Whenever you get bored doing your 9-to-5, you should remember that there’s a whole bunch of weird & wonderful jobs out there that most of us have never heard of! People get paid to do some rather unexpected things, including snoozing for science to packing trains full of commuters. Here are thirteen unusual jobs that people actually have. There’s no judgment here, of course, because as long as you’re doing legal work, there’s no shame in it.
Featured Image Credit: lightkeeper /Depositphotos.com.
Professional Sleeper
Professional sleepers actually get paid to doze off and they join sleep studies at research centers & hospitals! They spend nights in controlled rooms while scientists keep an eye on their brain activity, breathing, as well as other vital signs. Quite literally, they’re sleeping on the job! Professional sleepers help researchers learn more about sleep disorders and see how new medications work.
Lego Sculptor
Getting paid to play with Lego all day sounds rather fun—and that’s what Lego sculptors do. They create incredible art pieces for theme parks & museums using thousands or even millions of tiny bricks. They build things like full-size statues of movie characters and exact replicas of famous buildings like the Eiffel Tower! But it’s not as easy as you think. You need a lot of creativity & some serious engineering know-how to make these creations look good.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Golf Ball Diver
Golf ball divers make a living by fishing golf balls out of water hazards on golf courses. They’ll put on scuba gear, then go into ponds & lakes to collect all the balls that golfers have sent flying into the water. After collecting them, the balls get cleaned up. They’re often resold to golfers at a lower price. Since thousands of golf balls are lost every year, these divers have plenty to keep them busy!
Pet Food Tester
Pet food testers do exactly what it sounds like—taste pet food to check its quality by sampling the flavor and texture. They even check the smell to make sure it’s good enough! Thankfully, they usually don’t swallow the food and their opinions help companies adjust recipes so our furry friends enjoy their meals.
Professional Mermaid
If you’re someone who likes swimming, perhaps try becoming a professional mermaid! They make a living by performing at aquariums & resorts and wearing specially made mermaid tails. Their job includes holding their breath for long periods and doing underwater tricks. For many people, being a professional mermaid helps them turn their childhood dreams into a reality.
Snake Milker
Being a snake milker is just as dangerous as it sounds. They have the dangerous job of collecting venom from poisonous snakes and they work with deadly species like cobras & rattlesnakes. Snake milkers get these reptiles to bite into a container with a membrane to gather the venom, which is then used to make antivenoms and for medical research. Now that sounds terrifying!
Scientific Glassblower
Scientific glassblowers make custom glass equipment for labs by creating specialized items like unique beakers & test tubes, along with complex instruments. You can’t just buy these in a store! Using high-temperature torches, they carefully shape and fuse glass, so they need artistic and scientific skills.
Odor Judge
Anyone with a good nose might want to become an odor judge. These people test products like deodorants & perfumes by sniffing clothes or samples to see how well a product eliminates odors. Sometimes, they even have to sniff armpits! As gross as it might be, an odor judge’s honest feedback helps companies make better formulas. This helps them make sure their products work before selling them.
Iceberg Mover
Iceberg movers work to stop icebergs from crashing into ships or offshore platforms, which is particularly important in places like Newfoundland. They’ll use boats & special equipment to tow or guide icebergs away from areas where they might cause trouble. In doing so, they keep people and property safe at sea. It’s difficult work but it’s certainly important.
Professional Cuddler
Professional cuddlers get paid to give people comforting hugs—yes, really! They do this in a completely platonic way and give one-on-one cuddling sessions in a safe setting, mostly to help clients relax. They might also do so as a form of therapy. To do this job, you’ll need a lot of empathy & good communication skills.
Train Pusher (Oshiya)
Train pushers (aka oshiya in Japan) help people squeeze onto crowded trains during rush hour. They wear uniforms and gloves as they gently help commuters in boarding so the doors can shut properly. This keeps trains running on schedule in busy cities where many people use public transit. As such, you’ll need to have a lot of patience to do this job—and, of course, to be polite.
Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers are sometimes called white-hat hackers and they’re cybersecurity professionals who test computer systems to find weaknesses. Companies hire them to break into networks to spot security flaws that unethical hackers might exploit. In doing so, they help these companies secure their defenses against cyber attacks and keep sensitive data safe.
Food Stylist
The people who make dishes look delicious in photos & videos are known as food stylists and they make every plate picture-perfect. This includes tricks like arranging ingredients carefully & adding steam to make sure the food looks its absolute best for the camera. As you might expect, it’s a rather creative job. You’ll need excellent cooking skills & an eye for visual details.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Read More:
