Waking up at 6 in the morning daily, with a monotonous work routine.
Desk job, same boring work, with no excitement!
Do the above-mentioned things scare you? Are you someone who wants to avoid the boring, monotonous, set 9-to-5 job routine? Are you looking for job opportunities with flexible timings, travelling, freelance opportunities, a chance to meet new people, etc.?
If yes, then here are some top careers without a 9-to-5 work schedule.
1. Merchant Navy
The merchant navy carries cargo around the world, and hence is the backbone of international trade. There can be various roles for you in the merchant navy, ranging from managing the navigation of the ship, to taking care of its technical working. This is a job that would allow you to travel around the world, meet new people, and work with people of various cultures. You will be on the ship for about 3-6 months (can be more), and after which you will get a long holiday for about 4-6 months. The starting salaries/ remuneration is quite high in this field.
Education: The basic eligibility is PCM in class 12th. Entrance tests are conducted for admission in this field, which is followed by an interview. You can pursue your graduation in a specialised field, such as B.Sc Nautical Science, B.E Marine Engineering, etc. To enter the technical department, you should first complete your Engineering (Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.). For various other profiles, a B.Sc in the field is required. After your Bachelors, you will be working on the ship for few months. You need to clear your levels (exams) to attain higher positions.
Career Opportunities: You can work across any department and choose from various job profiles, such as Deck Officer (Navigation Officer), Electro-Technical Officer (ETO), Engineer, Ratings (They help all the officers with daily tasks), Catering & Hospitality crew.
Read More: Merchant Navy as a Career in India
2. Cabin Crew
A flight’s cabin crew includes Air Hostesses and Flight Stewards, who are responsible for providing services to the passengers on the flight. Their work starts before the arrival of the passengers, and involves making sure that the flight is clean, safety instruments are intact, and stock is on board. During the flight, they welcome passengers, inform them about safety procedures, and ensure that their experience on board is pleasant and satisfactory. They work in coordination with the ground duty staff, and report any faults or problems during the flight. Due to the nature of their work, the work timings are not fixed, and the time slots are also variable.
If travelling is your passion, helping others give you a kick, and you like looking polished and being well-dressed, this field can be a good fit for you. The remuneration is quite high, though it would also depend upon the airline you are associated with. International flights pay particularly well.
Education: To work as part of an airline’s cabin crew, you need to complete a diploma course in cabin crew services and hospitality. You can pursue such courses with any stream in your class 12th. During your course, you will receive training in areas such as communication, teamwork, first-aid, personality development, etc. Masters in the field is generally not required.
Colleges/ Institutes: All India Institute of Aeronautics, Air India Express, Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics, Avalon Academy, etc.
Career Opportunities: You can work with various national and international airlines, such as Air India, Etihad, Jet Airways, etc. Each airline conducts its own interview process for selecting its cabin crew.
Read More: Cabin Crew as a Career in India
3. Design
Designers create various styles and designs, ranging from clothes to accessories to interiors, to website (UI/UX), etc. Where accessory designing focuses on the designing of various accessories to be used as fashion statements; interior designing places importance on décor, colour schemes, arrangement of furniture, etc.. Various other fields of designing include jewellery design, graphic design, product design, etc. If you have a creative streak, and enjoy creating new designs and patterns; you can explore the field of designing. This field provides you with the flexibility to work from home, work at your own convenience, and freelance with multiple agencies at a time.
Education: A Bachelor’s in Design is the first step towards becoming a designer. The admission is based upon entrance exams conducted by various colleges. There are various specialised courses such as Bachelor’s in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Jewelry Design, UI/UX Design, etc. If you are sure about your area of specialisation, such courses are better. After your Bachelors, you can either pursue a PG Diploma or a Masters in the area of your specialisation. More than the degree after your bachelor’s, it is your skills and the quality of work that count in this field.
Top Institutes: National Institute of Design, NIFT, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI), EdX, Coursera (Online certification), etc.
Career Opportunities: You can work with various firms, design houses, brands, multinational companies, etc. Graphic designers can work with newspapers, magazines, advertising publishers, websites, etc. Fashion/accessory designers work with advertising companies, major brands, etc. Hence, there is immense scope and wide areas of employability.
