Career Paths Can be Scary

Just like a character in a suspenseful movie, standing at a crossroads, uncertain of what lurks in the dark, individuals often find themselves on the edge of the unknown when contemplating their career choices. 

Just like in a scary movie, your career path can take a surprising turn. Sometimes your career is easygoing and predictable like watching an old episode “Winnie the Pooh” and then you’re thrown a curve ball and end up watching the thriller “Winnie the Pooh - Blood and Honey”. 

 

The killer doll Chucky in the “Chucky” series teaches us not to underestimate him. Similarly you should also not underestimate the unexpected turns your career path may make.

 

In Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion”, you never know when something might jump out at you. Similarly, the job market is full of surprises. You might discover exciting opportunities when you least expect them, or face unexpected challenges that require quick thinking and adaptability. 

How Scary Movies Shape Your Career Path

Watch scary movies for personal research and growth! Scary movies, with their spine-tingling plotlines and hair-raising monsters, might not seem like an obvious source of career inspiration. However, if you dig a little deeper, you'll find that these films are teeming with characters who embody various professions and roles that can spark your imagination and help you explore new career possibilities. 

Let’s take a thrilling journey through the world of scary movies to uncover how these cinematic characters can provide you with the inspiration you need to shape your own career path:

Fearless Problem Solvers: Final Girls and Boys

Many horror movies feature a resilient character, often referred to as the "final girl" or "final boy," who survives a terrifying ordeal and ultimately conquers the evil force. These characters possess qualities like determination, resourcefulness, and resilience, which are invaluable in any profession. They teach us that facing challenges head-on and thinking on our feet can lead to success, whether you're a nurse in a high-stress ER or a software developer troubleshooting critical issues.

Learn more: 

• Nurse

• Software Developer

 

Monster Hunters: Pursuing Passions with Tenacity

Monster hunters, like Geralt from “The Witcher” or such as those from the "Supernatural" series or the Van Helsing character, are driven by their mission to eradicate supernatural threats. Their commitment and tenacity can serve as a source of inspiration for anyone interested in fields like criminal justice, investigative journalism, or even environmental activism. The lesson here is that if you're passionate about a cause or mission, you can channel that enthusiasm into a meaningful career.

Learn more:

• Criminal Investigator 

• Journalist

• Environmental Consultant

 

Ethical Dilemmas: Lessons from Morally Complex Characters

Scary movies often delve into complex moral dilemmas, forcing characters to make difficult choices. The ambiguous nature of characters like Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs" or Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho" can prompt contemplation of ethics, psychology, and the human psyche. If you're drawn to careers in psychology, ethics, or investigation, these films can provide valuable insights into the intricate nature of human behavior and decision-making.

Learn more:

• Psychologist

• Psychiatrist 

• Therapist

• Investigator 

• Professor (in ethics)

 

Scientific Curiosity: Emulating Mad Scientists

The quintessential mad scientist, a character commonly found in the horror genre, can inspire those interested in the sciences. These characters, like Dr. Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's classic novel or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, exemplify the pursuit of knowledge and innovation. If you're passionate about scientific discovery, research, or experimentation, these characters can encourage you to embrace your curiosity and choose a career in the field of science.

Learn more:

• Scientist

• Laboratory Technician 

• Biochemist

 

Leadership and Survival: Managing Chaos Under Pressure

Many horror films depict leaders who must navigate chaos and make life-or-death decisions, as seen in "The Walking Dead" or "Alien." These characters showcase the importance of strong leadership skills, adaptability, and decision-making under immense pressure. If you aspire to work in emergency management, disaster relief, or even corporate leadership, these characters can provide valuable lessons on crisis management and decision-making.

Learn more:

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) 

• ER Technician 

• Surgeon

• Dispatcher

• Police Officer

• Firefighter

• Corporate Attorney

• Leader

• Relief Counselor

 

Creative Storytelling: Learning from Horror Filmmakers

Behind the scenes of every great horror movie are the creative minds that bring it to life. Directors, writers, and special effects artists contribute to the magic of the genre. If you're passionate about storytelling, film production, or the arts, these filmmakers' dedication and creativity can motivate you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Learn more:

• Movie Director

• Writer

• Set Designer

• Creative Designer

• Filmmaker

• Art Director

• Cinematographer 

Scary movies may send shivers down your spine, but they can also send inspiration down your career path. So, the next time you watch a horror movie, keep an eye out for the career inspiration lurking in the shadows and explore roles for inspiration on Jobtrees – you never know where it might lead you!  

 

Benefits of Exploring Roles on Jobtrees

Avoid the corn maze of unexpected turns and loops and leverage Jobtrees.com for your career inspiration and career tools to get you prepared for your next role!

• Engaging Role Exploration. No boring career text manuals to skim thru. Engaging career photos are much easier to scroll through and spark inspiration. Dive deeper into roles you care about and scroll by ones you do not.

• Skill matching. See how well your current skills match to new roles. You may be surprised to see what you’re a fit for. Add your resume to get skill matching.

  • Log into your Homepage & add your Career Experience

• Career Paths. See what roles others had before and after any role you’re exploring with the Fin a Jobtrees tool or choose your own starting and ending point and get inspiration from the Pathways tool

 

• We build and reference career tools with the goal of getting you prepared for your new role before you apply.