A lot of people live unhappy lives because of the amount of time they spend working to make ends meet. They rarely have time for family, friends, and social life, which can negatively affect their lives and lead to mental and physical health complications. If you want to enjoy and not endure your job, you should consider careers that ensure a good work life balance.
Good work life balance careers offer you more flexibility, better family time, job satisfaction, and better quality of life in general. In this article, we will discuss what having a healthy work life balance means, and give you tips on how to find one that fits your personal and career goals.
What Is Work Life Balance and Why Is It Important?
A career with good work life balance is one that allows you to prioritize the demands of work and the demands of your personal life in equal measure, without requiring you to sacrifice one over the other.
Many career paths, ranging from tech to arts to commercial jobs, can offer you a healthy balance, but you also have to be willing to set boundaries and avoid overworking yourself to the detriment of your personal life.
Some days may require you to spend extra hours working so you must take steps to learn how to properly manage your time. You will also need to figure out the most important things and focus on them. This will enable you to spend less time on less relevant activities, giving you more free time in the process.
Top 10 Work Life Balance Careers You Should Consider in 2023
There are different types of jobs to choose from if you are looking to strike a healthy balance between career and personal life. Some of these top jobs are listed below.
Substitute Teacher
- Salary: $36,090
- Job growth: 2%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
A substitute teacher stands in for permanent teachers when they are absent from school for reasons such as vacation, illness, or maternity leave. Substitute teachers take full charge of the classroom without requiring constant supervision. They are responsible for the students and classroom for periods that can range from a day to a year.
Some duties of substitute teachers include interpreting lesson plans swiftly, managing classroom behavior, and making reports for the permanent teacher informing them of student success. Generally speaking, substitute teachers have a great work life balance due to the job flexibility.
Paralegal or Legal Assistant
- Salary: $52,920
- Job growth: 12%
- Education needed: Associate or bachelor’s degree
Paralegals and legal assistants work at law firms and help lawyers prepare for trials, hearings, and corporate meetings. There are different career stages in the legal industry, and working as a paralegal can give you an overview of that work environment and help you climb the law career ladder.
Paralegals employ technology and other software to manage and organize documents and data collected during a case. Many paralegals employ software to review and group documents for specific keywords or subjects.
Recruiting Coordinator
- Salary: $63,490
- Job growth: 10%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
A recruiting coordinator is a human resources specialist who serves as a medium between prospective employees and businesses. They are in charge of reviewing applications and resumes and conducting interviews until they find the right person for the job.
Recruiting coordinators must be knowledgeable in the best human resources practices and must be adept at critical thinking to come up with new strategies to find good candidates. For this role, having basic computer and social media skills is beneficial, and strong communication abilities are vital.
Copyeditor
- Salary: $63,400
- Job growth: 5%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
A copyeditor reviews, proofreads, and modifies content for their clients. Some of the materials they work on include books, articles, and web content. Editors ensure that documents are readable, grammatically correct, and align with the brand image and target audience of the company they work for. They use style manuals to decide on word choice, formatting, voice, and other variables.
Professional copy editors typically hold a degree in journalism, English, or other related fields. They must be extremely meticulous to identify and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. This work can usually be done remotely, offering a lot of flexibility.
Computer Programmer
- Salary: $89,190
- Job growth: -10%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
The job of a computer programmer is to create or improve computer applications and software. These professionals use a variety of programming languages to communicate with computers and provide them with instructions. They are also responsible for testing and troubleshooting any issues that might come up.
Programmers closely work with software developers and their duties overlap in some cases. For example, much like software developers, programmers can be involved in program design. They generally earn rewarding salaries.
Marketing Manager
- Salary: $141,490
- Job growth: 10%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
These professionals are tasked with promoting an organization’s products or services through advertising directed at a specific target audience. They work closely with advertising agents, financial staff members, and art directors. This role can sometimes overlap with the duties of a content manager or social media manager.
An advertising manager works with sales staff to come up with great ideas for an advertising campaign. They are in charge of the staff that develops the campaign. These professionals are also involved in budget and cost estimates for each campaign and work closely with the finance department for this.
Project Manager
- Salary: $84,290
- Job growth: 0.3%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
A project manager is responsible for planning and overseeing projects and ensuring that they are completed within budget and on time. The duties of a project manager include planning, allocating resources, monitoring progress, preparing budgets, and keeping supervisors and other stakeholders informed about the status of their projects.
