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7 Perfect Jobs If You Love to Read

7 Perfect Jobs If You Love to Read

Reading has always been one of my favorite pastimes. It has also been one of the most important skills that have helped me advance my education and career. However, if you are looking to turn this passion into profit, here are 7 jobs for those who love to read.

7 Perfect Jobs for Those Who Love to Read

1. Library or Bookstore Staff

When I was a kid, it was my dream to live in the library. Sadly, I had to settle for volunteering during summer vacation. Although it was a chore for some, it was heaven for me. Not only did I have unlimited access to all the books in the city, but I also got the first chance to borrow the latest ones as soon as they hit the shelves.

While many pursue a degree in library and information science, it is still possible to find other jobs that revolve around books. If you want to work in the library, they hire assistants to help guests, restock shelves, create promotional material for events, and lead story hours for children. The other alternative would be to look for vacancies at local bookstores. Although it can provide employment opportunities and access to books, you’ll have to be careful not to spend your entire paycheck.

2. Audiobook Narrator

Becoming an audiobook narrator is another idea for those who love reading. Audiobooks have increased in popularity in the last decade because they allow us to multitask. People can easily enjoy their favorite books while they do chores, run errands, exercise, or go about other daily activities.

But, did you know that they pay people to narrate? Although some famous personalities have made a name for themselves, they also hire regular people with excellent narration skills. You could have the opportunity to work with new authors by recording chapters or entire audiobooks. Just keep in mind that you will need quality recording equipment to get the most lucrative contracts.

3. Book Reviewer

If you already love reading, you could work as a book reviewer to share your insights and opinions with others. Those who are interested in this position can find jobs through freelance websites, online magazines, and other publishers in the industry.

And if you can’t land an official contract, you could create your own site for book reviews. This option offers more control over the content and subject matter as well. You could keep it purely for reviews, or make it a regular newsletter that focuses on new releases, best sellers, or specific genres.

If you decide to host your own blog or podcast, you could build a large following by sharing your opinions, scheduling interviews with authors, and promoting new books. However, your greatest chance of financial success is through advertising and paid subscribers. Social media presents many new opportunities. And, you never know…hosting your own site could open the door for other partnerships and sponsorships.

4. Proofreader

Once the author finishes writing, books must then go through edits, fact-checking, and proofreading. There are thousands of manuscripts submitted every day. So if you have a strong grasp of the grammar rules of the English language and an eye for detail, proofreading is one of the best jobs for people who love to read.

You could earn a decent living helping people perfect their work. This includes looking for grammatical, typographical, punctuation, formatting, and other errors as you read. Some publishers and authors will also pay extra to have it converted to e-book formatting as well.

If you’re looking for these jobs, you can start by contacting publishing houses, posting your services through freelance marketplaces, or advertising directly to the writers. Not only can you make it a full-time career, but you also get to sneak peek at material even before it’s available to the general public.

5. Tutor

For those who want to share their passion for reading, tutoring offers many benefits.  In addition to helping others improve their comprehension, you also help students develop their analytical skills and gain a real appreciation for the written word. And since it is such a fundamental skill, you can choose subjects that interest you and have more say about who you work with.

Reading is a crucial component of a good education.  Therefore, there are many ways to find tutoring positions. Many people will post in the online forums. But, you can also search for tutoring agencies that find students for you. And course, there’s always the old-fashioned way of asking around for references. For those committed to continuing their learning while helping others, tutoring jobs are a great way to bring in extra income.

6. Book Club Moderator

I’ve been a member of many book clubs over the years. They were usually informal meetings, which meant attendance and participation were inconsistent. But after doing some research, I’ve learned that there are more serious book clubs and jobs if you love to read. These clubs are a fun and interactive way to find other bibliophiles. And, members have more incentive to attend discussions since they are paying for it.

If you can find a job as a paid moderator, you would be responsible for researching new books, keeping notes, writing discussion questions, and leading in-person or online discussions. Your main priority is to ensure that there are always interesting topics and insights to discuss. Plus, you may be able to sell the content as course material when you are done.

7. Writer

Many avid readers dream of becoming an author someday. You probably already know dozens of people with pet projects and half-finished manuscripts. But thanks to the internet, it has become much easier to get published.

