ADVERTISEMENT

To succeed in this competitive world, you gotta make smart choices early in your career. Or at least we are taught that from an early age. So no wonder that most of us have compared ourselves with others at some point in our lives.

According to a recent study, more than 75% of people reported feeling envious of someone in the last year. But what if some career paths don’t even deserve that painfully nagging feel?

To shed light on how we glamorize particular professions and demonize others, people are busting careers that are “actually a complete nightmare” in this r/AskReddit thread. Let’s read on and let us know whether you agree with them in the comments!

#1

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Veterinarian.

Insanely competitive schooling that crippled you with debt, with a depressing debt:income ratio after graduation.

Most of your patients don’t like you, and most of the owners think you’re getting rich upselling them unnecessary services when their dogs’s exploding eyeball cancer can be cured with raw organic exotic meats/cbd/coconut oil, but you’re withholding that information because you’re in bed with Big Kibble.

High stress, stagnant wages, long hours, [poor] holiday leave. Rampant depression. Lost count of how many colleagues have committed suicide. Sometimes tempted to join them.

Dontbeavet , Werzk Luuu Report

Add photo comments
POST
chuckycheezburger avatar
Chucky Cheezburger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey,just wanna say thank you for taking care of the critters, good boys and girls and street cats of all kinds. I cant donwhat you do or know what you know. Without you to take care of our furry friends, our lives wouldnt be a lighter shade of darkness.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Law Enforcement.

I went into it with the naive belief I would be making a difference. I wanted to protect people and make my community safer. Instead, I got to see the worst humanity has to offer day in and day out. Lets see if I can list all the negatives:

Most departments are filled with arrogant a-holes with inflated ego's that love to condescend to other officers or the public when they themselves can barley read.

Many officers have severe anger issues and love to take it out on the public (never saw it happen physically but verbally or by issuing ever ticket possible).

Try to suggest changes to bring about better relations with the public? Prepare to be ostracized and bullied till you tow the line.

The overall level of incompetence is staggering, with some officers barely knowledgeable of the firearms they carry everyday.

Your view of the public and people in general becomes very dark. The amount of EDP's (emotionally disturbed persons), druggies and alcoholics you deal with each day is ridiculous and you start to wonder how society hasn't collapsed.

You arrest a violent offender just to see them quickly released over and over, whats worse is how many times an abuse victim files a complaint because you arrested their "love" despite almost being killed.

Very few people are actually grateful when you cut them a break. They DO take it as a sign of weakness and try to push the envelope. This is an often overlooked reason why some officers become a-holes. You try to help people out and they spit in your face (sometimes literally), this gradually tears you down until you can barely recognize what you are becoming.

The uniform is a target. You can be the nicest most patient officer in the world but to many the uniform means you are the enemy. You will get cursed at, attacked and have your private life laid bare.

Low pay not even remotely commensurate with what you have to deal with.

There is sooo much more but I was lucky enough to get out and change careers before it all really got to me.

Silent_Exodus , Sean Lee Report

Add photo comments
POST
angelicadelcarmen avatar
wj_vaughan avatar
Anyone-for-tea?
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s not the case everywhere, I was a police officer in London for a decade and I honestly felt it was the most worthwhile job I’ve ever had, you can truly make a difference in people’s lives. I even read at the funerals for an elderly couple that I had met who were victims of crime, I stayed in contact with them, used to go out of my way to see the lady when she was dying of cancer, and I am forever grateful that my job led me to be able to do those sort of things.

Load More Replies...
hedwards avatar
H Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like a vicious cycle, public don't trust the police and police end up resenting the public. Not sure what's needed to break that cycle, but it can't go on.

leodomitrix avatar
Leo Domitrix
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think we start with psychiatric screenings not for the job, but for just everyday sanity. The rate of violence in cops in their homes, as well as alconolism/drugs, is pretty high, and we cannot keep up this militarized view of policing, is my thought. But first, get all the cops to agree.... *sigh*

Load More Replies...
jessgunn77 avatar
JessG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We really need to overhaul the entire training regimen for the police. MUCH longer training for one, strong and lengthy psych evals., with yearly check ups, and hardcore gun training that teaches them to respect their weapon and it's impact (I'd prefer no guns personally, but if we're going to have them, they need to do better). Society needs to be able to trust and respect the police, or it doesn't work

maylin_martinsen avatar
May
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Scandinavia it takes 3 years to become a police officer, and they almost never kill anyone. It's insane how little training US police get before they're handed a gun and freedom from consequence if they kill someone with it

Load More Replies...
sussynugget avatar
Amon Gus
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think officers should have more perks (pay, healthcare etc), but also go through more mental training so that they know that you are legit. If it is easy, a dangerous man could pass. At the end, he gets a gun...

imonpaek avatar
Šimon Špaček
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Welcome to the world, where most people do not care about anything. Law enforcement is one of five secondary pillars of freedom (primary pillars are there for direct survival, secondary pillars keep society working). You are just next to doctors, firefighters and teachers, in other words essential people who are paid s**t and nobody cares about.

