AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Anything but conventional, some people do the strangest things to earn a living. Here are 29 of the most curious careers you never knew existed. Some of these are truly hilarious.
Pokémon Go player
A growing number of entrepreneurs, including Londoner Sophia Pedraza, have quit their 9-5 jobs to play Pokémon Go full-time. Pro hunters use multiple smartphones to capture as many monsters as possible, and sell their accounts for anything up to $10,000 (£7.7k) on various online auction sites.
Professional cuddler
You'd really need bags of empathy and affection to handle this role. Professional cuddlers like Portland resident Samantha Hess earn around $80 (£61) an hour snuggling up to complete strangers.
Asparagus reader
Fortune tellers use many techniques to look into the future, from tarot cards to crystal balls. Jemima Packington reads asparagus tips. The 'asparamancer' has allegedly predicted everything from the credit crunch to the deaths of several British politicians.
Tortoise walker
Earlier this year, Manhattan resident Amanda Green advertised on Craigslist for a walker with the patience of a saint to take her pet tortoise Henry on long strolls in Central Park. Pet shop worker Amalia McAllister beat hundreds of applicant to land the $10 (£7.70) an hour job.
Professional bridesmaid
New Yorker Jen Glantz hires herself out as a professional bridesmaid, starting at $1,000 (£770) per job. The bride-to-be gets a new BFF to support her through the wedding planning process, mingle with guests at the engagement and wedding parties and, of course, carry her train.
Smokejumper
One of the world's most dangerous jobs, smokejumping involves parachuting to the edge of forest fires to fight hard-to-reach blazes. Smokejumpers, who clearly have bags of courage to even contemplate doing the job, earn up to $77,000 (£59k) a year.
Fountain pen doctor
Fountain pen doctors like New Hampshire-based Richard Binder repair and restore old fountain pens that have seen better days. And, if all hope is lost, pen owners can send their broken nibs to New York's Fountain Pen Hospital.
Resident witch
The Wookey Hole caves attraction in Somerset, England has its very own resident witch who teaches visitors about magic and local folklore, and no doubt casts the odd spell when the mood takes her. The current witch Anna Dixon earns $65,000 (£50k) a year.
Swan warden
Queen Elizabeth II owns all unmarked mute swans in UK waters, and her Warden of the Swans is entrusted with carrying out 'swan-upping', an annual census of the birds on the River Thames. The post is currently held by Oxford University biologist Christopher Perrins (pictured seated on the left).
Swan warden
Queen Elizabeth II owns all unmarked mute swans in UK waters, and her Warden of the Swans is entrusted with carrying out 'swan-upping', an annual census of the birds on the River Thames. The post is currently held by Oxford University biologist Christopher Perrins (pictured seated on the left).
Worm picker
You can actually earn up to $44,000 (£34k) a year working as a worm picker according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The job entails foraging in grassy areas for the juiciest worms, which are used as fishing bait.
Professional apologiser
If sorry isn't the hardest word for you, this could be your dream role. Professional apologising agencies in Japan hire freelancers to deliver apologies on their clients' behalf. Freelance staff can earn up to $240 (£185) for a face-to-face apology.
Teddy bear surgeon
Teddy bear surgeons or repair technicians work at teddy bear clinics such as the Build-a-Bear Workshop in St. Louis, USA, 'operating' on damaged bears and nursing them back to tip-top condition. They earn around $30,000 (£23k) a year.
Fortune cooker writer
A staggering three billion fortune cookies are consumed every year, and fortune cookie firms hire teams of freelancers to write the millions of one-line fortunes. Aspiring writers can expect to around a dollar (77p) per message.
Line sitter
One of the more tedious jobs in our round-up, line sitters earn up to $1,000 (£770) a week standing in line for hours on end. Sitters like New York-based Robert Samuel earn the most scoring must-haves for their clients like cronuts, new Apple products or hot Broadway tickets.
Hedgehog officer
UK charity the Suffolk Wildlife Trust has recently hired a $31,000 (£24k) a year hedgehog officer. The successful candidate is in charge of turning Ipswich into the most hedgehog-friendly town in Britain by organizing eco surveys, community events and conversation projects.
Gourmet seafood taster
The ultimate role for seafood fans, Loch Fyne Seafood and Grill in the Scottish Highlands has recently recruited a gourmet taster who will sample the restaurant's exquisite fish and shellfish dishes and share their critiques on social media. And they’ll be paid in seafood!
Professional sleeper
The ultimate lazy do-nothing job, it's actually completely possible to make a decent living from sleeping. Freelance sleepers hire out their services to sleep labs, research hospitals, mystery shopping companies that test hotel beds, and hotels conducting market research.
Fake business exec
Companies in China have been known to hire smartly-dressed Westerners to pose as hotshot employees or clients to make them look more reputable and globally connected. Canadian journalist Mitch Mosley earned $1,000 (£770) a week during his stint as a fake exec in China.