There are always opportunities for talented writers to turn their ideas into publishing deals. However, if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it. Therefore, you need to know the market you’re getting into, research the industry, and practice your craft every day to keep your skills sharp.

Most authors will tell you that the most important thing is to find your voice, then find your niche. Don’t be afraid to ask others to read your work and help you determine what can make you a stand-out author. Although it may not have been the career path you set out on, it could help you make a living by doing what you love.

Bonus Job: Flip Vintage Comics Books 

The biggest comic book fans today don’t even read comic books. While it helps to know something about comic book culture to flip comic books, you don’t have to be an expert.

The collectibles market experiences temporary surges whenever a new superhero film is announced.  You still need to make connections and know which auction and social media marketplace site to use for your benefit. But there is a demand for old comic books that you can take advantage of as comic book film hype continues.

Regularly check the market value of your comics for free on an online comic book price guide. Then, you can hustle to sell them.

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5 High-Paying Careers to Consider in 2022

If you’re considering making a career switch in 2022, you’re not alone. In fact, according to The Motley Fool, as many as 20% of Americans have changed careers since the beginning of the pandemic. But which careers are in demand in 2022 and are paying well? Here are a few careers to consider if you’re in the market for a job switch.

1. Web Designer

The first high-paying career on this list is one that can allow you to work from home and bring in an enviable income. As a web designer, you’ll help individuals and companies design websites to feature their brands. You can either study to get a degree in web design or take online classes to specialize in certain programming software. Every single day, more than 500 websites are built using WordPress while a mere 60 to 80 are built on platforms like Squarespace and Shopify. This means that you need to carefully choose the area that you specialize in as it can make you more marketable if you choose well.

2. Dentist or Orthodontist

People love having a bright and healthy smile, and this is the reason why you should choose a career either as a dentist or as an orthodontist, depending on where your interest lies. While dentists will focus on general oral health care, orthodontists specialize in treating oral health conditions that require surgery or similar input, such as prescribing braces. If you’ve always enjoyed helping people improve their self-esteem and don’t mind rolling up your sleeves to get this done, you may thrive as a dentist or orthodontist.

3. Personal Trainer

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in the fitness industry is anticipated to increase by over 23% over the next decade. Clearly, more people are becoming more invested in their personal health care and they see the importance of working with personal trainers. If you love the idea of helping others achieve their fitness goals and improve their lives, you should train to become a personal trainer.

4. Market Research Analyst

If you have an eye for predicting the next big thing, you can get paid handsomely to do it for a company. It’s important that you’re also good with graphs and charts as in this capacity, you will need to evaluate and analyze market conditions. This will enable you to help a company know what people will want, who exactly these people are, and the best price to offer it for. This can help a company keep track of its marketing finance and avoid making poor decisions as far as what to prioritize in order to drive sales and guarantee profits. If you’re detail-oriented, have strong analytical skills, are a good communicator, and are good at critical thinking, you could take an online course or enroll in a degree to find a spot in this industry.

5. Physiatrist

A physiatrist is a medical doctor who has undergone further training in the field of rehabilitation and physical medicine. They help come up with treatment for issues like musculoskeletal disorders, joint replacement, fibromyalgia, back pain, and even cardiac disorders. With their salary projected by the Economic Research Institute to be $332,072 in 2027, this is clearly one industry that you should get into if you have the capacity to do so. You will not only help people live more comfortably but you will also be paid handsomely for it.

If you want to get into a career that will offer you an advantage in terms of finance in 2022, look at the five options outlined above. You could make a change and live comfortably by making the right call at this point.

Choosing a Job for Your Financial and Mental Health

Choosing a Job That's Good for Your Financial and Mental Health

The last two years have seen a huge shift in how the world does business. While it provides many opportunities, it has also exposed some serious social and mental health concerns for employees. Although some issues stem from the reengineering of the workforce, transitioning to a remote environment has also brought many issues of toxic work cultures into the spotlight.

So, if you are feeling burnt out, lonely, or undervalued, you’re not alone. Many of us have been taken advantage of and suffered through the day-to-day drudgery of a toxic workplace. But, this could be harming you more than you realize.

