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We like to complain about work: jerk bosses, horrible coworkers, low pay. Yet statistics show that most people are quite happy with the jobs they have. In fact, a global survey has found in 2022 that eight in 10 people who work either for a company or for themselves enjoy the work they do. In the U.S., only half of workers say they're extremely or very satisfied with their job.
Based on job satisfaction and meaning, the most popular careers are in the agriculture, health, construction, and education sectors. At least that's what data shows. But what does the Internet have to say about this? One netizen wanted to find out, so they asked other Redditors: "What's the best job you've ever had?"
People shared all kinds of stories, from poorly paid but low-maintenance and stress-free jobs to some really wholesome, community-building positions in fast-food restaurants. And what about you, Pandas? What's the best job you've ever had? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to upvote your favorite entries!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The one I have now. I'm a chef. I've spent years in soul sucking restaurants ran by greedy owners who only cared about the next quarters finances. The food was an afterthought and the employees were a disposable line item in the budget.
I now work for a non profit, our job is to help re-integrate people who have recently been released from jail/prison. We are a fine dining restaurant with a focus on elevated comfort food. The food is important to the management above me and the organization I work for, as are the employees. Our entire business is dedicated to improving the lives of its employees.
I never expected, as a chef, to work for a non profit, and I couldn't be happier. The food is amazing. I have the ability to be as creative as I want. And the people we employ are some of the best employees I've ever had. They all want to learn, work hard, and make better lives for themselves.
ucp 1 year ago
How rewarding. Not entirely unrelated, there is a company in the UK called Timpsons. They actively employ former prisoners, and recidivism is markedly down as a result (grateful employees, a good job, a second chance). Timpsons will also dry clean a suit for anyone who is unemployed and has a job interview anywhere. Not all bosses are evil!
Amy Taylor 1 year ago
Plus the day off for your kid’s first day of school! I think they also offer their employees counselling, and short-term interest-free loans if they’re having a crisis.
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keyboardtek 1 year ago
The daughter of a friend got a culinary degree. Then discovered chefs and cooks get paid very low wages. Only a few famous chefs get paid a good income.
Pill Nathan Whitely 1 year ago
You sound like you've found your role in life. I'm happy for you.
Nom E. De Plume 1 year ago
Sounds like Café Reconcile in New Orleans! It probably isn't... but the same concept. And, YAY! Such a great way to help people with your skills... Good for you, and great for them!
Dirk Daring 1 year ago
We want a plate. A real plate. Not a tree stump, or a river rock, or your mamaw's old slippers. Serve us our food on A PLATE.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
I was sadly thinking that. I love the work that many non-profits do, however, employees realize that they are not going to be making much money.
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#2
Tesco in store bakery. 4am-12pm shift. Baking (and tasting) doughnuts and pastries, radio on full blast, not a single customer or manager to interrupt you and the smell of fresh bread.
Nicola Roberts 1 year ago
The smallest I've ever been was when I worked in a sweet factory. Though I wouldn't want to test the hypothesis 30 years later.
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distant_echo 1 year ago
Similar to me! I worked the night shift at a bed and breakfast. I did all the baking for breakfast and afternoon tea. I also set the tables with napkins and prepared the coffee. Loved it immensely, No one looking over my shoulder. It was quiet and peaceful and I could read or nap when I was finished with my work. It was also in a glorious old mansion. Man, I miss that job.
#3
Working at the reception desk of a small childcare company. I loved getting to talk with the children and their parents and see all the different families that would come in every day.
My favorite moment was watching this very small little boy with huge glasses wait eagerly by the doorway.
A large, heavily tattooed and imposing man walked in the door, and the little guy's face absolutely lit up. The man picked up his son and twirled him around, beaming like he had just won the lottery.
I think their family dynamic and custody arrangement was a bit complicated, but that is a man who truly loves his son.
Robert Trebor 1 year ago
Very small little boy, huge glasses - how i felt for years. Then I grew. A lot.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
So did my brother, all vertically. He never did grow into his ears, though.
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Upstaged75 1 year ago (edited)
I used to be a professional nanny. I still miss it sometimes. I do appreciate having a desk job and the money/benefits that come with it. But sometimes I just want to play with a baby. :)
Comedy Clumbers 1 year ago
And yet, this is a total NIGHTMARE job for me. Takes each of our differences to keep our world a'spinning!
Vera Diblikova 1 year ago
My son (MD, 50, 2 children) lights up, entering in house doors hrom work, like a lightbulb,
#4
Volunteer cat socializer at my local humane society. I go in, sing some very off-key Lionel Richie to some frightened strays for 2-3 hours, and help them realize that humans don't want to hurt them.
#5
I put on a wet suit, got into armpit deep freezing water, and fed penguins 3x a day at the New England Aquarium.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
Need to either get a wet suit that looks like or create a wet suit that looks like a penguin. Complete with mask that looks like a penguin head.
Matthews 1 year ago
Wouldn’t they be scared, as some kids get when seeing people-sized characters at Disney?
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Mia Black 1 year ago
The stench would kill it for me 😅 (grew up with animals like goats and it was the worst to work with the smell they can produce)
Solandri 1 year ago
Our company booked the New England Aquarium for its Christmas party about 25 years ago. It smelled mildly fishy, but wasn't that bad (the penguin exhibit is open air, not behind glass). One of the employees told us they used to have laser pointers mounted so visitors could shine them near the penguins. Penguins can't resist looking at a laser pointer spot, so you could make them all look left, right, left, right in synchronized fashion. But someone complained that it was cruel so they removed the lasers. Then he said, "Do you want me to bring out some laser pointers?" (I had more problems when we booked the history museum the next year. The ancient Egypt exhibit had a smell like decayed wood which made me nauseous.)
