Overrated and underrated careers (and what you can learn from them)

Overrated and underrated careers (and what you can learn from them)Overrated and underrated careers (and what you can learn from them)As kids, we dream of fascinating careers from ballerinas to astronauts. Having tried a few vastly different careers on for size, I can attest to the fact that some glamorous sounding careers can be incredibly overrated. When people learn I once earned a living as a celebrity makeup artist, they want to hear juicy stories and behind the scenes gossip. The reality was often exhausting and mundane and depending on the client, all too frequently soul-crushing.No matter yur current career, you can probably find ways to use your skills in different professional arenas. Even if you love what you do, it might be interesting to challenge yourself to pair your best skills with completely different careers.Lawyer vs. crafterI was a trial attorney for 14 years. I primarily defended medical professionals in high-value malpractice cases. It was fascinating and chall enging, but incredibly stressful, said Tasha Agruso, Owner of Designer Trapped in a Lawyers Body.Even though TV shows and movies can make long trials look fascinating and intense, the reality is a lot different. Most people dont realize how infrequently you actually get to go to trial. Its very uncommon, at least at in my particular practice area Agruso said. So, most days involved sitting in my office, which wasnt very exciting.Agruso began creating art out of necessity when she couldnt afford the home dcor and furniture she loved. I taught myself how to make what I wanted. We invested in a variety of tools, from a table saw to my Cricut cutting machines, that have enabled us to make pretty much anything we can dream up for our home.The same but different In case youre wondering, Agruso says Believe it or not, making isnt entirely different from practicing law. As a lawyer, I had a result I wanted to achieve for my client and had to figure out a plan to get to that result with the facts that we had available to us. As a maker, I will dream up something I want to create for my home and then I have to figure out how to do it with the tools that are available to me.The takeaway? Agruso says Both definitely require thinking outside the box and making the most of what you have available to you.The love factor While one of her careers had an impressive title, Agruso says The fact that making is now my full-time career is my dream come true. I dont work any less than when I was an attorney, but the difference is that now it doesnt really feel like work. I would continue doing this even if I won the lottery. Score one for loving what you do.Youd be great at What else would you be good at? Sometimes we work so hard to hone our professional skills that we forget about the skills that make us potentially great elsewhere. Earlier this year, Kristie Goshow joined Preferred Hotels Resorts as Chief Marketing Officer. Though shes worked on everything from marketing efforts to e-commerce and digital marketing initiatives across the airline, hospitality, and travel technology spaces, Goshow sometimes wonders if she would have been better suited to be a TV host. I love to engage with audiences, share thoughts, opinions and what ifs. Audience responses, be they good, bad or indifferent provide stimulus and energize me. As a TV host, you are provided with a platform (and a privilege) to move others both mentally and emotionally. Thats a powerful endowment.Appreciate the underappreciated Then again, Goshow also believes one of the most underrated careers is that of a hotel housekeeper The housekeeper or room attendant is the quiet magic that keeps everything together. They watch how their guests live and subtly manage their hotel lifestyles in a peripheral and unobtrusive manner. Its an art. Their role provides a sense of visual completion making something right again. Ultimately, helping others just feels good.Find the career that fits While Goshow can en vision using her talents in a variety of careers, shes also cognizant of the fact that her current job fits her best. She also clearly understands how to highlight all the parts of the whole and appreciates the necessary skills of everyone on her team no matter their titles.At the end of the day Are you proud of what you do? Do you use your skills and find satisfaction? If your reality fits well with your fantasy career, youre on the right (career) track