Here’s why it’s important to choose a job that’s good for your financial and mental health.

The Financial Strain of the Underpaid

When you are first starting out, you should expect to be on the low end of the salary spectrum in any field. Even if you have the right certifications and are highly qualified for the position, you must gain hands-on experience. Once you have put the time in, your salary should increase to reflect this.

However, stingy companies and penny-pinching CEOs will be hard-pressed to give their employees the compensation they deserve. In my experience, this meant denying raises, forgoing end-of-year bonuses, and canceling events or festivities on the company’s dime. Meanwhile, the top executives usually don’t have to make the same sacrifices.

Not only is it unfair, but it is a major red flag that you have a toxic work environment. Unfortunately, it is a widespread problem which I have seen around the world. I have worked for several employers in multiple countries where it has happened. Companies under-value their staff who have few options and have no choice but to accept the low wages.

In addition to lowering morale and reinforcing an unhealthy dynamic, it creates a huge financial strain for these employees. Although inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, employees’ incomes remain stagnant. This makes it harder to stretch the budget and nearly impossible to build savings.

The Mental Health Toll

In addition to the financial impacts, a toxic workplace takes a heavy toll on your mental health. Employees in these environments report higher rates of chronic stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and burnout. Furthermore, health professionals also warn that these factors can also lower your immune response and cause you to get sick more often.

At one point in my career,  it was so severe that I showed all of these symptoms simultaneously. The worst part was how long it took me to recognize the signs of a toxic workplace. I continued to push through, believing that I was the problem. Instead of trusting my abilities and training, I felt like my work was never good enough.

I can recall one manager, in particular, that would micromanage menial tasks and force employees to redo them as a way to exert her dominance over everyone. While I’m sure she justified it as a means to establish her authority, it created a hostile workspace.

Although I’m no longer there, the truth is that I am still dealing with the repercussions today. It has taken me years to rebuild my self-confidence and understand my own worth after years of verbal abuse from my superiors.

10 Signs Your Job Is Affecting Your Financial and Mental Health

I overlooked several red flags early on that led to a decline in my overall well-being. While there are several indications that you work in a toxic workplace, these were the 10 signs which told me that my job was affecting my financial and mental health:

  1. An unhealthy work-life balance
  2. Unrealistic expectations and demands from my superiors
  3. No respect for personal boundaries
  4. No encouragement for input from employees
  5. Lack of acknowledgment or appreciation for employee efforts
  6. Every task is micromanaged
  7. Work is affecting your sleeping habits
  8. No opportunities for professional advancement
  9. A general lack of enthusiasm for the job
  10. Regularly thinking about quitting

This list is by no means all-inclusive. However, it provided me with a tangible checklist that made me realize that I was in an unhealthy situation. For me, all signs pointed to one conclusion: it was time for a change.

Finding a Job That’s Good for Your Financial and Mental Health

Once I realized I had had enough of the verbal abuse, it became easier to enforce boundaries. For months, I received extra tasks, was bullied to work for free, and berated in front of my coworkers. After yet another one of temper tantrums, I simply told my supervisor I was done and walked away. I maintained my professionalism and gave my two-weeks notice, but checked out from her mental gymnastics.

Determined to have a fresh start, I decided it was time to go into business for myself. Never again would I subject myself to abusive bosses or toxic workplaces. Instead, I could create my own professional atmosphere and job that promoted positive financial and mental health.

However, starting your own business is easier said than done. I needed to find a viable career path for my skill set. So, I performed an honest self-assessment to see what my options were. With a strong background in communication, grammar, writing, and copy editing, I began researching what it would take to become a freelance writer. Since I already had acquaintances who had made the same career move, I discussed my situation and consulted with them as I got started.

Over the next year, I spent time networking with other freelancers, making new contacts in the industry, and finding ways to attract new clients. I’m proud to say that all my efforts have paid off. What was once a side hustle in college has now blossomed into a full-time career.

I won’t be making millions, but I’m much happier doing work I enjoy with people I respect. The sense of fulfillment and satisfaction with life is much greater than any financial loss.

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