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linda harbin 1 year ago
I grew up outside of Boston and spent many hours in this Aquarium. Haven’t been in over 40+ years but going in August the morning before my 30 yo daughter and I take a cruise out of Boston. SO looking forward to it!
#6
I used to work for the US National Parks Service out in the Rocky Mountains. I worked on the trail crew, clearing, maintaining, and building new trail and assorted structures. Maintaining a system of trails that had originally been built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the depression.
Since I had some experience as a mason, most of my time was spent moving rocks. I was Sisyphus, but the view was spectacular.
Ranger Kanootsen 1 year ago
This is my job! :) I love it. I get to explore, travel, sleep in trees and help the planet.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
This sounds like my dream job as someone who love hiking and the great outdoors.
Jill Rhodry 1 year ago
My dad was a park ranger in the Blue Mountains (Katoomba etc) - he loved that job.
Susie Elle 1 year ago
This sounds like so much fun. I have zero useful skills when it comes to construction but I'd be a very enthusiastic employee nonetheless :')
#7
Had a 5 year run in a high end residential construction company where our 4 person crew was basically 4 best friends. Worked together, gamed together, hit the bar or dinner after work together, went riding on off days, etc.
Honestly one of the best parts was just having a super motivated group that we never had to discuss dumb stuff like setting up in the morning or cleaning up at the end of the day. Everyone knew that is what we always did so we just talked s**t and went about our business.
Once we all went our own ways work wise it was terrible having to work with normal idiots again.
AKA AKA 1 year ago
yes, because best friends are different types of idiots
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keyboardtek 1 year ago
Jazz pianist here. The rare times I worked with very responsible talented side men was the height of my music performances. Having a well rehearsed tight band that thought as one is an amazing joy.
Binky Melnik 1 year ago
This sounds like a dream! Not the job part, but the four best friends together all their waking hours part. I’ll bet that doesn’t happen all that often. This post made me grin ear to ear just imagining it! (And they got PAID to have fun together every day! Big sigh.)
#8
Current job, I’m a manager in charge of a team of 7 that plan the operations side of the business for the whole country, I’ve gotten so good at my job that I get the full weeks worth of work done inside 6 hours. So I get up on a Monday do 6 hours work, then basically chill Tuesday-Friday. Got Teams and Outlook on my phone to deal with urgent stuff otherwise my team is on it. Also I am not some lazy manager, I give my team all the freedom they want and not shy about it, want Friday afternoon off to go see the kids sports day, go ahead. Need to start late for a dentist appointment? I’ll see you after lunch. Treat people right they reciprocate it 10x in return. I love my team, and my job, hate my company hence the f***s I give to be 0.
Bittersweetie 1 year ago
Someone like this is such an incredible asset. Imagine the difference they could make at a company they loved.
I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 1 year ago
Yes but sadly it's not always seen as a positive. I used to do this with my teams. I would cover weekends they'd need off and let them take any time needed without having to dip into their annual leave. I always found that having a flexible style made for the most productive teams and mutual respect. Equally if I needed to take time they were more than capable of stepping up and covering me. Made some lifelong work friends over the years. The last company I worked for though did not appreciate this as apparently it made the other managers look bad because they wouldn't cover weekends if any of their team were stuck and needed to swap last minute. Like is this not what being a manager is all about?! Anyway that was my red flag to leave. Went to the company I'm now with and my old team almost all left when they realised lots of companies thankfully still do value this kind of work ethics!
Load More Replies... #9
Museum aid at the Smithsonian Natural History museum. Got to see the storage center where most of the collections are housed. Amazing stuff most of the public won't ever see.
Lewis KR 1 year ago
Important to note that many museums only have about 1% of their stuff on display at any given time. It's part of why there is so much outcry over the biggest ones keeping so much stuff that was 'saved and/or stolen' from other countries. The British Museum for example. Once you realise that countries are asking for their stuff back that the Museum has kept in a box in a back room for 100 years, you realise why they are so annoyed
Joe Bloe 1 year ago
That's a stereotypical view of museums. The reason they can ask it back is because it was preserved and saved for over 100 years. Some items are lend to other museums.
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OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
This is my absolute most favorite museum. I live almost 2000 miles away now and haven't visited in years but I can't wait to take my son there one day!
#10
Pizza Hut 2000-2005 in high school. I got all my friends jobs there, then i became an assistant general manager at 19. the General manager had 2 stores, i pretty much ran the store, put my friends on my shifts, played whatever music i wanted, made my own schedule, got any days off i wanted, traded pizzas for movie passes, food, gym membership. it was awesome at the time, even looking back now, it was sweet.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Worked at Pizza Hut 1998-1999. We'd get off work around midnight and then smoke pot and drink beer until the sun came up. Crash and do it all again. First restaurant job I ever had and I was underage but nobody cared. Favorite story: My friend we were all dropping acid after work one night and Shawn had to open the next day so he took two more hits before rolling in. Found out he spent two hours washing the same window. Good thing it was a slow dayshift.
PeepPeep the duck 1 year ago (edited)
This is so funny 😂 I worked I fine dining as my first job and we also used to hit it hard after work, go clubbing, snort everything under the sun, nap on the beach and roll back into work again. I personally loved working the bar on acid 😂 definitely could not do that now as an adult adult, it would wreck me
Load More Replies... #11
My current one. I’m a full-time science professor at a community college.
BoredPossum 1 year ago
College teachers are called professors for real? I thought that was a Hogwarts thing.Over here, only some PI:s are called professors.
#12
12 years old. Worked at a Hawaiian shaved ice place in a summer town. Learned to talk to people (girls), be chill, learned a lot about reggae music. Mostly wish I could do that now as a job.
