Five Recession-Proof Jobs to Consider

I’m sitting on the deck of a vacation villa on Hilton Head Island this afternoon, writing this article. It is a drop-dead, gorgeous October afternoon. The only sounds are the fountain spray dropping in the pond in front of me and the occasional bounce of acorns dropping from the Live Oak above the deck. I’m enjoying the day, but the real reason I’m here is to wait for several contractors who have some work to do on the villa. It got me thinking about all the bad news about job creation and how some jobs or careers seem to be “recession proof.” You don’t get the training at Harvard, but if you’re looking to reinvent yourself, here are some things to consider. You may find a new career and save yourself some money as well when your water heater is on the fritz.

1. Plumber. We had a leak in the water heater, which just happened to be in the attic. Not many Do-It-Yourselfers take on leaking water heaters in an attic, so I called a professional. I’m sure some smart computer technician will figure out how to digitize plumbing systems, but you still need to connect the pipes and electricity (or gas). Skilled plumbers can be contractors, but their skills are needed for building maintenance jobs in many industries, and for the homeowner like me.

2. The water from the leaking hot water heater found a low spot in the ceiling in a bedroom closet. To prevent the entire ceiling from falling down, the plumber had to cut a hole in the ceiling so the water could drain. So, I’m also waiting for my building contractor to fix the ceiling and paint the walls. While the construction industry is down, certain year-round resort or vacation areas like Hilton Head have owners who need remodeling or repair work. Individuals with special skills for small jobs or remodeling can keep busy.

3. I have a call in to the electrician as well, since the plumber and contractor had a tough time replacing the water heater with no lights in the attic. We also need an outlet on the deck so my laptop battery won’t die (again!) Electricians have to be licensed, like plumbers and contractors, and you may need hours as an apprentice before you can be licensed.

4. Our last renters left about four days ago, and when I arrived this morning, I found the villa still hadn’t been cleaned. Personal services, such as house cleaning or vacation rental cleaning may not be glamorous, but there are thousands of absent owners or busy homeowners who will pay good money to a reliable, honest, professional and detail-oriented cleaning service. You can tailor your services to suit your schedule, type of property and clientele. Experienced housekeepers can always find a job in the hotel industry, and some even become Executive Housekeepers.

5. The last person on my list is the landscaper/green space designer. When the deck was built, we had to remove some bushes on the side, and we’d like to create a natural “fence” with some new plantings. With the emphasis on green technology and green spaces, what could be more recession proof than landscaping? Landscaping companies manage the grounds in housing developments, office complexes, and other areas, indoors and out.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for BusinessWorkForce.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at businessworkforceblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.