“If Salary Wasn’t A Consideration, What Is The Most Attractive Profession?” (30 Answers)
Interview With ExpertWhen we are kids, people often ask us what we want to be when we grow up, and we happily come up with answers like “magician”, “gladiator”, or even something as ridiculous as “samurai”. But as we start getting older, we grow out of these dream jobs and start working real jobs in the real world. Sometimes, we even settle for work that we don’t even like; however, as it fetches good money, we slog on!
But this Reddit post had netizens looking for the wildest and the most interesting jobs that they found attractive. And some of these amusing answers will surely put a smile on your face. So, scroll down and check them out for yourself!
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My dream job is no job. doing whatever I want to do everyday without thinking about income.
Pro bono veterinarian. Treat animals that would otherwise go untreated.
Not everyone has the luxury of choice. Many people have to settle for a profession with a big paycheck because, let's face it, not all attractive jobs can pay our bills, hence the term dream job. "Talking about pursuing a dream career, it's definitely challenging or speculative yet a long-term and satisfactory alternative," Apoorva Kale, an industrial and organizational psychology practitioner, told Bored Panda during an interview.
She said that people generally thrive on two drives, intrinsic and extrinsic. The ones with passion and aspiration for their dream career flourish on intrinsic motivators, while those who believe compensation/benefits are more important to them thrive on extrinsic motivators.
Librarian in a world where you're free to read any book you wish without fear. Imagine having time to just read while helping others find a love of books.
I didn't appreciate this when I was younger but our school librarian was really chill and would basically read all day. Win.
I was the librarian for home room for 3 years - I read 3 complete encyclopedias - every damned page
Load More Replies...I know two librarians, and they don't get to read books on the jobs. They don't get to read for a living.
It‘s daunting that there are places where anyone might be afraid to read any book.
I do love being a librarian! Unfortunately, I am a school librarian in Texas where there are fears of books being banned and no education funding and the library position being one of the first to go. We try to focus on the kids and the books which are the best part of the job. I read like crazy and love it but no, there isn't time on the job.
Librarian here... Sorry, but we do'nt get to chill and read all day. We WORK. We do programs, outreach, teach classes, paperwork, etc.
I grew up with no restrictions on what I could read. Went to the library several times a week, often with my father. I felt so fortunate that we had a really good library and a father who allowed me plenty of latitude. I had no taste for bad books like porn, so that may have made a difference. But I was never once told I couldn't read something I wanted to read. And the librarians were wonderful.
Librarians don't have time to read on the job. You are romanticising our job and it's simply not the reality.
One of those ghosts from A Christmas Carol that haunts rich people and traumatizes them into not being a******s. I would k*ll for that job.
Quality tester for a hammock manufacturer.
Test 1. Reading in hammock
Test 2. Napping in hammock (15-90 min)
Test 3. Sleeping in hammock (90+ min).
But of course, if we were given a choice where salary didn't matter, who wouldn't want to do something they truly loved that made them happy? However, 57% of Americans favor capitalism. And getting that really sweet paycheck is what many people look forward to at the end of the month, even if they do something they don't want to.
But Apoorva says, "Eventually, working in an environment that doesn’t conform to oneself holistically will always feel draining. So, not pursuing a dream career can adversely affect an individual's mental health."
Holding baby animals.
If you knew that the undesirable 9-5 work that you do every day could impact your mental health, would you still do it? "When you choose a job you don't like, it's mostly about satisfying immediate needs or circumstances and is very short-lived," stressed Apoorva.
She also mentioned that when people continue this way, doing something with no interest that gives them zero satisfaction, they might stagnate and ultimately burn out. And that does sound reasonable, right? Just imagine doing something you dislike every single day for years, phew! Sounds terrifying, doesn't it?
Can I be the new David Attenborough? He's getting on a bit and should retire.
I'd love to be paid to travel around the world and then provide dramatic voiceovers to things.
Steve Irwin's job.
Rest in peace you absolute f*****g legend, I forgive the stingray because I know you would too.
On the other hand, we have to face reality, because money does matter. Other experts suggest that if you can't get your dream job, you can try to find one that closely aligns with your skills, values, and interests. That way, it won't burn you out and at least give you a sense of fulfillment.
Another expert from the University of Pennsylvania says, "There is ALWAYS going to be something you do not like about your job, and that’s okay! It takes years of experience and maybe even bouncing around a little bit to figure out the right fit for you."
Doggy daycare!
Yep, with boarding facilities too. A Dogtel. And you can add a kitty daycare/boarding—-a Catel, or should that be Cattel?—-on the other side of the building. A place that’s a nice, well kept, squeaky clean, and 1000% fun for the animals place, with dedicated, loyal, loving, and qualified staff taking care of the fur babies. I would be kind of firm when hiring help, though. Any hint of not liking both dogs AND cats, and it would be a sorry, not a good fit, thanks for applying and goodbye from me.
Paleontologist.
