Escape Your Dying Industry With One of These 8 Careers, Instead

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No one wants to admit that they're in a dying industry, but it's a hard fact that many of us will have to face at some point in our lives. Once upon a time, there were expert buggy-whip makers, and bowling alley pinsetters. Technology made those jobs extinct. Now, other jobs are in jeopardy, and if you are in a career that is being made obsolete, it's time to start weighing your options. Here are eight modern jobs that you should consider if your job will soon be taken over by robots.

1. Florists: Try Xeriscaping

The humble florist storefront is quickly disappearing, with those costly bouquets being replaced by cheap bunches of flowers from grocery stores and warehouse clubs. Plus, there are online retailers offering much cheaper deals on ready-made designs. If you're a florist, you're in a dying industry. But, you have great design skills that could be taken to another career. Some florists have found that transferring their skills to landscaping, specifically xeriscaping, is a transition that is fairly easy to make. Xeriscaping demands greater knowledge of plants and flowers, but the growing demand for gardens needing less water makes this an ideal industry to get into. Classes for xeriscaping are becoming easier to find in every city. And, it's in a very similar field, with beautiful end results.

2. Travel Agents: Try Travel Blogging

Let's face it, travel agents have been a dying breed for some time. But with the advent of websites like Orbitz, Expedia, Trivago, and Priceline, the need for an experienced travel agent has decreased dramatically. Why bother with the middleman, when you can go directly to the source and save time and money? However, travel agents have a wealth of experience in the travel industry, and that can be put to good use in travel writing and blogging. Contact the big players like National Geographic and the Travel Channel. Google "travel journalism" and you'll be hit with a plethora of sites filled with articles and guides written by experts. It can pay well to be a travel writer, and you also get to explore the world while you do it. (See also: Can You Really Make a Living as an Ebook Writer?)

3. Sewing Machinists: Try Selling on Etsy

Sewing machinists in the U.S., and other parts of the developed world, are quickly being replaced by people in China, Taiwan, Korea, and India. The profit margins for the manufacturers are just impossible to turn down, and that means U.S. sewing machinists are finding work much harder to come by. Even when they do, it doesn't pay well. So, if you are a skilled sewing machinist, branch out and create your own fashions on Etsy. You'll find it very easy to set up a store. You can find all the patterns you need on eBay and Amazon, and material is affordable when buying in bulk. Then sell your wares (customization can really help to increase sales, too) and keep all of the profit for yourself.

4. Telemarketers: Try Sales

Getting a call from a telemarketer as you're about to sit down for an evening meal is about as fun as having root canal work. The Do Not Call list certainly put a stop to a lot of that, and with so much selling being done online now, the need for real people making cold calls is dying out. Telemarketers often follow a script, but the successful ones have charm and know how to persuade. It is not a big leap to go from telemarketing to general sales, specifically in insurance, automotive, or real estate. The "gift of the gab" you have used can be transitioned easily into a sales role, and for the foreseeable future, there will continue to be a need for skilled professionals who know how to close a sale.

5. Tailors: Try Hairdressing

Although the need for a great tailor will never completely vanish, the current state of the fashion industry is not helping the tailoring business. Custom suits and outfits are expensive, and the rise of affordable fashion that can be purchased online is killing the bespoke market. Plus, many dry cleaners now offer simple alterations and other services once provided by tailors, at a fraction of the price. As a tailor, your skills could be used to create bespoke outfits that could be sold in your own eBay or Etsy store, or you can bite the bullet and try a new career. Hairdressing and barbering is growing in demand, and requires many crossover skills. Yes, you would have to retrain, but your eye for detail will work in your favor.

6. Photo Processors: Try Photography

Just as video killed the radio star, digital killed the photo processor. About 30 years ago, it was a thriving job. The rise of quality, affordable film cameras meant we were taking more pictures than ever, and that required the skills of a photo processor. Now, digital photography is everywhere, and with automated online photo ordering, photo processors are disappearing. If you have photo-processing skills, it may be time to go back into the world of photography and take pictures yourself. Professional photographers are in demand, and if you want to start with stock photo houses, you can get plenty of practice whilst earning a decent wage. Then there are weddings, engagements, births, and so many other occasions.

7. Typing Clerks: Try Medical Transcription

Typing used to be quite a valuable skill. Writing letters, with the correct formatting, was an art form. This was especially true when it was done on a typewriter, which required great planning and execution. Now, everything is done with templates on a computer, and you don't need any skills or training to produce professional quality letters, resumes, and other documents. So, take those typing skills, especially your words-per-minute rate, and apply them to transcription. Doctors and physicians continue to take notes either by hand, or on a voice recorder, and these need to be put into digital records quickly. You can also look into legal transcription and subtitling.

8. Telephone Operators: Try Online Community Management

Few qualifications were needed to have the job of a telephone operator, and it was a good entry-level job. Many people stayed on to make full-time careers of it, but as you know if you've tried to make a call to a big company, speaking to an actual human is very difficult. Sophisticated phone systems and software have replaced the job a person used to do, and now you push buttons to eventually get to the person you want to speak to.

If you are a telephone operator, consider switching to the online world of community management. A community manager is responsible for company communication online, and can include PR, social media, content creation, and customer outreach. The skills you learned to be patient and informative can be channeled into community management, and you will create a positive public perception of the company. Digital is only going to get stronger, so now is the perfect time to enter this growing career.

What other modern careers should people in dying industries try? Share with us!

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Guest's picture
Harm

Most current telemarketers that I hear from should try going over to the Mafia. They work for robocallers fishing for credit card info.