forum Help with a character’s career

Started June 29, 2022 by @ElianaRose15

tune

In one of my stories, one of the main characters is from a dysfunctional family. Her mom’s an alcoholic and a heroin addict, dad’s always gone at work and is kind of emotionally distant as a result, and her older sister is borderline abusive and a pothead.

What career would her father have to justify being away all the time? I know the obvious choice is something military related, but I just don’t think that would work for him. I also want him to have some redeeming qualities besides always being away from home, so no, I don’t want him to be abusive or secretly engaging in a bunch of gross affairs.

What career(s) would/could he have?

Truck driver, oil field worker, fisherman, Law enforcement tends to have 12 hour shifts, line cooks tend to work long hours I think, he could be working several jobs if he has to support the whole family since heroin addicts are going to have a hard time keeping a job. He could be a contractor that takes a lot of jobs that are not in the local area. Military only tends to not be around when deployed, so if you do decide to go that way it can add a bit of background world building. If I think of anything else I'll update.