mpandgp79 avatar
MalP
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yup. Married to retired LEO. Most start out wanting to help, make a difference. But they see people at their worst every day. So many fall into that 'dark' place as they are worn down. Seeing people kill and maim and mistreat each other all the time is not good for the soul. There are usually thorough psyche & financial background checks, but some still shouldn't be LEOs. Being married to one is tough but can help keep them balanced. The divorce rate is well over 80%, that's how much this job affects people.

johnl_2 avatar
John L
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The uniform is a target. You can be the nicest most patient officer in the world but to many the uniform means you are the enemy." Sorry, but the reverse came first. Unless you have a uniform, you are the enemy. It's called the "blue line" for a reason.

suzi63 avatar
Suzi Gauthier
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We need to double the training requirements & the pay. You get what you pay for. Same as teachers, but teachers teach the same kids who are getting arrested & they don't have a gun & can't get physical.

littledtj3 avatar
Dawson James
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel horrible when good cops are treated awfully just because a they are a cop. There are bad cops but not all cops are bad cops. Treating all cops like bad cops hurts the good cops and makes there lives miserable.

americanhoneybadger612 avatar
Commander Rex
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THANK YOU! There have been so many deaths due to cops just doing their jobs and people kill them, and those people get spat on and hated because “They probably earned it”. It’s disgusting to me, and it should be to anybody with half a brain.

Load More Replies...
abdk333 avatar
K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Police should have to go to college for a bachelors in psychology. Then go to training for two years. It should be a calling.

kjorn avatar
kjorn
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

must be america. i went to school to be a cop. finish highschool and went to 4 years of college with an average of 80% i think and i was only an average student. couldn't finish because i got injured and never be able to get my physical done. but thank god i couldn't finish. this is not days to be cops.

katieandrews avatar
Katie Andrews
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Divorced a campus cop, and he still had to deal with most of this on a college campus. Withdrawn, angry, sullen, shut down. Nope, I left.

kevin-braid avatar
ADHD
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

whatever https://interregnum.live/2020/06/05/yes-all-cops-are-bastards-even-the-good-ones/

kaiscadden avatar
Kai Scadden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom says the good cops are the ones that have left since the George Floyd incedent

lifeisgood4226 avatar
Tugg Ster
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have been a cop for 17 years - and despite what most of what was described being true -- I still love my job and going to work each day. It's a very personal choice to get up each day and put your very life on the line on the regular, to help people without an ounce of gratitude being shown, to respond to one tragic or sad scene after another. But if you got into the profession of law enforcement thinking it was going to be any different than that -- you set yourself up for failure. When you are a cop in it for the right reasons - it doesn't matter one bit how big someon'e ego is, or if you ever get thanks -- because YOU know you are making a positive impact in the moment you are dealing with whatever scene to which you are called.. You are consoling a child, you are getting an addict to safety and treatment for at least one night, you are mediating fights and keeping people from getting hurt, you are taking drunk off the road, you are reducing stress on others. It's a GOOD job

isabelaivan avatar
Isabela Ivan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They don t get respect at all...in a country " a friend of mine" lives

nfrlprdpr avatar
Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved working in law-enforcement. Yes there is a lot of dysfunction not more than any other career choice. Some officers get jaded and biased fast, not all. The hard part is watching so many officers make things worse for people who are already struggling because neither has the tools of understanding how best to effectively manage a situation, and there is little mental health to help anyone. The entire system needs a serious overhaul

blugeagua avatar
blugeagua
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well there's a reason the public doesn't trust American cops. You guys have always been brutal and racist. Police brutality especially against people of color has been ongoing since the beginning of time.

andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would feel bad if many werent massively right wing violent assholes.

americanhoneybadger612 avatar
Commander Rex
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

They’re a minority, racism-wise. Domestic abusers are 40%, which still puts them at a minority. If you want an unbiased view of police officers that are actually great people, check out the donut operator YouTube channel, he’s an unbiased view who watches the body cam footage, all of it.

Load More Replies...
bluemom2017 avatar
Pamela Blue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also think a lot depends on WHERE you are an officer, and also on the TOP BOSS. Let's face it, the rot usually starts at the top. If you have a sharp, knowledgable Chief of Police, who knows how to lead, you will have half decent law enforcement. If you have an a$$hole at the top, who doesn't care what his people are doing, then you'll have very low morale and really bad attitudes. Also small towns and rural areas should be a whole different ballgame to big cities.

