Careers That Get You Out of the Office

Solar Panel Installer Training

RSI is a Great Training Option for Everyone

Learn more about how we can prepare you to advance your career.

If the idea of sitting inside an office building staring at a computer screen or working on paper files causes you anxiety and stress, you may want to pursue a career that gets you out of the office and away from a cubicle. There are many out-of-the-office jobs available that can be pursued with just a few months of training at a technical school or by working as an apprentice. Here are just a few examples.

Electrician

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that by 2022, there will be a 20 percent increase in jobs for electricians. This is a faster than average job growth rate. Although you can learn how to be an electrician by working as an apprentice, receiving comprehensive training at a technical school in an Electrical Technologies program may increase your chances of employment.

The job requires you to be able to read blueprints and be aware of state and local building codes. You will work both indoors and outdoors. You will work in homes, schools, factories and construction sites. You will travel to different job sites within your city and may even have opportunities to travel outside your town and even outside of your state.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

By 2022, the need for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (HVAC/R technicians), according to the BLS, will increase by about 21 percent, which is a faster job growth rate than average. The work focuses on ventilation and systems that control temperature. As HVAC/R systems are complex, employers prefer applicants who have completed an HVACR training program.

In this career, you will travel to different worksites almost daily. You will work both indoors and outdoors, in homes, schools, factories, construction sites and office buildings. HVAC/R mechanics and technicians also work on vents, ducts, pipes and other components of the cooling and heating systems. There is year-round work available. As would be expected, summer time finds cooling systems in need of maintenance and repair and in the winter time, there is an abundance of work to do on heating systems.

Get Started on the Path to a New Career

Fill out our form to learn how we can help you change your life.


You are giving your express written consent for The Refrigeration School to contact you regarding our educational programs and services using email, telephone or text including our use of automated technology for calls or texts to any wireless number you provide. This consent is not required to purchase goods or services and you may always call us directly at (888) 671-5803.

+ Read More

Solar Panel Installer

According to the International Energy Agency, by 2050, solar power will generate more than 11 percent of the world’s electricity. By 2020, solar power will be competitive with other sources of power with North America being both the largest consumer and producer of solar energy. Much of that solar power will come from panels installed on rooftops.

Learning how to be a solar panel installer offers you opportunities to either work for a company or start your own business. Solar panel installers can complete a technical training program in less than a year. You can also obtain certification through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and start your own business and be your own boss. Certification is not a requirement for being an installer, but it helps establish your credibility as an expert in the field.

General Construction Careers

There are a number of careers available in the construction industry. Despite a recent recession, reports are that the economy is improving and construction workers are once more in demand. Whether you are a general construction worker or a construction manager, you will be able to work outdoors most of the time and not be confined to four walls and a desk. According to the BLS, by 2022, jobs for construction laborers and helpers will grow by 25 percent, which is a much faster growth rate than the average job growth rate.

You can specialize and just work in one area of construction, such as installing the electrical wiring, plumbing or insulation, lay bricks or put up drywall. You can use your skills as a landscape architect or grounds maintenance specialist. The construction field is wide open and you should be able to find a career niche for yourself that will keep you out of the stereotypical daily office environment.

Additional Sources

This blog has been labeled as archived as it may no longer contain the most up-to-date data. For a list of all current blog posts, please visit our blog homepage at https://www.rsi.edu/blog/