19 Examples Of Career Interests (With Job Responsibilities)

Updated 27 September 2022

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The right career path can give you a sense of purpose and fulfilment in your professional life. Identifying your areas of interest early in life can help you understand whether you choose a career that can help you achieve your professional goals. Learning about the career choices that are available to you allows you to work towards these options and acquire the qualifications you require. In this article, we list 19 career interests, including ways to identify those interests to help you pick the right career path.

Examples Of Career Interests

Here is a list of 19 career interests that can help you learn more about how to identify your career path and align it with your professional aspirations:

1. Administration

Administrative jobs typically include positions in an office that involve overseeing the working of an office section or managing a process. Examples include office clerks, assistants, facility managers, office managers and bookkeepers. If you prefer working in a structured and organised environment with routine tasks, consider joining administrative positions.

2. Scientific research

Scientific research usually involves working in universities or research institutes and solving intellectual problems on various scientific subjects. Some examples of a scientific research job profile include geologists, physicists, chemists, physiologists, mathematicians and statisticians. It may be a good fit for you if you are rational, have a problem-solving attitude and have a knack for investigation. Research may also require you to be academically adept and to have an astute understanding and knowledge of the field.

3. Teaching

Imparting knowledge on a subject or a topic is typically part of a teaching job. Teaching jobs may be available in different types of institutes, including kindergarten, junior and high schools, colleges, universities and training institutes. If you have excellent communication skills and enjoy sharing knowledge with others, teaching may be suitable for you. You may also choose to specialise in teaching children or young adults, depending on your preferences.

4. Photography

The job of a photographer may involve working for studios, travel agencies, ad agencies, news and media outlets and event management groups. If you have an artistic perspective and can capture moments with the camera in an original style, you may convert this interest into a career in photography. Typically, photography may be right for you if you like to travel and prefer working in structureless environments with a lot of creative freedom.

5. Designing

Designing may involve creating plans, products and spaces for a wide range of industries. Some examples may include interior design, fashion design, website design, graphic design, brand logo design, product design and video game design. If you have a passion for art and keen attention to detail, designing may be the right choice for you. Designing jobs may include jobs in the corporate sector and may also be available as contractual jobs. You may also freelance as a designer, which can help you diversify your skill sets and portfolio and better utilise your creative skills.

6. Law

Careers in law typically involve applying your legal knowledge to ensure fair practices and the upholding of justice. Graduates of law courses can work as attorneys, judges, legal consultants, corporate lawyers, paralegals and courtroom officials. Confidence, decisiveness, an analytical mindset, and an interest in law and order can help you to be successful in this field.

7. Sales

Sales jobs usually involve selling or trying to sell products or services to customers. Salespersons typically work in product companies and are part of a larger sales team. Sales may involve various positions, such as inbound sales, outdoor sales, sales representatives, sales managers, account managers and sales directors. If you have excellent communication skills, can show empathy and understand the requirements of another person, you may excel in sales jobs.

8. Operations

Operations typically form the core teams of a large organisation. Operation jobs usually involve overseeing the functioning of the teams that work on the key business areas of a company and incorporating strategies to improve the productivity and efficiency of these teams. If you like working with corporates, have excellent interpersonal skills and want to manage data, staff and budgets, you may enjoy working in operations-related roles.

9. Writing

Writers typically work in various industries, including ad agencies, technology companies and media houses. They can work as content creators, technical writers, instructional designers, copywriters, social media influencers, ghostwriters, blog post writers, article writers and journalists. If you can creatively form a piece of writing that invigorates, educates and influences the audience, you may choose to make a career in writing.

10. Performing arts

Performing arts careers typically involve professions that connect with the audience through an art form. Examples of performing arts include dance, music, theatre, films and stage shows such as magic or circus. If you are confident and like to entertain people with your artistic skills, this may be the right career for you. This career is typically suitable for those who can market their own work, are flexible with work schedules and payments and have the resilience and the self-discipline to work in challenging environments.

11. Finance

Jobs in the finance sector usually involve managing costs, budgets, profits, incomes and investments. Finance professionals may work in large organisations or small companies. Examples of finance jobs include tax consultants, accountants, budget managers, financial analysts, investment bankers, actuaries and portfolio managers. Proficiency in accounting and finances and the ability to analyse and communicate well can help you to be successful in this sector.

12. Human resources

Human resources jobs usually involve recruitment, training, onboarding and managing payroll, benefits and employee exits. Human resource professionals typically work as a support team in a corporate environment. If you are searching for a career where you can use your people skills, interpersonal skills and empathy, human resources may be suitable.

13. Marketing

Marketing jobs typically involve managing brand images, creating and running campaigns, communicating with existing and potential clients and researching growth options for the business. Marketing professionals may work alongside sales professionals to create strategies for effective improvements in sales numbers. If you are a creative, analytical person who knows how businesses work, marketing may be a career that interests you.

14. Engineering

Engineering jobs typically involve designing and building structures, systems, machines and instruments. Engineers work in a wide range of industries, including construction, machinery, manufacturing, aerospace and utilities. If you are innovative and possess problem-solving abilities, being an engineer may be a good career option. Being hardworking, enjoying fieldwork and having excellent attention to detail are also advantageous.

15. Technology

Technology jobs usually involve working in the information technology (IT) domain. Examples of technology jobs include computer programming, data analysis, database management, network security and software engineering. If you are analytical, can understand technology quickly and find fulfilment in coding, configuring networks and installing hardware components, you may find IT jobs interesting.

16. Entrepreneurship

An entrepreneur is a professional who typically uses a business idea to form a company that makes products and services and sells them for profit. Entrepreneurship is a high-risk venture and often requires in-depth industry knowledge. If you are confident, independent, like taking risks, have excellent interpersonal skills, can manage finances and possess a natural ability to convince customers, consider becoming an entrepreneur and setting up your firm.

17. Medicine

Medicine jobs typically involve working as a healthcare practitioner or a doctor. Examples of medical practitioners include surgeons, general physicians, cardiologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, dentists and oncologists. Alternate forms of medicine, such as homoeopathy and Ayurveda, are also examples of prevalent medical practices. If you have an analytical mind and excellent memory and understanding of medicines, can express empathy and enjoy working in busy schedules to help society, a career in medicine may interest you.

18. Nursing

Nurses typically work in healthcare facilities, hospitals and clinics to help patients recover from illnesses. If you have empathy and possess excellent listening skills, you can consider nursing as a career. If you can quickly learn about medications, are caring and willing to work long hours to help patients regain their health, you can explore nursing as a career.

19. Nonprofit services

Nonprofit jobs usually involve working with organisations that empower those that belong to the underprivileged segment of society. This can include working with children, empowering people, helping seniors with their daily requirements and being a channel of communication between the employees of the unorganised sector and the government. Working for a nonprofit may suit you if you are primarily motivated by bringing social change and helping people, rather than financial compensation.