Great question and it is great that you are realizing all the amazing opportunities this job can provide you.
I have been fortunate in the fact that I have only needed one job for the past several years but early on in my career, I used the EMS schedule to my advantage. I only worked overtime when I felt the need to do so, otherwise I stay employed in other jobs completely outside EMS for many reasons.
Since most of my jobs involved me working a 24 on 48 off schedule, I took complete advantage of exploring many other careers simply because I was curious about them, I wanted the experience or it just looked fun.
Some of the jobs I had, the bosses knew I was only temporary and others had no clue I would be quitting that soon. Selfish on my part yes, but I was a different person then as well.
When I first started EMS, I continued to bartend in a nightclub. Being a young, single male behind a bar has obvious advantages.
I like people, so during this time frame, I also was a waiter at Johnny Rockets which was a blast! Singing and dancing while interacting just did not seem like work. I did a stint as a lifeguard at the water park. I was a host at a hotel restaurant for the mornings cause I am an early bird. I then was a chauffeur for a few months.
All of these exciting jobs that usually paid more than EMS were just so much fun, but it was important to not get distracted by them completely.
As I began to start a family, I realized I needed other skills. Home ownership is a scary thing when you know nothing of how to care for your most valuable investment. I then set about learning various trades. I was very honest with the owners, told them they would get a very dedicated, sober worker but I was not a lifer. At best, it would be 6 months or so before I moved on AND I would only be part time. I had to solicit a few different companies before I found ones willing to take me on under those conditions but I did not give up.
During the next couple years, I worked for a roofer, a plumber, a painter, a vinyl siding company, a carpenter and a lawn maintenance company. I now have in my possession many alternative skills which have come in handy over the years. Not only can I maybe fix my own stuff with useful books, I can determine or ask the right questions if I hire someone to do the job.
After my trades side career, I started working in different medical roles to explore various paths. I worked at hospitals in their ER or PCU, I worked for a neurologist and did wound care and hyperbaric medicine. I taught EMS programs at the colleges, I did event standbys, I was an instructor on the cruise ships, I even had my own CPR Instruction company for a while (poor business partner choice).
There are so many things you can do or learn because you are in EMS and they do not have to be medical related and you do not have to be an OT junkie.
You may do what I did and decide you should know other skills and go explore those. There is nothing wrong with that.
***The key to all of this was I ALWAYS had a steady EMS job while I was out "job hopping" on the side. You do not want to be that guy who bounces from job to job or can't keep one for other reasons.
My resume/work history is solid cause I kept that continuous medical job path alive and well, all the other stuff does not get added as it is irrelevant and unimportant to most medical positions.
Good luck in your explorations and again I applaud you for thinking outside the box. There is more to life than EMS or how many hours you can pack in a week while performing EMS.
