Help Others Help Themselves: 5 Transformative Careers

Tweet Pin It  

• January 17, 2012
• By Annie Favreau
• 3 Comments

January is traditionally a time for change. Whether you’ve resolved to find career happiness this year or simply make it to the gym more often, there’s a whole crew of personal development professionals to help. Their goal: empowering clients to create change.

So if you’re the type who likes helping others help themselves, check out our list of top transformation-inducing careers:

1. Nutritionist

Food can be one of life’s greatest pleasures or most frustrating pains. As a nutritionist, you help people develop an understanding of what constitutes a healthy meal. Whether working with an athlete who needs to improve energy-levels, a working mom who wants to get organic food onto her dining table, or a patient who recently discovered he’s allergic to just about everything, you help clients lead better lives through food.

Average salary: $33,000 – $75,000

2. Personal Image Consultant

Everyone’s heard the phrase, “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” It’s good advice to follow; in fact, as an image consultant, you base your entire business on this idea. You work to revamp your client’s overall look by suggesting new clothing, explaining the best colors to complement their complexion, or pulling their hair and make-up combo out of the ‘80s. You might even focus on behavior — dealing with issues like etiquette, communication styles or outward confidence.

Average salary: $31,000 – $97,000

3. Person Fitness Trainer

A personal fitness trainer helps gym-goers reach their full fitness potential — without getting injured or discouraged. Your individualized workout plans help clients lose ten pounds, run a half marathon or learn how to use the latest fad in fitness equipment. But more than your knowledge of how to perform the perfect pull-up, your ability to motivate is what makes you great at your job.

Average salary: $16,000 – $62,000

4. Financial Advisor

Whatever financial goals your clients may have for the New Year, a personal financial advisor provides information and options. While doling out advice on paying off debt, putting money in savings, finding tax advantages, you keep a close eye on the books to ensure everything adds up to a healthy financial future.

Average salary: $68,000

5. Life Coach

Stop smoking. Write the great American novel. Change careers. Build self-esteem. These are all common New Years resolutions, and a Life Coach — the granddaddy of personal development positions — can help with all of them. You give your clients the tools they need to succeed by setting goals, working through road-blocks, and, ultimately, making them accountable for their achievements and failures. Providing motivation, inspiration, structure and support, you help people effect positive change in their lives.

Average salary: $24,000 – $69,000

We want to know: which professionals have most helped you transform your life?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Have an opinion? Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

Brazen powers real-time, online events for leading organizations around the world. Our lifestyle and career blog, Brazen Life, offers fun and edgy ideas for ambitious professionals navigating the changing world of work.