Twenty years ago, no one would have been able to anticipate that social media editor, professional vlogger or Donald Trump’s Presidential Campaign Manager would be viable jobs in 2016. Don’t fret if you haven’t found a vocational path you’re passionate about—it might not exist yet! Start preparing your resumes by considering these predictions for future job.
Space Accountant
The future is extraterrestrial! Whether we colonize Mars or follow Matthew McConaughey through a wormhole, we should be preparing ourselves for life on space stations. We can pack all the Astronaut Ice Cream we want but when it comes down to it, our success will rest on well-trained financial officers to keep us out of intergalactic bankruptcy. You can’t escape capitalism in the endless void of space! For this job, you will need: mathematical and organizational skills, a fervent passion for space/the show Cosmos, enough physical fitness to carry around an oxygen tank, and proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Virtual Reality Tour Guide
If the future isn’t in space, it’s in virtual reality. If things fall apart in the real world, everyone’s going to want to escape to a realm of pixelated fantasy. Hone in on this market by offering immersive tours of ancient civilizations and famous landmarks from the comfort of your own home. For this job, you will need: extensive training on a variety of video game platforms, a passing grade in high school history, a flair for the performing arts and a wealthy benefactor to give you the technology.
Meme Historian
The world of memes is fast-paced and rich with information about the cultural trends of a given generation, a given subculture, a given echelon in the history of mankind. As a society, we’re going to need a new crop of academics to extract meaning from the rarest of Pepes and Arthur’s clenched fist. Just imagine being featured in a groundbreaking documentary providing stoic contextualization of “dat boi.” For this job, you will need: a file of reaction gifs on your computer, a PhD from a respected university, and such intellect, very commitment to Internet culture.
Trash Innovator
We’ve all seen those grotesque pictures of overflowing landfills, saddened by the realization that our disposable culture is leading to the demise of our one good, green Earth. A major movement to repurpose garbage could help alleviate this plight. Everything is going to be trash—trash houses, trash cars, trash trash cans. Don’t put those engineering skills to waste (pun completely intended). For this job, you will need: environmental consciousness, a keen sense of design, a tolerance to the smell of decay, and XL Hefty bags.
A Woman Who Gets Paid the Same Salary as Her Male Counterpart
Gender equality in the workforce? Having it all? Breaking the glass ceiling!? That sounds like a science fiction fantasy!! We can only imagine what it might be like for female-identifying folks to fulfill their professional ambitions without systematic barriers. But hey, a gal can dream. For this job, you will need: society to dismantle the patriarchy.
Images via Sarah Clapp.