10 unconventional career paths to consider in 2022

There are two ultimate factors often considered when making a career decision; making high income and building a long term career. Despite Nigeria’s wide career space, these two factors cause high concentration on certain professional roles in fields such as nursing, law, engineering, and even the trendy tech-based roles. Consequently, competition is high, requirements are tough, and the process to reach the peak is long and tedious. Whether professional roles still pay as much as they used to, is debatable. However, while these jobs remain nonetheless valuable, there are other unconventional career paths that pay well and offer career satisfaction. 

These top ten unconventional high paying jobs require hard skills than academic degrees. Interestingly, they are also flexible and can be done at your own pace. They are categorized across the creative, business, and sport & fitness sectors. 

1. Writing: Writing, over the years, has moved from being an auxiliary skill to a major profession. However, many young people have not explored it to the fullest. Writing turns out to be a brain-tasking duty to professionals, yet a needed skill across several industries. Hence, the demand for writers is on the increase. It’s a vital skill needed in business and marketing, technology, film and media, academics, sports, public relations, and more. With available resources online, choosing a writing career makes you a “hot cake”, even outside Nigeria.  To get started, you can take courses on writing courses such as Technical Writing Essentials on Allison, or choose from numerous writing courses on Coursera.com. Writers are hired by media and content teams, individual clients, or leverage platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr to build freelance careers.

2. Content creation: Social media is the new marketplace for businesses to meet with potential customers and sell. And content is the greatest tool business owners use to achieve growth and make profit. With a unique content –or a unique style of delivering already existing content– you can build a career in this space. This requires no academic qualification, but only your ability to be consistently engaging, either with entertainment or educative content. In fact, content creation not only helps the business you market for, but also posits you as a brand and makes it easier to transit into other media and entertainment capacities. Platforms such as the Side Hustle Internship, is a great community where you can get started. 

3. Voice-over: Ad agencies and companies hire voice talents to represent their brands on TV, radio, and digital media. If you think celebrities are slated for such, it’s a myth! With a great voice –or the right skills to use your unique vocal texture–, you can make as much as N100,000 for gigs such as voice acting for audio series and animations, dubbing for adverts, audiobooks, instructional videos, and more. You really do not have to be hired for this; a great portfolio and pitch can get you started and stable in the voice-over career. With workshops and voice talent hubs such as the voice over academy, and voice over workshop, you’re on the path to building a great career in voice artistry. 

4. Translator: Communication is primary in a society, and language diversity could be a barrier. Over the years, companies have recognized the relevance of foreign language experts in ensuring seamless communication as they expand beyond the shores of the country. Foreign investors who are interested in African markets also sought middle-men with indigenous language to navigate effortlessly within the continent. Either in the written or spoken form, you can work in industries’ communication space and make great income. Furthermore, platforms such as the Fullbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program offers Nigerians the opportunity to teach indigenous languages in American universities. Do you still have doubts on how high paying language skills can be? You should know that creating content around these paths is a great headway. Content creation affirms you as an authority, and helps you build a portfolio for prospective offers. To get started as a translator, you should learn a foreign language, if you want to be at the top of your game. Create works that demonstrate your skills; write in different languages, translate a book, create audio-visual and written content that demonstrates your mastery of written and spoken language. Freelance translators use platforms such as Translatorbase,  Upwork and  Fiverr, to get clients, sell their skills and further develop their portfolios. Clippings is a great tool for creatives to build a portfolio.

5. Thrift business: Thrift involves buying and selling fairly used items from countries abroad, from fashion items and toys, gadgets and appliances, to automobiles. If you have a knack for selling, this could be a career option for you. You do not need a certificate or formal skill, neither do you necessarily need a shop for this. With low capital and social media presence, you can get goods abroad and reach potential customers without hassle. Pick an item(s) to sell, raise a capital, get to the market, get on the digital space to make your business visible

6. Waste collection and recycling: While there’s a huge stigma on this job, because of its mucky nature, this is one lucrative career that can earn you a fortune. By collecting waste from homes, restaurants, and industries that generate waste daily, charging on each disposal (depending on size), you can make great income. Waste disposal already is a topical issue in matters of global health, and Governments’ efforts in combating it through public waste management systems have yielded little. You are at liberty to create your own flexible structure for collecting waste, partner with recycling firms, and can build a large network of clients. With very little capital, work equipment, and a Government permit, you are set for business!

7. Cleaning and errand services: Laundry services, car wash, house-keeping, and delivery services are jobs that people pay for to ease themselves of the stress. While these jobs are not outrightly attractive because of its domestic nature, it is undoubtedly a high paying career path that guarantees steady income. With a capital enough for basic work equipment and a great team, you’re on your way to building a lasting brand for yourself. Set up your business plan, register with the CAC, get permits from Waste Management authorities, and get to work.

8. Farming: Before oil and gas took over, Agriculture was Nigeria’s gold mine. Well, it still remains a great source of wealth, but sadly, under-explored. Building a career in farming is a lucrative venture. There’s a daily demand for food items, and the grocery market is highly profitable. And farming business is not restricted to crops; livestock farming is also a treasure trove! An investment in fish farming, snail farming, cattle rearing, and more, guarantees a stable and sustainable source of income. Although the insecurity on farmlands and (preventable) losses in livestock production are challenges you may face, they do not discredit farming as a high earning venture in Africa. With a well-written proposal for grants such as the Agri-Business Capital Fund, you could get funding for your farming operations.

9. Fitness trainer: A great lifestyle career choice, fitness is a rising need in maintaining physical and mental health. For most trainers and instructors, this started as a passion and became a rewarding career. It can also be for you. While you do not need a degree, you may need a personal trainer qualification and a first aid certification to get started. To get started, you want to establish yourself as an authority by having a succinct knowledge and sharing content on fitness and dieting, have a structured plan for your fitness center, consider taking a course at https://irep.com.ng/, and set the ball rolling.

10. Gaming: eSports is growing fast in Nigeria, and gaming is a big part of youth culture. If you’re looking towards a career switch, you should get on this. In this article, Nigerian video jockey,media personality, and notable player in the Nigerian gaming industry, VJ Adams, gave insights into eSports in Nigeria. A fusion of creative and technical design skills (which can be gotten online), gaming allows you to make money from creating fun and exciting challenges for the large population who like to play games. 

These sectors are not overly populated (at least, not yet), and they are high paying jobs in 2022 that you can explore now. If you would start one, you wouldn’t only be making income for yourself –gaining huge profits on your capital, but also building a distinct brand that would stand for long term.