4 Things to Know Before Taking on a Non-Traditional Career

The notion of “non-traditional careers” for men and women seems like a relic of the distant, sexist past. Despite modern preconceptions we have concerning equality and the oft cited glass ceiling having been broken, there are still huge gender disparities in select industries that one must consider before making the switch from a traditional office setting. Women make up only a quarter of computer and mathematical occupations and only 18% of transportation and material movers. On the flip side, men make up less than 12% of registered nurses and not even a quarter of personal care and service occupations. This ought to concern both genders, as healthcare and computer technologies both are some of the fastest growing industries. It is well known that closing gender gaps in the workplace offers a host of economic benefits, but taking on a non-traditional career can be rewarding and beneficial on a personal level.

Physical Demands May Vary

Oftentimes, we equate the idea of “man’s work” with the idea of physical labor, like heavy lifting. So it seems natural that non-traditional careers for women would include exorbitant demands on their body—right? Wrong! Many careers often relegated to men are sedentary, such as those in engineering or computer science. On the flipside, jobs in childcare or nursing—careers overwhelmingly populated by women–can be extremely tiring. However, even sedentary jobs can be taxing in other ways. Consider truck driving as an example: long hours on a highway may not seem like it would take a toll on your physical stamina, but it is easy to become exhausted or succumb to “highway hypnosis” if you’re not careful. When switching careers, consider carefully the new physical and mental demands of your prospective job before you overextend yourself.

Assess Risk Factors

Whenever you are making a change in careers, you ought to consider the safety of your next workplace before signing on. Do your due diligence and do your research: know what can go wrong, how, and how to avoid it before you even begin to sit through your employer’s safety training video. This seems obvious, but it is so important to know what you are signing up for before you switch gears so drastically. When the switch involves converting to a non-traditional workplace, you have to be extra diligent in exposing yourself to the new culture you are about to submerge yourself in. For instance, men likely were not raised with the same awareness as women concerning what can go wrong in a childcare environment. The unfortunate reality is that most men weren’t socialized with this understanding. Fortunately that is changing as culture progresses, but for your sake—and the sake of everyone else–do your homework.

Culture Shock

Another depressing reality to consider is that men and women interact differently when in the sole company of eachother than they do in mixed company. This is not true of all non-traditional workplaces you may be entering, as there are exceptions to every rule, and this is changing as workplaces of all stripes become more integrated. Still, you ought to prepare yourself. And, divorced from gender entirely, some workplaces just have different “vibes” you ought to consider carefully before making a permanent switch. Truckers, for example, live with the knowledge that their lives (or someone else’s) could be on the line every time they get in their truck. According to one car accident injury attorney in Los Angeles, deadly accidents involving trucks and 18-wheelers are only increasing. The means with which truckers cope with this reality may differ from yours, albeit black humor or even just silence. Be prepared to make some adjustments in your own thinking.

Workplace Jerks

There is no getting around it: every workplace has at least one jerk, and that is just the reality of the world we live in. You can’t prepare yourself for every variety of jerk there is out there in this big world, but you can steel yourself against the worst of them in the workplace. In non-traditional workplaces, you might find that you have to prove yourself to earn the respect of your peers. This is to be expected—to a point. Some people immediately feel threatened when their workplace becomes more diverse, but they are, thankfully, in the minority. However, you should never allow anyone to make you feel uncomfortable or harassed in any workplace. Take care to stand your ground as professionally and courteously as possible when you are faced with these impossibly rude people. Never stoop to their level, and raise your concerns with any available human resources representative or superiors if you feel as though your work is being impeded by the actions of a coworker. You deserve a healthy and happy work environment. Don’t let anyone compromise that!