Electric shock giver
Roving 'toques' tour bars and drinking dens in Mexico delivering electric shocks to willing customers who have had too much to drink. The electric shock is thought to sober them up and can also form part of a drinking game. Toques can expect to earn a dollar (77p) or so per shock.
Condom deliverer
One of the more bizarre jobs at this year's Rio Olympics sees a friendly man called Eric handing out condoms to athletes in the Olympic Village. The International Olympic Committee is providing participants with a total of 450,000 throughout the Games.
Professional mourner
Pro mourners, aka moirologists, are a common sight at funerals in parts of Africa and Asia, and while the practice went out of fashion in Europe and North America during the 19th century, rent-a-mourner services are making a comeback in the West, with professional weepers charging from $100 (£77) per funeral.
Clothing distresser
New Yorker Jeff Fender is a fabric painter who specializes in making new clothes look old. Fender, who is the go-to clothing distresser for Hollywood and Broadway costume designers, uses sandblasters, heat guns and razor blades to 'age' the clothing.
Christmas tree light untangler
Last Christmas, UK supermarket giant Tesco advertised for a festive light untangler for its store in Wrexham, Wales, which has a dedicated light untangling stand. Offering a competitive salary, the role involves checking the lights for breakages and replacing broken bulbs.
Digital prophet
The tech world is big on more unusual job titles. David Shing is AOL's Digital Prophet – his role involves anticipating future trends and working out how the corporation's brands can adapt to the changing world.
LEGO master builder
LEGO offers a certified professional program to artists and hobbyists who are particularly adept at building fantastic structures in LEGO. Master builders earn a minimum of around $40,000 (£31k) a year.
Ethical hacker
Major corporations and government agencies hire computing and networking experts to hack into their systems to expose any security vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers use the same techniques as malicious hackers to beat them at their own game.
Bicycle fishers
Every year, between 12,000 and 15,000 bikes end up in Amsterdam's 165 canals. Waternet, the Dutch capital’s water authority, hires teams of bicycle fishers to dredge the waterways and recover them.
Animal talent agent
Supplying animals for movies, commercials and music videos is big business and agencies such as Hollywood Paws have teams of agents who scout for new four-legged talent and go out on a limb to get their furry clients the best parts.
SOURCE (With images): http://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/care...obs/ss-BBvMl2I?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=AARDHP#image=1
Anything but conventional, some people do the strangest things to earn a living. Here are 29 of the most curious careers you never knew existed. Some of these are truly hilarious.
Pokémon Go player
A growing number of entrepreneurs, including Londoner Sophia Pedraza, have quit their 9-5 jobs to play Pokémon Go full-time. Pro hunters use multiple smartphones to capture as many monsters as possible, and sell their accounts for anything up to $10,000 (£7.7k) on various online auction sites.
Professional cuddler
You'd really need bags of empathy and affection to handle this role. Professional cuddlers like Portland resident Samantha Hess earn around $80 (£61) an hour snuggling up to complete strangers.
Asparagus reader
Fortune tellers use many techniques to look into the future, from tarot cards to crystal balls. Jemima Packington reads asparagus tips. The 'asparamancer' has allegedly predicted everything from the credit crunch to the deaths of several British politicians.
Tortoise walker
Earlier this year, Manhattan resident Amanda Green advertised on Craigslist for a walker with the patience of a saint to take her pet tortoise Henry on long strolls in Central Park. Pet shop worker Amalia McAllister beat hundreds of applicant to land the $10 (£7.70) an hour job.
Professional bridesmaid
New Yorker Jen Glantz hires herself out as a professional bridesmaid, starting at $1,000 (£770) per job. The bride-to-be gets a new BFF to support her through the wedding planning process, mingle with guests at the engagement and wedding parties and, of course, carry her train.
Smokejumper
One of the world's most dangerous jobs, smokejumping involves parachuting to the edge of forest fires to fight hard-to-reach blazes. Smokejumpers, who clearly have bags of courage to even contemplate doing the job, earn up to $77,000 (£59k) a year.
Fountain pen doctor
Fountain pen doctors like New Hampshire-based Richard Binder repair and restore old fountain pens that have seen better days. And, if all hope is lost, pen owners can send their broken nibs to New York's Fountain Pen Hospital.
Resident witch
The Wookey Hole caves attraction in Somerset, England has its very own resident witch who teaches visitors about magic and local folklore, and no doubt casts the odd spell when the mood takes her. The current witch Anna Dixon earns $65,000 (£50k) a year.
Swan warden
Queen Elizabeth II owns all unmarked mute swans in UK waters, and her Warden of the Swans is entrusted with carrying out 'swan-upping', an annual census of the birds on the River Thames. The post is currently held by Oxford University biologist Christopher Perrins (pictured seated on the left).
