Today, kids have ‘profession days’, when I grew up, that did not exist. So many jobs I wanted to try. However, the universe did not support my ideas, and so I never did. I am still curious to explore, though, and maybe it’s not too late to experiment?
Animator on a Cruise ship
The always on, always happy and always smiling crowd that brings energy to your (all-inclusive) hotel. Google describes their role as “plan and lead activities for children (kids’ clubs), families, and adults, including games, dancing, sports, themed parties, and evening shows”, and the requirements are “Good communication, teamwork, a positive attitude, and often English proficiency.” Google is underselling this job. The entertainment staff are the people who have the most fun at the hotel – teaching aqua fitness classes to seniors while playing loud 2000’s party music (really?), finding willing folks to play beach boccia (never understood this), or just being the fun crowd at each dinner and the crazy dancers (limbo, anyone?) at each resort party (and there is a fun thing every day!). Doing all this on a cruise ship – next level. Sadly, although I kept ‘collecting’ certifications in fitness and nutrition, I remained a guest rather than a member of the entertainment staff.
Future career potential: Moderate. I can totally see myself doing a 1-3 months experience, partnering with a hotel on a remote island, a training centre (think Yogabarn in Ubud, but less crowded and less commercial), or even the all-inclusive Turkey/ Egypt beach resort. Besides offering fitness and usual positive vibes, my services would include crystal ball gazing and palm reading. I am actually convinced that working as an animator would also make me a better business professional, so I should really consider this.
Bartender
Let’s stay with the entertainment theme. To this day, I am fascinated by great bartenders. The ones who know all recipes by heart, can experiment, and just know what to mix for you. On top, they casually connect with their clients, but only the ones actually open to engage, while giving space to the more reserved crowd. The attractiveness of this job grew even more as some of my sister’s coolest friends worked as bartenders on weekends. However, working as a bartender was an early teenage dream, and legally not possible, and then I forgot about it.
Future career potential: Low, but an excellent retirement option. I can totally imagine running a simple bar somewhere on a beach once I quit the business-business world. I’d have a very simple menu – something like Margarita, Negroni, Singapore Sling, Aperol Spritz, and wine & beer options, next to a selection of excellent spring water options, and coffee, of course.
Cookbook author
About 2-3 years into my Physics studies, I started seriously doubting my choices. My friends were getting high on solving calculus problem series, while I was spending all my lunch breaks and evenings at the gym, and doing my homework late at night when I really did not have a choice to postpone anymore. Finally, I took a break from my studies and focused on gardening, reading, and – cooking! I was already at ~20 recipes (including stunning pictures taken with a Canon DSLR), when I realized that I, too, get excited by Lagrange multipliers or how waves propagate as a result of an earthquake.
Future career potential: Very low. If you met me after I started working, you’d be surprised to learn that I know how to cook at all. My cooking today focuses on preparing protein shakes (the process of putting a scoop of protein powder into a shaker and shaking; tip: add ice cubes!), and on cutting fruits and vegetables (this weird person on a bench in a park, cutting and eating a whole pineapple – that’s me! And yes, I am Swiss, of course, I carry a knife). Who needs a cookbook today anyhow? Just ask ChatGPT.
Trader (commodity trading, the real stuff)
There still is some kind of magic around the trading profession for me. Irrespective of whether it’s a more mathematical approach and all online or whether you need a strong network of suppliers and buyers, traders are master minds with an ability to thrive on adrenaline, and I really wanted to be one of them. ‘Sadly’, my sister took that spot, and I decided to look for another career.
Future career potential: Very low, for some things … it’s just to late, and it’s ok.
Journalist/ reporter
Languages were my favorite subject in school, and what could be thus more rewarding than writing about current events or else opinions/ essays/ reports for a newspaper or magazine? In retrospect, I am glad I chose math over prose; I would not have fit in with the artsy language students at all. And with AI, there really is no need for journalists anymore.
Future career potential: Low/ Zero. I wouldn’t pay for a newspaper, would you? Oh wait, I do pay for the Economist – so maybe it’s still a valid option?
For now, I’ll keep dreaming. Maybe one day.
Katia