It would be amazing and so fulfilling to add to human knowledge of the history of life on earth. But you have to be creative (or very lucky) to make even a meager living is that field.
So, if you do get your dream job, well and good! But in case you don't, try not to be disheartened. Look for alternatives where you feel you might be the right fit. Who knows, you might end up falling in love with it!
And like these netizens, don't forget to tell us about the work that you would love to do. Just type your heart out in the comments!
90% of what makes or breaks a job for me is co-workers and management.
That being said, working at a comic shop is a literal dream some days. You deal with a lot of people who are passionate about what you are selling.
You could be Stuart! :) Although he always seemed to hate his job...
Freelance musician. Just play music all the time, not worry about selling out or stressing over gigs and worrying if the bride is going to be cool or not. Make music for me and if you like it, cool.
Teacher.
I'd love to teach classes where attendance isn't mandatory, where people come because they want to learn!
Psychic detective.
Billionaires daughter.
A legit billionaire, that is. Not a wannabe who wastes fortunes because he’s too stupid to know how to run companies his daddy keeps giving him, then lies about what a business wunderkind he is—-and lies about how much money he actually has, and I mean cash and tangible assets, not potential money that may never materialize and pure b******t.
I'm a Software Engineer, and I'd still do that. I do actually enjoy my work, and if salary wouldn't be an issue, I'd just do it better since I wouldn't have to worry about money.
Professional tour guide!
If it was a historical location and I could dress according to the time period of the event and not only explain what happened but show as much of the context of the time as I could, then hell yeah, I’d be loving every minute of it. It would be like time traveling to the past for me—-and would tide me over until they finally get off their asses and build that damned Time Machine already, ffs.
Philosophy professor.
First class, "why are any of us here?" walk out...that's it. Exam in three months. lol
It's really telling that most jobs described are either about caring for another living being (animals, search and rescues, coffee shop...), transmitting knowledge (paleontologist, tour guide, philosopher..) or creativity (baker, musician, artist, programmer...). Not too many people dreaming about spreadsheets and asset management huh ?
Oh, me! I'd like to go back into auditing if I could.
Load More Replies...I'd run a small CSA biofarm with low key campground in the food forest. And have a sensory garden with play forest to rent out to dog owners who want a safe space to let their dogs run free. And a small Japanese garden with animal park and private wellness B&B. Overarching all these things would be a non profit that organises activities for people who are lonely and/or have less financial means. Think a bimonthly restaurant with cheap three course meal with products from the farm, workshops to learn new skills and meet people, small fairs and events for socializing...
Kudos to all the men who resisted the temptation to answer "sperm donor".
I would fix small engines and lawnmowers. I love the work but I could not live on that pay.
I used to be a newspaper reporter and editor. Nobody's getting rich doing that, but the real "if money was no object" issue is just keeping the paper running - I'm not in newspapers anymore because my paper got bought out by a rival and closed. In a 50 mile radius of our office, another 4 (out of 10) newspapers closed in the 9 years since - most of them had been operating for around 100 years. And I would go back to it in a heartbeat. I really felt like what I did mattered, and that's more than most people can say about their jobs.
Food artist. Not commonly known but to get a nice picture, they embellish the food with the craziest things. For example a nicely roasted chicken is usually treated with a few strokes of dark brown shoe polish to make it look extra scrumptious.
I would mix a public library with a coffe shop with a candy shop where everything would be free for people except real as.sholes like Elon Musk ans his rancid ideas. That way I could get all my addictions at once. Any billionaire among you interested in funding this project?
Researcher. Travel globally, doing research in areas of interest (in my case, pro-democracy movements worldwide) and then come back and share it through various media. I've done it in the past, but I need a semi-stable income and that kind of takes the energy that would be needed, not to mention the time.
Folks, I get that animals are awesome and caring for them is cool, but I didn't expect half this list to be some sort of animal caretaker. Be more interesting than that. It's a big world out there.
Owner of a new and used book store located in a funky old, converted house with a nice backyard perfect for reading.
I’d probably do art full time, but I’d also like to try going back to university to study paleoanthropology and see where that leads me. Right now it’s such a huge financial commitment that I can’t really justify “trying” it.
Store clerk at one of those hole-in-the-wall second-hand bookshops that are so crowded you barely fit in.
I would retire right away and volunteer for local schools: grade school through high school. I loved it when my kids were in school full-time.
I can't imagine ANY job that I'd be genuinely excited to go to every day....or even more than a day or two a week. Every job eventually feels like it's work rather than play.
I'd do what I'm trained to do now...phlebotomy. I love it. I just can't find a job. I'm also a nerd for traffic patterns so it would be kind of cool to do city planning or whatever area let's me plan roads, etc.
I wanted to be a marine biologist. I became a nurse for the job security. I'm a good nurse, it's just not my burning passion. I spend most of my free time scuba diving and recently got into surveying areas for establishing stone reefs to help the marine wildlife thrive.
