Much Knowledge, Little Planning Jobs

June 16, 2017 3:29 PM

I'm considering a new career and I'd like to hear what sort of jobs require a command of extensive knowledge but not much planning, scheduling, or project management. An example of this might be a doctor or car mechanic - they solve problems based on a broad body of knowledge, but don't usually plan out long-term projects.

My background is in nonprofit communications, but I'm open to any sort of profession that is reasonably well-compensated and realistically accessible (i.e. there's a market for it and training is possible).

posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal to Work & Money (6 answers total)

All kinds of things-- procurement specialist would be something that comes to mind. It's a very specialist area, generally doesn't take *that* much training and rarely involved projects.

Property specialists, similar. Retail is also in general full of functions which fit your description. What interests you? What do you like the most?

Corporate PR could work with that description as well and fits your background.
posted by frumiousb at 4:32 PM on June 16, 2017

Welding, HVAC. Lots of things. Depends even on the exact position. Some teachers have to make lots of plans and manage many things, some mostly show up and know how to teach a well-established syllabus. Some machine operators have lots of training and knowledge but don't do much planning. People who run cranes or tugboats, or do CNC milling would be examples. Then there's things like welding or making hand made noodles. Or nursing and paralegaling.

Lots of the world's employees don't do much long-term planning or project management on their own, but their jobs to require varying degrees of knowledge, skill, and training. You may indeed get more relevant answers if you can provide some info on your context, prior experience, interests, etc.

The number of jobs and careers that don't involve long-term planning and project management is large, even if you restrict to things that have good employment outlook in the 0-3 year range.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:46 PM on June 16, 2017

Technical support.
posted by kevinbelt at 4:47 PM on June 16, 2017

Response by poster: Thanks for the answer so far. I would be interested in jobs that make use of my communication skills, but I don't want to do marketing per se. I also have an artistic side and so have considered things like graphic design or web design.
The shorter the training period and the sooner money can be made the better.
I'd like to not be actively destroying the planet, even if it's not exactly saving it either.

(And, yeah, tech support technically fits the bill, but nope.)
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 8:34 PM on June 16, 2017

You sound like you'd make a great production manager working with an artistic director. The AD is the one making long-term plans; the PM is the one trying to figure out how to execute those plans within budget.

Kind of tricky to get into those roles if you don't have prior artistic experience but it could be useful to look it up!
posted by divabat at 4:33 PM on June 17, 2017

(There is a degree of project management being a production manager, but something in that particular department would be ideal based on your interests)
posted by divabat at 8:45 PM on June 17, 2017