552e0e6bc437a avatar
Rainy Day Wolf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, more than one serial killer tried or were part of law enforcement... I think that says a lot... I think military is even worse

glirpy avatar
Glirpy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe if the police would police themselves before policing the public we might respect them more?

wteach avatar
William Teach
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Might want to work in another department. I know a lot of cops in multiple jurisdictions and states, from local to county to state, and they are not like that.

katie-trondsen avatar
KT
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its the same with hospital work. I get yelled at, sworn at, threatened. glared at. People fake heart attacks, demand I "do something now!" for the most minor of injuries. The lies, the attitude, the abuse. I've started to hate the general public

rebeccamorrison avatar
Rebecca Morrison
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sending love and admiration to police officers, first responders, and soldiers and their families. I give thanks everyday for your sacrifices.

legogal1960 avatar
Catarina Pupillo
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WE live in the southwest, and our personal information along with death threats was found spray painted in the pacific northwest court house. We live with death threats all the time locally. The state of NV is now going after all troopers and trying to fire them to placate the defund police groups along with the BLM. My husband will be retiring soon (early) along with others. The state of NV will no longer support their troopers. And Silre, with the snarky comment will one of those screaming for law enforcement when they need it.

zanoni608 avatar
Patti Vance
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

while i agree with all the negatives that you have to deal with, anyone who is thinking about entering any form of law enforcement need to do their homework in the form of ride alongs/job shadowing (if possible). i was an officer for the district attorney's office and while i didn't go patrol which does paint a target on you, the challenges are much the same. and, i was the one with the 'make a difference/change from within' attitude which does ostracizes you from the billy-badass personalities. i loved the job but there were a few days when i cried all the way home- a 45 min drive that probably saved my my sanity.

cynthia_thomson avatar
Cindy Lu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There used to be a time when the police were so respected & revered, really. Now, there just doesn't seem to be much respect for anything or anybody. Society devolving.

stacywinnubst avatar
SBW71
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not to mention all the low lifes you have to deal with on a daily basis. Cops are seriously underpaid

jessgunn77 avatar
JessG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They in fact DID mention all the low lifes you have to deal with daily

Load More Replies...
gwinchester avatar
Gavin Winchester
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try being military. You cop it from the public AND the police force.

heathervance avatar
AzKhaleesi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an LE professional I can attest to almost all of this. The politics and "good ol' boy" system is real. I am one of the VERY FEW left on a pension retirement plan. I have 4.5 years to go and they try every day to piss me off enough to quit so they don't have to pay my pension. And mine will be a long one, I retire when I'm 44. if I had to guess there's probably less than 100 of us on that plan left. Most people quit out of frustration or get fired for stuff that NO ONE else would EVER get fired for. It's unbelievable. Oh and cost of living raises? nope. Have never had one. I've had "raises" but for every raise, they up our health insurance so I haven't seen my pay go up in probably 8 years.

thatspoonybard avatar
That Spoony Bard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After seeing videos of boot camp and training to not break, I started to understand their perspective better

saicohipe avatar
americanhoneybadger612 avatar
Commander Rex
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So even the cops that tried to help people? The female officer who walked up to a door on a wellness check, and almost got shot in the face? The officer who were doing a wellness check on a mentally ill man, and all of them were shot, one of them killed? The cops who had to deal with abuse for helping a mentally ill man who was threatening himself and others? The cop who ran almost 500 meters in full gear, which is 38 pounds, and saved plenty of people by capping an armed gunman? The cop who was shot in the chest doing a standard warrant arrest, and continued fighting to save a woman’s life? Would you like me to continue? Because I can if you’d like.

Load More Replies...
imatic86 avatar
ivan bolitekurac
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I have seen cities that burn,people who hate,kill and destroy and hate towards police just because of their uniforms.And people are kneeling for that...It is sad how you can fight against something and become the same thing

malagotelli avatar
Eslamala
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

People who choose a profession that's basically following orders most of your life is something I can't comprehend... I could never do it.

bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Point is that in the US police officers do not follow orders. They give orders and you better not question their authority if you value your life. They all have the same attitude: I am the law and whatever I tell you to do, goes. No ifs, no buts. If you refuse I will arrest you for failing to comply.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#3

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Ballet dancer

Parents spend tens of thousands (or more) on training. They give up their entire teen years and schooling (most elite ballet dancers are homeschooled and a large percentage move away from home for training in high school).

Most dancers you see on stage in a ballet are paying to be there. The bottom rungs of ballet companies are pay to play. Then when you have paid to dance a few years you might be able to get a position that pays you with a dozen pairs of pointe shoes and a stipend for performances. Then maybe you'll be promoted to the bottom level where you get paid 20K a year and have no health insurance. All while putting your body through major torture.

meatball77 Report

When you find yourself constantly comparing your career to others, you may succumb to painful sensations of envy, allowing someone else's accomplishments to make you feel inferior. And according to a recent study, more than 75% of people reported feeling envious of someone in the last year.

So to find out more about this often overwhelming feeling, Bored Panda reached out to Dawn Moss, the founder of “Your Interview Coach” who has been helping both candidates and hiring managers through the recruitment and selection process since 2013.

Dawn said that career envy can happen to a lot of people and for various reasons. “Career envy can happen when individuals aren't doing very well in their own career. Often there's a perception that others are doing much better than them and there's some jealousy.”

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) I don't know if nightmare is the word, but my wife has finally reached her lifelong goal of becoming a zookeeper at one of the top zoos in the US. She is very happy to have the opportunity to hand food to otters, have reindeer eat out of her hand, and brush okapi. However, she took on tens of thousands of dollars in student loans and did months of unpaid work at the zoo to get the job, which is seasonal, requiring she be off 2 months a year. She gets up at 4 AM and does farmhand style physical labor for 8 hours a day for about $9 an hour with no benefits. I am thrilled that she reached her goal, and I am happy that she is happy, but I am pretty disenfranchised with the whole thing.