Sounds like you're dream is middle management and nitpicking 🤔
Load More Replies...I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic as a kid - but then digital photography/editing came around and pretty much killed real experiences - I miss original film, but know even if it came back it'd never be the same!
I'd be someone ridiculously famous who's always in high demand as a public speaker. But. I would only go to tiny little organizations with a slim-to-none programming budget and speak for free.
I love my current job, but I think sometimes about a food kitchen / employment sort of service for the homeless or needy. 100% voluntary for all involved. But they would come in and we'd work together on some big woodworking project. I'd teach them useful skills and provide food. No worries if you miss days or whatever, just come when you can. When the project is done, we sell it and they get the profits. Or, maybe someone could donate a big property and we could build a community of tiny houses on it, and all the furniture, and anybody who helped build it could live there. I don't know if it could actually work, but it's something I think about sometimes. Maybe when I retire.
It's really telling that most jobs described are either about caring for another living being (animals, search and rescues, coffee shop...), transmitting knowledge (paleontologist, tour guide, philosopher..) or creativity (baker, musician, artist, programmer...). Not too many people dreaming about spreadsheets and asset management huh ?
Oh, me! I'd like to go back into auditing if I could.
Load More Replies...I'd run a small CSA biofarm with low key campground in the food forest. And have a sensory garden with play forest to rent out to dog owners who want a safe space to let their dogs run free. And a small Japanese garden with animal park and private wellness B&B. Overarching all these things would be a non profit that organises activities for people who are lonely and/or have less financial means. Think a bimonthly restaurant with cheap three course meal with products from the farm, workshops to learn new skills and meet people, small fairs and events for socializing...
Kudos to all the men who resisted the temptation to answer "sperm donor".
I would fix small engines and lawnmowers. I love the work but I could not live on that pay.
I used to be a newspaper reporter and editor. Nobody's getting rich doing that, but the real "if money was no object" issue is just keeping the paper running - I'm not in newspapers anymore because my paper got bought out by a rival and closed. In a 50 mile radius of our office, another 4 (out of 10) newspapers closed in the 9 years since - most of them had been operating for around 100 years. And I would go back to it in a heartbeat. I really felt like what I did mattered, and that's more than most people can say about their jobs.
Food artist. Not commonly known but to get a nice picture, they embellish the food with the craziest things. For example a nicely roasted chicken is usually treated with a few strokes of dark brown shoe polish to make it look extra scrumptious.
I would mix a public library with a coffe shop with a candy shop where everything would be free for people except real as.sholes like Elon Musk ans his rancid ideas. That way I could get all my addictions at once. Any billionaire among you interested in funding this project?
Researcher. Travel globally, doing research in areas of interest (in my case, pro-democracy movements worldwide) and then come back and share it through various media. I've done it in the past, but I need a semi-stable income and that kind of takes the energy that would be needed, not to mention the time.
Folks, I get that animals are awesome and caring for them is cool, but I didn't expect half this list to be some sort of animal caretaker. Be more interesting than that. It's a big world out there.
Owner of a new and used book store located in a funky old, converted house with a nice backyard perfect for reading.
I’d probably do art full time, but I’d also like to try going back to university to study paleoanthropology and see where that leads me. Right now it’s such a huge financial commitment that I can’t really justify “trying” it.
Store clerk at one of those hole-in-the-wall second-hand bookshops that are so crowded you barely fit in.
I would retire right away and volunteer for local schools: grade school through high school. I loved it when my kids were in school full-time.
I can't imagine ANY job that I'd be genuinely excited to go to every day....or even more than a day or two a week. Every job eventually feels like it's work rather than play.
I'd do what I'm trained to do now...phlebotomy. I love it. I just can't find a job. I'm also a nerd for traffic patterns so it would be kind of cool to do city planning or whatever area let's me plan roads, etc.
I wanted to be a marine biologist. I became a nurse for the job security. I'm a good nurse, it's just not my burning passion. I spend most of my free time scuba diving and recently got into surveying areas for establishing stone reefs to help the marine wildlife thrive.
Sounds like you're dream is middle management and nitpicking 🤔
Load More Replies...I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic as a kid - but then digital photography/editing came around and pretty much killed real experiences - I miss original film, but know even if it came back it'd never be the same!
I'd be someone ridiculously famous who's always in high demand as a public speaker. But. I would only go to tiny little organizations with a slim-to-none programming budget and speak for free.
I love my current job, but I think sometimes about a food kitchen / employment sort of service for the homeless or needy. 100% voluntary for all involved. But they would come in and we'd work together on some big woodworking project. I'd teach them useful skills and provide food. No worries if you miss days or whatever, just come when you can. When the project is done, we sell it and they get the profits. Or, maybe someone could donate a big property and we could build a community of tiny houses on it, and all the furniture, and anybody who helped build it could live there. I don't know if it could actually work, but it's something I think about sometimes. Maybe when I retire.
