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“I’ve Had 6 Lung Infections In The Past Year”: 30 People Reveal The Biggest Downsides To The Careers They Chose
Interview
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had, pandas? Was it working in a high-stress restaurant where cooks and customers constantly blamed you for their own mistakes and berated you for being too slow? Or was it a mind-numbing desk job that sucked the life out of you and wasn’t nearly worth it for the disappointing paychecks you earned? No matter what your preferences are when choosing a place of employment, I’m sure you can relate to having at least one job that you wouldn’t wish upon your worst enemy.
As it turns out, there are plenty of career paths out there that even the people in them wouldn’t recommend. Last week, Reddit user HalosOpulence asked readers to detail why they wouldn’t recommend their professions to others, and these workers were brutally honest. Below, we’ve gathered their most eye-opening, and frankly unfortunate, responses, so you too can know which career fields to be wary of.
Keep reading to also find an interview with HalosOpulence to hear what inspired this conversation in the first place, and be sure to upvote the replies you resonate with. Then if you’re interested in reading about even more careers that aren’t all they're cracked up to be, check out this Bored Panda article next!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Crime Scene Investigator
17 years of doing it and my therapist agrees it's getting close to long enough. Seeing so many dead people in so many different ways. Murders, suicides, overdoses, infant deaths all take a toll. The pay isn't great and the emotional trauma just compounds. My first day was an autopsy for a 2 year old and I can still picture that kid. I could go on and on but then it's more like a therapy session.
Stephanie Did It 2 years ago
Yet TV shows and movies romanticize this field so much, tons of people dream of doing it.
Fanny 2 years ago
That was me as a teen. Addicted to CSI shows. Then I realized I couldn't even deal with a dead rat.
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Veronica Jean 2 years ago
I actually got a degree and was well on this path when I noticed that while I had been producing art since I was a child, I could not produce it properly the deeper I got in. Then one day we did a crime scene where a woman had taken her dead infant and put her in gym bag. 3 months later I started having sleep paralysis and quickly realized I didn't want to live with that dark view of the world, but I will never forget the things I saw and the things other people told me they saw. I have such a heart for cops.. Yes I know some of them can be total a******s but a lot of them have been through hell and back and are treated terribly. I remember one guy was the chief of police, now retired, and he was telling me that one of his first calls was a woman who's child was missing... They found him drowned in the pool. He said you could still see the muddy footprints of where he had climbed in and it haunted him. Be kind. Even cops go through things. The world needs a lot more kindness 💜
YourLocalLizard 2 years ago
Cousin is a Crime Scene Investigator, tells me he's glad he has that job so no one else has too.
Jennifer Norton 2 years ago
I can only imagine. Crime scene investigators are for sure unsung heroes!
Kate Haslam 2 years ago
My forensic anthropology professor's first career was in law enforcement. Some of our case studies in class were even cases she'd been called in for. Just in case you're brainstorming options.
El Dee 2 years ago
I worked in a stressful career (not seeing death tho) for many years. Quit before it quits you. Dealing with stress all day every day means that you only need one 'major' personal event to send you into full on Major Depressive Disorder. Find something that doesn't cause as much stress and get into it immediately..
Mason Leviticus Martinez 2 years ago
it’s my dream job actually, despite the toll it will take
To hear what inspired this conversation in the first place, we reached out to Reddit user HalosOpulence, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. "We are in times of uncertainty: job insecurity with the rise of technological advancement, the desire to have diversity, inclusion and equality in the workforce, and all the while struggles with the pandemic affecting one’s mental health," she shared.
"Firstly, let me say that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is very exciting. Apps like Chat GPT and Dall-E can formulate their own hypothesis of what something could look like with the intellect of the web. Chat GPT can come up with 'humanlike' responses and could write a song, make recommendations, and can take an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) test," HalosOpulence continued. "Dall-E is able to create images based on a simple text, and can make anything that could look like a human or create a new idea for a company logo."
RELATED:
#2
I'm a scientist. That means you don't make much money, and no-one listens to anything you say.
Corvus 2 years ago
But, but, but this guy on YouTube said the Earth was flat and that "They" are trying to silence him, so he's obviously right :P
Rosie Red 2 years ago
I read a comment once that said, if the earth were flat, cats would have knocked everything off the sides.
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Ray McArdle 2 years ago
Except that it's the scientist that's improving our lives. I have a seven-year old, and I teach him all those things we take for granted that didn't exist before scientists invented.
General Anaesthesia 2 years ago
"...‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge’.” - Isaac Asimov
Madison Pheysey 2 years ago
My dad's a microbiologist and says the exact same thing. You should've seen him during covid
Robin Roper 2 years ago
Thank you scientists. I want these idiots to when they get sick to receive the medical care standard in 1970. They don't believe in modern medicine, contemporary research or up to date care - then none for you!
#3
Librarian. The pay is s**t, especially with the fact that you need a master's to have any meaningful advancement. Master's degree, to make $40-50k.
Also, depending on where are, libraries are just where homeless people go during the day. And a lot of homeless people are perfectly nice and respectful! But enough of them are not.
I normally work in a fairly nice suburban branch where the worst I get is old men coming on to me. I'm pretty lucky. Coworkers at the downtown branch have been grabbed, punched, screamed at, spit at. They find bodily fluids all over the place. They find people overdosed in the bathroom.
I'm sure any customer service position is like this. People think librarians sit and read in a nice, quiet library all day. We do not. We are expected to act as untrained social workers as much as we're expected to recommend books.
devotedtodreams 2 years ago
Not sure if the same applies to the U.S.. but where I live, your clientel (and pay) is quite different depending on if you work in a scientific or public library. I've always worked in libraries - public ones until I found a job at my current workplace, a scientific library. I'll never go back to public libraries, way too noisy! Also, the pay's alright - almost 80K (in Swiss Francs, Bachelor's degree) a year. But living here is quite expensive, so yeah...
RafCo (he/him) 2 years ago
In the US we also have corporate librarians. These are people who work for companies whose purpose it is to catalogue all of the internal documentation that is produced, they also help with doing research, writing reports, etc. They tend to get paid better than public librarians, and fewer people spit on them. A lot of government agencies also have librarians on staff. Federal librarians are payed by the same agency pay scale as everyone else, so they tend to make much better money (maybe $70K/year). Still not a huge amount, but better than $40K.
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Jessica Blankenship 2 years ago
I just seen on the news they've had to close 3 libraries in Colorado because of Meth contamination from the homeless population 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲 S**t is getting crazy
AK to LV 2 years ago
Oh wow! The worse, so far, that I've read about our Las Vegas libraries was the problem with people signing up for the public computers to watch porn. Kids of all ages would be able to walk by and see it. The libraries had to spend a lot of money for separate, family area computers and special desks where the monitors aren't so obvious. Public library, first amendment issues in restricting someone's access to 'information'.
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The Blinking Duck 2 years ago
This is so true. Academic libraries are just as bad. Low pay, and since it's a big bureaucracy, no one cares about you.
Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
When I was a kid, this was my dream job. Guess I dodged a bullet there.
Olive Harper 2 years ago
Maybe you could switch from being A librarian to being THE Librarian. Just go find The Library or get an invitation and then you get to go on awesome adventures gathering magical artifacts. (Anyone get the reference? no? okay.)
Denise Aitchison 2 years ago
The job of librarians had really changed over the last 30 years or so. The addition of homeless people as well as the advancement of technology are two instances.
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
I used to work as a library page when I was first starting out in my linguistics career. Most of the customers were incredibly kind, but I was threatened a couple times by some crazy patrons who refused to pay for lost or damaged goods. Also, shelf reading (arranging books by their call number) books in the children's section always led to discovering sticky or snotty book pages.
"However, to contend, some developments are getting so powerful that AI is 'replacing' the jobs of others," HalosOpulence shared. "Job elimination could be as simple as being an admission clerk at the hospital. Of course, this is phenomenal news of return on investment (ROI) for the company itself, as they wouldn’t have to pay a human to do the work, but it’s very upsetting news to the worker that was let go. I’m unsure of what the future will be like, perhaps there will be a global income for all and we can live in augmented realities together (AR) or maybe there will be limits of AI ethical practice where we can still sustain our jobs and live to co-exist."
#4
Pediatric cancer scientist. A lot of the kids that end up on our research protocol are going to die. Fewer of them are going to die than if they were *not* on our research protocol, but the prognosis for the "we've tried everything else" cases that get to us is not great.
Stephanie Did It 2 years ago
My sister is an RN specializing in oncology care. One year she was invited to her sons' summer camp to be the nurse for that year's session. She told me it was the best two weeks she'd ever had because no kids died on her watch. She absolutely amazes me.
Lolly Gagger 2 years ago (edited)
I’m a nurse. People at parties trying to break the ice and be funny and show me how much they love gross stuff would often say “omg, you’re a nurse! What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever seen??”. Mate I worked in NICU, paediatric oncology, paediatric burns and paediatric emergency. You don’t actually want to know the answers to that question.
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Alexia 2 years ago
I've done translations and volunteer work for children with cancer. A research protocol may be the only option that child has in order to get treatment. Public hospitals lack basic conditions and standards of care. The latest approved treatments in pediatric oncology are a distant dream that will probably be available in a decade or so. Parents can buy treatment if they are lucky enough to find it or take the child to a hospital in another country, if they can afford the costs; most of the times they don't. I live in an Eastern European country.
Corvus 2 years ago
I've done a lot of medical translations, especially case history files for various patients. Including children. It is a vital skill to be able to "turn off" your emotions while reading and translating the text, otherwise this stuff can really crush you, mentally. And I've read some truly horrifying cases... don't want to think what the parents are going through.
Alexia 2 years ago
Same here. It was the first thing we were told as volunteers: turn off emotions and focus on the translation. But sometimes I found it very hard to do, especially if you met the child or their parents.
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Mario Strada 2 years ago
That's why I wouldn’t be able to work at a pediatric ward or a veterinarian. I cannot stand seeing innocents, human or otherwise, suffer. I was a soldier. I launched tactical nukes (not for real, thankfully) I was taught how to kill people and I'd do it if necessary. But babies, puppies and kittens? No way. I'd break down on the daily.
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
I truly give so much credit to researchers developing new medications and treatments. That has to be such an incredibly difficult job mentally and emotionally. There are so many families and patients relying on you for a cure or treatment to help alleviate some of their truly horrible symptoms. I don't think I could ever have gone into this field because I would get too attached to the people I am trying to help.
Fish Fingers 2 years ago
The phrase 'I had to try and stick the skin back on to make him presentable for the parents' happens a lot more than I would like in my house...
Id row 2 years ago
It's just amazing to me that in this day and age, with all our knowledge and technological advancements, that we haven't cured cancer yet. I think the cure actually has been discovered, but it's just not profitable to cure cancer. There's billions to be made for treating it. As Goldman Sachs asked, "Is curing patients a sustainable business model?" It's disgusting. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/goldman-asks-is-curing-patients-a-sustainable-business-model.html
Greenmantle 2 years ago
The trouble is, cancer is not just one set mutation that occurs in different organs, but many different mutations, occurring at different cell stages, with a lot of variable components to it. If it were one disease, sure, we would expect to have a cure right now. But, unfortunately, it's not. Having said that though, the survival rates of various cancers have improved tremendously since the 1980s.
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I'm a retail store manager. Pay is good. Hours are s**t and I suspect it may have something to do with me hating people.
If you want to see the worst of people, work a face position with the public. They have absolutely no consideration for you, your life, your job, whatever.
Jessica Blankenship 2 years ago
This is one of the reasons I work from home or something that doesn't require a lot of social interaction because people drain me and people also p**s me off, so I'd end up being fired 🤣
Ren Karlej 2 years ago
I work from home too but today I had to spend 2 hours and 20 minutes in an online customer 'service' chat (QuickBooks - naming and shaming). They certainly drained and pissed me off. Wouldn't a) understand problem b) denied problem could even exist and when eventually accept it exists c) wouldn't believe I've tried all their 'solutions' and d) finally made me try a new 'solution' which... drum roll... didn't work (and deleted months of transactions which was terrifying!). I'd mind less but I did ALL the same things in a conversation with them on Monday (bar stage d) and last week. When this financial year ends (just for convenience) they are GONE. Had been known as SlogBooks in our house... now another four-letter word starting with S.
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Fabian Bernard 2 years ago
Ended up with a double burn out in that field. Switched to be a gardener, no regrets, but took a few years to recovers and still having unsecurities sometimes
BenMaharaj 2 years ago
Six weeks in customer service is a life changer for how you view the world and humanity. It’s not fun but I’d recommend it to anyone. It’ll make you a better, more polite person.
AliJanx 2 years ago
Retail 10 years. That experience is why I say please and thank you, would you mind, etc. the only exception is when I'm in a place where the employees and management are so focused on to-go customers that they make their in-front-of-them customers wait. I've "had words" with several grocery store managers because it's not the workers' faults, it's the leadership they're working under.
Rougarou Cher 2 years ago
I work remote support and I find people typing/on the phone are way more often a lot worse than in person.
Mary Hunt Peret 2 years ago
This is true. My oldest works at a gas station/mini mart and the things that get said to them (usually from men, but women are just as bad) make me ill. One of these days I plan to take a day off and just stand next to the counter where she works and start confronting these people. "Excuse me, but what did I just hear come out of your mouth?"
"The reason for my post, 'Why would you not recommend your career?' is because we all have a voice and it needs to be heard," she explained. "The future is unknown and more than ever, we need to have each other’s back and increase our self-awareness because at the end of the day, being kind is what matters to each other. It starts with empathy. People’s lives are impacted by business matters. The reason why voices need to be heard is that these are human lives being impacted in increasingly significant ways."
"The more I read on my post, the more it was heart-felt. Heart-breaking really. A job is supposed to make you feel included, important, and ultimately like you’re needed. They’re not supposed to make us feel like slaves, under-appreciated or easily replaceable," HalosOpulence told Bored Panda. "The commentators on my post did not surprise me because I knew we were struggling. You can see it in their faces, their reactions and responses."
#6
Social work (US) - every system we have to work within is failing or already broken. the trauma these children go through, sometimes at the hands of your own agency (unexpected placement changes), will shatter you. I've been doing it for 4 years and am feeling the cracks... no idea when the break will finally come.
Anti 2 years ago
Therapists are some of the most miserable people I've ever met, and I should know since I am one
Jessica Blankenship 2 years ago
Thats because u have to constantly listen to other peoples problems and that tends to fuckk with mental health. I always wanted to be a psychologist when I was in school until I learned that I would have to complete 10-12 years in college and I had to pay for my college (so I ended up choosing business)
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Ray McArdle 2 years ago
But you do it because you care. Imagine their lives without your help.
Anti 2 years ago
Despite everything, I see benefit happening and that keeps me at it. I really do have so much respect for the people I work with, not my co-workers so much, (therapists give me the creeps actually!) the people I serve, their courage and authenticity. It's a privilege.
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Izzy Curer 2 years ago (edited)
My parents found an old woman wandering on their property a couple months ago. We're talking out in the middle of nowhere. They called the police, since they didn't know where this woman belonged, and ever since then they've been a bit involved in her story. Apparently the woman has brain damage from a car accident that happened several years ago, and is now getting along in years. Plenty of the other neighbors have reported finding her on their property from time to time, as well. Apparently no one was really doing anything about her, so my mom called social services, and basically made them go check on this woman by refusing to get off of the phone until they did. Services confirmed, that day, that the woman was home and alive, but they did nothing else to help her. Then there was a terrible ice storm a couple weeks ago, and the woman hasn't been seen since. People all over the area are appalled at the utter failure of services to help this woman who clearly needed assistance, despite several people calling in. They need an audit.
Imperial Guard 2 years ago
As someone who has been through every step of the mental health system (outpatient to inpatient) as a patient, I couldn't agree more. I don't know how it is outside the US because I've never been. The systems here are all horrible. Everything is built predatorily - meant not to help, but to cause the most pocket-diving per client possible. Systems that are built to help all eventually fall to the depths of money-grabbing. Those who cannot give money have their decisions made for them by those who can, even if they object to those decisions. I remember a kid I met in the mental hospital who needed a lifesaving surgery, but the mental hospital decided not to release them. The kid was given a threat by the hospital to not tell anyone, and it's all completely legal now, since it's too late to sue. I don't know if the kid is alive today. I'm terrified over what things will be like when I'm an adult, and I don't know if it's even worth it to live til then.
