Whether you're a young person trying to chart your career or a mid-career professional looking for a change, some jobs definitely have more luster than others. Think of being an accountant and you'll have to balance the positives of the job against the popular image of deskbound, calculator-wielding drones. But being a TV anchor? With images of yourself globe-trotting and schmoozing with celebrities, that's probably not such a hard sell.
Blame TV for at least some of the appeal of this job. In a post-Mad Men world, it's easy to see why some of us might dream of the stylish attire and constant creativity of Don Draper and the like. But we're a long way from the days of Sterling Cooper, and being an ad exec is only for those who can handle irregular hours, cut-throat competition and serious mental stress.
Perhaps influenced by celebrity culture and the character of Samantha on Sex & the City, the popular image of public relations pros involves a lot of glamorous parties and meet-and-greets with high flyers. But the reality is less cocktail dresses and schmoozing, and more impossible deadlines, lots of public speaking and stress-inducing questions from a hostile media. Think twice before embarking on a PR career and consider how much you really want to be in the spotlight.
If you like the idea of jetting around to the world's most glamorous destinations as a commercial airline pilot, you're probably not alone. Many children dream of flying a plane, but the adult reality is super stressful, according to CareerCast, which notes that not only do pilots hold hundreds of lives in their hands but also face irregular schedules and endless jetlag. And according to hero Captain "Sully" Sullenberger, the pay isn't that hot either.
For those with a creative bent and an urge for a steady, respectable paycheck, being an architect sounds like a solid choice. But besides bringing beautiful buildings to the world, architects must also contend with high-pressure deadlines, high-level math and a long road of training. Don't get into the field without asking if you really want to commit to five years of studies, 5,000+ hours of interning and a nine-section exam.
Who doesn't dream of being a C-suite exec? Not only do you get the corner office and the generous pay package, but you also get the status and satisfaction of leading hundreds, if not thousands, of employees.
How stressful could it to be a newscaster? All you have to do is read and look pretty, at least according to popular conception. Who wouldn't want that job?
Anyone who wants to operate in the dog-eat-dog world of the 24-hour news cycle, says CareerCast. Think Hemingway filing leisurely from Paris or Diane Sawyer schmoozing with Michael Jackson and journalism may sound glamorous, but the modern on-air reality is far less relaxed.
For the travel-hungry among us, few jobs have as much appeal as being a photojournalist. Dispatched to hot spots across the world, the folks who man the cameras for news organizations would seem to have some of the most enviably adventurous lives out there.
But the dark side is extremely dark as the tragic fate of courageous, Oscar-nominated Chris Hondros proves. Do you really want to subject yourself (and your mother) to the possibility of facing bullets and bombs? Think carefully before pursuing a photojournalism career.
Wall Street's masters of the universe might be renowned for their impressive earnings, but all that income comes with some serious stress as volatile markets take brokers on a roller coaster ride of anxiety. Don't let yourself be dazzled by dollars, and seriously consider if your body and mind can handle the ups and downs before pursuing the profession.
