Looking for a more exciting career but not sure where to start?

We get you – sometimes it feels like there are hundreds of thousands of roles out there, but a dearth of information and guidance in terms of reliable details on duties, career progression, average salaries and insider advice, making it harder to find the right one for you.

If you want a job that brings you joy, sometimes thinking outside of the box is the best way to get started. With that in mind, we’ve scoured every nook and cranny of the internet in order to bring you five awesome alternative career tips.

If you’re ready to take the vocational path less travelled, let’s take the first steps!

  1. Cracking kickstart jobs

If you’re aged 16-24 and UK-based, the Kickstart Scheme from the Princes Trust provides a golden opportunity to fulfil your potential. Opportunities are available with a range of high-profile businesses in England, Scotland and Wales across sectors like retail, hospitality, construction, sports and leisure and more. This is a 6-month scheme where you work at least 25 hours a week and it’s a wonderful career launchpad.  

2. Sweet side hustles

If you’re a whiz in the kitchen and a potential GBBO contestant, perhaps you can capitalize on the nation’s sweet tooth and turn your cake making skills into a sweet side hustle? Starting a food business from home can be lucrative provided you’ve got the requisite culinary skills, are adept at self-promotion and able to coordinate deliveries/collections. You’ll need to observe food safety standards too – check the online guidance from the Food Standards Agency.

3. Outstanding online degrees

Fancy the thought of earning a vocational degree but you either don’t have the time to study at a traditional university because of life commitments, or simply prefer to learn in your own space and time? An online degree can be a savvy solution. Specialist universities like ARU Distance Learning run courses in everything from digital marketing to psychology – check out what’s on offer and you could be expanding your career horizons soon from the comfort of your own home.

4. Reputable remote roles

Does a remote working role sound more appealing than putting up with an onerous daily commute followed by 8 hours in an ecru cubicle farm? Remote jobs are definitely the future, and you might be surprised at how many varied roles are available. Having a look around you’ll see home-based jobs that cover everything from financial crime investigation to kitchen design and English tutoring! Best of all, remote working can afford you the freedom to live like a digital nomad should you wish. This means you could pore over listings of Short term rentals in Madrid, or anywhere else your heart desires, and live like a local for a few months to broaden your horizons with the security of your remote job. 

5.Cool creative platforms

Are you a budding poet, novelist, clothes designer or painter? Getting the time and space necessary to dedicate yourself to a creative career that lets you realise your true potential relies as much on funding as talent. Getting sponsorship and accessing scholarship finds can be tough, but an online platform like Patreon lets you showcase your work and attract paying patrons who help you pay your bills until you get that big break.

Follow these five awesome alternative career tips and you’ll soon be flying towards your dream job – enjoy the ride!