Anti 2 years ago
You might find some helpful friends here. Hope so! https://fireweedcollective.org Solidarity! The wisdom of your lived experience is sorely needed
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David H 2 years ago
We also barely train social workers, to the point you can get a MSW in 3 years from finishing HS with many of the rush programs out there. I talked to a LCSW who said they only took 2 courses in clinical to get the degree as part of their social work program, and the clinic hours they need to get signed off on to get licences has no oversight and I was told is a joke. They spend half their degree hours focusing on paperwork and compliance. 1/4 on theory, and 1/4 on practical. And then we send them out into the world in a 30 credit grad program (where you dont even need a BA to get it, just core requirements). The system is broken because we have train them at best, then send them out there.
Anti 2 years ago (edited)
For three years in grad school I waited for the part where we started learning how to do therapy and it never came. Supervisors are meant to provide that post-grad but from what I've observed they're preoccupied kind of exploiting interns and associates to grow their little empires of pain. I've pretty much educated myself through continuing ed and reading actual books. I happen to love that kind of thing, which helps, even though it's probably a part of why I have no friends.
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Martin John 2 years ago
I am a veteran middle school teacher and my job is not easy, but is surely a cakewalk compared to what social workers do!
Anti 2 years ago
I din't know, middle school teacher... If that was any kind of cakewalk you're a born samurai
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Lizzy the Jellyfisho 2 years ago
As one of the people who needs to have therapy I apologise (not meant to be sarcastic soz if it it)
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
You should never have to apologise for seeking therapy. You have every right to be happy and feel your best. Most therapist are required to see a therapist themselves to help deal with some of the things they hear everyday. A good therapist is in this career field because they want to help others and make a difference.
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I'm a janitor. Humans can be brainlessly disgusting, dangerous to others (and themselves) and generally be utter pricks.
And thats just from facing up shelves.
My job isn't bad. I work when the place is closed and clean up the aftermath. Today its tampons that are stinking of death and someone walking around the shop in boots covered in horse manure (its on the coffee shop sofas too).
Stephanie Did It 2 years ago
Please, everyone whose work place employs janitors or cleaners: learn their names and thank them for their work. You couldn't do your job if they didn't do theirs. And they really appreciate an end-of-year gift.
Šimon Špaček 2 years ago
We like them in our place (well, from yesterday former place, I found better job). Local IT support needs a lot of things you wouldn't believe, my best friend were alcohol wipes meant for sterilizing desks and doorknobs during covid, but man, those things can clean a computer. I don't want to share details, but do you know those shiny, aluminium laptops? Imagine that they are brown and not shiny. That was regular thing. And in keyboard we sometimes find enough hair to knit you a whole cat... So, we were friends with our janitors, because those are the people who have access to storage of those alcohol wipes. (Also, because it is in pure alcohol, you will not shortcircuit anything with it, so you can really scrub the computer clean).
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SeaLouse 2 years ago
I was public restroom janitor for 15 years. I'm absolutely convinced that germophobes are the most disgusting people. They refuse to seat themselves properly on a "dirty" toilet seat, so would rather urinate/defecate all over the toilet seat and/or floor instead, thereby making the restroom filthy for everyone else. They are worse than animals. An animal doesn't know any better. A person has a choice.
BenMaharaj 2 years ago
What I liked about that work was no one was around, including bosses. A peaceful environment. I set my own pace. My employer had a rough estimate of how long it would take to clean a place. It was not ridiculously short because he was cleaning every night too somewhere else so he knew how long it took. The gross stuff didn’t bother me. Pay was lousy though.
the shrimp whisperer 2 years ago
eeeuugh tampons. biohazard. please guys remember: if you have to throw away ANYTHING that's bloody, wrap it in a paper towl or toilet paper or the pad/tampon wrapper first. blood is a biohazard that can get other people sick
Jerry T 2 years ago
I used to clean a large facility at night when no one was there. I wasn't allowed to wear headphones or listen to music because there was heavy machinery that was potentially dangerous. I had to quit because I would talk to myself most nights and started to realize I couldn't stand my own company.
Jill Bussey 2 years ago
I used to clean the toilets at a kart racing track. Men and women are equally disgusting, plus more than once I had to chuck men out of the women's toilets. Not fun.
"According to the World Health Organization, the pandemic has caused an increase of anxiety and depression by 25%," HalosOpulence continued. "People lost jobs, changed careers, or are still unemployed. Moreover, inflation has risen up almost 8% from last year and presently, cost-cutting is affecting the tech industry. It’s really sad to hear that there are people who studied so hard, and transferred countries in order to get a job, but then, they are immediately laid off or rejected. Tech layoffs aren’t just because of inflation and cost-cutting, it’s also because of social imitation. It’s a trend."
"Statistics are kind of like an insight to the future and when choosing a career path today, you really need to keep track of statistics," she noted. "Additionally, research, job shadow and speak to those in the industry in which you’re interested in. To add, it’s of great importance to keep track of the AI movement."
#8
Call center tech support. Need I really say anything?
The whole job is trying to help people who treat me like I'm the person who broke their s**t.
Stephanie Did It 2 years ago
On the other hand, sometimes a simple solution makes a caller so happy, you are their hero for the day. For me, that made up for all the grumps.
Dawn Marie 2 years ago
I also work customer service, albeit not IT. That one hero call makes up for the 5 screamers thinking I control when FEDEX or UPS actually will show at their home that day.
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Dan Padgett 2 years ago
I also did this job. Customers fail to realise being nice will go a long way. I'm more likely to put 100% in to helping a nice person that someone who's berating me. Glad I'm out of that though.
scag$y 2 years ago
Working in a call centre environment is the human equivalent of being a battery hen.
Ren Karlej 2 years ago
I've worked in animal welfare and seen battery hens... not sure call centre staff eat each other! Though I wouldn't blame them.
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The Veil of Fire 2 years ago
The hardest thing to do in customer services is to not take things personally even when the customer is making it entirely personal.
Icecream Sarang 2 years ago
I did this for hospitals. I just hope they’re better at their jobs than they are at turning on a pc
David 2 years ago
True I think for powerless tier 1 support dealing with the public. I did IT phone support for years and loved it. But important distinctions - I did not have a 'script', the client base was people who were business owners and/or had to deal with their own public (thus they were nicer), and I had the power to make some concessions. Like if I said free overnight shipping or discount on an item the company would honor it. I might need to justify it but they would honor it. Oh, and also no time limit on calls. Try to close calls and be productive of course but none of that "no call can last longer than 4 minutes" kind of c**p.
Purple Gurl 2 years ago
Same. Or other employees from different departments telling you how to do your job. It's like-you are Sales. I am Activation and Repair. Don't tell me how to set up an activation replacement
Trisec Tebeakesse 2 years ago
Oof. I left a thirty year career in healthcare behind because of this. After designing the provider portal interface, I agreed to support it until they hired somebody for the role. The company never did. I walked away.
#9
Machine operator, I've had 6 lung infections in the past year and a half from all the welding fumes.
To all the geniuses who think I'm not wearing a respirator. I am. But it can only filter out so much. Especially if the shop looks like willie Nelson and snoop dogg were hanging out.
Ali H M Salehuddin 2 years ago
If this is a case, your company needs to install fume extractors. At the very least, if your climate permits it, have an open air (high roof, no fully enclosed walls) welding site. If the management does not take appropriate action, make a report. The OSHA (or equivalent regulatory agency of your country) will come and do corrective action.
john s 2 years ago
Wondering where everyone works, where you can tell your boss to just fix things. Not everyone can afford to risk that, or approach management, or file a report. You're right (re the US), but reality is often different. Not angry here, just saying that if we approach the reality, and look at why the law doesn't mean hsit most of the time... it's not the fault of the individual worker to fix a ridiculous capitalist system. But, you know, unions help - and whatever else. Solidarity.
john s 2 years ago
Follow-up - I have no idea why BP nests comments that don't start as nested... didn't mean this as a direct response to anyone (apologies, Almarako94)
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Karl O'Toole 2 years ago
Where do you live? 18th century Britain? Don't let your bosses skimp on safety equipment. They are obligated by law to provide a safe working environment.