Read More: Careers in Design
4. Radio Jockey
Radio Jockey is the person who hosts various shows on radio, manages the on-air music, interviews guests over calls, and builds the content of the show. They play a very important role in engaging and entertaining the audience. Good sense of humour, excellent communication skills, confidence, creativity, an ability to think on your feet, etc. are a few skills required to be successful in this field. The timings for the live shows are fixed, and can often involve odd hours, especially in the initial years. Hence, you can avoid the 9-to-5 routine.
Education: There is no set education required to become an RJ, though it is advised to pursue mass communication in your graduation. There are various diploma and certifications to gain skill-sets for radio jockeying, such as Certificate Course in Announcing, Broadcasting, Comparing and Dubbing (ABCD), Diploma in Radio Management, etc. You can also consider diplomas at the post graduation level, such as Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming and Management (PGDRM), etc. Crash courses in voice-overs and mixing, and short-term workshops in diction, creative thinking, etc. are some additional options.
Top Institutes: Delhi University, Jamia Milia Islamia, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Xavier’s Institute of Communication, Academy of Radio Management, Indian Institute of Mass Communication ( for PG), etc. Times of India and Hindustan Times also offer courses on Radio Jockeying.
Career Opportunities: With an increase in the number of radio stations, the demand for radio jockeys is also on a rise. Radio Mirchi, Red FM, AIR, Radio One, etc. are a few of the top radio channels.
5. Blogging
Blogging is among the popular new-age careers, and will allow you to skip the 9-to-5 routine. As a blogger, you will have the flexibility to choose your area of interest, say, food, fashion, health, etc. You can start your own blog, and write about your experiences, reviews, or even educate your followers. For example, if you are a food blogger you can travel around different places, click pictures of a variety of food items and cuisines, and inform your followers about your experience with the food, etc. If you are good at writing, you can work with already established publications in the area of your interest and blog for them. It will give your content more eyeballs, and hence more readership.
Education: There is no particular degree required to be a blogger. Though, once you select your area of interest, you can pursue some related courses. For example, if you wish to become a fashion blogger, you can get a degree in fashion designing or even a diploma. Also, you can pursue some additional certifications in areas related to blogging, such as Word Press, marketing strategies, content strategy, etc. These courses will give you knowledge as to how to structure and market your content for better viewership. Also, online certifications will keep you on top of the latest trends, and keep your knowledge updated. A master’s degree is not mandatory.
Top Institutes: Coursera, Blog stylist, Blog Academy, Skill Share, Unacademy etc.
Career Opportunities: You can start working as a freelance blogger for various firms, or you can even start your own blog. A good idea in the initial years would be to work with different companies to gain experience and build skills, while you maintain a personal blog on the side.
Recommended Read: Get Writing: 5 Steps to Start A Career in Blogging
6. Photography
Photographers are artists with a camera, they capture moments which are cherished for life. For this purpose, they use a range of technical equipment such as lens, camera, lighting, and various software, to ensure that their photographs captivate the audience. There are various kinds of photographers such as press photographers, fashion photographers, wildlife photographers, forensic photographers (who click pictures of crime scenes), etc. There are also many upcoming and trending fields in photography, such as product photography and wedding photography, etc. This career will give you the opportunity to work at novel locations, and for varied number of hours in a day.
Education: You can pursue a Bachelor’s in Photography, or even a diploma or certification course in the area of your specialisation, such as PG Diploma in Still Photography & Photo Journalism, Diploma in Professional Photography. During your Bachelor’s program, you will learn everything from the history of photography to various techniques required to capture beautiful pictures.
Top Institutes: National Institute of Photography, Nation Institute of Design, RaghuRai Center For Photography, Delhi College of Photography, Indian School of Photography, Symbiosis School of Photography, Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Milia Islamia, etc.
Career Opportunities: Photographers are in great demand, and the areas where they can work are vast. You can work with media houses, companies, event companies, news channels, wedding firms, etc. As you gain experience and skills over the years, you can also explore freelance opportunities, or be self-employed.
Recommended Read: How to Start a Career in Photography – All About the Career Path & Colleges
7. Standup Comedy
A stand-up comedian is a person who performs in front of an audience and tries to connect with them, entertain them and make them laugh. Confidence, ability to think on your feet, good sense of humour, excellent communication, good memory for material, are a few important skills required if you wish to be a stand-up comedian. They perform on-stage at various events, as well as on online channels. They spend months on end, preparing and refining their material, rehearsing, performing on tours, and marketing their shows. Hence, there is no set routine, and you can avoid the 9-to-5.