VVHYY , Omar Ram Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. Being a caregiver is an amazing job but extremely difficult as well. Most job positions are unpaid and sometimes they even ask masters or long experience to be an unpaid intern. Even if you get paid the salary is extremely low. You can get all kinds of infections (i worked with animals with diseases that could kill me) and you break your body lifting sacks, digging soil etc. All to become 40 and be unable to keep doing the job because you are too broken.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Chef.

Long hours, sh**ty environment, nothing is ever good enough.

flyover_liberal , Michael Browning Report

#6

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Teaching for sure. I mean, people know it sucks, but still the idea of becoming a teacher and changing the lives of children simply by caring enough exists in a lot of people and sadly it's just not like that. The very sad truth is it doesn't matter how much you care, there are so many people who just want to make your job near impossible and people drop out of the position left and right.

Kighla , ThisisEngineering RAEng Report

Add photo comments
POST
bryguy369 avatar
bryguy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was shocked when my friend who is a teacher showed me bags and bags of school supplies he bought on clearance for students. I was confused, I asked wouldn't the kids parents buy that stuff? He said no, surprisingly many of them send their kids to school with absolutely no books, papers, writing utensils, nothing. The school won't buy them. The parents won't buy them. The kids won't pay attention or learn anything without them. He has to buy them or they'll end up failing. Combined with the fact he hardly makes enough to pay for rent, transportation, and student loans. It's ridiculous.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

In other instances, it can also happen to career ambitious individuals, Dawn said. “Although these people are likely to admire and aspire to be like those with successful careers. It will drive them forward and they are likely to put a plan into action,” the career consultant explained.

“Career ambitious individuals will strive to be better and spend time networking with those they admire. Others will avoid the successful people and miss out on opportunities and the outcome will be a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Having said that, Dawn added that hanging around successful people will impact positively on your career. “You'll naturally up your game and want to gain their admiration too. These people with successful careers can be coaches and mentors and it's wise to network internally. If you want to be truly successful, then hang around with successful people. You'll learn so much about navigating complex work politics and environments. You'll learn how to build relationships and negotiate.”

#7

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) The video game industry. A lot of kids and teens want in it so bad because “I grew up playing games blah blah blah they take me to another world blah blah blah.” Then you become an adult and learn that it’s all math and physics, and making a video game has NOTHING to do with what you experienced growing up. It’s all black screens of code, polygons, and being criticized for your work.

What’s worse, if you make games you probably never have the time to play them anymore. The gaming industry is notorious for implementing 60-80 hour work weeks.

EVEN WORSE depending on what company you work for, you may never have stable work. You finish a project and then the company tells you “we don’t have another project for your particular skill set.” Then you gotta look for more work.

AND IF ALL THAT WASNT BAD ENOUGH, you’ll probably never work on a game you want to work on. All those big, fancy games and indie darling on Steam are a very small fraction of what exists. Barbie’s Horse Adventure? Those people got degrees and we’re inspired by the same games as you. Crappy Candy Crush knock-offs? Same degree and inspiration. Stupid table-top games that you only see in the family section at Walmart? Those also utilize game designers/programmers.

Don’t get into videogames because you like videogames. Get into videogames because you’re passionate about math and science.

Nofreeupvotes Report

Add photo comments
POST
coaky1 avatar
Colette Connor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a developer and I love games but I couldn't make games dev my career. I'd be terrified that the long hours and instability would taint my view of games and ruin what I like to do with my free time. Right now I'm in a software dev job for pretty standard business software and games dev is a side hobby. I wonder if the industry will ever change, I can imagine if people were able to keep a work/life balance and had consistent contracts they would stay longer and build up more exp which would benefit the industry as a whole.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#8

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Medicine, a close friend is a doctor, he doesn't have a life.

e_daniel777 , Piron Guillaume Report

Add photo comments
POST
donotreplytokjk avatar
Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since COVID hit, nobody in healthcare has had a life. People spent a year avoiding physical contact with loved ones, like spouses dividing houses in half to avoid contact. It's been that bad.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Modeling, too competitive and not enough food.

hio_world_im_bored , Alimarel Report

When asked how to stop comparing yourself to others, Dawn said it’s less easy. What it takes is an understanding that “What makes one person successful and others not.” “When you compare yourself to others and feel disappointed with your own performance or progression, then this will be less than helpful and will impact choices and decisions.”

On the other hand, she said that a little bit of competition is healthy since it will drive performance and productivity, which in turn increases profitability. “It's all about mindset and attitude and how you frame this situation that will either help or hinder someone's career.”

#10

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Film crew.

Yes, you sometimes meet famous people. Sometimes they're cool, often they're really not. The days are 14+ hours of work with a commute of who knows how long on either end, depending where you're shooting. You have half an hour for lunch. Coffee breaks are whenever you're not needed on set, so depending on your job (I was in camera, and we rarely had a down moment), it could be almost never. More often than not, someone on set is yelling. People lose their minds over making really [poor] entertainment. You start work by 7am on Monday, and by Friday you're coming in at 4pm and leaving when the sun comes up on Saturday. There are no paid holidays, no paid sick days, no paid vacation. If you don't work enough qualifying hours, the union kicks your healthcare.

