A Job is a Job
Growing up, we probably pick dream jobs based on what sounds super fun. However, it turns out that most jobs you think are enjoyable are just as stressful and taxing as any other. At the end of the day, with enough time spent, all jobs become a bit boring. Either way, here are 20 jobs you probably wouldn’t think of when you think of punishing careers.
1. Game Testing
Game testing might sound like a dream job but it's often anything but fun. Testers can end up playing the exact same scene over and over, in search of the smallest glitch. Instead of playing the game, work becomes a repetitive bug hunt.
2. Architect
Films make it seem as though architects have swanky lifestyles and create elegant spaces in modern offices. The reality is a lot of time is spent overcoming delays and listening to client complaints. And you will need to work with a contractor to figure out issues on-site. The glitzy image of the job is far from the truth.
3. Pet Shop
Working at a pet shop may not be as much fun as it sounds. One of the more unsavory jobs includes cleaning cages, cleaning up animal messes, and dealing with grumpy or aggressive animals. On top of that, one needs to handle difficult customers.
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4. Classical Musician
Being a classical musician may look glamorous on stage, but behind the curtain it's grueling, political, and often poorly paid. Years of practice in cramped basement rooms leads to a career of networking, competition, and multiple side gigs to get by. Musicians often continue not for the money, but because they've spent their entire lives mastering their instruments.
5. Disneyland
Working at Disneyland can be magical, but it can also be exhausting as a cast member. Cast members must always be chipper and smiling no matter how tired they are. Dealing with guests who are difficult or demanding can also make working there less magical than it seems.
6. Flight Attendant
Flying first looks glamorous, but it's really hotels, shuttle vans, and airports on repeat. You travel so much that entire cities start to blur together. And weather delays really mess with schedules. It's frustrating for the crew, too.
7. YouTuber
Many people imagine YouTubers and content creators living easy lives, making videos for fame and fortune. In truth, most struggle to earn a living, constantly working to please an unpredictable algorithm that controls their income. Only a small fraction ever achieves the massive success viewers often assume is the norm.
8. Veterinarian
A lot of people aspire to be veterinarians because they love animals, but the job has a dark side. Performing euthanasia is a huge part of the job, and a lot of the time it is for family pets. Witnessing that kind of heartbreak on a regular basis will weigh on the strongest animal lover.
9. Client Relations
Taking clients to watch a sporting event from the luxury boxes sounds like a perk. But it's more work as salespeople play host and babysitter, keep inebriated clients out of trouble, and maintain good behavior in front of senior management. Factor in weekends, traffic, parking, and last-minute cancellations, and the fun stops.
10. Cruise Ships
For some cruise ship workers, such as entertainers, pay and perks are very good. But for many crew members, especially foreign workers who are poorly paid, life is very hard. They work long hours and often feel more like indentured servants than valued workers. In most cases, working on a cruise ship is a constant grind with little reward.
11. Florist
Some people think that the only aspect of being a florist is playing around with flowers all day. It's the dream of many retirees, they think, to spend all day arranging flowers. However, florists usually begin their work very early, as early as 4 a.m., to get fresh flowers from the market. It is also heavy physical work to handle flowers and foliage, as they are heavy and full of water.
12. Firefighter
Contrary to what most people think, being a firefighter is not all action and excitement, and major incidents are few and far between. The majority of the time is spent running to people with elevators stuck 10 stories up, minor car accidents, dumpster fires, and false alarms. You go out on what you think is a serious medical call only to find out someone stepped on a pin.
13. Chef
To be a chef means you work long, hectic hours in a hot, chaotic kitchen that most diners never get to see. It is hard work that requires a lot of physical activity such as heavy lifting and little time to sit down and rest. While it is a creative, passionate job, it can also be very tiring and stressful. It is not a glamorous job as many people might think.
14. Zookeeper
Working as a zookeeper sounds like a great opportunity to work with cool animals all day, but the reality is they spend most of the day cleaning cages and making food, not cuddling cute animals. The work is physically grueling, often in sweltering or freezing temperatures, and it includes dealing with dangerous animals. It's hard work for little pay.
15. Book Clerk
Working in a bookshop is not all it's cracked up to be like some people believe. You don't just sit around and read all day, you spend hours on end on your feet stocking shelves and helping with customers' questions and demands. It's not as though you're just reading all day either, it's more work than it is leisure time.
16. Radio DJ
Radio DJs don't have as glamorous of a job as it sounds. A lot of it is just hours of monotonous talking and waiting for songs. There's not much to do besides just being bored behind the scenes.
17. Dog Grooming
Dog grooming often includes shaving down dogs that have been neglected or not well cared for by their owners. Groomers can expect to come across matted hair and unsanitary skin fairly regularly, as it can be difficult for owners to groom their own pets. The job can be emotionally taxing, as groomers are helping animals in need of recovery from their neglect.
18. Software Engineering
Software engineering has a high salary and the lure of "cool" coding work. Most engineers only code 20% of the time. 80% of their time is spent in meetings, maintaining obsolete documentation, and technical project management. To top it all off, engineers are usually victims of bad code quality.
19. Graphic Designer
Graphic design may seem like a fun, creative job. But the role can be tedious with repetitive tasks, short deadlines, and numerous revisions from clients. Designers often struggle with multiple projects and vague or conflicting feedback. The need to create visually perfect work quickly adds stress and takes the fun out of the job.
20. Animal Trainer
Animal training can sound like an exciting, glamorous job but for 80% of the time it's spent cleaning, feeding, and caring for the animals. It involves working long hours, frequently 12-hour days, six or seven days a week. It's constant maintenance and work with animals that often do not want to do what you want, when you want them to.
