Top 10 Tuesday: Jobs I Would Consider If Not In Ministry
July 17th, 2007 | by Scott |Since I am in the middle of this transition I thought it would be apropos to step back and do some internal evaluation. Implicit in my role as a minister is a sense of calling that this is what God wants me to do with my life.
But what if that wasn’t the case? If I wasn’t in ministry what would I want to do? Where would my particular skill sets take me? After ruling out careers with Cirque Du Soleil and Political Image Consultant here is what I came up with:
10. Pharmicist–Not that I have any particular love or affinity for this field but who doesn’t think it’s a scam? How hard can it be to put 30 pills in a container? And they make some pretty legitimate coin by being able to count and measure.
9. Movie or Television Critic–I seem to have the top two requirements for this position: I love movies and TV and I’m reasonably critical. And I could be the people’s critic at that. No propping up a bunch of foreign language artsy stuff. I could do a 3000 piece why the new Scott Baio reality show is the best thing on TV this summer.
8. Attorney–Not some high powered “I want the Truth” attorney but one that works with underprivileged and disadvantaged suspects.
7. Event Planner–See, I could totally do this. That’s such a large part of what youth ministry is. And I’m relatively cool and collected during a crisis? Run out of those cute little napkins? No problem, I have some extras in my trunk. See, you already feel comfortable using me for your next reunion or Bat Mitzvah.
6. Counseling–I’ve done a far bit of this already and focused part of my grad work on Biblical Counseling. I just don’t know if I could do it all day long. Maybe if I could solve crimes between patients.
5. Journalist/Reporter–I actually majored in Journalism for a semester or two and had aspirations of being an investigative reporter. I could see myself in a newspaper setting with my sleeves rolled up.
4. Advocacy Work/Non-Profit–The older I get the more I see the value in investing in works designed to alleviate poverty, seek justice and protect the environment. I could see myself really seeking my teeth into non-profit work.
3. Book Store Owner–How cool would it be to have your own bookstore? That way I could sit there and read all day while people come in and peruse the racks.
2. Professor/Teacher–This is the one thing I’ve been told the most I should consider outside of ministry. I would love to be in a classroom setting.
1. Novelist–I have at least two books in my head. One of these days I’m going to sit down and actually start writing. “I became a preacher the day my father died. Both events were equally unexpected and unwanted.” That’s the opening to one of them.
What would you do? What do you think about these career ideas?
18 Responses to “Top 10 Tuesday: Jobs I Would Consider If Not In Ministry”
By Jim MacKenzie on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
During the hard days of ministry the one that pops up the most for me is factory worker: Union pay, brainless job, no association with people… hmmm…
By terri on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I was just saying this weekend that I think I could’ve been a pharmacist - not that I ever took a chemistry class.
I would like to own a bakery or a stationery store.
By Mike the Eyeguy on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
Our #1 and #2 are the same. I know I can tell a story, I just don’t happen to have one at the moment. I am a little of #2 and have been for years, just not enough of one for my taste.
Number 3 sounds great, but you would probably make less than preaching (if that’s possible) what with B&N and Books-a-Gazillion hovering about. As for #10, you’d better not let your personal pharmacist read that one. You might get an unexpected surprise in your next Rx.
By Scott on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I am pretty much straight white-collar. I couldn’t blog regularly with a factory job.
Terri, how about a bakery/stationary store? People could eat muffins while they write thank you cards.
Mike, yeah it would probably be a drain financially. But doesn’t it sound like a lot of fun?
By Sunny on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I always wanted to be a pharmacist or a nurse. For some reason, I have this strange desire to work as the “check in/receptionist” attendant at a hotel. One day, I am going to do that.
I could see you as a pretty tough movie critic. I think that Jason sometimes wishes that I would “argue” a movie with him like the two of you use too. (Donnie Brasco anyone?)
By Kevin Bussey on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I’ve already been a HS Football coach/teacher and in the biz world.
I would love to be a conference speaker/author. Probably won’t happen although I sent my manuscript off today.
By Scott on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
Sunny, it would be cool to work at a hotel. Especially if they gave you your own room. And he was going to kill Brasco.
Kevin, good luck on your manuscript. If it goes to print you will sell at least one copy.
By greg on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
My dad and brother are both pharmacists. I like to pull out the Seinfeld bit for them…
Why does that pharmacist have to be two and a half feet higher than everybody else? Who the hell is this guy? “Clear out everybody I’m workin’ with pills up here. I’m taking pills from this big bottle and then I’m gonna put them in a little bottle! That’s my whole job. I can’t be down on the floor with you people. Then I’m gonna type out, on a little piece of paper. And it’s really hard.”
As for me, I’ve always wanted to pretend I was an architect.
By Amy on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I can see you doing any of those things - see, you’re multi-faceted.
And our lists are very similar. My first major was pre-pharmacy. I thought it would be cool to make the big bucks just counting out those pills. There is one small detail, though…must have an aptitude for chemistry and labs. I managed to escape to the business dept.
I’ve also considered #7, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1. Scary!
By Amy on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
Following up with a reflection…how did I ever end up a CPA?! Can you even imagine that career choice?
By mark on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I’ve always wanted to work at a kiosk in the mall, just sitting and watching people walk by.
By John on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I’m fighting the same battle right now, after not working for the last 6 months and now realizing that I’m not sure my degree in accounting is such a good thing. Being a stay at home dad has been a great thing but it’s hard fitting in with the moms at story hour. I think they think I’m there to hit on them which is the farthest thing from the truth. Right now I would love a job as a kayak tour guide but this isn’t the right area for that…oh well…good luck
By Jenny P on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I love this game! I think about this stuff all the time.
Things I’ve considered (I may actually end up doing one or two… I’m only 30):
replacing Katie Couric on the Today Show (Meredith Vierra jumped right in front of me)
Developmental Pediatrician (I feel certain I would be a good doctor…if I could only get into medical school)
Director of Special Education (for a public school district)
School Psychologist (that is the one that most likely will happen, someday)
Counselor
School Administrator (too many people to keep happy though)
Professor (in the Education Department)
For know I’ll keep my job as full-time mom and part-time teacher at a private school (I’m much more of a public school gal, but private school is less stressful, which is good too.).
By the way, I watched that Scott Baio show the other day. Hilarious. My favorite this summer is The World Series of Pop Culture, though.
By Scott on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
Greg, so do they really do anything?
Amy, the chemistry and labs are just a smoke screen. They dole that stuff out to their assistants anyway.
Mark, that would be a cool job. It would be pretty sweet to throw those boomerang type airplanes at people.
John, you hang in too brother.
Jenny, I think you like education. Am I right?
By Tracy on Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
Great question.
Before I die I’d like to:
A concert harpist
A stage actress
A Doula
A Lactation Consultant and teach breastfeeding classes
By Jonathan on Jul 19, 2007 | Reply
Kevin,
If you have trouble getting your manuscript accepted, maybe you should follow Scott Sigler’s example (Wikipedia link) and build interest towards a publishing deal by podcasting the manuscript.
By Scott on Jul 19, 2007 | Reply
Tracy, as long as you don’t combine the top two with the bottom two we are cool.
By greg on Jul 19, 2007 | Reply
Greg, so do they really do anything?
Countin’ pills seems to be the majority of it. I used to count out pills when I worked for my dad in high school. It seems odd to have to spend all of that time in school just to learn to count pills and transfer them to a smaller container. Perhaps the majority of time is spent learning to read prescriptions.