Education: You don’t require any degree to perform, as stand-up comedy is more about the content, connect, technique, and timing. However, if you wish to brush up on your skills, you can consider joining some workshops or short-term courses. offered by trained comedians and scriptwriters. You will learn about the techniques to write funny stories, devices used to make everyday stories funny, tried-and-tested techniques to make an audience laugh, etc.
Top Institutes: Udemy, Café Comedy workshops, killerstandup.com, The Comedy School, etc.
Career Opportunities: It can take a few years to become established. Most comedians start small; by performing at small events, and gradually move on to bigger events, such as comedy shows, stand-up tours, etc. Thus, the starting journey as a comedian can be quite challenging. You will find opportunities at different types of events held at theatres, colleges, stadiums, etc. Even bars, restaurants hire them to perform at special events.
8. Dance Therapy
Dance is not only used as a form of entertainment but can also act as a therapeutic process. When music is combined with dance techniques and body movements, it can work to relieve stress. If you love music, and are willing to help heal people, you can turn dance therapy into your career. The best part about this profession is that you can select your preferred timings. There is no need to work at 9-5. Dance therapists work with people of all age groups to reduce stress. They also help people with special needs, people who cannot express themselves, are suffering from various psychological disorders, or facing difficulty in relationships, etc.
Education: While a graduation in Psychology is recommended to enter this field, you can complete your graduation in any other subject as well. An education in psychology will help you understand the basics of human behaviour, various psychological problems and concerns, as well as the skills required to deal with people. After your graduation, you can pursue various diploma or certifications in dance therapy. Certifications/diplomas are designed to make students learn the basic assumptions of dance therapy, various experiential exercises, different dance moments for various issues, etc.
Top Institutes: TISS, Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts, ASANARTE, etc.
Career Opportunities: Dance therapists work with various NGOs, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, day-care centres, health programs etc. You can also open your own clinic and set up private practice.
9. Fashion Choreography
Fashion Choreography, or Catwalk Choreography, deals with the mood and the theme of a fashion show. They formalise the concept of a fashion show, train models to walk the ramp with suitable music tracks, and design the ramp. A model’s posture, hand placements, facial expressions, etc. are all the responsibility of a fashion choreographer. They work in sync with fashion designers to accurately portray the vision of the designers featured in the show. They generally work at late-night shows, and don’t have fixed timings of work.
Education: There is no formal education required to conceptualise a fashion show, although a degree in fashion design/fashion merchandising will train you in the basics of fashion and technology. It is recommended to work under multiple choreographers, to learn the skills required in this line of work. Fashion sense, creative ideation ability, broad imagination, etc. are important factors that can contribute to success.
Top Institutes: NIFT, NID, Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, HimSim Academy of Performing Arts, etc.
Career Opportunities: Various fashion designers hire them to present their work at fashion shows. You can also work with modelling agencies and train aspiring models in the art of ramp walking.
10. Hotel Management
A career in hotel management involves the management of the various sectors in a hotel, such as housekeeping, food court, spa, reception, etc. India is among the favourite tourist destinations in the world. Hence, the potential of job growth in the hospitality industry is immense, provided you have excellent communication skills, and a suitable personality to go with it. The working hours can be odd, and the work is also quite varied. Hence, this is a great profession to skip the 9-5.
Education: B.A. in Hotel Management or a B.Sc. in Hospitality & Administration at the graduation level is the basic eligibility to work in the hotel industry. You will be trained in each and every department of the hotel. Training in customer handling, etiquettes, business promotion, etc. are a few key elements of the program. After your graduation, you can either go for a Master’s in Hotel Management or pursue a Management degree. This will help you in getting a better position in the industry.
Top Institutes: Institute of Hotel Management, Oberoi STEP, Ecole Lavasa, Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Taj Aurangabad, IIHM, Christ University, etc.
Career Opportunities: Jobs are available across the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, food chains, etc. You can work in the housekeeping department, which is responsible for the hygiene and cleanliness of the hotel. If you are interested in managing events, you can conceptualise and manage events like various festivals, conferences, promotion fairs, etc.
Recommended Read: Busted! 5 Myths About A Career in Hotel Management
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