Friday, August 30, 2013

6 Incredibly Fun Jobs That Pay Well


If you want to find a fun job, the first thing is to clear your mind about what is and isn't possible. We are the only one that can stop us from enjoying the work or life of our dreams. You must suspend your beliefs or social conditioning that work can't be fun, and approach finding this line of work as a child would - with no expectations or self-imposed limitations.

Here's a list of some of the most fun jobs on the market. I have again personally worked all of these jobs as well (except #6, where I once did it pro-bono for a good friend), and have ranked them by degrees of fun. As you can see, these jobs get more and more exciting and it can be hard to believe that you are getting paid to do this.

#6 Video Game Tester

A video game tester gets to try out new games and has the task of reporting any issues, or software glitches found in the game. It is a great job if you enjoy playing games, are detail oriented, and enjoy breaking things. You need to record the circumstances where an aspect of a game breaks to help the game developer fix this problem.

There's nothing like the experience of being a part of building a game that are played by millions of people around the world. You can find video game testing jobs by searching for gaming studios on the internet and writing them to see if they are hiring. It usually helps to be an active member of a game community, as there are also many job leads directly from the source.

#5 Research Study Participant

Many schools of social and behavioral sciences seek to better understand how people make decisions. If you live near universities or research facilities, chances are, you can find an endless stream of paying studies. The studies typically involve working with computers, with other people, answering a series of questions, or taking computerized tests. The studies are usually 1-2 hours and you get paid at the conclusion of the study.

You will usually find out in advance the nature of the study, and are free to cease participation if you are uncomfortable at any time. The majority of studies out there do not involve medical tests or anything related to your body.

#4 Sports Photographer

This is a great job if you love taking photographs. Sports photographers take pictures of school age children or adults on sports teams on behalf of the organization at the start or conclusion of a season. You get paid to be trained to use camera equipment and could be taking photos of soccer, basketball, swim teams and more.

The is a great variety of locations in which you can work. In the summer, you could be working outdoors in the sun out in the field or at the swimming pool. On colder days, you will usually work indoors, in a gymnasium. If you enjoy taking photos, you could also consider a full-time career as school portrait photographer. Many photography companies are contracted to take yearbook pictures of elementary, middle and high schools.

#3 Children's Entertainer

A children's entertainer is hired at parties to sing, dance or engage the children in activities. This is a wonderful job if you are outgoing and love working with children. You could work with children of all ages, up to high schoolers, and there are many retail franchises that hire for this job.

#2 Modeling Jobs

Now we're getting into the realm of super exciting and fun jobs. A print model gets their pictures taken to help elicit interest in a product or service found in a magazine, website, bulletin board, or giant street signs.

You will usually be working at exciting locations, wearing nice outfits that are supplied by the job or provided by you. Modeling is a very glamorous, exciting and fun job that you can get into at any age. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't necessary to move to New York or Hollywood to work as a model. Any major city would have modeling agencies offering paying work.

#1 Background Actors (Movie or TV Extras)

Background Actors, commonly called Extras, populate a Movie, TV show, or commercial to add realism to a scene. Without extras, movies would appear really odd. Extras populate scenes whenever you need small groups of people, such as in a restaurant, or large crowds, such as on a busy street.

Being a background actor is truly a once in a lifetime experience. There's usually good food on set, lots of excitement, interesting people, and you get to be part of something really cool. Just make sure to pay attention to instructions given to you on set, and you'll have a great time. There are many extras casting agencies all over the world. Occasionally, when a movie is filmed in your town, the local radio stations will announce casting calls. Don't miss these opportunities.

I want to point out that being an extra is completely different than being an actor (aka principal), speaking from over 6 years of professional experience as the latter. When you are acting professionally, your focus is on the realistic portrayal of a character. This requires intense focus, training and preparation, and it's very different than being an observer watching the action, as is the case of extras.

Being a professional actor is a long, arduous road unlike starting your own company, and isn't to be confused with being a background actor, which is 100% fun and no acting, as you are there to simply fill up a scene and have fun.

As you can see, there are a myriad of fun jobs available to you regardless of your current background and skills. For this reason, it's critical for you to keep an open mind. This way, you have a greater chance of finding work that allows you to contribute, express yourself, while giving you financial rewards and fulfillment for years to come.

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