Want to Be Your Own Boss? 10 Fields to Consider想自己當老板？10個行業值得考慮

Some people are more successful when they work for themselves. In fact， as more professionals embraced remote work over the past several years， they discovered they enjoyed the freedom and creativity of being their own boss. While self-employment takes discipline and responsibility， it yields incredible rewards， particularly if your skill set lends itself to an industry with numerous self-employment opportunities.

有些人在為自己工作時會更加成功。實際上，過去幾年越來越多的專業人士開始遠程工作，他們發現自己十分享受自己當老板的自由和創造力。雖然自主創業需要嚴格自律、有較強責任心，但回報也極為豐厚，尤其是當你的技能與一個擁有大量自主創業機會的行業相契合。

If you’re looking for a new career path that will let you be your own boss， read on for insights into viable self-employed opportunities.

如果你正在尋找新的職業路徑以期自己當老板，不妨繼續閱讀，看看有哪些可行的自主創業機會。

Self-employed jobs that allow you to be your own boss

讓你自己當老板的自由職業

Remote work tools and online environments facilitate numerous profitable self-employed business opportunities that you can explore from your home office. Here are a few examples：

遠程辦公工具和線上辦公環境催生了許多能夠賺錢的自由職業機會，你可以在居家辦公時盡情探索。以下是一些例子：

Writer： Freelance writers can work flexible hours and take on as few or as many projects as their schedules allow.

撰稿人：自由撰稿人可以彈性工作，根據自己的時間安排靈活承接項目。

Programmer： Independent workers are ideal for web and software development. Independent contractors are hired by application and software firms without in-house teams.

程序員：獨立工作者非常適合從事網站和軟件開發工作。很多沒有內部技術團隊的應用和軟件公司都會雇用獨立承包人。

Digital marketer： Self-employed professionals with a background in digital marketing can explore a search engine optimization （SEO） career. Businesses hire SEO marketers to boost their web presence. Digital marketers also help businesses manage their social media presence.

數字營銷人員：有數字營銷背景的自由職業者可以試一試搜索引擎優化（SEO）工作。許多企業會招聘SEO專員來提高網站曝光率。此外，數字營銷人員還可以幫助企業管理社交媒體，提升企業影響力。

Financial advisor： Self-employed financial advisors can make an excellent living by offering startups and small business owners personalized financial management services. Everyone can use a financial advisor in their corner come tax season （or any time of the year） to help organize and set aside their earnings.

財務顧問：通過為初創企業和小型企業的老板提供個性化的財務管理服務，自由財務顧問可以獲得豐厚的報酬。在報稅季（或全年任何時候），人人都可以請個財務顧問來幫助理財。

Sound engineering technician： Freelance sound engineers can work on projects they love on a contract basis， recording sound for productions such as videos， movies， television shows and podcasts.

音響工程師：自由音響工程師可以簽合同承接自己感興趣的項目，為視頻、電影、電視節目和播客等作品錄音。

Self-employed jobs with no prior qualifications needed

無需資質的自由職業

Many self-employed jobs require no specific qualifications or education， and many are learn-as-you-go jobs. Any of these positions offer a potential part-time or full-time income.

許多自由職業并不需要特定的資質或教育背景，很多都可以邊做邊學。這些工作可以作為兼職或全職帶來收入。

Gig economy

零工經濟

The gig economy encompasses jobs that independent contractors， online platform workers and temporary workers perform under a formal agreement with on-demand service companies. Popular gig economy opportunities include ridesharing services， like Uber and Lyft; delivery services， like Instacart1 and DoorDash2; and home services， like Handy3. Most gig economy arrangements give individuals the flexibility to work as much or as little as they want.

零工經濟涵蓋了獨立承包人、在線平臺工作者以及臨時工與按需服務公司簽訂正式協議后所從事的各項工作。常見的零工經濟機會包括：優步和來福車等公司的網約車服務，Instacart和 DoorDash等公司的配送服務，以及Handy等公司的家政服務。零工經濟的多數工作都有靈活性，從業人員可以隨心安排工作量。

Content creation

內容創作

Many professionals find success in creating content for blogs and social media sites. Writing blogs， creating videos and posting on social media are fun ways to express yourself and potentially earn money. However， creating high-quality， engaging content takes time and practice. Every piece of content must be well thought out and executed with precision. Creators must understand that building an audience takes time， and even if they do everything right， the audience may never come. Still， content creation opens opportunities to work with brands and create the content companies need to connect with their target customers.

許多專業人士在博客和社交媒體上進行內容創作并取得了成功。寫博客、制作視頻以及在社交媒體上發帖都是表達自我的有趣方式，而且有可能帶來收益。然而，創作高質量、引人入勝的內容需要時間積累和不斷地練習。每一條內容都必須精心構思，并精準落實。創作者要明白，建立受眾群體是個長期過程，即使做好一切工作，也不一定能吸引到受眾。不過，內容創作也讓他們有機會與品牌方合作，創作企業所需的內容來幫助企業與目標客戶建立聯系。

Child and elder care

兒童與老人看護

If you’re a patient， nurturing person， caring for children or older adults is a flexible way to earn money. Many parents prefer in-home day care alternatives or need part-time child care assistance. If your temperament suits the job， you can find a flexible and rewarding way to generate income.

如果你有耐心，又會照顧人，那看護兒童或老人是一種非常靈活的賺錢方式。相比于其他看護方式，許多家長更傾向于選擇居家日間看護，或是找兼職的育兒幫手。如果你的性格適合這份工作，那你就能找到一個時間靈活且收入不菲的創收途徑。

Additionally， many families need assistance with elder care. While a nursing background would be required for specific care functions， many individuals would be well suited to visit with older people， help with shopping and tasks， and act as companions.

此外，許多家庭還需要找人幫忙照看老人。雖然特定的看護工作需要護理專業背景，但許多人都能勝任陪護老人的工作，幫他們購物和處理日常事務，做個貼心的陪伴者。

Makeup artist

化妝師

If you have a knack for makeup and beauty， consider starting your own makeup artist business. Many makeup artists offer their services for weddings， proms， birthdays and other celebrations. You can grow your freelance makeup business through word-of-mouth advertising and digital marketing. Instead of working for a salon， freelance makeup artists work independently， sourcing and traveling to clients when necessary.

如果你擅長化妝與美容，可以考慮自己創業做個化妝師。很多化妝師為婚禮、畢業舞會、生日派對以及其他慶典提供服務。你可以通過口碑傳播和數字營銷來拓展自己的自由化妝業務。自由化妝師不為美容院工作，而是獨立開展業務，自己開辟客源，并在有需要時上門服務。

Event planning

活動策劃

Some individuals are natural planners and organizers with an eye for the finer things. If this sounds like you， consider starting an event planning business. Event planning doesn’t require any fancy or pricey certifications and can （for the most part） be done remotely. All you need to do is work with local vendors to book locations and schedule catering， entertainment and more. However， to thrive in this career， you must be an excellent communicator.

有些人是天生的策劃者和組織者，善于發覺生活中的美好事物。如果你是這樣的人，不妨考慮開啟自己的活動策劃事業。活動策劃無需任何花哨或昂貴的認證，而且大多數工作內容都可以遠程完成。你只需與本地供應商聯絡，預訂場地，安排好餐飲和娛樂活動等。然而，要想做的風生水起，你必須具備出色的溝通能力。

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎者；單位：上海海洋大學）

1一家在線雜貨配送服務公司。" 2一家經營在線訂餐和外賣的配送公司。" 3一家保潔和維修按需服務公司。