When you climb the corporate ladder you may get a lot more than a big paycheck and a corner office. You get a laptop, IPhone, IPad, company car and the assurance that you’re constantly connected to your job. There is no real “quitting time” for you. That’s why you get the big bucks, right? In your job search, consider the amount of time and commitment you are willing to give to a job.
Some people love the prestige and responsibility that goes with an impressive title. If you would prefer to leave your job behind at the end of the day and not think about it until the next morning, a seat in the Executive conference room may not be for you. You may have to trade a business suit for a uniform with your name stitched on the front of your shirt and give up your engraved business cards, but one person’s loss is another’s gain.
1. Plant production operations. I once did a project at a large chemical company, and worked with plant operators writing process documentation. They knew their jobs, were highly trained and responsible for millions of dollars of equipment and materials. The work wasn’t demanding and was repetitive. But when they left at the end of their shift, all the responsibility stayed at the plant, ready for the next shift. Many had been at their jobs for a long time, and I was surprised when one of the long-term operators called his broker on a break, checking on his investments and making some deals. The job paid very well, too.
2. Retail sales. Stress-free??? Are you kidding??? Most people think of retail sales as dealing with angry or indecisive customers who leave tons of clothes strewn all over the fitting room floors. Or haggling with a customer trying to get a couple more dollars off the price, or bring back clothes they obviously bought to wear once and return. While this job can be stressful, you can walk away at the end of the day, leaving it all behind. Most retail stores offer a generous employee discount that makes the job stress a little easier to take.
3. Service technician/Landscaping/maintenance. Not as a business owner, but as an employee. Let the boss take the stress of generating leads, dealing with customers and handling the finances. Service jobs are still in demand, and many companies have difficulty filling open positions. Once your shift is over, you’re free to pursue your own interests, without being tethered to the main office.
While these jobs may not be for everyone, they offer a good living, flexible schedules, the opportunity to learn valuable, transferrable job skills, and most of all, the ability to walk away from a job without taking it home with you. You may have a company phone, but you can turn it off at the end of the day. A definite “quitting time” has its benefits.
What jobs do you feel are “stress-free?” Share those jobs in the Comments section below.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for phillyjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at phillyjobs.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.
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