Rostit . 2 years ago
depending on the country, not they are not. As scary as that sounds they are not bound by law. They are bound by expense and if its cheaper to pay out on a workers comp claim versus providing PPE, I know what is going to happen.
Load More Replies... Lizz 2 years ago
Machine operator with dust issues in my case.... Our factory makes mattresses and you have no idea how much dust can come out of those foam plates... And pollen, during allergy season. Especially because the warehouse keeps it's loading/unloading docks open on both ends.... I can sneeze myself half to death during my shift.
Almarako94 2 years ago
Change the respirator more often (daily) to a new one, if you boss doesn't provide with new ones, stop working since it's not safe and he's the one responsible for workplace safety.
Marjorie Chapin 2 years ago
Teaching school is a sure way to catch every cold and lung infection that passes by your door.
Matti Äikäs 2 years ago
Plus if they're welding stainless the chrome builds up in your bloodstream
Angela Jester 2 years ago
My husband is a machine operator at a cutting facility. He's had some pretty nasty I juries. Example: Though he wears his ppe it only takes a second for his gauntlets to slip and his skin catch the razor edge of the sheet metal and need stitches. That's the least that can happen.
Yourname942 2 years ago
The place I worked for had metal dust every day, even wearing masks, I ended up inhaling so much over time
#10
Healthcare (U.S.) should be avoided as a career because it's exploited ruthlessly for profit. If you go to work in my field, you're signing up for extra stress for life, all to make money for some parasitic MBA.
Qadgop the Mercotan 2 years ago
I just retired after 4 decades practicing medicine. This is so true. I loved working with my patients and my team, but hated everything else about the work. Especially the largely irrelevant demands of the electronic medical record.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
I've been seeing this story all too often. It's getting worse not better.
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VeryDarkMatter 2 years ago
I have the feeling everything and everyone is exploited ruthlessly for profit in the US.
Bekki Sala 2 years ago
This is is true. I'm in nursing and had a burnout last week. Literally stopped caring about anything. It made me realize that I spend more time working than seeing my family, or even getting simple things like laundry done. Needless to say, now both the dishes AND the laundry are caught up.
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
Been there, done that for 38 years. Most of the time I did like my job and in certain situations, I wouldn’t say I loved it, but being there for the patient and family was heart wrenching but rewarding. However, much about the job has changed over the years, and not in a good way. When I encounter someone who wants to go into nursing I say “Are you crazy? Don’t do it. Find something else. It is not what you think.” And the pay is $h!+ for the knowledge required and the responsibility.
Load More Replies... Imperial Guard 2 years ago
See my comment on the social worker one. The U.S. is hell for anyone who isn't rich.
Duane Ringlein 2 years ago
22 years (second career) as a respiratory therapist doing mostly critical care, very rewarding but in the end I was burned out after too many 60 hour weeks on the graveyard shift, but I did love my job and the awesome people I worked with.
KMill 2 years ago
All the execs have MD’s or PhD’s. The managers are the ones with the MBA’s & MSN’s and they’re not parasites, they’re just the ones caught in the middle and squeezed to the edge of sanity.
bottomless.abyss.of.bordem 2 years ago
Not where I'm at. Management sucks. And they get bonuses based on numbers only, not patient outcomes. Every decision is based on upping that bonus. Patient/staff satisfaction/safety be damned!
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Marianne Luginbuhl 2 years ago
If you think universal Healthcare is perfect, imagine working for the govt and they decrease your budget even time congress is on session. Also you will need to overcome Americans sue happy ways and get them to accept gated care.
#11
US Merchant sailor
1. Away from home majority of the year, if you’re lucky only 180 days. Sometimes I feel like a stranger in my own house. I can’t count how many holidays, birthdays, funerals, children’s events, anniversaries, etc that I’ve missed in the last 26 years.
2. Can be stuck on a vessel for extended periods with people you don’t like and there is no real escape, except a few hours in your stateroom when off watch.
3. Sleep can be a challenge. I work 6 hours on/6 hours off around the clock for 28 days straight. Rarely do I get enough sleep to be considered healthy.
4. Bad weather can make life a challenge, being sea sick is the worst. Luckily, most of the awful weather I was exposed to was early on in my career and I was too dumb to realize how dangerous it was. Poorly secured refrigerator flying across the galley was just kinda funny back then. Boat rolling so hard, the porthole in my stateroom was underwater a good bit of the time. Trying to not get tossed out of bed, using survival suits under my mattress to make a taco shell shaped sleeping space. Avoiding getting thrown into rotating machinery in the engine room. I would say weather is probably the number one issue with my job.
5. More and more regulations. When I first started, all you needed to work on boats was a MMD(Merchant Mariner Document) or z-card, issued by the coast guard that only required a basic medical exam and some basic background information and a small fee.
Now there is a mountain of paperwork, multiple different credentials(twic, stcw, comprehensive medical exam, random drug testing) just to get your foot in the door. Stcw isn’t required for all vessels, but if it is needed, it’s like $1100 for the basic, one week class. That now requires a refresher course every five years. When I first got it there was no expiration date.
6. Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol. The swashbuckling/cowboy days of sailing are over.
On the plus side, this career has provided a good income for the past 26 years that I probably wouldn’t have gotten from many other jobs without a college degree. I’ve seen some amazing scenery and incredible sea life. I’ve been through the Panama Canal and I’ve visited some awesome foreign countries, although the majority of my job has been in US waters. I’ve been north of the Arctic circle, but never south of the equator, unfortunately. I’ve made some lifelong friends that I can always pick up the phone and talk to like I saw them the day before. I’ve learned lots of nautical lingo, which always impresses at parties and if pressed I have a lot of good stories that often leave people a little amazed and perhaps a little jealous or wondering if I’m just full of s**t.
Mario Strada 2 years ago
I suspect all those regulations are there because of all the people that were tossed into those revolving machines. Transport regulations are often written in blood.
Florence O'Grady 2 years ago
I want to say thank you for posting this information. I've always wondered about that job. Knew about MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential) and TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). Did not know how expensive it would be. I F57 so am way over the age to start this career. Anyone have information for those who might be interested in pursuing this career? I live in a college town and run into students on a regular basis. It would be nice to point people to the proper places for honest info and not scammers.
David 2 years ago
This sounds a bit like my time in the navy. Except I was on aircraft carriers so weather / high seas was less of a problem. Long crappy hours in the reactor plants and lots of rules. But I've been all around the globe and north / south from above artic circle to Australia. I've been on every continent except Antarctica, most multiple times. So I'm grateful for the good stuff. But the away for long periods and crappy work hours with people you maybe don't like is definitely something I can relate to.
A P 2 years ago
Maritime labor conventions : Max work of 14 hours in a day, Min rest of 10 hours a day. Rest periods can be split into a max of two periods, and one has to be 6 hours. So, basically, 12 hours on a ship in rough conditions would be way too much for the human capacity to be attentive, especially in stressful conditions, so split the twelve into 2 periods of 6. One rest period has to be at least 6 hours, so it just makes sense to split it up like that.
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sofacushionfort 2 years ago (edited)
Things have only gotten worse since John McPhee wrote “Looking for a Ship” in 1990 (but somewhat better since R H Dana wrote “Two Years Before the Mast” in 1840)
LynzCatastrophe 2 years ago
Hey! I just started a similar job last year! Isn't rough weather fun?! I got off a shift at midnight, two weeks ago, went to bed at 1am and was woken up 4 hours later by rough seas and no amount of wishing got me back to sleep. Everyone on the same shift I was on was grumpy from lack of sleep. Also yes, there is a lot of paperwork. When I was first hired and going through training I decided that this would be my life job (for other reasons too) because of how much paperwork I was doing. On the other hand, the part where I'm aware from home is what I like, I enjoy it that people actually can't contact me for 2 weeks every month. The pay is good too, I'm actually able to afford groceries without a struggle now!
Cory Tollman 2 years ago
I work in healthcare and over the last 20 years the extra licensing and certifications have gotten out of hand. They don't really do much to improve people but it looks good on paper and I'm sure some clown sitting in an office used the idea to justify their job. I was in the USN and 6 on 6 off is horrible. The only schedule I had that was worse was 4 on 4 off, 6 on 6 off. During at least one of those "offs" I was working, just not standing watch.