ShellsBells 1 year ago
So people are commenting on shave ice, shaved ice, etc. I lived in Hawai'i for 3.5 years. A sno cone has chunky ice, so it's really crunchy. Hawai'i is a mixing bowl of different cultures from different countries, and even different regions. Pidgin, a slang language, was created. It mixes different words/slang from all the different languages spoken so people could communicate with each other. That's why it's shave ice, not shaved, as Japanese speakers didn't know the English language very well when it was created. Just think of ice, so smooth that it is soft, not crunchy, that melts in your mouth. Now drizzle it with freshly made fruit syrups, none of that artificial c**p. Maybe add some homemade ice cream on the bottom, maybe even azuki beans (hold those for me), and you have shave ice. There are many imitators, but not a lot of the real deal out there. The best, hands down, is Matsumoto's. Remember, if it has a "d" on the end, it's not real Hawaiian shave ice.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I'll have a large slurple, and two small tunas, please.
Sue User 1 year ago
With a big razor.. haha. Serioisly, the ones i jave seen it is like a grater, metal piece with holes.
Load More Replies... #13
Preschool teacher. I got to teach little kids skills, play with them, and be creative and plan fun lessons. If it paid more I’d still be doing it but it’s undervalued as a profession. .
Jessica Cooney 1 year ago
Childcare workers are grossly underpaid. I will never understand paying the person responsible for the safety, education, and wellbeing for a small child, starting sometimes at 4 weeks old, minimum wage while requiring all kinds of certifications.
Nonplussed Puss 1 year ago
So glad we're all starting to see how underpaid and underappreciated roles are that are "female-coded." Society really is built upon the undervalued labor of women that we just expect them to do for us, mostly for free. Thank you all, ladies.
OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
Such an important job! Especially now with all the covid era babies who spent their early years isolated suddenly being thrust into a totally new world, in every way. They need kind understanding teachers to help them navigate this new environment and stage of life. I am so grateful for my son's teachers making this first year of preschool so positive for him.
Aurora2/3 1 year ago
I disagree with this. I love it but it's the hardest job ever. To do it well you have to work hard. I do the same amount of preparation and planning as when I teach elementary school sometimes even more. The actual teaching though is quite hellish at times. I tell people early years teaching is like when you give a presentation at work only with the audience crying or trying to hurt themselves or each other. It's pure chaos at times and I always come home exhausted. So not easy but fun and rewarding.
#14
My current work. I work as many hours I want as a landscaper in Norway. I make 60k a year (8 months of work) plus benefits and I have 4 months off in the winter where I spend my time in the Philippines.
#15
Beer cart at a golf course. Tips, everyone was happy to see you, nice weather. Easiest, most fun job I've ever had.
emmy_lou_harrisburg: I made $18k in 2001 in 3 months as a caddy cart girl. I... was able to pay my junior year of college tuition in cash.
"I would park under a tree, smoke a doobie, and read a magazine. Cash only and I did my own inventory. That job was the best.
Darth Oswin 1 year ago
*tips hat* Thank you. Proof that not all heros wear capes (even if they are great in just about any weather).
Load More Replies... PeepPeep the duck 1 year ago (edited)
You’re right though, we used to walk up to the older groups of men and say something like ‘of you tip us each $50 we’ll make sure we look after you guys the most’ and we’d do it to every golfer group and walk out with an extra $400-800au a day in 2006 😂 the old perves knew the deal and payed, so we were both naughty really 😂
Load More Replies... #16
Elevator technician. I started at $8.50 per hour 30 years ago today it’s $50 per hour. Overtime is 1.7 and x2. I must say way more ups than downs!
#17
The one I have now. I started a business from scratch 8 years ago and now employ 10 staff. They all make above average salaries, and I am yet to have anyone leave. We are growing year on year but not too crazy. It's manageable. This time next year, I'd like to think there are 6 more on staff. It's a lot of fun.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
As your company grows it is going to need more administration and supervisors. My last job I had, I started working for them, started out small. Hadvonly two lines. Now has four lines. Small administration. Was only in one part of a warehouse of three part warehouse. As the business grew so did the administration and supervisor's. Now the business occupied all three warehouses. If it grows even more, they are going to need to find a bigger building.
#18
I’ve said this before. When I was a teenager I worked at Kings Island (just north of Cincinnati,Ohio) I worked at a ride called White Water Canyon. There’s a little shack out in the woods where it overlooks the ride and you can blast people with a water cannon. It was my favorite job, if I could do it for the rest of my life I would. I’d sit out there in a secluded booth with snacks and blasting people with water. What else could be better? I don’t know, I don’t think there is a better job. I’m in my later 30’s and I think about that job constantly.
Stephanie Case 1 year ago
I totally understand how you feel. I am 49 now, but i still think about when I was in my early 20's and I was a skipper on the JAWS ride at Universal. BEST. JOB. EVER.
#19
The job I have now. Get paid 110k/yr with great benefits. Only have to go in to the office 2 days a week, and the other 3 days work from home. I do about 10- 15 hours of actual work a week. Rest of the time I am just monitoring email while gaming.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
That's the best part about working from home! It's been life changing for me. I take a mid-day nap any time I don't have meetings. It helps me stay focused for the rest of the afternoon. As long as I get my work done no one cares when I do it. We're an international org with members all over the world, so it helps to be flexible with time. I'll never go back to working in an office.
Load More Replies... Beth Wheeler 1 year ago
I love working from home. Nice and quiet, 2 bathrooms within 25 ft. Small fridge beside my desk with either canned or bottled coke or run to the kitchen for water.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
And yet they are not telling us what they heck they do. Seems too good to be true...
#20
I teach personal finance at a credit union. I get to help people understand money and don’t have any pressure to sell anything. It’s awesome.
