Who can forget the times when the only respected careers were medical and Engineering? The kind of admiration and respect that a person could command with a Dr or an Engineer tag is still fresh in memories, not to mean that it has dwindled completely even today. However, times have changed and that too for better. Young people are daring to look beyond these conventional careers to make a mark in the uncommon territories. They are not just raking in moolah but making sure that people follow their footsteps on the roads less traveled by.

Talking of unconventional careers, there are just so many out there today. DJing, Radio Jockeying, Jewelry Designing, Life Management, Coffee Tasting, Fashion Photography, Adventure Sports Management, Food Reviewing, Gamingthe list could go on endlessly. These are the kind of careers that your parents and teachers in school do not rave about. These are also not the most sought after career options. Nonetheless the fact is that people are taking them up today and making a life out of it. These people have followed their passions and realized that their real calling is not in following the herd mentality but choosing to do something out of the ordinary.

If one is an expert at these unconventional domains and knows where to look for, there are many lucrative options that come to the fore. In fact, such specialists are much-in-demand and are well-regarded in their circles. People are looking out for good DJs to make their clubs a rage, rocking radio jockeys to make their radio channels heard, jewelry designers to get the most luxurious and extraordinary piece designed, fashion photographers to get the most exotic pictures clicked, gamers to come out with exciting games that rule the imagination of the youth, adventure sports managers to train people in activities that lead to a rush of the adrenaline. Thus, there is no dearth of jobs but when it comes to training institutes, the options are limited.

Although this trend to do the unconventional has not gone unnoticed as good educational institutes are realizing the potential and introducing courses that offer training in such fields but the options are few. If one were to conduct college search or university search to find out where one can get suitable education to pursue these career options, there come out some institutes that offer degree and diploma courses in these or related fields. Some institutes even offer scholarships to encourage students to take up challenges, however, not many. Sometimes, students prefer to study abroad and follow the career of their dreams.

And sometimes, no formal training is required to make an unconventional career. Just your talent is enough! Also, it is important to be recognized at the right time for the right things at the right place. It is good to have a mentor who can do hand-holding till the time you are ready to take an individual flight. These fields are full of uncertainties and it is not uncommon to get lost in the crowd of strugglers. The key here is to have your focus right and not let any kind of discouragement bog you down. Perseverance and the will to make it happen get one noticed.
Even while pursuing a course, the extraordinary students get immediate recognition. The trainers love to keep throwing challenges at their pupils to evoke the best out of them. These are not the regular books-and-exams kind of courses where mugging or making notes is really going to help. These are the courses that ask you to scratch beneath the surface, to push your own limits and to keep bettering your inherent talent.

So, think twice before you actually set out to keep conventions at bay. Remember that the path will be grueling and there are hardly any short cuts.

So, unconventional careers are not for the faint-hearted or those who are constantly seeking comfort zones. Rather, it requires the attitude of a go-getter who is ready to defy all rules and challenge all norms. Once you are sure what is your real calling, the world becomes your oyster and as Paulo Coelho famously says in The Alchemist, When you know what you want the whole world conspires you to achieve it. Just go out there and snatch your opportunities from the jaws of resistance.

There is also good counseling available on the subject and experts who can guide you. To have a network of the like-minded people is also not a bad idea. In fact, having friends and contacts who are on the same wavelength helps you get updates on whats happening in the industry you want to enter. So, gear up to dare beyond the usual career streams and who knows, you may end up becoming more famous and well off than the usual doctors, engineers, lawyers and chartered accountants (no offence meant).