Some folks only experience the spine-tingling buzz of an adrenaline rush during rollercoaster rides or yearly ski trips. For other people, however, adrenaline rushes are part of their daily jobs--these professional thrill junkies include astronauts, politicians, and police officers. If you are an adrenaline lover with nerves of steel, you may enjoy finding a challenging, fast-paced job that presents the high levels of risk and reward that you thrive on. Here are the top five jobs for thrill seekers.
Politician
Politics is not for the faint of heart. From the U.S. president signing bills to Congress members making speeches, politicians prompt hundreds upon hundreds of important legislative actions every day that change the inner workings of our towns, cities, and states. Also, most politicians are highly visible community figures who must feel at ease speaking in front of large groups and making tough decisions under close public scrutiny. People who wish to become politicians would be well served by earning a law degree or a master's of business administration (MBA) degree, where they can gain advanced knowledge of macroeconomics, statistics, constitutional law, and income tax. Many successful politicians have earned MBAs and law degrees. For example, former president Bill Clinton has a graduate law degree, and President George W. Bush has an MBA.
Astronaut
U.S. citizens with strong science backgrounds and a hankering for adventure should consider an out-of-this-world career as an astronaut. Possible astronaut jobs include space shuttle pilots, mission specialists, and orbiters--astronauts who specialize in servicing satellites. People interested in becoming astronauts can greatly benefit from earning an engineering degree. While earning your engineering degree, you may deepen your knowledge of high-tech mechanical design, instrumentation, thermodynamics, and advanced computer software. You might also profit from earning an engineering degree with an aeronautical focus, which could give you an extra edge on the astronaut job market. According to NASA, the starting salary for astronauts is an attractive $59,493 per year, and the highest-paid astronauts rake in around $130,257 annually. But, let's face it. Being an astronaut isn't about the paycheck--it's about the rush.
Police Officer
Police officers' job descriptions often include chasing criminals, patrolling dangerous neighborhoods, distributing traffic tickets, and testifying in court. Since police officers must constantly uphold the law in challenging situations, they should have both a high level of personal integrity and a firm commitment to physical fitness. While some police jobs do not require a college education, more and more police departments are searching for job applicants with college degrees and extensive background in law enforcement studies. Degrees in criminal justice, law, and public administration can help aspiring police officers obtain both better job qualifications and higher salaries.
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations (PR) specialists polish corporations' public images by forming positive relationships with potential investors and members of the public. Organizations that hire PR specialists include hospitals, non-profit businesses, public and private universities, insurance companies, and--of course--celebrities. Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an excellent job-growth rate for PR workers, competition for the best jobs should be intense. Employment prospects should be best for PR specialists with accredited degrees in public relations, advertising, marketing, or other communications related fields. Also, if you want to get a leg up on your job competition, find a public relations internship while you're still in school so you can make employer connections while garnering real-world PR experience.
Corporate Executive Officer (CEO)
CEOs have the holy grail of all business jobs, and the benefits can be fabulous: prestige, travel perks, stock options, and company-paid memberships to elite clubs. Also, CEOs take home eye-popping salaries--the BLS reports that in 2006, the median annual pay for wage and salary chief executives exceeded $145,600. Of course, before rising to the top, prospective CEOs first need a strong understanding of business relations. To get the training they need to excel, many CEOs earn their bachelor's degrees in business or master's degrees in business administration (MBA). Besides degrees, top CEOs should also have the right personal skills for their jobs, such as a sharp mind, magnificent speaking abilities, high self-motivation, and a healthy dollop of self-confidence.
Remember, although action-packed jobs can be thrilling, even the biggest adventure junkies can burn out after years on the job. Still, there's no point in channeling an adrenaline junkie temperament into a stop-and-smell-the-roses job. If you need a heart-pounding job, go for it--but pace yourself, please.
This article is sponsored by Lincoln College of Technology
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