#21
Pasta Maker at Olive Garden. 30+ years ago, Olive Garden made all their past in house from scratch. My machine was in the lobby so customers could watch. I wore a chef coat and poofy hat. I loved working weekends and interacting with people asking how it was made and why I was hanging it on the wall (to dry it before cooking). It was loads of fun and I really enjoyed it. Then they switched to dry premade commercial pasta and it wasn’t as good. Tried other positions but restaurants suck to work at.
ShellsBells 1 year ago
This just pulled a memory out of my brain that I had forgotten about until now. Going into Olive Garden and seeing all the pasta on the racks to dry as a little kid. It's like when Dunkin Donuts actually made the donuts in-house.
MisterE 1 year ago
And now both places are bad. Dunkin dropping the donuts parts fron their name is dumb, but their donuts are pre-made and not very good. The long johns are about 60% of the old length and everything is made cheaper. https://youtu.be/I1e4qhHOIQA?si=EySBwNmqxn7-NuJz
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Karl Havoc 1 year ago
I totally forgot about the Olive Garden pasta makers!! That restaurant used to be so magical to as a kid
#22
Tour guide at a brewery. Met so many cool people. Was paid to talk about beer, and to drink on the clock.
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
I would take out-of-town friends on the tour at a local brewery. At one point they had built a brewpub, but it wasn't open yet. The owner would finish up the tour there, and say "We don't have our license yet, so I can't sell you a beer. However, I can give you one. What'll you have?"
#23
Night watchman in a huge office building during summer.
Clock in at 6 pm when the office "closes". Be on guard till 8 pm when the last guy leaves, grab my laptop, play world of warcraft will 2 am, sleep, clock out at 7 am, go home, sleep 2-3 hours. Do things. Back to work.
13 hours "paid" 1 hour worked. Nothing ever happened. Got paid 30 bucks an hour (always 200% pay, because it was night). On weekend nights 40 bucks an hour.
I worked 12 weeks, 7 days a week.
Best.
Summer.
Ever.
Kisa “Kizna” Kitsugi 1 year ago
What they failed to mention was they probably weren't supposed to do that and got lucky nothing happened.
Panda Kicki 1 year ago (edited)
I was paid to sleep. On-call at a nursing facility where calls was very rare. Most of the time I slept through the night and then had the day off to enjoy. Job description specified that you could sleeep in the assigned bedroom all night until called.
Rachknits 1 year ago
I had a very similar job. Turn up at 9pm, sit with residents until bedtime at 10.30, then all off to bed including me unless there was a crisis which only happened a couple of times over the 3 years I was there. I did it while at uni so it was perfect
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Chewie Baron 1 year ago
I could be a night watchman. Looks out the window, yeah, it’s still night.
Ben Kay 1 year ago
Wasn't the office guarded during winter. That sounds like a year round job!
OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
I'm guessing they did this as a summer job during college and someone else took over after the fall semester started.
Load More Replies... #24
Worked at an animal shelter. Looked after cats. Cleaned the cages. Their litters. Changed out what needed to be changed out. I loved it. Sometimes messy but I was happy.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I used to volunteer doing that for the cats who live in the adoption room at Petsmart. The only bad part was wanting to take them all home with me. :)
#25
Custodial work for a textbook distributor. My one and only job was to empty waste baskets in the offices. It was an 8 hour shift, and I had gotten my routine down so well I could finish my work in 3 hours. I would sit in the CFO'S office and read, I would take naps in conference rooms, just generally f**k around for 5 hours. My supervisor resented my position, as she also supervised production, so as long as she never heard complaints, I was completely out of sight out of mind. Occasionally I would be seen sweeping a floor in a warehouse or emptying a card board bin, which made it seem like I was getting all of this extra work done. That would last maybe 30 minutes, longer if I was really bored. When I left I was told I was the best person to ever work that position. I used to get stoned on the CEO's balcony!
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
I'm noticing a trend in these. That trend is the best job is to get paid for 8 hours while working 3 hours. Good on anyone who finds that job.
Papa 1 year ago
My job is very slow right now. Eight hours seems like twelve when I don't have anything to do.
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SillyPandaBunny 1 year ago
So the best jobs are ones where they can sleep, do d***s, work on hobbies and do anything other than the actual job, for hours on end.
#26
I used to do bottle service at a nightclub lounge off the strip in Vegas. This was right as things were opening up after covid. The amount of pent up people with money ready to have fun was amazing. I made so much f*****g money and people were just so excited and happy to be out and having a good time, literally throwing cash around and getting hammered. Great music, great money, great vibes.
Rae Andringa 1 year ago
More like opening up "after" covid. I couldn't STAND those "great vibes" of people clawingly desperate to get back out into casinos, throwing money away, having parties, and getting everyone sick.
#27
Classical car restoration is the most fulfilling and satisfying job ever! You get to see a rusty old car transform into a beautiful purring machine, from start to finish. And the best part? No stress, no complications, and no strict deadlines!
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
That big old Benz has something seriously wrong with its rear suspension.
David Blaufuss 1 year ago
Car is on air suspension and in it's lowered state. Camber is an arc, car most likely has normal camber at ride height, negative camber at lowered position.
Load More Replies... keyboardtek 1 year ago
I am a jazz pianist who repaired digital keyboards and synthesizers for 36 years. Daily I got to play all the latest coolest synthesizers that came out.
#28
Fireman in a small town. Had free wifi, free food, pool table and dart board, only 1 fire happened in the 7 months I worked there.
The Darkest Timeline 1 year ago
Maybe this was a volunteer position but they just got to hang around the station a lot
Load More Replies... #29
Commercial Diver, everyday is different, average 35- 40 min dive, a few water stops, decompress in chamber on deck, 13 hrs later, do it again...loved it. Old school, back in the 80s.
