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Do you need a change of scenery? Maybe you need to flee the four walls of your office cubicle for some fresh air in the great outdoors.
It is true that office jobs are not the only kind out there. Many interesting and challenging career choices will allow you to spend time in the sunlight. First, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of applying for an outdoor job versus working for yourself. Then, we’ll look at a few of the outdoor jobs that may be open to you.
Start Your Own or Join an Existing Company?
If you want a job working outdoors, you can either apply for such a job or create one for yourself by starting a small business. Most of the careers below can be obtained either way.
Which method will work best for you? There are pros and cons to each. When you’re hired by an existing company, you don’t have to worry about getting a business license, advertising, or bookkeeping, for example. Customers or clients already have an established relationship with the company. On the other hand, starting your own business gives you the flexibility to set your own schedule and choose which gigs you will accept.
The time of year may also influence your choices. Early spring and fall are among the best times to look for a job, times when many companies are actively hiring. Some outdoor jobs, like lawn care and agriculture, are dependent on the season. When jobs are readily available, working for a company may be your best option. When they are not, you might do better striking out on your own.
Next, we will consider some common outdoor jobs as well as a few you may not have thought of.
Types of Outdoor Jobs
There are many different career choices that will allow you to work outdoors. Some involve manual labor while others do not. This list may help you pursue your passion and even inspire you to think of yet other uncaged options near you.
Lawncare and Landscaping
If you have a lawnmower and a string trimmer, you can start your own lawncare business. Or you can join an existing team. Lawncare makes a great side hustle but it can also grow into a full-time job.
Farming
Large commercial farms are always open to hiring seasonal labor during the spring planting and fall harvest seasons. But there are many ways you could incorporate farming into an outdoor career. For example, you could work at a plant nursery, raise crops for sale at a farmer’s market, or manage a community garden. Historic properties often maintain working demonstrations of pre-industrial farming techniques. Even if you live in a city, you can get involved in urban agriculture.
Animal Training
If you work well with animals and have experience, people are willing to pay you to work with their dogs or horses. Boarding stables often maintain horse trainers on their staff. This might even extend to teaching students how to ride or leading group train rides.
Pet stores and independent companies hire dog trainers. As with horses, at times this involves educating the human handler as well. You may even be able to work solo by taking clients’ pets into your home for several weeks of training.
Dog Walker
If you like animals but don’t relish the responsibility of a trainer, you could try dog walking or pet sitting instead. Busy professionals and frequent travelers like to have a trusted caretaker on call to tend to their fur babies when they can’t.
Trail Tours
Have you ever thought of working as a tour guide? You don’t have to live in a major tourist destination to make this one work. You can take visitors on guided hikes in state or national parks, or you can escort them on themed walking tours of your city. Food, wine, bourbon, craft beer, and historic city tours are popular.
Wedding Planner
Not all weddings take place out of doors, but many do. From the near-legendary status of a June wedding to a blazing backdrop of fall colors, you can get to know rural and urban venues for outdoor weddings and receptions. It will be up to you to consider every contingency, including options for bad weather occurrences.
Photographer
Some photographers work in studios, but others specialize in outdoor photography. Natural light makes for amazing photographs, as do blue skies, green hills, and trees covered in autumn leaves. Graduates, brides, and even business people often prefer to have their photos taken outside.
Besides portrait photography, you can also work outside taking pet portraits, landscape photography, wildlife photography, street photography, or stock photography.
Conclusion
Spending time with nature has been known to reduce stress and improve mental health. Making a move to an outdoor job could be the change you need—a breath of fresh air. You can choose which path is best for you and whether you wish to be self-employed or look for an established company. Either choice can be quite rewarding.