#12
Book Editor.
Well, I used to love reading. I joined a book club while in college and even voted as one of the committee. Now I see books as work and never touch them outside my work hours. *sigh*
Stephanie Did It 2 years ago
I have the opposite problem. I can't NOT mentally edit every book I read, and I love to read.
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
Editing or translation may be a wonderful career path then!
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James Wood 2 years ago (edited)
It has been said, "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." Which is utter bullsh*t, because we've also heard from countless folks who pursued their 'dream job,' and all it did was make them hate what they originally loved; what was once great fun becomes awful drudgery. That's (part of) why I gave up on the idea of ever being a professional baker: I love it so much as a hobby and don't want to ruin it. Now driving, there's something I've always hated. So I became a delivery driver. And I hate driving exactly as much as when I started, so no loss! LOL
Mia Black 2 years ago
This. I found it difficult to decide, what carreer i wanted to start and adults told me to do Something with books or art, because i liked it but i knew, even as a minor then, that it would ruin my hobbies
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Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
I've done quite a bit of book editing, and the part I like best is communicating with the author - most of 'em have been a real pleasure to work with. Except for that one guy, but he lost his publishing contract in the end anyway because the publisher had finally had enough of his nonsense.
Lynne Hammar 2 years ago
I was an editor for 4 years, and didn't read for pleasure during that time.
Lp Johnson 2 years ago
Yeah. And now, not only am I not able to enjoy reading "regular" style, I've become burnt out from the WORK of dealing with "creative types" too. It's so bad I can't even write my OWN books anymore lately. I've got 3 "finished" but not Final just sitting there, waiting, because I can't muster the wherewithal to deal with them on top of clients' work.
#13
Paramedic.
Intense (if short) education that will eat your whole life and not prepare you for anything at all. The pay sucks. The hours are weird. No work from home options.
Pretty much works because we all have ADHD and hate ourselves. If you can wake up at 3am and shotgun a Bang on the way to a call because railing a line of coke is illegal, this field is perfect for you. Especially if you don't mind being poor.
N Miller 2 years ago
Please can someone translate the sentence that starts "If you can wake up at 3am" because it went a bit sideways after that and I've read it four times now.
Blurryface 2 years ago
If you can wake up at 3 am and gulp down an energy drink because taking drugs is illegal… you’re welcome. :)
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martin734 2 years ago
How can you call paramedic education short? In the UK it takes a minimum of 3 years of full time university study to become a paramedic, I would hardly call that short. The hours we work are actually pretty regular. We work 4 x 12 hour day shifts and then 4 x 12 hour night shifts with 4 days off in between. You do not wake up at 3am to answer a call because you do not sleep on shift. Our pay is not huge but it is similar to that of other healthcare professionals such as nurses and physiotherapists. I very much doubt that the person who wrote this is actually a paramedic.
Karl O'Toole 2 years ago
I was thinking something similar, I personally know somebody who works as a proper paramedic and it doesn't line up at all with this story.. It's tough work but the hours are stable and pay is good. At least here in the EU, I'm assuming this post is a basic EMT from the US whose health system is a for-profit hellscape.
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Paulo Freitas 2 years ago (edited)
Nop, thanks been there done that, never again, the crazy hours... Meh, i do that anyway in my personal life, the isue for me was dealing with the despair of people that see their loved ones inresponsive on the floor or in a bed, or the agony of someone that just got severely hurt, seeing a dead body... Meh, its just a body, having to deal with the ones in pain or in sheer desperation though.... That melted my brain, i can't deal with that, Im not suitable to be a paramedic, it takes a special kind of people to do that job, and alas Im not that special.
bottomless.abyss.of.bordem 2 years ago
You could work from home and make better money. You'd basically be a mob doctor tho
Rhon Young 2 years ago
My brother-in-law was a paramedic. When he was on day shift they didn't have enough money to pay bills and had to ask if they could pay them after night shift. Lowest essential workers.
Erica Ventura 2 years ago
My older brother trained to be an EMT and ambulance driver. He worked for a while but the first time a baby died on his shift he couldn't handle it and quit. He's a contractor now and makes a great living but he really enjoyed helping people.
Barbara Skolly 2 years ago
In America paramedics vary from region to region but not well paid and doesn't require high education. In canada you have to go to college for a few years, get paid decent and can go for advanced courses as well
Purple Gurl 2 years ago
Don't forget the times that they send the 5' 3'' person on the 675 lbs full immobility calls. This is why I have a blown disc
#14
Funeral industry - the smell.
Ontop of that you need to maintain a pokerface the entire time when facing clients
Stephanie Did It 2 years ago
I think it takes a special sort of person to be in the mortuary business.
RoanTheMad 2 years ago
yay im special :D ... but in all seriousness, It does take a lot, i'm technically still a "trainee" and there's been times I've wanted to quit. Like the first time seeing the body of a child, or when covid started up and I was so terrified seeing pictures of bodies just piled in refrigerated trucks etc. As for the smell, we have masks/respirators, and a LOT of vicks vapour rub
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LibrarianJanet 2 years ago
I broke a funeral director's poker face! She was explaining the type of urn my mother's ashes would be returned in, and reassured me it was sealed. My (admittedly inappropriate) reply was "Oh, good. I don't want to worry about someone knocking her over and saying 'whoops, there goes Karen. Get the dustbuster.' " Director laughed out loud and then fell all over herself apologizing.
Marianne Luginbuhl 2 years ago
After seeing the unrealistic and awful ways people treat their loved ones as they pass, I can only imagine what happens at a funeral home.
#15
Zookeeper.
Have you *smelled* lion spray? Otter c**p, oily and fishy and laced with territory-marking musk?
Yeah, you don't want to. You probably can't even imagine how badly you don't want to. Certainly not for close to minimum wage. You have to be a little crazy to get into this line of work.
My nostrils have never forgiven me.
TheDag 2 years ago (edited)
Honestly animal jobs in general, I've done a fair few as it was the career I wanted to get into. I've been pissed on, had a cat try to off me with a well placed claw, flipped sheep. Seen way too many castrations while sitting in on vet ops, handled venomous snakes which most folk would run from and worked with a mentally damaged Rottweiler that on the drop of a dime could kill you and i loved all those bits but the worst part of it were the people. The bosses all know you are desperate to get into that line of work and will always pay low and generally treat you like s**t. The people you meet are generally split into two groups those that do the job because they love animals and want to help make their lives as enriched as possible and those that do it because they think they can get an easy job hugging bunnies.
David Paterson 2 years ago
I've heard from a zookeeper that zookeepers very seldom socialise with each other outside of work because they can't stand the smell of each other.
Marcellium 2 years ago
I worked in a zoo for a time and I had to help clean out the duck pond which no one remembered the last time it was cleaned. I still remember the smell. all the gunk. the weeks of trying to get it out of all of the other connected waterways. and hours of cleaning up manure! I LOVE working wifhanimals but man. there's some nasty stuff you have to be okay dealing with.
YourLocalLizard 2 years ago
As someone in school for Zoology I agree that most jobs suck but, in my opinion it is worth it. Might just be me though. The main problem is the people, they don't care about you, most don't care about the animals and just want to be seen as "A good Person". This goes for people in the field and out.
Mari Hanssen 2 years ago (edited)
One time an octopus managed to escape its tank. Those rascals can crawl through the tiniest spaces. Anyway, we searched and searched. No trace of it. But then the smell started emerging. A week later I decided enough was enough. I ripped the floor around the tank open and went under it. There it was. Sad and dry and dead. Poor thing. I had to scrape it up and clean the mess. I had half a bus to myself when I went home that day. I felt bad, but I had to get home! I probably reeked of dead octopus lol. I loved that job though. Smells and all. Animals are great!
Tushar Roy Mukherjee 2 years ago
I'll add a few ( give my thanks to casual geographic on YouTube). Getting kicked by a Zebra, headbutted/kicked by a Giraffe,getting your fingers bitten off by Penguins or Meerkats, getting peed on by a Fox, having a 350 pound Kitten or a 1 metric tonne Labrador with Horns lay down on you, etc...
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
After 38 years of nursing, and believe me, human smells can get pretty bad, my nose informed me it had smelled quite enough , thank you and just stopped doing it. I have no sense of smell. Don’t worry, yours will quit too soon enough.