#30
Ice cream shop, it was pretty simple except when I had to clean up the sticky ice cream bits, or when someone would get a peanut butter ice cream and say something like “This doesn’t have peanuts in it does it?”.
#31
The one I think about the most is when I was hourly for 30 hours in a corporate setting. No lunches because it was 6 hours a day exactly. But I don't like to eat lunch at work anyway and without lunch, instead of an 8:30-5:30 40hr job, it's 8:30am to 2:30pm. Felt like every day was a half day.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I worked in a hotel restaurant for the breakfast/lunch shift when I was first out of college. I was done by 2pm every day and then spent the rest of the day riding my horse or doing whatever the heck I wanted. Granted I did start work at 6 or 6:30am, but I was young and it was easier back then. Now that I'm getting old even 9am seems early. :)
#32
The job I currently hold: Senior Gameplay Programmer at Epic Games.
Mariotevez 1 year ago
Please add an option to earn old battlepass skins, i was late to the party and I missed the black knight, seriously only one missing...
#33
Camera operator for live sports in the USA. Stressful but fun. Nice getting paid $500 a day to be on the sidelines or courtside.
#34
This is kind of a job. Got paid for it. A friend was in charge of making ads for a home improvement store. Those fliers you'd get in the mail. He needed a house to use to take photos of grills, Christmas decorations and so on for the ads. We told him he can use our house any time and he did use it a lot. We got about $1,000 per month and they left a lot of the stuff for us. Free gas grill, a pergola type of thing, tools, Christmas decorations. They always apologized profusely for the intrusion and I always said you can use our house ANY time. It ended after about a year when the guy got another job. I cried.
#35
My current job as a senior video editor for Giphy. Amazing company, amazing coworkers, and I get to make fun content all day. Couldn't be happier.
#36
"county park manager" It was a smallish park with like 20 camp sites. Other than collecting envelopes with cash for the campsites and selling firewood twice a day, all I did was hike beautiful trails, shoot the s**t with chill campers, and get stoned at night and sleep in the cabin. Only downside is the hot august nights. I can't take heat at all and obviously no ac in the little ranger cabin. A few sleepless sweaty nights, but not the fun kind. If the job paid any decent money I would have dropped out of college and done that forever.
Ranger Kanootsen 1 year ago
I don't mind the hot august nights, personally. Makes me sleep more comfortably. But the mosquitoes? NO NO NO
#37
Overnight shelf stocking at Target. Just got to put my head down, do some work, and not deal with any sort of BS.
#38
I had a job as the night watchman for a quiet, gated community in Los Angeles. From 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm, I had to be 'on guard', greeting residents and guests as they returned for the evening. After 11:00 pm I could do whatever I wanted as long as I was awake and paying attention."
I'd watch movies on a portable DVD player (this was from 2012 to 2015), play games on my laptop, read books, or just chill out until 5:00 am when the next guard came in. I watched the entire 30-hour version of the WW2 documentary series 'The World at War' and read so many books.
Cyd Cherise 1 year ago
Excellent series! I watched it on TV when it first came out in 1973. The episode about the concentration camps deeply affected me, I was 8. It was completely shocking to me the horrors inflicted on the Jewish people and other "undesirables." We must be ever vigilant lest it happen again.
#39
GameStop around 2006.
There were way too many in the area and ours was the most inconvenient to get to meaning we were never that busy and the majority of our customers were dope regulars who'd come in and shoot the s**t.
As a broke highschool kid, being able to just borrow any used game, play it, and bring it back was nearly more in monetary value as my minimum wage paycheck.
On particularly slow nights, we'd open the displays and swap out the demo discs for regular games and just play Guitar Hero or Madden or whatever.
Easily the most fun I ever had at a job.
#40
Work from home. Accounting. I no longer have to deal with office culture or transit. I can blast music, watch TV, listen to podcasts.
#41
Worked on the production side of a TV show that is no longer on air. I was on the low end of the totem pole, but didn't realize how good I had it. Was able to go to school, pay bills, and I was very good at all of my regular duties. It was also easily accessible by public transit. In my youth, I thought all jobs would be like that. I was wrong. It would be another decade or so before I had a job I liked nearly as much.
Sunshine Sunshine 1 year ago
I feel you! I have the same with my first job, thought all jobs would be relatively easy, your manger and owners would be decent, and coworkers would care about the work and each other, boy was I wrong!
#42
Working at a care home for elderly/disabled. I could afford it because my grandfather bought me a small house, and made enough to cover the other essentials. It was far from the best income I ever had, but it was the best for me as I was very happy there. My kids were able to earn their own spending money during this time so it worked out.
#43
Chef at an American Legion. My wife and I ran everything in the kitchen. And all the people we met were awesome. The vet stories we heard were incredible. We were open 5 days a week and Saturday for dinner. We would often roam around the dining room or the patrons would come into kitchen which we were welcomed. A lot of time if we were real busy a vet would volunteer to clean tables and do dishes. The memory and friends we made after 12 years are still in our minds. We moved out of state and about 4 years after we left visited and first thing the commander said when he saw us was you want a job? And everyone there welcomed us. However it was time for us to retire. Anyway we both still miss the job and the members and others at the American Legion. Just want to add everything was homemade and my wife made soup daily from scratch.
#44
Loved working at blockbuster (RIP). My boss set aside a Skyrim copy and gave me off for a couple of days to play it, knowing I was a huge fan of ES. 10 free rentals a week. I watched so many gems during that year. All I did was clean, talk about movies and games, stock, and try to sell their pass. When we were closing, I would stash the things I wanted in my dedicated bin. Probably bought around 500 movies for maybe $100 bucks. They were anywhere from .10 to .25.