And this is if you're IN a union. Non-union, much worse. Sexual harassment is through the roof, but the kids who get it the worst are afraid to say anything or they'll lose their jobs. I have been told some real horror stories about famous actors, some of whom I still haven't seen get outed by the Me Too movement. And I'm not talking word-of-mouth, second-hand stories. I'm talking about young women who whisper to each other what shows to avoid and make them swear to never use their name because if they want to work in this industry, they can't be known as a troublemaker.

I watched so many co-workers fall into addictions, lose family, miss their children's lives, over the dumbest TV shows in the world. If you go union, the money can be good, but it's not worth it. It's just not worth it.

sonictypewriter , Chris Murray Report

Add photo comments
POST
madosikamusya avatar
Monster
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sad hundreds of people work there and kids are growing up missing their dads or moms(((

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Political staffer. Most jobs in politics pay very little money and require you to work 80+ hours a week for a boss who is guaranteed to have a gigantic ego. You also have to look for a new job after every election day.

TogarSucks , History in HD Report

Add photo comments
POST
vwenum avatar
Elsb3t
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked as a political assistant in the Netherlands. Best job ever. Terrible working hours, but never a dull moment and an incredible team spirit. Still in contact with some former colleagues after more than ten years.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Being an artist. People think it's just fun drawing time in art class, but it is so stressful. Especially if it's a job you do. When I get commissions I spend hours just THINKING of the idea. I start sketching it, person (usually a non artist, artists are usually more gentle about it or don't mind) says it's not how they wanted it. Redo the sketch. HOPEFULLY it's okay now. Do the 2 hour line art. They say "Oh, this is wrong, this is too big, wtf is that, etc." After spending another 1-2 hours fixing it, you color it in. There's usually no problem with that unless it's an artist with a color pallet you're not used to. When you're done you send them to picture and hopefully they paid you while you were drawing because there's a lot of people who just make excuses. Also, if you're a small artist, you probably under charged that commission. That drawing you slaved over for 5 days... the person was only willing to 15 dollars and you'll take anything because everyone loves to ask for free stuff

Pandacat1551 , Howard Bouchevereau Report

Add photo comments
POST
sussynugget avatar
Amon Gus
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think maybe asking for a deposit first is a good idea of making a contract since artists can be scammed or pranked so easily. Hours wasted

View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) My SO is an attorney and isn't loving life right now. She says "You know how you did term papers in college? Well I do term papers every day, all day, endlessly."

picksandchooses , Bill Oxford Report

Add photo comments
POST
julie_rose_translator avatar
Julie C Rose
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone who once literally translated a report about paint drying, writing term papers for a living isn’t necessarily bad if you’re into that kind of thing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

DO. NOT. WORK. FOR. TELEVISION NEWS.

Unless you like being underpaid, over-worked, unappreciated, actively bullied, over exposed to the depths of human depravity, on the clock 24/7 and ready to be completely disillusioned with the world and the monsters called people living on it.

Codoro Report

Add photo comments
POST
ammar_2098 avatar
Mohammad Ammar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always think this when I watched the news. They switch from cherry blossom season in Japan to the death of 50 children in Yemen, like it's nothing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Behavioral health. I spent a long time working towards a career in therapy, and I’ve noticed that a lot of new people/people looking to get into the field go in with the starry-eyed “I want to help people” mentality. I did, too.

You do help people, but it is [freaking] hard to help people. A lot of jobs are high stress/low pay type of deals, because a lot of the jobs available are through nonprofits that only have so much funding to go around. You are vicariously exposed to other people’s trauma, and it does affect you, no matter how good you are at creating boundaries and practicing self care. It’s an admirable profession, but a grossly under appreciated one, and it most certainly isn’t for everyone who wants to “help people” for a living.

snickerdoodle-- , Priscilla Du Preez Report

Add photo comments
POST
lindseyjohnstone avatar
Linziaj
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would never have thought of that as a glamourise job anyway !!!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) I'm a professional, full-time voice actor. I'm blessed to be successful and happy, but about 99% of the voice actors I know are depressed most of the time, struggling hard to find work, wrestling with impostor syndrome, questioning if they should give up, and barely able to make rent. Particularly videogame/anime/animation actors.

WhatHeSaidVO , Jonathan Farber Report

Add photo comments
POST
hedwards avatar
H Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most animated movies used to be voiced by professional voice actors. Now they get the big names in to voice most of the characters, and the professionals are out of work. It's sad.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Farming on a large scale. I was living in debt up to my ass ($500k-$1 mil depending on the time of year), haggling for every input (land, fertilizer, seed, equipment), at the mercy of the weather, and got to watch the commodity markets kick me in the nuts every business day. The real cherry on top was everyone thinking you are trying to kill them with GMOs and copious amounts of chemicals that we dont use. Not to mention farms are passed down through generations so you've got a bunch of dead and living ancestors watching your every move. Oh and a lot of farmers work a second full time job for the health insurance. There's a reason farm suicides are high and farm "accidents" and accidents are higher.