Imperial Guard 2 years ago
God, I have rabbits and their smells have made me gag, I can't even imagine what a zookeeper's job is like 😭
#16
Middle School Teacher
It’s stressful and low pay
Mistiekim 2 years ago
Yes - middle school teachers deserve some sort of hazard pay. Teaching a bunch of moody kids going through puberty? No thanks!
Min 2 years ago
There's a reason they separate them out from elementary and high schools. Quarantine the puberty!!
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Michael Largey 2 years ago
I taught high school for forty years. Teaching middle school, I wouldn't have lasted forty days.
Elaine Morinelli 2 years ago
But middle school kids are so adorable. I put up with the bad ones just to get the good ones, literally growing up between grade 6 and grade 8.
crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
Hello! I am an 8th grader and I am very pleased that you find me adorable and slightly confused as that is the exact word I use to describe five year olds
Load More Replies... Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
I worked as an assistant ESL teacher in a middle school (secondary school) right out of University. It was such a difficult experience as the students treated me like a big sister instead of an actual teacher. Also, middle schoolers can be incredibly moody. They are at the age where they don't want to participate actively in class exercises for fear of embarrassing themselves.
Martin John 2 years ago
I'm still amazed how volatile their emotions are.Their acting out is usually because they see me as a parent/authority figure and there's something going on that has absolutely nothing to do with me as a person.
Load More Replies... Katiekat 2 years ago
Retired teacher here, got out three years early in 2020 due to Covid. I was part of the Great Resignation and I regret NOTHING. This year 2023 is hitting me in the feels: in about a month (2/14, love my Valentine birthday) I turn 55, and this would have been my last semester teaching. Big birthday, big milestone approaching. Happy to be out. No regrets there, 26 years in the classroom, and from 2007-2015, nearly full-time caregiver also for my now late husband. I survived.
the shrimp whisperer 2 years ago
middle school sucks for all parties involved. i didnt like my middle school teachers bro but i respected them.
Martin John 2 years ago (edited)
I have more than 25 years experience in the middle school classroom and am looking forward to retiring in June. I will go on record by just saying that I am tired and my job continues to get more challenging all the time. I believe most middle school kids don't deserve the reputation they receive and are just trying to figure out who they are at this age. We all went through that and are quick ignore that awkward, often-confusing) stage in our lives. But, so much of it is exhausting and feels terribly thankless, so I am moving on.
#17
As a vet tech, the absolute stress of the day to day, the unknown of the days schedule, having more hard nursing skills than human nurses (placing IVCs, NG tube, urinary catheters, calculating CRIs, performing blood typing and matching and transfusions, making and reading cytologies, running and reading lab results etc), to make (at best) 25$/hr (with multiple degrees, letters behind my name and over 10 years experience), to be traumatized by the absolutely gut wrenching things you see in the ER, to the screaming pet owners who simultaneously believe you to be a god and perform literal miracles while also believing that you personally set the prices because you’re the devil who hates pet owners. Literally there’s very little “winning” in veterinary medicine
Fuzzy bunny feet 2 years ago
I disagree with some of this. Yes, the pay is not great but that's with a lot of careers. It is stressful most of the time, especially in ER medicine, but it is also very rewarding. When people make me mad I remind myself I'm here for the animal. Knowing that I can help make a sick or injured animal feel better and get better makes it worth all the other stuff. People do get burned out in this field. When that happens it's better to find another job, at least for a while.
My O My 2 years ago
I'm a vet tech in a small doctors office and I love my job. I don't earn much but it's okay. I never quite know what will happen today when I arrive at work but it never gets boring. What I really don't like is that I am the one who has to explain the costs to the people; not everybody wants to pay for a visit at the vet. And like OP already writes. No vet is getting rich
Ann Dennis 2 years ago
Seems like my second home is the vet's office...many yrs of rescue. One problem for me is that it's difficult to thank the techs; they work in the back, out of sight so much of the time. I thank the vet and I thank the techs any time they're in the clinic room, but so much care goes on out of sight of the owner now, even for an office visit. A good tech is solid gold, just like a good vet. Please know we appreciate the heck out of you❣️
Ruth Harper 2 years ago
Thank you for what you do. I can't even imagine doing your job, it would kill me to see sick and injured animals every day. But you take care of my girl when she needs it and for that you deserve everything good.
The Veil of Fire 2 years ago
I love my vet and the techs not to forget the office gals. They have seen my joyously happily bring in a new puppy or kitty. Seen me try my best to do what's best for them throughout their lives. Put up with my silliness on nicknames, my worries about what might be wrong "she's coughing a lot could it be cancer?". Only to find out its acid reflux " give her pepcid as needed." Yet, then they help me through the final minutes after making the toughest choices in my life. My vet techs and all are my heroes.
rodger coghlan 2 years ago
I was very surprised when I found out it is the techs who do the surgery not the vet!
ispeak catanese 2 years ago
Thats why there's such a high incidence of suicide in the veterinary field.
#18
Journalist.
Elon Musk and the bias of national outlets in the US has made people the world over hate us for no reason on sight just for covering events. People are fleeing the industry like crazy out of fears over safety and simply stress after verbal and physical attacks have skyrocketed over the past year, in addition to the stress of trying to report while people scream nonsense at you the whole time.
Most journalists strive to not be biased and to cover all stories relevant to their readers/ viewers/ listeners. Pay attention to local journalists (and less to those in the US if you live outside it), not national outlets, if you want actual news, and please stop treating them like s**t for having the gall to be at an event with a recording device. We already get paid pennies on the dollar, we don't deserve constant vitriol while simply trying to do our jobs. Please stop generalizing professions under one umbrella.
Kate Haslam 2 years ago
If it's any consolation, reporters have been more or less despised for decades; Elon Musk didn't have anything to do with that. But seriously -- you're right, a free press is an essential part of a functioning democracy.
Ray McArdle 2 years ago
So essential that it's the only profession mentioned in the US Constitution.
Load More Replies... Almarako94 2 years ago
Well in the US, most news outlets are biased as hell and turn the wing of a mosquito into a heard of elephants. Additonally, it's just like politics now, everyone barks at each other instead of finding the truth. Unless you make a worldwide dezentralised union of journalists with double or tripple fake checking, people won't ever trust you again.
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago (edited)
Nah. This is like with politicians. The reason so many people see journalists as morally compromised is because so many journalists are morally compromised. The bias of US outlets is dependent on people being willing to perform for their tainted coin. See also: the Murdoch press. The profession has no integrity.
Powerful Katrinka 2 years ago
There are still outstanding journalists, many of whom work for smaller news outlets (like local newspapers). Also, there is an outstanding independent organization that graphs news outlets by their bias. By referring to this, one can easily avoid the biased news sources on both ends of the spectrum as. Here's the link: https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/media-bias-chart
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Katiekat 2 years ago
Retired teacher here, still a bit salty that I left journalism in the early 90s because I didn't approve of the way it was headed. I was right: way too much sensationalism, too much editorializing, paparazzi, etc. Teaching has its own issues but is overall way calmer and pro-social. I'll always have ink in my veins, but copyediting or paste-up would suit me just fine these days.
Frando Bone 2 years ago
We don't hate what you do; we hate how you do it. Leave your opinions at home and report facts. It makes your job easier when you don't have to spin everything in a particular direction to appease a specific group of people.
CanadianaKa 2 years ago
The spin is set at the corporate level; the journalist you see on the ground is rarely in a position to appease anyone or set policy. The billionaire owners choose the "slant."
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GEPowers 2 years ago
There was a story in a soldier's diary about how a group of them were huddled around a camp fire trying to keep warm. They saw an "imbedded Journalist" walking across a nearby field. One soldier said don't ever talk to that guy, whatever you tell him he will get it wrong when it ends up in print and if he doesn't like what you said or nobody will talk to him he will make something up. All the soldiers agreed. The diary was from a soldier at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. Not much changed during subsequent wars. Too many journalist have absolutely no scruples, integrity or ethics if it will get them the next big high profile job. Sad to see the good journalists lumped in with the bad but it's likely to continue. It may be worth it though, as a free press is our most important guarantee of freedom.
