to recharge their batteries."
Plus, Palmer says that the average workweek during the school year is around 40 hours, which gives teachers an opportunity to have a life outside of work.
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How to Pursue This Career: The Department of Labor says all states require public kindergarten and elementary school teachers to have at least a bachelor's degree in elementary education. It also notes that teachers in public schools must be licensed or certified.
If you're a cross between a science geek and a social butterfly, then pursuing a career as a sales engineer just might be perfect for you. That's because you can hold this high-powered position while still maintaining your social life.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, sales engineers sell complex scientific and technological products to businesses. The Department of Labor says you'll need to have extensive knowledge of the products' parts and functions to be successful. It adds that you'll also need interpersonal skills to build relationships with clients and effectively communicate with other members of the sales team.
The Balancing Act: According to Palmer, science-savvy sales engineers make good money. The Department of Labor states the median salary is about $90,000. On top of that, they can often make their own hours, since they can decide when to meet with prospective clients, Palmer says.
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How to Pursue This Career: You'll likely need a bachelor's in engineering or related field to pursue this career, says the Department. The Department does note, however, that related work experience is highly valued when seeking employment.
If getting paid to tinker with apps and write software sounds too good to be true for your tech-savvy self, then maybe it's time to look into pursuing a job as a computer programmer. Plus, you can have the flexibility to balance all of life's obligations in this commanding role.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, computer programmers contribute in a big way to their respective companies by writing and debugging new and existing code to run programs and applications for computers.
The Balancing Act: Palmer says computer programmers make good money - $74,280 is the median annual salary, according to the Department of Labor. "[A]nd many of them have the option of telecommuting since programming can be done from anywhere," she says. This combination means that "[p]rogrammers can have the best of both worlds in that they make a good salary, have interesting and important work, and can have a life outside of their day jobs," she says.
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Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
How to Pursue This Career: While some companies hire workers with an associate's degree, most computer programmers have a bachelor's degree, the Department says. They study computer science or a related subject, which gives students the skills needed to learn new computer languages easily, says the Department.
Compassionate, caring, and helpful are three words your friends might use to describe you. And if you want a meaningful career where you can make an impact on people's lives - but also have one of your own - nursing may be right up your alley.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, RNs are responsible for more than just administering medication and giving shots. They're also extremely integral to the process of diagnosing patients and teaching them how to properly manage their ailments once they've left the hospital or practice, says the Department of Labor.
The Balancing Act: There's regularity, Palmer says, to nurses' work weeks that helps them have time for themselves and their friends and family. "They generally have a specific shift that they work (i.e., 7-3, 3-11, 12-7)," Palmer says, which leaves downtime for activities and relaxing outside that time frame.
She adds that those who work in schools and office settings have the added bonus of working regular business hours. And when they have to work weekends, they'll have weekdays free to compensate for it, she says.
NEXT STEP:
Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
How to Pursue This Career: There are three common approaches to pursuing a career as a registered nurse, according to the Department: a bachelor's of science degree in nursing, an associate's degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program.
Creativity has always been your strong suit, and you love doodling - on paper, the computer, anywhere. Why not pursue a career where you could be the brains behind big ad campaigns, logos, and websites one day? Plus, a career in graphic design could mean you won't have to sign your life over to your employer for a chance at potentially high-profile work.
What's the daily grind look like? The U.S. Department of Labor says graphic designers could be responsible for things like meeting with clients, designing new artwork for use in advertisements or websites, and advising companies on strategies to reach audiences.
The Balancing Act: According to Palmer, graphic design is a great field for artsy types that want a nice mix between responsibility and freedom.
"Graphic designers do exciting, interesting work," says Palmer. "They get to be creative, and many of them have the option of telecommuting. The telecommute option contributes to work-life balance since it gives workers more flexibility than a job where you have to report to the office every day."
NEXT STEP:
Click to Find the Right Graphic Design Program.
How to Pursue This Career: You'll need a bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field in order to be considered for most positions in graphic design, says the Department of Labor. The Department also notes that developing a portfolio of design work is also key to breaking into this business.
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