Different Careers to Explore in 2022
The pandemic may have created a Eureka moment for you on your job career path, where you started questioning the lack of fulfillment in working in a job that just “pays the bills”.
With the pandemic showing us that health is one of the things that money can’t buy, people have also started to get more introspective with what they want from their jobs.
Since an average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over his/her lifetime, many have realized that life has more to offer than working in a place or a job one may not be happy and passionate about.
A pandemic like this – that only happens once every few hundred years – does create a generation of people who make bigger life decisions and become go-getters. Surveys have shown that one out of every four adults has considered a career shift amid Covid-19.
We take a look at a few alternative careers that may spark your interest, and will definitely not take you down the straight and narrow path of a pigeonholed work cubicle. These roles are not only unique but also roles that are in demand, spurred by tech and industry needs.
Urban Farmer
Got green thumbs? Do you spend most of your time browsing through plant grooming websites when sitting by your desk during work?
You could consider venturing into urban farming, which has become a hit in these two years amid the Singapore government’s push to tackle long-term food security needs in Singapore.
The agritech sector has been seeing new players such as firms that are finding solutions to production and farming. There are serious urban farms like this HDB rooftop farm from Nature’s International Commodity where you get to pick up skills on high-tech farming and toil the soil in unexpected urban locations.
Urban farming methods differ from traditional farming. Often, the urban farmers rely on technology, like special organic fertilizers and Internet-of-Things sensors to grow vegetables and fruits.
Livestreamer
We all know that 2021 was the year where many people signed up for TikTok and started watching people live stream everything – from just sitting pretty and talking to selling their wares.
Live hosts have become a thing this year and are set to grow for next year as more people depend on the internet and online streaming platforms to promote their products and services. Especially now that there’s a new Covid-19 variant out there, people aren’t likely to go out shopping in throngs anytime soon.
The usual salary varies according to the host’s popularity and can go from S$40 per hour to as high as S$1,000 per hour. Hosts have to look natural and comfortable on the camera and enjoy interacting with people. They have to be above 21 years old to qualify for the roles in some agencies.
Small-time live streamers who have public accounts on streaming apps like BIGO Live and Twitch can also earn income via their own accounts. Some Singapore millennials are earning from S$1,900 per month singing covers, while there are others that share beauty tips online.
Social Media Influencer
Social media is not going away and influencers have become a marketing force to be reckoned with. According to a study, 92 percent of respondents regard influencer marketing as an effective form of marketing due to the trust followers form with the influencers.
Marketers are also noticing that influencer marketing may have comparable or even higher returns on investment than other marketing channels.
The top social media platforms for 2021 are Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram, according to MediaOne Business Group. From micro-influencers (thousands of followers) to macro-influencers (over 40,000 followers), the various influencers attract different businesses according to their price point and product messaging.
Instagram is the preferred social networking app for Millennials and Gen Zs.
Different Careers to Explore in 2022
Gamer
Gamers can earn real income by streaming their video games and sharing their gaming experience. There are already hardcore gamers who are doing it.
Take 40-year-old Arthars Foo, for example, he spends five hours each day playing massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGS) like Final Fantasy 14 and World of Warcraft – while people watch him play online. The gamer has 62.7 thousand followers and is said to earn S$7,000 a month.
You can also sell your game currency or in-game items such as characters, weapons, and tools for some cold hard cash. A check on online marketplace Carousell reveals some accounts that are selling virtual gaming accounts and virtual weapons.
Crypto Trader
Fascinated with the crypto market and how its activity keeps coming in waves? Or do you hold a good amount of tokens already and have been doing well at spotting when to buy and sell?
Perhaps dealing with crypto full-time might be the role for you. With crypto being a 24/7 market, you’ll have to wake up at odd hours to deal with market changes.
You’ll also have to brush up on crypto and blockchain technology in order to find consistent success. There are many new crypto tokens minted in the market each day due to it being a nascent industry, so most of your time will be spent reading businesses’ white papers and participating in forums to find out the deal about each project.
It is a high-risk venture due to the volatility and liquidity of the crypto market. You’ll also have to choose a reliable trading platform to make it work and be sure to compare the trading fees as a small difference will add up to a lot if you buy large amounts of crypto.
Different Careers to Explore in 2022