David 2 years ago (edited)
I think most of the hate stems from sensationalistic style news coverage trying so hard to stand out from / get views from the competition that sincerity and integrity often fall by the wayside. Reporters trying to make you feel "OUTRAGED!" about (news story). Reporters trying too hard for feels by trolling for emotions. Shove a mic into the lady's face and say, "Tell us how seeing your son go through the wood chipper made you feel". Obvious baited questions like that. Stop the BS (the industry, not you personally) and people would respect reporters more. Also, I recognize that style and content is largely dictated by the news agency / media outlet a reporter works for. But the public just sees the end result and much of it is distasteful.
Sharon Ingram 2 years ago
Just tell the truth. That’s all. Don’t opine, don’t embellish, don’t lie. And if you get it wrong, correct it.
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 2 years ago
I hate Elon all on my own, so you're safe from me, journalist's.
#19
I love my Army career (benefits like 30 days of leave and half my pay is tax free, free medical, VA disability pay, tuition, plus experience I would never get in the civilian world) but wouldn’t recommend it because your life is not your own. You can be sent to do dangerous s**t and leave your family at any moment. World events affect you differently.
If your supervisor is a d**k you don’t have very many rights, although at least they can’t sexually harass or assault you with impunity anymore, or threaten to out you for being gay if you don’t do what they want.
Fat Harry 2 years ago
30 days of leave (around that) is standard in Europe for any employment position (I say that because if you're self employed then all bets are off). Sad that it's seen as a reason to risk your life in the US.
UtanaYona 2 years ago (edited)
There's more to it than just that. The military is not for everyone...like EVERY job that exists. As far as the chance of being killed...everywhere on the planet carries a risk of death from violence. No matter what laws exist to protect people...criminals don't obey the laws, or they wouldn't be criminals. Just my opinion.
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Paulo Freitas 2 years ago (edited)
I was born in 78, and my 18th birthday landed exactly on the last year we had mandatory drafting, só i either present myself to our military zone, or i would go to jail, só few days after turning 18 there i went, once there i was asked what did i want to specialize in, i Said i wanted cavalry ( armored vehicles ), specificly tank driver, the dude looks at me and starts laughing.... I was around 1.85m tall and 120kg, i didn't frikking fit in a tank hatch, in the end i got inapt for military service because Im blind from my left eye. Today i thank the Gods the fact that Im fat and half blind..... Crewing a tank is a miserable thing.
Duane Ringlein 2 years ago
23 years on active duty mostly overseas, wouldn't have changed anything, but the pay did suck, and as most civilians don't understand, the needs of the military come first and family second. So I missed a lot of birthdays, anniversaries, funerals etc.
El Dee 2 years ago
Free healthcare, free university education and disability payments are all available in the rest of the developed world without having to risk death in the armed forces..
scag$y 2 years ago
Being in the Army always seemed pretty cool to me. Right up to the point where you factor in other people literally trying to kill you. That made me go off it a bit. But the travelling? Yes please!
Nicole Weymann 2 years ago
I find kiIIing other people as part of the job description at least as disturbing.
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Not Bored 2 years ago
So anyway. Don't sign up so you can fight somebody else's battles. That being said. The government is not your friend. Good luck trying to get any benefits. The Veteran Affairs isn't your friend either. I've seen so many ex military people roaming around without any help or resources it is scary
JM 2 years ago (edited)
As the spouse of a retired (United States) service member, I can attest to the fact that the service member’s life is not their own. The physical and psychological injuries of deployments can leave lasting scars. It is a difficult but potentially highly rewarding life. Career military are absolutely ready to die for their countries. It’s a different kind of life, but the people who choose to commit to a career in the military generally do so willingly and with great pride. However, this life is certainly not for everyone. My hat is still off to those who sign up for one tour, just as much as to those who serve 20, 30 years or more.
Marguerite Barnett 2 years ago
Ha, i never got my 30 days of leave yearly because i was in a critical MOS and i had no rights. Once my leave was cancelled because some generals' wives had a conference (at a time of heightened security from terrorists attacks) and they needed a doc to cover for their menstrual cramps. As far as the sexual assaults that is still to my knowledge continuing, they know it and they just blame the victim.
#20
Plumber: make 6 figures after your apprenticeship but it’s a long road. Don’t really know how to describe it, but this isn’t your backup plan if academia doesn’t work out for you. It will destroy your body and be both physically and mentally stressful every day for many years. We aren’t just fixing leaky sinks. Heavy electrical/controls component and it’s heavy duty on the commercial service side. You will be injured, and have lasting chronic pain. I’ve encouraged all of my very young apprentices to seek a desk job. That being said, if you have the brain and the toughness, you will make good money, but have a plan to get out.
Sunshine Lady 2 years ago
Desk job won't help you stay painless. My desk job made me gain 20kg for 1 year, I got back pain and headache. Prior to that I've worked in retail stores and fast food restaurant.
SAF saf 2 years ago
Not even close to how destroyed trades people's bodies get. You can counter act damage atrophy does from desk jobs by simply going to the gym.
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Yvette Desmarais 2 years ago
Similar with other "trades" like auto technician, carpenter, metal worker etc.
JMil 2 years ago
As unfortunate as this is, I'm pleased to see a realistic take on trade jobs. I'm all for the trades, but the anti-college types love to point to this line of work as an argument why higher education is b.s. It can certainly be lucrative, but there are downsides. Also, many tradesmen I know that make that kind of money don't have the typical health insurance and retirement benefits as many 'desk jobs' do, and those that work for companies that offer the equivalent don't pay that kind of salary (geography dependent). Making a good income without a degree is not, ipso facto, an argument that higher education is not worth it.
#21
Musician.
It's countless hours of practice (and talent doesn't hurt either), just to get to career level, and countless more to maintain that level. And even *that* doesn't guarantee you a spot on stage or in the studio, or that people will like what you do enough to pay you.
It's also about who you know. Which is a combination of networking skills, a tasteful amount of pushiness, and sheer luck. So if you're not a people person (and that's ok, lots of musicians aren't, even some successful ones), your task is even harder.
We certainly must do it for the love of music, mustn't we...
Diolla 2 years ago
Yeah. I worked in the music industry for a while, did road & tour management, promotion, etc.. OP is absolutely right. Talent does not equal success. The work hours are gruelling when on tour, the pay mostly sucks and there is a tough dog-eat-dog mentality. And as a woman in the business you often are either not taken seriously/ considered a groupie, or expected to be "fun" or "available" for promotors etc you are trying to do business with. I quit.
Kevin J. Henning 2 years ago
Been there. Done that. Also, aging, poor to non-existent health care and lousy retirement benefits.
Julie Bradley 2 years ago
I love my job. I work in a high school in the international office. I love the kids, I love the work, I love the travel. Yeah it can be really hard work with long hours. but I chose this career and even though sometimes I want to tell the principal I'm outta here, I get over it and am very happy mostly.
#22
Nurse-> PTSD
ISeeWendiGo 2 years ago
My back got me long before the PTSD did me in. Nursing home I worked in thought it a great money making idea to open a bariatric unit with already short staff. Imagine 35-45 patients with the lightest weighing in at 675 lbs and going up to >1000 lbs and there's 3-4 CNAs for all of these patients. Money maker turned into workers comp claims for backs, knees, shoulders, necks getting hurt lifting, turning, and pulling these patients. The facility lost more money in a month than it was projected to make in 3.
Alison Long 2 years ago
Like you, my back did me in. I, too, worked in long term care where we were continually understaffed. In most places managers were less than supportive. Most of my residents were great as were their families, but all it takes is one to ruin your shift. In most situations, there is one nurse for 22-30 patients, and 2 CNAs if you are lucky. (More patients and fewer CNAs if you are on night shift.) Until COVID, most jobs did not pay for the education, experience, and responsibilities it takes to be a competent nurse. Finally, I decided that the back pain and my losing my empathy were not longer worth it, and I was "past" retirement age, so left.
Load More Replies... Marianne Luginbuhl 2 years ago
Nurse x 30 years, icu and neuro/trauma icu. We've been using masks and isolation for contagious diseases for the entire modern age. That didn't harm us or kill us, same as surgery. Same for vaccines. Data is strongly in favor. Pandemics apparently bring out the best...and the worst.. in people.
