77% of employees report that they’ve experienced “burnout” in their current position. People experience burnout when they become mentally exhausted and unmotivated to work. Those suffering from burnout may experience feelings of emptiness, insomnia, and irritability.
Beating Burnout with a Flexible Work Schedule
Luckily, there are many ways to avoid burnout. For example, having a job that you genuinely love makes it a lot less likely that you’ll feel worn-down. One of the greatest tricks to avoiding burnout is to maintain a healthy work-life balance. In our post-pandemic world, many have found that remote or hybrid work schedules do wonders for balancing personal and professional commitments. In fact, 79% of workers believe that a flexible schedule allows for a better work-life balance, which can mean more happiness in your work, and less burnout.
If a remote or hybrid work schedule sounds right for you, consider one of these four common “work-from-home” occupations. Before we begin, it’s important to note that none of these career paths guarantee a remote or hybrid schedule. Furthermore, paths for remote and hybrid work are not limited to those described here — many fields are turning to this modern model to retain workers and keep their employees healthy and happy.
#1: Web Developer
As cyberspace rapidly expands its terrain, the need for expert web developers grows. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the demand for these professionals will increase by 23% over the next 8 years. This puts it among the highest-growing professions in the nation.
It’s not difficult to understand why the growth rate for this field is so high. The internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, playing an indispensable role in everything from entertainment to national security while evolving so rapidly that there is an almost infinite need for innovation, optimization and updating.
Web developers keep cyberspace convenient and reliable, helping organizations and individuals stay afloat and get ahead in our 21st-century society. Due to the online nature of their work, many developers enjoy the freedom of a flexible work schedule. According to a 2022 survey, 83% of web developers work remotely at least part-time, while 62% enjoy a fully remote schedule.
What You’ll Need to Be a Web Developer
The standard entry ticket to this growing field is a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. When you earn your BS in Computer Science, you enter the job market with one of the most sought-after degrees in a thriving industry. If you already have an undergraduate degree in this field, you may consider advancing your education with your Computer Science MS — this will boost your earning potential and provide you with more opportunities for professional growth.
#2: Accountant
Accountants play an integral role in both the public and private sectors. They support and sustain economic growth by providing expert fiscal management. According to the BLS, the demand for accountants is expected to grow by 6% over the next ten years.
Accounting is an in-demand career with high earning potential, and online financial management software is widely available. The accessibility of these tools opens the door to flexible scheduling opportunities. Some hybrid and remote positions enjoyed by accountants include:
- Auditor
- Bookkeeper
- Financial analyst
- Payroll accountant
- And more!
Beginning a Career in Accounting
To prepare yourself for a career in Accounting, you will need to earn an undergraduate degree. Although you can enter this field with an associate degree, having a bachelor’s degree in Accounting increases your earning potential and provides you with a greater breadth of professional opportunities.
#3: Counselor
Over the past several years, mental healthcare has become more accessible — and more vital — than ever. This is due to increased public need, awareness and widespread availability of telehealth services. Over the next ten years, the BLS predicts that the need for Counselors will grow by 22%.
Counselors use their expert knowledge and training to provide clients with compassionate and empathetic mental healthcare. This career path is ideal for those who would like to make a positive difference in people’s lives, even while working from home.
Counselors can have different specialties. Common professional focuses include clinical mental health counseling, substance abuse disorder counseling, and crisis counseling. Other specialists may choose to work with specific populations, such as children or the elderly. By offering these services online, counselors can effectively reach marginalized people in underserved communities. These are often the places where their services are needed the most.
Achieving a Career as a Counselor
To become a counselor, you will need a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
Though the bachelor’s degree can be in any concentration, you will most likely need to meet Psychology prerequisites before beginning your master’s in Counseling. Upon completing your MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, you will need to complete supervised clinical hours and pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE).
#4: Writer
Whether a journalist, copywriter, or technical writer, professionals in this field play a key role in identifying and communicating valuable information to target audiences. To be an effective writer, one must have a strong command of their language, as well as the ability to elaborate on ideas in an engaging manner.
This field is vast, containing many opportunities for positions with flexible schedules. Some remote and hybrid career paths enjoyed by professional writers include:
- Content writer
- Copywriter
- Editor
- Grant writer
- Journalist
- Technical writer
- Transcriptionist
Find Rewarding Work as a Writer
The exact career path for a writer can be as varied as the profession itself. For example, you are unlikely to score a position as a remote sports reporter if you do not have a journalism background. Likewise, some writing positions may require you to have advanced knowledge about a given subject. For example, health websites, journals, and textbooks hire Nutritionists to write about their specialty.
Regardless of a given job’s specifics, writers are typically hired for their ability to communicate accurately and effectively. When you earn a degree in English and Professional Writing, you build your oral and written communication skills — developing a mastery of the English language.
Earn Your Education on Your Time — UB’s Flexible Programs of Study
Here at University of Bridgeport, we offer remote, hybrid, and on-campus degree programs. Our career-focused programs will put you on the path to achieving your professional goals.
Ready to get started? Learn more today!