Many project managers decide to go for a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to sharpen their skills. To qualify for this certification, you must have a degree and some work experience.
Data Scientist
- Salary: $103,930
- Job growth: 2.4%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
Data scientists collect, analyze, and interpret large datasets. The information is used to develop data-driven solutions for challenging business problems. A successful data scientist requires certain technical skills including coding languages, statistics and machine learning, databases, and machine learning.
A data scientist works with stakeholders in a company to find opportunities for leveraging company data to generate solutions, mining and analyzing data from company databases to push optimization and improve product development. Some companies allow people in this role to work from home.
Front End Developer
- Salary: $77,200
- Job growth: 13%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
Front end developers are responsible for planning, building, and implementing the user interface of software programs, websites, and web-based applications. The main goal of a front end developer is to provide a great user experience without errors or downtime.
Front end engineers usually have a background in software development and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field. These experts must be excellent in using programming languages including CSS and JavaScript. As a front end developer, it is possible to work remotely and have a lot of flexibility in terms of how you manage your time.
Accountant
- Salary: $73,560
- Job growth: 7%
- Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
Accountants carry out a variety of finance-related tasks that mostly involve preparing financial records. These responsibilities include organizing and maintaining financial records, computing and preparing tax returns, and making sure financial statements are accurate. Accounting professionals in the US must abide by the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
10 Work Life Balance Careers That Don’t Require a Degree
Perhaps you do not have a degree and may be wondering if you can access jobs that allow for a balanced lifestyle. You’ll be happy to know that there are many jobs that can give you the much-needed time you desire to build a fulfilling life without a college degree. Some of the top options are listed below.
Firefighter
- Salary: $52,500
- Job growth: 8%
Firefighters are trained to handle different emergency situations, including fires, that threaten life and property. Firefighters usually require some training in emergency medical services and, in most cases, they attend a fire academy.
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Firefighting can be a stressful career that will demand night, weekend, and holiday work. It’s not all gloomy though, as work hours can be very flexible. This means firefighters will usually have a lot of free time during the day and can strike a great balance between work and personal life.
Bookkeeper
- Salary: $42,410
- Job growth: -3%
Bookkeepers are in charge of maintaining financial records for their clients, whether they are organizations or individuals. These professionals need to have an eye for detail, as their job requires great accuracy and mistakes can carry severe consequences. However, the job is pretty straightforward and allows for a great work life balance.
Local Delivery Driver
- Salary: $47,130
- Job growth: 6%
Local delivery drivers, also known as short-haul drivers, work within a short distance from their home location, usually around 150 miles. Because they don’t need to go too far, these professionals are able to complete several deliveries each shift. One of the advantages of this type of delivery job is that you are not stuck in your cabin for long hours, which can have negative effects on your physical health in the long term.
Local delivery trucking combines the freedom of the open road with stability and home time that drivers with a family desire. A major reason for this is that they don’t travel as far as long-distance truck drivers.
Receptionist
- Salary: $31,110
- Job growth: 4%
Receptionists are the face of every organization as they are usually the first point of human contact. They carry out tasks such as receiving visitors, answering phones, and providing the public with information about the organization they work for. Receptionists must be very articulate and must possess good communication skills.
Hairdresser
- Salary: $27,630
- Job growth: 19%
Hairdressers provide a variety of beauty services, ranging from hair to nails to facial treatments. They mainly work in salons, although they can also serve clients in their homes. Physical stamina is a requirement for this job, as hairdressers spend most of their shifts on their feet. A hairdresser can choose to work full-time or part-time.
Hairdressers do not always have a typical Monday through Friday work schedule. They can work at different periods including weekends. The good part is they do not have set hours and rarely bring work home.
Fitness Trainer
- Salary: $40,510
- Job growth: 39%
Fitness trainers instruct, lead, and motivate people or groups during exercise activities. They work in places such as health clubs, yoga studios, and recreation centers. Fitness trainers don’t need a college degree but can get certified to show that they are capable of doing their job.
These professionals may have to work additional hours at night, during weekends, and during the holiday period. On the plus side, the job involves a lot of flexibility. You’re likely to get a free gym membership as a fitness trainer, helping you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Tour Guide
- Salary: $32,200
- Job growth: 2.9%
These professionals guide visitors through a tourist attraction while explaining interesting facts about them. To work as a tour guide, you must have a great knowledge of the local environment and be able to communicate clearly and freely with people. Tour guides have flexible schedules and can plan their activities in such a way that work does not affect their personal life. The best time to work as a tour guide is during holiday periods.
