Back in our parents’ and grandparents’ day, the average career entailed doing the same kind of job in the same company for forty years and then retiring. Maybe there would be a promotion here and there but there wouldn’t be much scope for doing something completely different. For the younger generations – including younger Gen Xers – this kind of life would be the exception rather than the rule, though.
We question whether it’s worth slogging day in and day out at something that’s lost its lustre years ago and we’ll change careers in our mid-thirties or even forties without batting an eye if it will help us stay sane. Covid-19 has also changed the way we work and has forced many of us to re-evaluate what we do for a living and just how precarious our job security may be. Are you thinking of making the change? Here are some of the best careers worth going back to school for.

Registered nurse

Respiratory therapist

Psychiatric technician
You’ll work closely with psychiatrists and other healthcare workers to monitor patients, guide them through therapeutic activities, administer medications, and the like. It may not be one of those jobs that pay over $400,000 a year but training courses typically range from only a semester to a year or two and you can use your own life experience to help others.

Epidemiologist
To become an epidemiologist, you first need to get a bachelor’s degree in a field like health science, nursing, biostatistics, public health, biochemistry or biology. Then you need to get some work experience, which is often required to enrol in a master’s degree course in public health. This is usually the minimum requirement for an entry-level job as an epidemiologist.

Industrial and organizational psychologist
In this career, you’ll apply your psychology training to the workplace, for instance by helping to improve job satisfaction, motivation, occupational wellbeing and dealing with problems like occupational stress or workplace aggression. Unlike clinical psychologists who need a doctoral degree, you may start working as an industrial and organizational psychologist after obtaining a master’s degree.

Recreation therapist

Software engineer

Web developer

Information security analyst

Search engine optimization specialist

Market research analyst

Public relations specialist
For that, you should consider going back to school and getting a degree in public relations, communications, business, marketing or even journalism. You need to be outgoing to do this job well, which makes public relations specialist one of the best jobs for extroverts.

Solar energy technician

Wind turbine service technician

Aerospace engineer

Project manager

Human resources manager

Teacher
To become a teacher in Canada, you need to either study for an undergraduate teaching degree or get a bachelor’s degree in a different field and then study for a postgraduate teaching degree. Then you need to fulfill the certification requirements in your province or territory.

University professor

Financial auditor
To become a financial auditor in Canada, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, but more and more employers now also require an MBA or a CPA qualification.