There's a million young rural FFA kids that would give there left leg for a chance to farm.

badger_slayer , Tomas Hertogh Report

Add photo comments
POST
zanoni608 avatar
Patti Vance
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes, all to this. but, when it comes to the GMOs, most people don't understand that they have been eating genetically engineered food for decades as most of your food you are seeing to day do not look anything like it started out before farming started to get standardized in regards to size, color, etc.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) TATTOOIST... it's crazy hours, no hourly rate, if no one comes in to get tattooed you don't get paid that day, you often spend more time drawing for tattoos than actually drawing and more often than not your doing that at home. There's so much more BS than anyone thinks.

I don't know why anyone thinks it's glamorous I know I certainly don't.

Madbunnyart , Allef Vinicius Report

Add photo comments
POST
infectedvoice avatar
InfectedVoice
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude, my artist earns £90 an hour and lives an extremely comfortable life, he loves art and never gets sick of coming up with designs and pieces for people, you can hear and see the enthusiasm when he is talking about it, this is someone who shouldn't have been a tattoo artist.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Architect is really bad. Most people don’t complete it and the mental health issues are quite serious. There’s a lot of criticism and stress in the beginning, lots of late nights and hard work. At the end of the work you get insulted in public.

There’s no real reason for this. You aren’t going to be saving lives or anything, there’s no need to make it so expensive either.

So three years later, you get a degree and have to do a year of intern work, then it’s time for another year of study and projects and exams. Then two years of minimum wage work.

Then you come back for more exams, essays and projects.

It’s really too hard for what it is. I get paid very badly and I don’t really use any of my training. It was pointless really but girls like it at parties when I say I’m an architect. That’s a lie I don’t go to parties I

Cockwombles , Daniel McCullough Report

Add photo comments
POST
davenyc88 avatar
Dave P
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and 40% are unemployed or employed in other fields because way more degrees to the number of jobs in the field. I mean took at Netanyahu in Israel, he had a MIT architects degree and a masters and he had to settle for becoming a politician.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Idk if military is glamorized, but I saw a bunch of people who joined cause they wanted to be badasses and they couldn't wait to get out. Long hours, sometimes dangerous work, mind-numbingly repetitive tasks, being stuck with a-hole bosses at times (not like you can just quit), not the best pay, etc. Add it all up and you get a large portion of people who do one enlistment and never come back.

bimmerphile_ec , Diego González Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the US its seen as a ticket out of poverty for a lot of kids. The only way they can go to college is potentially be shot at. Makes it pretty clear inequity is part of the system design not a bug

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#21

Acting.

There's no sure-fire way into the business. You can just have natural ability and take direction well, audition, and nail the role. You can follow a fine arts degree in theatre and acting and hone your skills which may help in the audition process, and further. Even at that, you've got to grind and grind and grind until you get noticed...if you ever get noticed.

If you end up being a star, you can expect a career of destroying your body. Want that latest role? Gain 30 lbs. Want the next one? Lose 50. If you're a woman, expect to have to maintain your figure through your relatively shorter career, and that doesn't mean an "average" figure. For an extreme example, Christian Bale lost 63 lbs for his role in The Machinist, eating an apple and a can of tuna a day, then had to bounce back and gain weight for Batman Begins.

0xD153A53 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ammar_2098 avatar
Mohammad Ammar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest some actors choose to be extra for their role, like the examples given.However even simple movies like those in the MCU are now setting unrealistic body standards for actors who've signed on as well as for their viewers who largely fall in the impressionable teen-young adult age range.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Radio announcer. Like a lot of other jobs in the entertainment industry, it’s full time work for part time pay. Second jobs are common. Your pizza delivery guy just may be your favourite morning show host! At least, that’s how the morning guy at my station made ends meet, until he was laid off in the last round of cutbacks.

Now we’re a “hybrid station,” which is the preferred business model these days. That’s a fancy way of saying one person does everything while you run a ton of syndicated programs. 12 hour days of minimum wage.

originalchaosinabox , Jonathan Velasquez Report

#23

Opera singing.

The famous Maria Callas said if she could do it all over again, she wouldn’t.

Takes countless years, hundreds of thousands of dollars, hard to hold a day job due to rehearsals, bouncing from place to place to place, people in music don’t always consider you to be a musician, people with “regular jobs” constantly asking you what you’re “real career” is, or they do the polar opposite and think you’re some famous diva when in fact you aren’t. Incredibly difficult to keep long term relationships due to the constant travel, you literally pay hundreds of dollars for job interviews (since that’s what auditions are), you perform most holidays since Christmas and Easter are the prime biblical times which = lots of singing and NYE means operetta or “A Salute to Vienna” where you sing Johann Strauss Jr all night. It’s rarely fur shall’s and champagne, and you work in the evenings and sleep in the day. It makes it difficult if you have a family, especially a young family because you have to decide if you work on Christmas to help pay for things or you stay home to open presents.

