It used to be parents and career counselors who influenced our career choices. Today, many of the hottest jobs are occupations featured on reality TV. Here are 10 hot careers from reality TV with a few tips and resources to help you get started.
You may not end up on a reality TV show, but you may end up with a career that you love.
1. Image Consultant
If you have ever watched Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or What Not to Wear, you have seen these experts in action. They are paid to give people advice on how to look good, and may recommend a new wardrobe or a complete make-over.
If you want to become an image consultant, start by offering free makeovers for friends and family members. You'll also need to develop a network of strategic partners to refer clients to, such as hair stylists, makeup artists, dieticians, dentists, personal trainers, plastic surgeons, and voice coaches.
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become an Image Consultant.
2. Interior Decorator or Home Stager
Shows such as Trading Spaces, While You Were Out, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition have sparked renewed interest in interior decorating as a career, while shows such as Designed to Sell on HGTV and Sell This House on A&E are introducing people to the hot new career of home stager.
The purpose of interior decorating is to make rooms more beautiful, comfortable and functional for the people who currently live there.
On the other hand, the purpose of home staging is to make a house attractive to potential buyers so a home can sell more quickly. As a result, unlike interior decorating, home staging is about neutralizing décor and removing a client's identity from a home, so that it appeals to buyers of all tastes and preferences.
If interior decorating or home staging appeal to you, chances are you've already rearranged the furniture a few times in your own home. Practice redecorating rooms for yourself and friends. Take "before" and "after" photos of your work so you can show paying clients that you've got what it takes to make their own home look fabulous.
For more advice on how to get started, check out the FabJob Guide to Become an Interior Decorator or the FabJob Guide to Become a Home Stager or Redesigner.
3. Business Consultant
The popularity of the first few seasons of The Apprentice made this a hot career. And while the show's popularity has waned recently, the career is hotter than ever. Just like contestants on the show, business consultants get to work on a variety of interesting and challenging projects with many different companies.
If consulting sounds like your dream career, volunteer your services to charitable organizations. Chances are there are numerous organizations in your community that could use help with everything from fund-raising to marketing. You can make great connections while getting practical experience.
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Business Consultant.
4. Wedding Planner
Weddings have always been popular TV fare. From the televised wedding of The Bachelorette's Trista and Ryan to For Better or For Worse, we can see real-life weddings organized by professional wedding planners.
Since you probably won't be planning a lot of weddings for yourself, get hands-on experience by offering to assist with weddings of friends and family members. Also consider getting a part-time job with a company that provides wedding services, such as a florist, caterer, or photographer.
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Wedding Planner.
5. Chef
The chefs we see on TV -- from Emeril Live and The Naked Chef's Jamie Oliver to popular female foodies Racheal Ray, Paula Deen, Nigella Lawson, and Giada De Laurentiis -- aren't just whipping up great meals, they're also whipping up interest in this hot career.
If you don't have time to attend culinary school, teach yourself to be a chef by reading cookbooks, watching cooking shows and videos, and, above all, hands-on practice and experimentation in your own kitchen.
For more adviceon how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Caterer or Personal Chef.
6. Professional Organizer
This new career, as seen on shows such as Clean Sweep and Mission: Organization, involves organizing homes, developing systems for storing and filing, plus getting rid of clutter.
If you decide to become a professional organizer, you'll probably find individuals and businesses are eager to use your services. Find clients by creating a brochure or offering to teach a continuing education class on "10 Terrific Tips to Organize Your Home".
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Professional Organizer.
7. Fashion Designer
One of the television's hottest shows is the fabulous Project Runway, hosted by Heidi Klum. The show takes you behind the scenes as fashion designers compete for the opportunity to show their designs at Fashion Week in New York.
While formal fashion design training is valuable, many well-known fashion designers, including Tommy Hilfiger and Giorgio Armani, do not have a degree in fashion.
Ways to prepare for this career without a degree include studying fashion on your own, attending fashion events, getting an entry-level job in the apparel industry, and designing clothes for yourself and friends.
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Fashion Designer.
8. Model
Although few of us meet the criteria for supermodel status or America's Next Top Model, there is demand for a variety of other types of models including plus size, mature, and "real people" models.
To get work as a model you'll need a portfolio consisting of photos of yourself. If you can find a photographer who wants experience, you may be able to get some great shots for your portfolio for free or just the cost of film.
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Model.
9. Stand-Up Comic
Professional stand-up comics have long been staples of TV programming -- from comedy specials to sit-coms. With up-and-coming comics featured in recent years on Last Comic Standing, the career is attracting even more interest.
You can get the chance to do your routine before a live audience by signing up for "open mic night" at a local comedy club. Most clubs have a weekly or monthly opportunity for new comedians to perform for three to five minutes each. Get lots of laughs and you could get some paying gigs.
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Stand-up Comic.
10. Pop Star
It's not just American Idol stars such as Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Carrie Underwood who have raised interest in this career. Many would-be stars were encouraged after seeing that even William Hung could get a recording contract after appearing on American Idol. Runner-up Jennifer Hudson's recent Academy Award winning performance in Dream Girls has made this career even more popular.
To eventually get heard by people who can help your career, make sure you take every opportunity to perform live. Local clubs in many cities have open mic nights when unsigned singers can perform, and this is a good place to start.
For more advice on how to get started in this career, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Pop Star.
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Tag and Catherine Goulet are founders of FabJob.com. This article is an excerpt from the book Dream Careers: How to Quickly Break Into a Fab Job! Visit www.FabJob.com to discover how to break into the career of your dreams.
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by Tag and Catherine Goulet:
Sisters Tag and Catherine Goulet are the Dream Career Experts. In 1999 they founded FabJob.com, a publisher of guides on how to break into a dream career, which has been visited by 50 million people. They have been featured giving career advice in media from ABC to Oprah.com and Woman's Day to the Wall Street Journal online, and their career advice appears frequently on the career pages at MSN.com and AOL.com. They are authors of the book Dream Careers: How to Quickly Break into a Fab Job! Visit FabJob.com to discover how to break into a dream career.
FabJob.com is featured in Woman's World Magazine ("Land Your Dream Job" article, April 2007).
FabJob Guides have been featured in stories at The Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine sites.