Swan warden
Queen Elizabeth II owns all unmarked mute swans in UK waters, and her Warden of the Swans is entrusted with carrying out 'swan-upping', an annual census of the birds on the River Thames. The post is currently held by Oxford University biologist Christopher Perrins (pictured seated on the left).
Worm picker
You can actually earn up to $44,000 (£34k) a year working as a worm picker according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The job entails foraging in grassy areas for the juiciest worms, which are used as fishing bait.
Professional apologiser
If sorry isn't the hardest word for you, this could be your dream role. Professional apologising agencies in Japan hire freelancers to deliver apologies on their clients' behalf. Freelance staff can earn up to $240 (£185) for a face-to-face apology.
Teddy bear surgeon
Teddy bear surgeons or repair technicians work at teddy bear clinics such as the Build-a-Bear Workshop in St. Louis, USA, 'operating' on damaged bears and nursing them back to tip-top condition. They earn around $30,000 (£23k) a year.
Fortune cooker writer
A staggering three billion fortune cookies are consumed every year, and fortune cookie firms hire teams of freelancers to write the millions of one-line fortunes. Aspiring writers can expect to around a dollar (77p) per message.
Line sitter
One of the more tedious jobs in our round-up, line sitters earn up to $1,000 (£770) a week standing in line for hours on end. Sitters like New York-based Robert Samuel earn the most scoring must-haves for their clients like cronuts, new Apple products or hot Broadway tickets.
Hedgehog officer
UK charity the Suffolk Wildlife Trust has recently hired a $31,000 (£24k) a year hedgehog officer. The successful candidate is in charge of turning Ipswich into the most hedgehog-friendly town in Britain by organizing eco surveys, community events and conversation projects.
Gourmet seafood taster
The ultimate role for seafood fans, Loch Fyne Seafood and Grill in the Scottish Highlands has recently recruited a gourmet taster who will sample the restaurant's exquisite fish and shellfish dishes and share their critiques on social media. And they’ll be paid in seafood!
Professional sleeper
The ultimate lazy do-nothing job, it's actually completely possible to make a decent living from sleeping. Freelance sleepers hire out their services to sleep labs, research hospitals, mystery shopping companies that test hotel beds, and hotels conducting market research.
Fake business exec
Companies in China have been known to hire smartly-dressed Westerners to pose as hotshot employees or clients to make them look more reputable and globally connected. Canadian journalist Mitch Mosley earned $1,000 (£770) a week during his stint as a fake exec in China.
Electric shock giver
Roving 'toques' tour bars and drinking dens in Mexico delivering electric shocks to willing customers who have had too much to drink. The electric shock is thought to sober them up and can also form part of a drinking game. Toques can expect to earn a dollar (77p) or so per shock.
Condom deliverer
One of the more bizarre jobs at this year's Rio Olympics sees a friendly man called Eric handing out condoms to athletes in the Olympic Village. The International Olympic Committee is providing participants with a total of 450,000 throughout the Games.
Professional mourner
Pro mourners, aka moirologists, are a common sight at funerals in parts of Africa and Asia, and while the practice went out of fashion in Europe and North America during the 19th century, rent-a-mourner services are making a comeback in the West, with professional weepers charging from $100 (£77) per funeral.
Clothing distresser
New Yorker Jeff Fender is a fabric painter who specializes in making new clothes look old. Fender, who is the go-to clothing distresser for Hollywood and Broadway costume designers, uses sandblasters, heat guns and razor blades to 'age' the clothing.
Christmas tree light untangler
Last Christmas, UK supermarket giant Tesco advertised for a festive light untangler for its store in Wrexham, Wales, which has a dedicated light untangling stand. Offering a competitive salary, the role involves checking the lights for breakages and replacing broken bulbs.
Digital prophet
The tech world is big on more unusual job titles. David Shing is AOL's Digital Prophet – his role involves anticipating future trends and working out how the corporation's brands can adapt to the changing world.
LEGO master builder
LEGO offers a certified professional program to artists and hobbyists who are particularly adept at building fantastic structures in LEGO. Master builders earn a minimum of around $40,000 (£31k) a year.
Ethical hacker
Major corporations and government agencies hire computing and networking experts to hack into their systems to expose any security vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers use the same techniques as malicious hackers to beat them at their own game.
Bicycle fishers
Every year, between 12,000 and 15,000 bikes end up in Amsterdam's 165 canals. Waternet, the Dutch capital’s water authority, hires teams of bicycle fishers to dredge the waterways and recover them.
Animal talent agent
Supplying animals for movies, commercials and music videos is big business and agencies such as Hollywood Paws have teams of agents who scout for new four-legged talent and go out on a limb to get their furry clients the best parts.
SOURCE (With images): http://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/care...obs/ss-BBvMl2I?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=AARDHP#image=1