It’s a string of tough decisions. It’s taxing and a lot of people take breaks. It’s truly a passion that drives you forward because it’s hard and thankless and less and less people support it. You really gotta love what you do.

Opera is the meeting of all the art forms, music, visual art, dance, literature, and acting. Please give it a shot before dismissing it. Please support the arts.

tessafack Report

Add photo comments
POST
inesolabarria avatar
Ines Olabarria-Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True! Don’t forget living in a continuous exam, being always judged, pressure for finding an agent that really believes in you…. But the stage is everything!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

This is kind of niche but, scuba dive instructor. I did it for 3ish years, I can't begin to tell you how many times people wished they had my job.

A decent portion of the job was selling. I hate forcing people to buy things, but I had to have a certain percentage of people buy a mask, at least. The mask was about 25% of the cost of an open water course. Chances are they'd never use it again.

Dive shop politics are insane. I worked 6.5 days a week for 90% of the year. If I turned down a course, I wouldn't be given another until there were no other instructors available. If there were no courses going on, I still had to be in the shop incase someone came in. During slow times there would be 7 or 8 instructors hanging around doing nothing. We all lived less than 5 minutes away. My dive shop would only hire people who were attractive enough. They'd also refuse to hire people who had trained at certain other dive schools in the area. The owners would go out of their way to be charming to the customers and then take the piss out of them as soon as the were out the door.

The amount of responsibility is huge, and nobody even thinks about it until you point it out. You're taking 4 people into a deadly environment and have to bring them back in the same state they went into it in. If something goes wrong you can lose your license or go to jail. Where I was working, these were pretty exclusively early to mid 20 year olds. Not only that, but if someone you trained has an incident at a later date, you can also be investigated and possibly prosecuted.

I was diving in 30C (86f) water. I constantly had an infection. Could be from a small cut, or my ears or my throat. It was constant.

Long, very hard work days. 12 hour days were about the norm. I'd teach, be dragging around the tanks I was responsible for weighing 20kg each as well as tonnes of other gear, and putting on my 'be happy around the customer face' whilst keeping them from dying. It's like a combo of retail and warehouse work.

It also diluted my love of diving. Even when diving with professionals now I have a hard time not constantly being on alert, waiting for someone to do something stupid, rather than enjoying the dive.

Pay is [really bad].

It's an amazing job, but it turned my hair grey by 25.

PiratePegLeg Report

Add photo comments
POST
nevits_yibble avatar
Nevits Yibble
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so accurate. I did it for a few years part-time. Other things to add: dealing with asshole parents of child divers (kids themselves were a blast though. SO much fun), fighting/arguing couples attending together (usually one made the other sign up), panicky students who hysterically freak out during ocean dives (your other job is therapist), and the absolute worst: the macho, "extreme sport" morons who ignore your instruction (every. single. class.). Our shop also routinely overbooked classes to pack as many paying customers as possible - minus the extra divemaster support required. Leaving me too many divers to keep track of, which was dangerous.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Fashion designer You won’t even get a job if you are willing to work for free

swegway69 , Highlight ID Report

Add photo comments
POST
sergyyeltsen avatar
Sergy Yeltsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The requirements for a fashion designer are difficult: you have to totally hate women, for a start, and insist they have bodies of 10 year old boys to even look good in what you create...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Nonprofit sector.

You’re mostly putting a bandaid on issues. You go into it wanting to help people, but far too many people are ungrateful, not willing to help them selves, or complain no matter how much you’re trying. I cannot tell you how many people have made threats even when you’ve gone well above and beyond for them. So many people abuse the system for freebies. I had people come in trying to get freebies who make over 100k a year.

The pay is always [poorly] unless you’re at the executive level. It is ridiculous how much executives make compared to the workers doing 90% of the work. The CEO of my organization makes well into the six figures while we have to work 3 years to get a 3% raise on our low salary. They also devalue you constantly. You have people with master’s degrees working entry level positions being bossed around by some old lady with zero education but who’s friends with the CFO or something.

You’re constantly working with a ramen noodle budget expected to come out with steak and lobster results. 9/10 volunteers are only there because they’re trying to get hours or a reference and complain a lot.

You’re constantly battling other nonprofits even if you’re just trying to share resources. You can do completely different things and are just trying to refer clients back and forth so they can acess all available resources, but they’ll guard their clients like gold.

The amount of shady practices that occur as well... Inflation of numbers, total lies, etc... it is really sad how many places do nothing or very minimal, but are galmorized as “doing good”.

[deleted] Report

Add photo comments
POST
hasilefisile avatar
ProfessionalTimeWaster
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most non-profit companies' management exploit the enthusiasm and hard work of young people who genuinely want to make the world a better place. On the other hand, management make a lot of money for very little work. Not to mention, most non-profits are shady and opaque about their expenditure. Donors may think they are sponsoring school education for a little girl in 3rd world country, that will change her world....but in reality they may be sponsoring religious conversions....or worse, spread unrest and terrorism in that country.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

People Share What Careers Look Glamorous From The Outside But End Up Being A Nightmare (30 Pics) Pro Wrestling.

