Where Do I Apply? 10 of the Weirdest Jobs in the World

We’ve all had boring jobs, difficult jobs, and jobs we’d rather forget. Some of us might have even had a few weird requests from bosses that had us questioning whether we needed the money that badly. 

But there are plenty of weird jobs out there that you’ve probably never even considered as something you could actually get paid to do. 

And while we’re on the subject, where exactly do water slide testers and ice cream tasters find these amazing job ads anyway?!

Of course, some of the weirdest jobs in the world aren’t quite as fun as these dream roles. In fact, many of them sound mind-numbing or plain gross.  

Curious to learn how some lucky and not-so-lucky workers earn a living? Here are some of the weirdest jobs out there!

1. Professional Sleeper

How many times have you wished you could sleep on the job after a big night out or a less than restful slumber? Well, professional sleepers are actually encouraged to do just that.  

You could say all of us have the experience to do this job with our eyes shut, having spent around a third of our lives asleep so far… 

Although, working as a professional sleeper does come with some conditions.

One such role involved testing out the comfort of all the beds in a Finnish hotel, but that meant sleeping in a different room of the hotel for 35 nights straight. The worker then had to write about their satisfaction with each bed and rate their previous night’s sleep quality.  

Other opportunities in this sleepy profession include taking part in scientific sleep studies. Researchers fit participants with electrodes and other monitoring devices to track their sleep as a way of finding out more about the sleep process.   

2. Snake Milker

A snake milker is definitely high up there on the list of weird careers. 

Officially known as a type of herpetologist, this role involves extracting venom from snakes and other reptiles.

The venom they extract can cause illness and death, so anyone doing this role would definitely need the help of JSABuilder to manage what could be a very complicated Job Safety Analysis. 

It takes years of education and training to qualify as a snake milker. But it’s a vital role that has two important purposes. 

The first is for research, where scientists test venom for its potential healing properties in medical applications. In the past, venom has been used to treat high blood pressure, reduce the risk of a heart attack, and treat blood clots. 

The second reason is so that medical professionals can create anti-venom should these snakes bite anyone. After being bitten by a snake, victims may only have hours to live. By risking their own safety to collect this venom, snake milkers help save many lives every year. 

3. Fortune Cookie Writer

We’ve all cracked open a fortune cookie, eager to find out what the future holds in store for us. Or at least what inspirational quote or Chinese proverb we’ll get today. But how many have you have wondered who comes up with these little messages? 

Well, despite the fact that they’re not actually Chinese, the demand for fortune cookies after a Chinese meal in the West is enough to keep a team of writers in business.  

It’s certainly up there with some of these weird jobs when you consider having to explain your working day to other people. And, although it might sound like an interesting and creative role at first, you’d need a book of inspirational quotes on hand to make sure you don’t run out of material.  

4. Dice Inspector

Working in the casino industry, with high-rollers dependent on the decisions you make every day might sound exciting and glamorous. But, that’s not the case for dice inspectors. 

This role, which is also one of the more secretive weird professions out there, involves checking dice for imperfections. Although it sounds dull, it’s a job that dice manufacturers and casinos take very seriously.

And it stands to reason – any imperfections on their dice could lead to cheating, or mean the difference between winning and losing millions. In fact, these companies have even had to go to court following accusations that they are less than perfect dice have affected the outcome of a high-stakes game.  

5. Drying Paint Watcher

If you thought inspecting dice sounded boring, how about a job where you have to watch paint dry all day?

No, it’s not a joke.

Professional paint-watcher Keith Jackson might have the title ‘technical manager’ but he earns a living watching how long paint takes to dry. Keith spends his days painting sheets of specialized card and times how long new paint samples take before they’re dry enough to touch or walk on. 

It sounds like the most tedious job in the world to us, but we’re sure Keith has some useful tips for a better working day up his sleeve. After all, he’s been watching paint dry for over 30 years! 

6. Vomit Collector

There are weird jobs and then there are those that are straight-up disgusting. Case in point, working as a vomit collector.

This is the unsavory role of Rhys Owens, hired by Thorpe Park in Surrey, UK to clear up its stomach-churning attraction, SAW – The Ride. When the steepest free-fall drop rollercoaster in the world gets too much for ride-goers, Rhys is on hand to keep the attraction vomit-free, helping the park avoid too many ‘sick shutdowns’.  

If you’ve ever dreamed of unlimited free theme park rides then this could be your way in. If you have the stomach for it, that is. Although we’re not sure that this perk of the job is worth cleaning up 150 liters of vomit for…

7. Professional Mourner

One of the weirdest jobs has to be that of a professional mourner. Although, the exact requirements of the job vary across cultures. 

In South East Asia, tradition has it that a loud funeral with lots of crying helps the dead travel to the afterlife. As such, the family of the deceased hire professional mourners to weep loudly during the service. 

In the West, professional mourners are hired by families to make up the numbers when they expect a small turnout. 

As one professional mourner explains, the job also involves familiarizing themselves with information about the deceased. This way they are better able to convince other mourners that they’re a long-lost cousin or former colleague. 

8. Odor Evaluator

Ever wondered how deodorant brands can make claims about the long-lasting freshness guaranteed by their latest products?

Us neither. 

But, if you were curious, it’s usually thanks to the work of an odor evaluator. This weird job involves testing the effectiveness of new odor-fighting products by sniffing participants’ armpits, breath, and feet. 

Odor evaluators go through rigorous testing every month to make sure their sense of smell and ability to judge is accurate.

We just hope for their sake that the products they have to judge actually work like they’re meant to!

9. Netflix Tagger

They say you should do what you love, so being paid to watch Netflix sounds like our kind of job!

These lucky Netflix taggers work part-time for the online streaming giant, watching the latest online content before it’s available to the public.

Their task is to review and tag everything they watch. With the information they provide, Netflix is then able to sort new programs into genres and provide accurate summaries, making it easier for customers to navigate the site. 

The only question is if you get to watch Netflix all day for work, what would you do in your free time?!  

10. Pet Food Taster

Food-tasting jobs which involve getting to sample the latest ice cream flavors or candy bar inventions would be a dream come true. Having to taste pet food, however, wouldn’t be so great. 

While new pet food recipes have to get the approval of our four-legged friends before they hit the shelves, human tasters also have to try these foods too.

That means tucking into the latest bones, doggie treats, tinned meat, and cat biscuits. Human tasters then compare them to other pet foods and human foods to help food developers improve the taste and texture of these recipes. 

We have to say, we’ve smelled our pets’ food and it’s certain that these tasters must have stronger stomachs than us! 

The Weirdest Jobs in the World

From the disgusting to the downright dangerous, the boring to the brilliant, these really are some of the weirdest jobs in the world. 

Some of these strange jobs might make you glad you’re not the one doing them – vomit collector definitely springs to mind here! But the thought of getting paid to sleep or watch Netflix could cause a serious case of job envy. 

Although, no matter how boring your role is or how unfair your boss can be, these horrific work stories should make you feel better about your current job!

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