Very cool: an RAF Pilot Might score extra Cool points. Why? Fewer people have the opportunity to become RAF pilots. The tough training programme and reputation for ‘Top Gun’ adrenalin-charged flying produces extra cool points for many.
Think laterally to find a cool career: A linked very cool career is Air Traffic Controller. It requires quick reflexes and a high degree of skill, as well as a cool, calm character.
Unusually cool: a Seaplane Pilot In the golden age of the 1930s and 1940s, seaplanes complete with smoking lounges and cocktail bars would fly around the British Empire, but they are much rarer nowadays. A new seaplane school has recently been set up in Glasgow but there are likely to be only a handful of seaplanes flying in the whole of the UK in the next five years. The exclusivity of being a seaplane pilot creates an unusually cool classification. (If you want to find out more contact the UK Seaplane Association.)
EXAMPLE 2: A COOL CREATIVE CAREER
Classic cool: Singer There are many types of singer, from backing to nightclub to opera. Some have low-paying jobs; others find fame and fortune. If you specialise in one type of music, or have a fantastic vocal range, there is work in recording studios, musicals, the theatre and opera.
Very cool: Singer (niche) How about developing a line in overtone singing, English folk, Gregorian chanting, Mongolian folk or country and western? If you are one of the few people in an area with a skill, you are likely to open up a nice niche in the market.
EXAMPLE 3: A COOL CAREER USING YOUR BODY
So-so: Sports/physical activity teacher/trainer This is an average career. There are plenty of careers around in this area. It may be an enjoyable career, but not particularly aspirational in terms of monetary or status rewards. There are lots of ways you can teach a physical activity – in a school or college, in a club, in a gym.
Classic cool: Trainer in yoga/pilates/martial arts You can up your cool factor by choosing an unusual speciality within the same field. Some of the classically coolest right now are yoga, pilates, martial arts. Keep an eye out for the latest fashions in fitness to become even cooler.
Very cool: niche opportunities in personal training How about giving training in Israeli self-defence for an additional cool factor. Or take a dance class in Bollywood Bangra? Or how about being a celebrity personal trainer? While being a personal trainer in the average gym isn’t going to win you many ‘cool’ points, thinking laterally and changing your geographical location rather than your job title can have the same effect of upping your cool. Make a move to Beverly Hills or Los Angeles, get yourself a DVD and an agent, a celebrity endorsement and some good PR and suddenly you become very cool indeed.
In fact, thinking ambitious and being prepared to move to an exciting or unusual part of the world can make many careers cooler.
EXAMPLE 4: A PEOPLE CAREER
So-so: Counsellors Being a counsellor is not very rare nowadays. You don’t have to have a psychology background to train as a counsellor, e.g. as a relationship counsellor. Think how you could make it a little cooler, though.
Classic cool: Counselling psychologist Extra cool points come from the fact that this requires more training and so is rarer. You will help individuals understand and take action to overcome their problems to promote well-being. Counselling psychologists believe that behaviour is affected by a person’s environment, including family, social issues and psychological issues in the individual. They may also teach and do research with individuals, organisations or groups.
Classic cool: Rehabilitation psychologists They help victims of accidents and developmental disabilities, such as autism, deal with everyday life, including areas such as pain management. They may also work as expert witnesses in legal investigation into the effect of a disability on a person’s ability to work.
Very cool: Police profilers Use their understanding of criminals and psychology to catch the bad guys.
Unusually cool: An Expert in serial killers takes their understanding a little bit further and uses research to create a really unusually cool career.
EXAMPLE 5: A PRECISE AND DETAILED CAREER
Classic cool: Doctor Being a doctor is cool. Not all of us could qualify, it takes years of training and hopefully provides a lifetime of status in the community and good financial rewards.
Very cool: Plastic surgeons are almost celebrities nowadays. Being a plastic surgeon is cool. However, being a female plastic surgeon is more rare and so, arguably, cooler.
Unusually cool: Australian bush doctor It may not provide you with the same financial rewards, but working in the Australian bush will bring you excitement and variety. The location and adrenalin make this career unusually cool.
Finally
We hope that, whatever you do currently, the career lists in Part Two will inspire you to think about what you really want to do. Fire up your imagination and get thinking about careers you may never have considered, or even heard of, before.
Enjoy finding your new cool career!
What could be cooler than knowing about things before everyone else? Throw in a little adventure, travel to exotic places and your career will be top of the party gossip.
Here are a bunch of cool careers for people who like to get to the bottom of events, gossip, or uncover international, criminal or business secrets.
Going undercover has to be one of the coolest types of careers around. But it is not just James Bond. There are undercover jobs across a range of industries.
You’ll need to:
Be good at keeping your work confidential - you probably won’t be able to talk much about what your job involves
Be keen on adventure and risk
Be able to keep calm even in the midst of some uncomfortable circumstances.
If you still want to go undercover to nail the bad guys, carry on.
Three skills to be cool undercover
1. Common sense is vital. Undercover, you may be required to make quick decisions in difficult circumstances
