The job market is filled with roles exceeding the conventional.
There are significant unusual jobs that cater to niche needs across various industries. These roles not only add diversity to the workforce but also highlight the vast array of human needs and interests.
Let’s dive into the world of unconventional employment, revealing one-of-a-kind careers and the unique individuals who fill them.
Professional Sleeper
A professional sleeper participates in sleep studies where researchers analyze sleep patterns and test the effects of various sleep-related conditions. They help in developing treatments for sleep disorders, making this a job that contributes significantly to health sciences. It might sound like a dream job, but participants often have to sleep under unusual conditions to help gather data.
Water Slide Tester
Water slide testers have the unique job of ensuring the safety and quality of water slides around the world. They evaluate the height, speed, water quantity, and landing of the slides and provide feedback on every aspect of the slide’s safety and fun factor. It’s not all fun and games, though, as they must also handle the technical reporting and risk assessments.
Golf Ball Diver
Golf ball divers retrieve lost balls from the water hazards of golf courses, cleaning and reselling them back to golf shops and golfers. This job requires diving skills and the ability to handle murky waters where visibility is low. Despite the challenges, it can be quite lucrative, given the cost of golf balls and the volume lost during games.
Pet Food Taster
Pet food tasters test the quality and taste of pet food products, ensuring they meet set health standards and flavor profiles. They evaluate texture, nutritional content, and taste, providing feedback to enhance product quality. This role is crucial in the development of pet foods but requires a strong stomach and a willingness to try animal-targeted products.
Professional Mourner
Professional mourners are hired to attend funerals and grieve for the deceased, a tradition that dates back centuries in some cultures. They provide a solemn atmosphere and perform mourning rituals to honor the life of the deceased. This job demands strong emotional control and the ability to provide genuine sympathy and ceremonial services.
Snake Milker
Snake milkers extract venom from snakes in a controlled environment to produce antivenoms and other medications. This dangerous job requires precise handling skills and nerves of steel to manage potentially deadly snakes. The venom collected is vital for creating lifesaving treatments for snakebite victims.
Furniture Tester
Furniture testers evaluate products like chairs, sofas, and beds for comfort, durability, and functionality. They spend hours sitting, lying, and handling furniture to ensure it meets the standards of everyday use. This feedback is crucial for manufacturers before mass production and market release.
Odor Judge
Odor judges sniff human armpits, among other things, to assess the effectiveness of products like deodorants and antiperspirants. This unusual job requires judges to have a sensitive and discerning sense of smell. Their assessments help companies perfect their products to better combat body odor.
Professional Cuddler
Professional cuddlers offer comfort and warmth through non-sexual, physical contact to clients who suffer from loneliness, anxiety, or stress. This job requires empathy, clear boundaries, and the ability to make others feel safe and comforted. The therapeutic power of touch is what makes professional cuddling a meaningful and growing profession.
Line Stander
Line standers wait in line for others, whether it’s for the latest gadget release, Black Friday sales, or even congressional hearings. This job demands patience and a lot of free time but can be quite profitable, especially during high-demand events. Clients pay for the convenience of not having to wait in long queues themselves.
Chicken Sexer
Chicken sexers determine the sex of baby chicks, and they play a crucial role in the poultry industry in managing the separate rearing processes for males and females. This job requires quick, accurate decision-making and gentle handling to avoid harming the chicks. The skill is typically learned through intensive training and is highly valued in large-scale poultry operations.
Fortune Cookie Writer
Fortune cookie writers craft the small messages found inside fortune cookies, blending prophecy, philosophy, and humor. They must be creative and concise, capturing meaningful messages in a few short words. This role plays a key part in the dining experience at many Chinese restaurants across the globe.
Ash Portrait Artist
Ash portrait artists create commemorative works of art using the cremated remains of loved ones. They mix a small amount of ashes with paints to produce artwork that memorializes the deceased in a unique and personal way. This job requires not only artistic skill but also a deep sensitivity to the emotional elements involved.
Iceberg Mover
Following the Titanic disaster, iceberg movers were instituted as part of an initiative to track and tow icebergs that pose threats to sea navigation. This job involves complex logistics and the use of specialized ships to safely relocate or destroy icebergs. It’s a rare but essential role in maritime safety.
Professional Ethical Hacker
Professional ethical hackers, also known as white hat hackers, are employed to find vulnerabilities in IT systems before malicious hackers can exploit them. This job involves simulating cyber attacks to test the defenses of systems ranging from banking to government infrastructure. The role is crucial in maintaining the security and integrity of important data.
Crossword Puzzle Maker
Crossword puzzle makers, or cruciverbalists, design engaging and challenging crossword puzzles for newspapers and magazines. This job requires a broad vocabulary, a knack for wordplay, and meticulous planning to ensure that the puzzles are both entertaining and solvable. It combines linguistic skills with cryptic creativity.
Color Expert
Color experts consult on color schemes for a variety of industries, from interior design to marketing. They understand color psychology and trends, helping businesses engage and attract consumers through strategic color choices. This role influences product development and branding strategies significantly.
Rodeo Clown
Rodeo clowns provide entertainment in the rodeo arena, but their primary job is far more dangerous: protecting bull riders from being injured by distracting the bulls. This role requires quick reflexes, an understanding of animal behavior, and a significant amount of courage. It’s a critical safety position with a theatrical twist.
Professional Bridesmaid
Professional bridesmaids assist brides on their wedding day and, in the lead-up to it, often handle tasks that traditional bridesmaids might do, plus more. This can include anything from helping plan the hen night to managing the bridal party on the big day. It’s a job for those who are exceptionally organized and love weddings.
Elephant Dresser
In countries where elephants are part of cultural ceremonies and festivals, elephant dressers are employed to decorate these massive creatures with colorful and ornate coverings. The job requires not just a sense of design but also an ability to safely interact with large animals. This role is crucial in maintaining cultural traditions and ensuring the safety and comfort of the elephants during events.
