Millions of Americans spice up their workday with a little variety. "I like the fact that my job is so varied. I'm never bored and never know what the next day might bring," says a microbiology lab manager. For aviation mechanic James McCaffery, "Every day is different. There is always something new and something that you haven't seen happen." Physical therapist Erin Kinneen agrees: "I love [my job]. There's never a dull moment."
Spice up your nine-to-fiver with career training
Variety brings excitement and challenge to the workday, throwing novel problems your way and challenging you to find creative solutions. To spice up your workday, train for one of these seven dynamic careers:
1. Fashion buyer
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The fashion industry lives for change -- each season brings new looks, hot colors and fresh fabrics. As a fashion buyer, it's your job to stay a step ahead of the curve, spotting trends and marketing them to the public. Fashion fortune-telling is part of the job: Buyers may purchase styles a year or two before they show up in the store. In fashion time, that's an eternity. The other part is all business: Buyers manage budgets and inventory to ensure a retail profit.
Besides a natural sense of style, fashion buyers need to learn the ropes of retail sales. An associate or bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising offers the right mix of fashion design and business courses to prepare you for a career as a professional fashionista.
Retail buyer salary: $55,540
2. ER nurse
ER nurses are on the front lines of emergency medical care. Unlike other medical professionals who live by the appointment book, nurses never know what they will encounter when they step onto the hospital floor. ER nurses perform emergency procedures, run diagnostic tests and administer medication as necessary. If you thrive on variety and spontaneity, you may belong in the ER.
Nurses can pursue one of three paths to the ER: an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a three-year registered nursing diploma, or a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). A clinical rotation in the ER and an emergency nursing certificate offer additional preparation for an ER career.
ER nurse salary: $66,490
3. Police detective
No two criminal cases are alike. Each incident introduces a new mystery to be solved, keeping detectives on their toes. Detectives spend their days investigating criminal activity: interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence and working with other law enforcement specialists to piece together the course of events.
Detectives can expect strong demand, with 17 percent growth predicted through 2016. Competition is fierce, however. According to the Department of Labor, the best opportunities will go to detectives with several years of criminal investigation experience and a bachelor's degree. An online degree in criminal justice offers the necessary training in law, investigative procedures, criminal psychology and more.
Detective salary: $63,840
4. Paralegal
Paralegals divide their time among an ever-changing portfolio of legal cases. The variety holds this insurance defense paralegal's attention: "The best part of the job is that you learn something new almost every day. It is always very interesting work and exciting," she said. To prepare for a case, paralegals interview witnesses, perform document review and case law research, prepare legal documents and draft arguments.
An associate degree in paralegal studies can kick off your legal career in about two years. Or, if you already have a bachelor's degree, you can enter the field with a paralegal certificate, which typically takes several months to complete. Both programs show you the ropes of paralegal work, with career training in electronic research, legal writing, procedure and legal specialties.
Paralegal salary: $48,790
5. Entrepreneur
If you thrive on uncertainty, you might have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs take on the risk of starting a business with the promise of substantial reward if the venture succeeds. The need to wear many hats -- financial management, product development, supply and order fulfillment, market research, sales, and more -- ensures constant variety.
Before venturing into the market, entrepreneurs can build their business acumen with an online M.B.A. Besides making valuable business contacts, entrepreneurs can develop their business plan and build career training in business management fundamentals. Some M.B.A. schools offer specialty programs in entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneur salary: varies widely
6. Art director
Creative careers offer variety by definition, challenging artistic professionals to bring a unique vision to their craft. Art directors develop the look and style of print or digital media, creating features for magazines, newspapers and Web sites that are visually appealing and present information clearly.
A bachelor's degree in graphic design or visual communications offers strong preparation for a career as an art director. Besides learning design principles and developing technical design skills, you'll develop a portfolio of your creative work to show prospective employers and make contacts in the industry.
Art director salary: $88,510
7. Special education teacher
Teachers enjoy the novelty of teaching new students each year, but often stick to a prescribed curriculum. Not so for special education teachers, who develop a specialized individualized education plan (IEP) for each student. IEPs are tailored to each student's unique profile of physical and/or mental abilities and are used to set customized learning goals.
Special education teachers don't follow a standard playbook, but rely on a set of skills for helping students with special needs achieve their goals. A bachelor's degree in special education, or a bachelor's degree with an additional one-year special education program helps teachers learn strategies for helping students succeed.
Special education teacher salary: $55,050
Variety is the spice of life -- and of your career. With the right training, you can bring your career to life with challenging and varied work.
