Let’s face it, many of us feel better when the sun is shining, so it makes sense that we want to bring that summer feeling to work with us.
Our working environment can have a big impact on our mood and productivity, and it’s no secret that sunshine brings many positives to our lives – including increased vitamin D levels, improved brain function, and a happier demeanour.
So, if you don’t like the idea of being trapped within the same four office walls this summer, why not browse these seven summer-inspired jobs?
1. Dog walker
Being a dog walker is a brilliant way to feel appreciated while spending plenty of time in the great outdoors. Often, a dog will never be happier to see you than when you’re arriving to take it out for its favourite part of the day: a walk!
As long as you have a reasonable level of fitness and love dogs, there’s no reason why you can’t get started in this fully-flexible role. It’s completely up to you how many dogs you choose to walk and the hours you choose to work.
You can also match your fitness level to the types of dogs you walk. For example, if you’ve got bundles of energy, you might want to walk more active breeds like cockapoos or border collies. Or, if you’d like to start slow and build up your fitness, you could start by walking older dogs who don’t need to walk as far.
Dog walking is a job you could easily fall in love with, and there are plenty of dogs out there waiting to be walked. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, then Tailster* is a great national website that allows you to locate dogs that need walking in your local area.
Get started
2. Florist
Roses are red, violets are blue, becoming a florist could be the right choice for you!
Working with flowers every day is a great way to connect with nature whilst making a living. People typically think of flowers as products of summer, and just being around them can make you feel more cheerful and positive.
For most florists, no two days are ever the same because clients vary and you never know what type of floral creation you’ll be asked to come up with next. People call on florists during many of life’s significant events – and being involved in people’s special occasions can be incredibly rewarding.
The scale of what people ask for can vary. One day, you may be putting together a bunch of flowers for someone’s birthday, and the next, you could be creating 10 garlands for a summer wedding. But either way, it’s likely you’ll be making someone very happy with your work.
Floristry isn’t as simple as putting a few flowers in a vase and hoping for the best. In fact, there’s plenty of skill and knowledge involved, and many floral arrangements are very intricate.
One of the best ways to start a career in floristry is to apply for a job as a trainee or an apprentice with a flower company.
Alternatively, you could take an accredited learning course and then try setting up your own shop or outdoor flower stall. To find out more about the art of flower arranging, you can also read our article; 17 of the most popular and classic flower arranging styles.
Why not give it a try and watch your career blossom?
3. Animal/wildlife assistant
If you fancy getting up close and personal with some of nature’s creatures, it’s worth considering a role as an animal or wildlife assistant.
Research suggests that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. And that when we make these connections, our productivity and happiness increase.
As an animal or wildlife assistant, you could help to rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals back into the wild – or to a suitable new owner. While being close to nature is great, it’s even better when you know that you’re saving and changing animals’ lives.
The most important thing you’ll need when it comes to applying for a job is a genuine interest and enthusiasm for animals. Does this sound like you? If so, there’s no reason why you can’t start browsing the list of vacancies below.
Make a difference
4. Gardener
Gardening is a fantastic opportunity to get in touch with your creative side and build something beautiful that can be enjoyed by others. For many people, gardening is also a form of escapism, which can reduce stress levels and boost mood.
There are plenty of sites around the country that rely on gardeners to look after their grounds by doing tasks such as pruning, weeding, and leaf clearing – you’ll also help with planting and maintaining trees, plants, and herbaceous plants.
With gardening, what you put in is what you get out and it can be very rewarding to watch things grow and blossom as you nurture them, or to see the results of a big clearance effort.
So if you’ve got green fingers and are in the market for a new job this summer, why not consider applying for a job as a gardener?
Alternatively, if you like the sound of being your own boss, you could also try advertising your services locally and get paid to help people in your local community with their gardens.
Turn your passion for gardening into a career
5. Teach English abroad
Teaching has the potential to take you on adventures to exotic lands, and by taking a short course, you could soon be sunning yourself in places like Latin America or Southern Europe.
Alternatively, if you aren’t keen to travel abroad, you could teach English to students abroad from the comfort of your own home.
English is a valuable language that’s widely sought after by people from countries across the world. This means that teaching opportunities are vast, and they’ll always be someone in the world who could benefit from your skills and experience.
The best way to prepare yourself to teach English as a foreign language is to take a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course. This will cover topics such as lesson planning, grammar, and classroom management – and should give you the skills and the confidence to get the most out of the role. These can usually be studied online, in person, or both.
Once you’ve completed an accredited TEFL course, you’ll be able to start applying for jobs. And the first thing you’ll have to decide is where in the world you’d like to go.
The rate of pay and the benefits attached to each job will vary significantly depending on the country you’re visiting and the employer. The International TEFL Academy will provide you with lots of information about the country you’re interested in teaching in, so you can make an informed decision.
All you have to do is fill out a simple form and wait for a response, so why not give it a go? You never know where you might end up!
Start teaching
6. Travel agent
Travel agents have the very satisfying job of helping people get excited about their travel adventures – and getting a taste of the adventures themselves. It can be very pleasant spending your days discussing tropical climates and sunny escapes.
As a travel agent, you’ll essentially be a knowledge base for people who want to know more about a specific travel destination, or are looking for recommendations. They’ll trust you to find them the best locations, hotels, and flights/cruises available – all at the best price.
This knowledge will also go a long way in helping you to plan your own sunny adventures and the job itself might come with the occasional opportunity for travel. You may also be entitled to travel discounts and first dibs on the latest offers.
There are usually part-time and full-time roles available depending on the amount of flexibility you’re looking for, and you don’t need any formal qualifications to get started in the role. This is because most employers will provide on-the-job training.
Fulfill people’s dreams as a travel agent
7. Work at a garden centre
If you’d love to work in a people-focused role while having the pleasure of being surrounded by beautiful plants out in the fresh air, then a garden centre could be the ideal place to land a job.
As a garden centre employee, you could be responsible for a range of tasks – from helping customers find suitable plants for their garden to making sure that all the plants and flowers are looked after properly.
Working at your local garden centre is also a great way to get to know people in your community.
So why not contact your local garden centre directly and see if they have any roles available? Smaller garden centres often don’t advertise their roles online, so you never know what opportunities could be waiting…
Get in touch with your local garden centre
Final thoughts...
If you’re thinking about making a career change to inject a little more summer vibes and sunshine into your life, we hope these roles have given you some inspiration.
Though, if nothing on this list has taken your fancy, we have plenty more ideas on the jobs and careers section of our site. Here, you’ll find articles like; Roles that will take you around the world and 11 jobs that can help you to stay active over 50.