Real Estate Agent
- Salary: $62,990
- Job growth: 2.9%
Real estate agents help clients to buy, sell, and rent properties. In some cases, they can also help manage these properties. To be a successful real estate agent, you must have great interpersonal skills. Real estate agents are usually self-employed meaning they enjoy a flexible schedule.
Secretary
- Salary: $40,990
- Job growth: -7%
Secretaries carry out routine clerical and organizational duties for a company. They can work in almost every industry, and many have full-time contracts. Secretaries must have basic computer skills such as proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software. Most secretaries learn their trade on the job, spending several weeks in training. Legal and medical secretaries may need more training to master industry-specific terminology.
Home Health Aide
- Salary: $27,080
- Job growth: 33%
Home health aides monitor the situation of people with chronic illnesses or disabilities and assist them with their daily living activities. They assist older adults in need of help and are sometimes in charge of providing their clients with medication and checking their vitals under the direction of a nurse.
The job is not an easy one but home health aides have the privilege of picking their patients based on the hours that suit their schedule.
How to Find Work Life Balance Careers
Finding careers that allow for a healthy work life balance can be tricky, but it’s not rocket science. You will, however, need to take some steps in order to be successful in your search. Luckily, we’ve compiled some top tips below to help you out.
Personalize Your Resume and Cover Letter
To put yourself in a great position to land the right job for you, you must keep your resume up to date. If you have identified a job opportunity that you think will allow you to have the work life balance that you desire, make sure to personalize your resume according to that specific role.
Also, make sure you submit a strong cover letter, as this also increases your chances of being noticed and called for an interview. Some things to do to optimize your resume include adding relevant keywords, fixing your formatting, and rejuvenating your work experience section.
Research the Company and the Role
When you’ve identified a role or company that you’d like to work for, make sure to take time to do some research. Find out what type of staff the company is seeking and what skills you are expected to have. Learn about current staff and corporate culture to find if you’d be a good fit. Many job-hunting apps can help you get the information you need.
Take Stock of Your Current Skills
It is very important to give your potential employer an idea of what you have to offer. You should list all the skills that you have gained which are specific to the role you’re applying for. Some other skills that should be on your resume include interpersonal skills, critical thinking, teamwork skills, problem-solving, communication, and creativity.
Get Relevant Training
If you need to gain new skills or boost existing ones, there are many options to choose from, including online courses, certification programs, and coding bootcamps. Bootcamps are especially relevant if you’re aiming for a career in tech, and they will help you by providing in-depth training over a short period of time. In addition, the best coding bootcamps provide career services to help you land your dream role.
Don’t Limit Yourself
There is no rule that says that you can only apply to jobs via job engines. If you are very interested in working for a particular company, don’t hesitate to contact it directly. You can do this by scheduling informational interviews with staff members of the company or contacting an internal recruiter. It’s a good idea to network and become familiar with people who can help you get a foot in the door.
Why Finding a Work Life Balance Career Is Important
Work life balance is important because it allows you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, take care of your personal life, and advance in your career in a way that is sustainable and fulfilling. A job where you can care for your health and wellbeing will, in turn, enable you to be more productive at the workplace. It will boost your creative thinking and allow you to excel in your chosen field.
In terms of your personal life, you’ll be able to maintain healthy relationships and spend quality time with friends and family. This is likely to make you feel happier. If you want to be more successful in your career, finding a job that strikes the right balance between work time and personal time is crucial.
Work Life Balance Careers FAQ
You can get a job with a good career life balance by focusing on a job that plays to your strengths. For example, if you’re not great at graphic design, outsource it to avoid wasting time. You have to prioritise your time. A great way to do this is to have a to-do list. Learning how to effectively manage your time can help you strike an excellent work life balance.
There is a long list of jobs that can ensure you have a good career life balance. Some of these jobs include working as a marketing assistant, web designer, lab technical assistant, research technician, data scientist, strategy manager, client manager, and creative manager. Many of these jobs can be done remotely or as a freelancer, meaning you get to control your schedule and work from wherever you choose.
Work life balance is important because it is central to a healthy and fulfilling life. Whether you’re working full-time or part-time, keeping a balance in work and life can help cut down stress and prevent work-place related burnout.
If you do not have a proper work life balance, you may begin to have strained relationships due to a lack of time with loved ones. In addiiton, lacking this balance can negatively affect your physical and mental health. Prioritizing your goals even in busy periods can help revive important relationships.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
