Growing up, Superman had problems with the sensory overload his Kryptonian heritage had given him. He could barely deal with crunching papers, heartbeats and pins hitting the floor.
While you may not have his ears, there are folks out there who have a knack for picking up on sounds others don’t. Whether your hearing borders on the supernatural or you feel like you could put your gift to good use, there are jobs out there for you.
1. Audio Engineer
Responsible for editing, mixing and making sounds, these designers have to be able to pick out subtle tones and make them into something greater. Opportunities certainly don’t lack in excitement. There is work in music, movies, radio, television, and video games.
If you’re a creative audiophile with a knack for electronics, this is a dream come true.
2. Conductor
Conductors have shaped musical performances for hundreds of years. They have to manage an entire ensemble of different instruments and make sure they stick to the tempo. They unifying everyone at different points throughout the piece.
It’s an understatement to say that you have to have sharp hearing to control a sweeping orchestra. Composers are masters of various instruments and go through years of schooling. They’re able to perceive tone and pitch in a way most can’t.
It’s rewarding to be able to move an entire crowd with dozens of musicians playing as one.
3. Air Traffic Controller
A no-brainer. Someone who controls the movement of airplanes can’t be foggy about what’s being communicated. Responsible for thousands of lives every day, a controller needs to be able to co-ordinate all that traffic on a schedule.
We’ve seen terrible accidents because of confusion on the tarmac. One can only imagine the complications arising from things to consider like weather and fuel. There’s no other job quite like it. Just remember, no pressure.
4. Armed Services
Working in the armed services fighting in conflicts around the world requires the ability to hear through the chaos of war.
The military doesn’t just scream “go,go,go!” like we see in the movies either. Complex logistical information and co-ordinates are often radioed in code. This requires people on both ends to be very accurate, lest lives fall into danger.
It can be argued that an army marches on its stomach but without clear communication, not much would get done.
5. Emergency Dispatcher
“Can you repeat that?” is not something you want to hear when you’re phoning the police or ambulance. The men and women on the other end of 911 have to understand the frightened voices that call them for help. They can’t be picky either; they need to be prepared for every kind of accent and dialect that dials them.
Emergency calls are all about clarity and accuracy. Even in the face of overwhelming panic, an emergency dispatcher needs to stay calm so that people stay safe.