Working with exotic animals is one career option.
If common, usual careers don't interest you -- such as banking, real estate, medicine or accounting -- there are many unusual career options out there. These careers are exotic and exciting, but they call for specific skill sets. If you're willing to learn these needed skills, these careers might be ideal for you.
Body Guard
A professional body guard is expected to be able to fend off four unarmed attackers. That's part of the job description of a body guard -- otherwise known as executive protection specialists. Bodyguards protect not only VIPs such as political leaders, they also protect celebrities, corporate executives, and others. Bodyguards are usually expected to have a high school education, and many have military backgrounds. There are bodyguard training schools, such as the Center for Advanced Security Studies. A body guard's salary runs from about $55,000 to $180,000, depending on the danger of the assignment.
Exotic Animal Trainer
Some schools have programs that teach students work with wild animals -- from big cats to whales. Graduates of these programs might work for zoos, for movie production companies, or entertainment venues such as Sea World. One school that offers such a program is California Polytechnic State University.
Personal Shopper
Personal shoppers work for stores, for consultants, or for themselves. They help their clients choose and acquire clothing, accessories and other personal items to meet a specific objective, which might be to create a more professional look, or to effect a total image change. No particular education is required. Professional shoppers come from retail, fashion and public relations backgrounds. Median salary is $30,000 to $57,000 per year.
Adventure Guide
Adventure guides lead groups through outdoor adventures, such as ziplining through the jungle, scuba diving, mountain climbing, and hiking. Some work on their own, creating their own tours. Others work for companies like Adventures Cross Country, which hires adventure guides to travel the globe. There are outdoor education programs at institutions including Idaho State University, and the Colorado Adventure Guide School in Colorado Springs. If a guide is traveling to other countries, knowledge of the local language could be important.
Tags: Adventure Guide, body guard, State University