#45
I worked as a darkroom technician at a mid sized photolab. I was able to do and fix everything we had but my favorite was hand printing enlargements. I had a stereo in my darkroom two enlargers and a large paper processor. I got reacquainted with Pink Floyd.
#46
Definitely Roller Coaster operator at Cedar Point. Grinding cars full of humans to a halt on a dime became an art form. I found so much weed and stash on that ride during walkdowns it funded my entire drunken youth.
#47
Aircraft commander on a C-141(heavy cargo jet, USAF), at age 26. I thought I died and went to heaven. This was around 1971.
#48
Postman. At royal mail. Did part time for a month. Stress free early to work but you are done at 1pm.
#49
Vending delivery, you always have lunch and get paid to stock up machines. 3 hours of work and get paid like around $600 on commissions. What a life.....
THE COOL ZACH 1 year ago (edited)
Maybe I should get that job, the only reason why I like high school is because they got vending machines, and my old school did not!😆
#50
Mine was bartender at a small country club. Easy job, decent tips. Same people over and over and they were still impressed when I remembered their drink order. Plus old women just love me. It was a chill couple of summers during Covid.
Final score:
8points
#51
Anesthesia Technician in a Operating Room. I got to help helpless patients, advocate for them when they went under anesthesia, watch all kinds of surgeries, and got to bounce questions off people a hell of a lot smarter than me. It was a great stepping stone into the medical field when I was young and figuring out what I wanted to do. God I miss that job!
#52
Redfin I used to open doors and say "This is the living room" "This is the kitchen" and I was paid well. My best month was 13k and I was paid per showing they scheduled.
#53
Honestly, being in the army. Yeah it’s toxic, but it’s also really supportive once you are accepted. All you really have to do be accepted is pull your weight. Especially as a young soldier, it’s you and everyone else versus the higher ranking NCOs and officers. You all get nice and trauma bonded and they become your family. I’ve never worked anywhere else where I could just be myself. Even now I’m in another profession that professes brotherhood this and brotherhood that, but it’s all about participating in the hive mind to be accepted. It’s b******t. I learned I could be myself and fly my freak flag in the army and as a result I’ve never been able to fit in anywhere since. I’ve been out 13 years and I’m still close friends with many of those guys. I honestly wish I had stayed in. I also totally get why guys who’ve done time think to themselves, “f**k it, I’ll go back to prison”.
Phil Green 1 year ago
I served for twenty-two years. I am now in my sixties and I have a nice job, which I have had for ten years now, working alongside all three British armed services. They are the people I understand, and there is mutual respect. The pay is terrible, but the camaraderie is second to none.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I will never go back to prison, if I have anything to say about it.
#54
Golf course cart attendant. I got bags from the parking lot, cleaned clubs after round, made decent tips and played for free every day at an incredible course. I worked from 6-2, then played from 230-dark. No worries or stress, good times! I hope to have the same job in my retirement.
#55
I had full time gig as a night watchman for quite a few years. I would work every other week and have every other week off. Would basically sit in a reception and make a couple of rounds during the night. Basically read books or watched TV-series or movies all night long. The pay was great too. I quit when I realised it was holding me back. Comfort is the death of any type of growth.
Oskar vanZandt 1 year ago
I was a corporate security officer and my favourite shift was 15:00-23:00. Activity much as OP, but not overnight as I couldn't manage sleep deprivation...
#56
Worked at an arcade on the beach during summers in SE US when I was a teenager. Met so many girls. Expert in all arcade games especially foosball.
#57
I currently work as a bartender during the weekends and barista during the week. love what i do but i wish the pay was a bit better.
#58
Philosophy Instructor at a University. I absolutely loved it but left due to no full time position and not paying the bills.
#59
Manager of communications for regional airline. Flew to every airport we had service to install or upgrade computers. Maintained reservations center. Got to fly damn near free, first class whenever I traveled. One day after lunch, we were bankrupt. AT&T hired me since I had been their customer. One door closes, another opens.
#60
The best job I’ve ever had was as an organizational change management trainer. I basically created a ton of PowerPoints, lesson plans, user guides, FAQs, and used an awesome program called SAP Enable Now. My favorite part was delivering the training and making sure everyone felt comfortable with the upcoming changes. I’m sure most of you have received terrible job training and dealt with supervisors or management who either get mad that you don’t know everything or just say, “Well, I guess you’ll have to figure it out!” Having experienced that myself, this job was a godsend. It allowed me to ensure that my trainees never had to go through the same frustrating experience. It’s an amazing career if you’re into that sort of thing.
shankShaw deReemer 1 year ago
I'm a teacher but would love to do something like this. Any tips?
#61
Confined space rescue standby team at a power plant. 12 hour shifts, 21 days straight $55/hr. Did absolutely no work for 21 days. But lots of training to earn that job lol.
#62
Strictly a side hustle — spent 8 years as a clarinetist in a local church orchestra. I wasn’t a member but they were quite wealthy and had a very good music ministry. The ministers were all very nice, extremely organized and never pressured me to join. The music was not difficult but still satisfying to play, thanks to the quality of musicians in the group. Got paid for Wednesday rehearsals and Sunday services. Had to give it up in 2016 when rehearsals begins interfering with picking up kiddos from school. Fortunately I never felt a MAGA surge building. And I’ve been invited back a few times for one-off gigs since and still didn’t sense they were getting crazy. I hope that’s the case. I have nothing but fond memories and felt blessed being paid for something I am usually willing to do for free.
#63
My current one, probably. I work 3 12's and get paid pretty well for my position. 3 day work week is top tier. Runner-up would be the lifeguard job I had in college, at an outdoor pool in a very bad neighborhood. That was fun as hell.
OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
I didn't get paid well but I used to do 3 12s and it was perfect! I could pick up and extra day or two, get a bunch of overtime and still have at least 2 full days off.
#64
I was a SalesForce Solutions Architect, hired to be there to support one whale client... but the client almost never needed help, and when they did, it was not particularly hard. I worked on a few smaller clients like Jimmy Buffet, but for the most part I got paid almost 10k a month to be a dad. Like a total moron, I quit to be the lead digital manager at a huge agency with some friends. 3 years later I was layed of.
#65
Whale watching tours in Baja Mexico. But I could barely afford to live. The pay sucked. :(.
#66
Honestly the job I most enjoyed was a brief stint at retail in Woolworths. Great group of coworkers, loved chatting to and helping customers, varied and active workload. Miss that job but could never make a career out of it.
Griffy 1 year ago
I don't think so. Apparently the chain went out of business in 1997.
Load More Replies... #67
The summer between my junior and senior year in college, I worked at a small, family-owned pharmacy in my apartment complex. I’ll I did all day was smoke cigarettes (it was the early 90s and I no longer smoke), read the Weekly World News and chat with neighborhood characters all day.
#68
Cutting grass at a cemetery. Easygoing, good vibes, physical activity...money was not for for survival though.
#69
I guess it depends on how we're defining best. Best paying is my current job. Most fulfilling? Working at a bowling pro shop. I had a pretty good reputation for setting up people's equipment for them and had good enough rapport that people would come from hours away for me to handle their stuff or would have it delivered to the shop and pay to have it shipped to them.
#70
Social media team at SiriusXM. The call center covered everything from sales, tech support, legal... Hell I think there was even a marine department for boats. Social media was the cushiest gig. Every department was in a walled garden and couldn't access the internet except for social media and not only that but it was their job to post on Facebook and Twitter. We would only get like 12 calls a shift and the same amount of chat requests and other than that we were free to use social media. I mean at the end of the day it was like any other call center job but what made it nice was having access to the Internet. I remember the only website tech support had outside the walled garden was wikipedia and it made tech support so much more bearable considering how monotonous the work was.
#71
Store support work, mostly restructuring. My work hours were totally random, I rarely worked in the same store for more than a few days at a time, occasionally got to travel to cool places and thrived in the chaos of it all. It was also really satisfying work because you could see the effect you had on things in real time. The only problem was that it was a zero hour contract with absolutely no guarantees, so it wasn't very sustainable long-term.
Vera Diblikova 1 year ago
My friend in Berlin (BRD) had a work for municipality - to throw a circle onto a certain green and rate all plant in the circle, write, throw somewhere anew,,etc. The whole day to day. Some botanical research.
#72
Was a line cook at a Japanese restaurant that specialized in matcha, so the actual kitchen was kind of an afterthought. The baristas and bakers had the hardest job by FAR. As for me, I was deep frying chicken katsu and getting high on my breaks. Every now and then they would have a mistake ice cream parfait that I would scarf down without getting in any trouble. I was fed very well. Saved a lot of money on food. Hard work still especially the lunch rushes but it was all s**t I was used to, and very good at. Had some cool buddies- I liked practically all my coworkers. Some boss switch ups made it harder in the end but there was no hard feelings when I left, they knew it was coming, my boss actually supported me in my dream career. Was there for barely 9 months, it was tough balancing that job with my other pursuits but I couldn’t have asked for a better life transition. (Thanks Jasmine and Lindsay!!!!) Current career is kind of kicking my a*s right now but having that line cook job really saved me during a hard time.
#73
My second job I'm at. Worked miserably at an animal hospital. Super toxic environment. But moved to IT and have a wonderful boss and manager. It's insane the atmosphere and the difference. I'm learning IT, they aren't hard on me and I'm enjoying my time.
Vera Diblikova 1 year ago
I worked ib various positions (secretary, accountant etc.) allways with women. At least, my last work was in a little factory with a LOT of men. What a difference! I enjoy it, so much fun!
#74
My current dishwashing one. it's busting down a lot of dishes at 8am, but I come in already baked af and ready to work with my headphones on my head. i have a lot of freedom when i'm working in my dish pit, and honestly, i love it. i get to be in my zone, melt my brain while i scrub the dishes down, and i get free food. in fact, i'm starting to make coffee experiments that is me just turning bog standard hotel coffee, into decent not-starbucks coffee, but definitely damn good coffee. tidbit, creamy peanut butter + chocolate syrup + chocolate chips = Reese's! 😋.
Oskar vanZandt 1 year ago
I worked as a dish/pan washer and also enjoyed working on my own and being left to get on with it... I'm self employed now and spend quite a bit of time alone during my work day, free to listen to audiobooks or a wide range of music at my preferred volume... LOUD!
What do you think ?
Oskar vanZandt 1 year ago
For me, the most important aspect of any job (I realised later in life) is autonomy... Variety and flexibility are also very important to me.