Like a small chance of making not only WWE but any other company in general

And injuries and travel. Some people are forced to retire young

Even if you never been in the independent scene WWE has an infamous schedule and travel time.

ci22 Report

Add photo comments
POST
johnl_2 avatar
John L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not to mention, very few make it into their 50's and 60's because of all the damage, they've done to their bodies.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

i like all the pushes to get people into stem fields specifically science. they do all those demonstrations that make smoke or foam appear and make color changes, they are like LOOK SCIENCE IS FUNSIES, when in reality its the most grueling repetitive high stress miserable work you can get plus countless industries just contract out the positions so you aren't even guaranteed benefits plus any business is first and foremost a business so you have to spend countless hours in board room meetings explaining science and why things won't work to people who think the disc drive on their computer is a drink holder

demonardvark Report

Add photo comments
POST
vera-roshchina avatar
Vera
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

For all of you smart kids with advanced degree of from Top 50 colleges , don't go into consulting. You can do better. Find a line of work that is not as soul-sucking, and energy-draining. Those frequent flyer miles and free hotels, wining and dining in glamorous suits are just a smokescreen, to cover up the misery from constant travelling, networking, guaranteed overtime and no weekends are not worth it.

Many people do it as a stepping stone to a real career, which is smart. Staying in consultancy for 5+ years will likely turn your life upside down.

dirtykokonut Report

Add photo comments
POST
deathmetalkitty avatar
Death Metal Kitty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can confirm. It's crazy, also the worse part is that it's hard to leave the industry. Few people have the specific skill sets of a consultant, and when you apply to any other role, the company decides that they can't let you go there because few other people have the skill sets you have. I'm not even in a top consultancy or from a top university, but goddamn it is as hard getting out as it is getting in.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Scientific research

First you bust your ass in undergrad to get accepted to a good grad school. If you're like me and did biology, that means you're going to be taking the same classes and stressing out about a lot of the same stuff as pre-meds. Then you go to grad school which lasts on average 5-8 years (in the sciences). That's most or all of your 20s spent making ~$26k/year on a student stipend. But hey, at least school is free.

Then after you graduate you've got your PhD and can go work, right? Not really. If you're extremely "should play the lotto" lucky, then yes, you'll get a coveted research job. If you're like the vast majority of people, however, you'll be forced to get a post-doc position. That's where you work under a professor in a lab (just like you always have) and get paid a whopping ~$40k/year. They also last for only 1-2 years, and once it's up it's time to try to get a real career job again, or, more likely, apply for yet another post-doc. People can be stuck post-doc'ing for 10+ years.

This is the first real piece of the nightmare. Turns out twice as many PhDs graduate every year than there are jobs available for them in the sciences. That means there's a ton of competition all vying for the same tiny handful of professorships. "What about industry?" you say. Industry has even fewer openings and is a pipe-dream for most since they only want practical experience and skills. You're also still working under someone, unlike being a professor where you're free to explore any interest you want (kind of). So most people go for being a professor, where the average opening gets 200-300 extremely well qualified candidates.

But maybe you get lucky and get your job as an assistant professor (entry level). You're now making ~$60k/year, and you better bust your ass getting tenure because if you don't meet your tenure requirements by the time you have your tenure hearing (after about 5-7 years at most places) you're fired. And the problem with that is, a typical part of tenure requirements is getting one to two R01 grants (the grant name is only relevant for biology, I have no clue what the physics/chemistry/etc. equivalents are). The R01 is a big grant, considered to be the bread and butter grant for research...too bad it's funding rate is around 10%. Go to a scientific conference and chat with people and I guarantee you will have no problem at all finding scientists with stories of applying for that grant for years with no success.

Now lets say you do miraculously make it past that hurdle and get bumped up to associate professor. Now you're making ~$75k/year and things are smoother sailing. Think you can stop worrying about grants? HA! Even if you work at a university that still has real tenure (i.e., can't be fired) they probably have a clause in there about you funding your own salary through grant money. So no grants = no salary. Even better, as you have your own lab, you're also the person funding your workers' salaries. So if you lose too much grant money, you have to fire everyone. This happens all of the time, even to great labs.

Finally, if you've had a successful career, then around the time you're in your 50s or 60s you'll get promoted to full professor, where you will finally make ~$100k/year.

It's worth noting that scientists' work lives are stressful. Working weekends and holidays is common. Working late is very common. You screw up one detail in an experiment and you may have just thrown away months of work. You are constantly stressing out if you'll reach the next goal or not. "Will I get into grad school?", "will I finish grad school?", "will I ever get a professorship?", "will I ever get grant money?", etc. You get exposed to dangerous stuff like radiation, biohazards, chemical hazards, carcinogens, hell, I've even been in rooms that had magnet hazard signs up.

Don't do science kids.

Ofactorial Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. Also a lot of old teachers and researchers are extremely arrogant and toxic. Like using the work of their unpaid interns to publish papers themselves, making them compete to have your name on the paper or straight refusing to teach them anything.

View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 42 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

See Also on Bored Panda