Ali H M Salehuddin 1 year ago (edited)
Below are not the easiest jobs, but they are certainly very satisfying. You voluntarily do free work to a person, a community or animals and post them online. The compliments and encouragement you received are very satisfying. You also got paid from YouTube and received donations from your viewers. (1) A group of volunteers in Namibia rescues seals from entanglement with discarded fishing lines. A physically demanding job because you have to catch and to hold the seals while simultaneously cutting them free. The seals are quite strong and can bite you. A successful rescue is very satisfying and rewarding. https://youtu.be/CuSg6TSdvXY?si=DUm6wFiWbgvUfe5R (2) Storm drain unclogging. You unclog public drains on roads and other public properties and post them online. A hard job and you must not be squeamish at bugs and dirts. Again, seeing water able to freely flow again afterwards is very encouraging. https://youtu.be/D9Clzx_L628?si=4yWocPn2JzJGRApo
KnightOwl 1 year ago (edited)
I worked for a charity that aimed to encourage children to be more active. We would visit schools and community centres and spend around 30 minutes dancing and around 90 minutes of inflatables. We had huge inflatable play areas, with climbing walls, slides etc. (Basically an inflatable soft play) The kids always loved it. The best thing is I'd start work at either 11am or 2pm depending on what we were doing that day, (school visits were during the day, community centre events were in the evening) "work" for 2-3hrs then spend around 5hrs just hanging out in the small boxing gym we were based in. We would spend hrs every day playing cards and talking s**t, and most of us started taking (free) boxing lessons with the boxers who used the gym. There was a small team of just 8 of us and we all got on amazingly well, most of us are still friends 20yrs later. Best job ever.
Foxxy says goodbye. 1 year ago
I started working last year in a field I had never even thought of only 2 years ago. I love my job, it's pretty cruisy (most days) and the people I work with are awesome. I truly lucked out. Pay isn't terrible, but it's not the greatest, especially for how vital my role is though. I work in sterilisation services. I clean/decontaminate, set up trays/wrap and sterilise medical equipment ready for surgeries.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I would have hated most of these jobs. I am a barely adequate soft can-opener, though, so there's that.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
Don't listen to those sharp pawed little ratbags, you are an admirable soft can opener
Load More Replies... Nom E. De Plume 1 year ago
My current job. I am a walking French Quarter tour guide in New Orleans. My expenses are low, so I can support myself with this part-time job, and generally enjoy my life. Met so super great people, and made some very wonderful friends.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
I love how my work helps other people (translator/language project manager), but I feel like I get paid absolute s**t for what I do. We have such an important role helping people communicate across language and cultural barriers, yet many people see us as nothing more than commodities and are just like, "Pfft, who the hell needs translators. I'm just going to run this bad boy through Google Translate and post in on my website." It's infuriating and sometimes I wish I never went into the field.
Steve Hall 1 year ago
I worked weekends at our local flea market for about 5 years selling beer and pizza. It was a blast and I got free beer and pizza when nobody was looking.
Bertha Madott 1 year ago
I worked as a young teenager at an end-of-summer annual fair. In the food building at a booth. Soooooooo enjoyable. Free samples! Other kids! Midway rides! I loved it.
Oskar vanZandt 1 year ago
For me, the most important aspect of any job (I realised later in life) is autonomy... Variety and flexibility are also very important to me.
Ali H M Salehuddin 1 year ago (edited)
Below are not the easiest jobs, but they are certainly very satisfying. You voluntarily do free work to a person, a community or animals and post them online. The compliments and encouragement you received are very satisfying. You also got paid from YouTube and received donations from your viewers. (1) A group of volunteers in Namibia rescues seals from entanglement with discarded fishing lines. A physically demanding job because you have to catch and to hold the seals while simultaneously cutting them free. The seals are quite strong and can bite you. A successful rescue is very satisfying and rewarding. https://youtu.be/CuSg6TSdvXY?si=DUm6wFiWbgvUfe5R (2) Storm drain unclogging. You unclog public drains on roads and other public properties and post them online. A hard job and you must not be squeamish at bugs and dirts. Again, seeing water able to freely flow again afterwards is very encouraging. https://youtu.be/D9Clzx_L628?si=4yWocPn2JzJGRApo
KnightOwl 1 year ago (edited)
I worked for a charity that aimed to encourage children to be more active. We would visit schools and community centres and spend around 30 minutes dancing and around 90 minutes of inflatables. We had huge inflatable play areas, with climbing walls, slides etc. (Basically an inflatable soft play) The kids always loved it. The best thing is I'd start work at either 11am or 2pm depending on what we were doing that day, (school visits were during the day, community centre events were in the evening) "work" for 2-3hrs then spend around 5hrs just hanging out in the small boxing gym we were based in. We would spend hrs every day playing cards and talking s**t, and most of us started taking (free) boxing lessons with the boxers who used the gym. There was a small team of just 8 of us and we all got on amazingly well, most of us are still friends 20yrs later. Best job ever.
Foxxy says goodbye. 1 year ago
I started working last year in a field I had never even thought of only 2 years ago. I love my job, it's pretty cruisy (most days) and the people I work with are awesome. I truly lucked out. Pay isn't terrible, but it's not the greatest, especially for how vital my role is though. I work in sterilisation services. I clean/decontaminate, set up trays/wrap and sterilise medical equipment ready for surgeries.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I would have hated most of these jobs. I am a barely adequate soft can-opener, though, so there's that.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
Don't listen to those sharp pawed little ratbags, you are an admirable soft can opener
Load More Replies... Nom E. De Plume 1 year ago
My current job. I am a walking French Quarter tour guide in New Orleans. My expenses are low, so I can support myself with this part-time job, and generally enjoy my life. Met so super great people, and made some very wonderful friends.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
I love how my work helps other people (translator/language project manager), but I feel like I get paid absolute s**t for what I do. We have such an important role helping people communicate across language and cultural barriers, yet many people see us as nothing more than commodities and are just like, "Pfft, who the hell needs translators. I'm just going to run this bad boy through Google Translate and post in on my website." It's infuriating and sometimes I wish I never went into the field.
Steve Hall 1 year ago
I worked weekends at our local flea market for about 5 years selling beer and pizza. It was a blast and I got free beer and pizza when nobody was looking.
Bertha Madott 1 year ago
I worked as a young teenager at an end-of-summer annual fair. In the food building at a booth. Soooooooo enjoyable. Free samples! Other kids! Midway rides! I loved it.
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