Yourname942 2 years ago
They also work their *** off for people who sometimes treat them terribley
Moezzzz 2 years ago
This, right here. I was an ER/Trauma RN for 10 years. I cried every shift- yes, during my shift. I still dream about the babies we lost, the horrible injuries people inflict on each other, people dying alone because friends/family couldn't be bothered to come say goodbye. When I started to 1) drink more than I ever had and 2) started losing empathy, I got out. I don't want to be that kind of person (no sympathy) OR that kind of nurse. I'm finally back in the medical field, but not as an RN- I'm much happier and feel like I make a difference in lives again. It's a soul sucking career- just be careful out there
crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
I respect nurses so much. Around a year ago I got pretty badly injured and had to go to the ER and the nurse working with me was a really great guy. I think I was asking him for pain meds the entire time (I was getting them ofc but I was asking way more often than would have been healthy) and I can't imagine that it was easy for him to explain to someone in a lot of intense pain that more pain meds would have adverse effects, and as I got out alright I'm sure that I was probably one of his easiest patients. I can't imagine how horrible it would be to work that kind of job for your life
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago (edited)
PTSD big time. My last day was a day from complete hell that didn’t need to happen. The attending MD was into it all day with the intensivist (MD who works only in the ICU and they are the gatekeeper as to who is sick enough to be there and who isn’t). Told no beds and no one to transfer out. Meanwhile the doc and I are working so hard to keep this patient alive. Long story short, they had a bed, all day. They had a patient that could have been transferred out. What a bunch of BS. I got so tired of having to fight with docs to do what’s needed in order to save a life. We have to do that more than you know. That was it. I’m done. My last day. I never went back. Hospitals give me panic attacks.
#23
Union Laborer. Mainly concrete work but occasionally I do asphalt or other stuff like that.
The money is great and there is always work but unless you want to have very bad back, neck and joint pain by the time you’re 25 I wouldn’t recommend it.
I’ve seen countless people(basically 75% of the people I work with) addicted to all sorts of painkillers because it’s so rough on the body. I’m only 27 and I’m starting to see why they all are, my body aches all the time.
Go to college.
michael piscopo 2 years ago
Any construction jobs are a young mans dream, not many old guys doing that.
Hey Kat 2 years ago
I work in the concrete construction field (office for me), we have guys who have been doing it for 20+ years. They also have had both hips replaced, both knees, back surgery (3 diff guys) not to mention concrete burns! It amazes me what these guys do on a daily basis - even in 18F weather with negative wind chills!
rodger coghlan 2 years ago
OMG! Can you imagine working concrete until you are 70yo - this is what the latest 'fix' to SS is about, raising the retirement age
Mother of Giants 2 years ago
If you did the job correctly you lower your risk of injury, just like any other job. My boyfriend went into the concrete business late in life, mid 50s, and yeah it's hard on the body and joints, but at 63 years old, that man is in better physical shape than anyone I know. Not a single medical problem. And In a society where 90% of people are being medicated for one problem or another, the most my boyfriend takes is regular strength Tylenol for the occasional headache. He's got the blood pressure of an elite athlete and has only suffered one major injury that took him out of work for 2 days.
#24
Realtor. Seems like everyone and their mothers are getting their real estate license, then quitting a couple months in. The only reason me and my husband have found success is because my mom is the broker and owner of our firm and has devoted time to teaching and guiding us 1 on 1. If you are thinking of becoming a realtor, here are some things you will need to actually make it in the business
— At minimum 8 months of living expenses saved up. You will make zero money the first year, and if you try to do real estate and a side hustle you will fail. You have to devote yourself full time in order to learn and market yourself.
— Be ready to put yourself out into the community like a jackass. You basically have to show up to every community/public event the first year and act like those people in the quad on orientation week, or maybe like a mall kiosk person. If you don’t market yourself hardcore then you won’t have any clients. The first 2 years in this job my husband door knocked and gave his sales pitch everyday from 2-5pm. He definitely has a soft spot for door to door salesmen and gives them water and snacks when they show up to our house.
— You have to have a mentor who can teach you the ropes. You will not learn enough in school for your license. Find someone you can shadow for the first year, or someone online you can take classes from. There’s so many intricate details to contracts, appraisals, loans, inspections, and closings that you just have to learn from asking a pro. I’ve seen sooooo many dumdum realtors who get themselves sued because they didn’t know something was legally binding, they misread a contract, they weren’t aware of a deadline, even seen something as simple as they didn’t know to attach a lead based paint addendum. My mom suggested we memorize a standard contract front to back. I’m glad we did.
All in all we are very successful. I no longer work, I’m a stay at home mom, but my husband is still very busy in the industry and last year his income was $230,000. You do very well in real estate but the stigma that it’s and easy, over paid, hands off job is so stupid and just wrong. My husband works longer hours than 9-5 but he is paid accordingly. To anyone who read this entire post and still wants to get into real estate, best of luck to you!!
BluEyedSeoulite 2 years ago
So it can be lucrative if you have enough saved up or a working partner. That seems like such a huge hurdle
A P 2 years ago
It also strongly depends on the area you're in. If you're in a big city or doing commercial, you can make a lot. If you're in a small town, you will have to fight tooth and nail to make any money. There will be more real estate agencies per person than in a city, and the ones who have been around forever will largely have the market locked down. Not to mention, it's pretty much all commission, so you'll be getting 3% of <100k, probably with a much longer selling time (say 3 months) compared to someone in a city getting 3% of 800k on a house that sells in less than 7 days.
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Becky Samuel 2 years ago
You don't need AI to run rightmove, Zillow or Zoopla. You don't need a realtor or agent to show people around your home. Estate agents (realtors) have proven themselves to be an expensive waste of time and energy for too many people I know.
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#25
If you want to live in Japan and don't care about not earning very much money, come "teach" English. Literally the only real requirements are 1) be alive and 2) at least kind of speak English. If you can read this comment you're probably overqualified.
Reasons not to do it:
- Pay is s**t.
- No benefits.
- You will either spend your days sitting around doing f**k all but waiting to or being worked to exhaustion.
- No advancement, this is it.
- Feels utterly pointless. The curriculum is garbage. Most students don't give a f**k and won't learn much of anything. The few who *do* give a f**k and have some degree of aptitude will be f****d over by a combination of the s**t curriculum, their classmates weighing them down like an anchor, and the Japanese English teachers may not even actually speak English themselves and/or teach weird and wrong s**t as a result.
- You'll probably get shunted off to some random mountain town that's been hemorrhaging population steadily for decades with an average age of 48 and absolutely f**k all to do there unless you like hanging out in smokey old people "snack bars" or smokey pachinko parlors.
SobyKay 2 years ago
I feel this person just isn't cut out for teaching overseas and paints a wrong picture about it. The years I taught ESL in Taiwan were the best in my life - both career-wise and situation-wise. I hear Japan is not as lucrative b/c the cost of living is higher than in Taiwan, but know ppl who still enjoyed it thoroughly. Of all the jobs I could recommend, teaching ESL in Asia is #1 on my list. I've recruited ppl for my old workplace in Taiwan for this reason (and they've loved it). Get another perspective first!
BluEyedSeoulite 2 years ago
I've heard a lot of great things about ESL teaching in Taiwan and Singapore. It seems the benefits are a lot better and it's easier to live in if you don't speak the local languages very well
Load More Replies... Thatkamloopsguy 2 years ago
My nephew has been teaching english as a second language in Japan for years. Not only does he love it but get's paid very well for it. He is also sought after by large corporations to teach the staff.
Brad Stevens 2 years ago
I spent a year living in one of those "mountain towns" (Nemuro, actually a coastal fishing town) with my wife and 6 YO daughter and loved it. We got to know locals really well, learned some language, and participated in many cultural activities, including opera and taiko drumming. Spent weekends finding hidden hot springs in the mountains. I was not an English teacher, though. Marine biologist doing research in an aquaculture lab. Time spent in larger cities (Tokyo, Sapporo, etc) was frantic and not as enjoyable as the hinterlands. If you go to Japan, get out of the cities and visit the countryside. That's the real Japan.
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
As someone who as taught English abroad it is both hard and rewarding at the same time. You usually are sent to a smaller town and rarely put in a larger city unless you have a teaching degree. However, you get to learn about another culture and you do have time to explore your host country. It definitely is not for everyone and many people's experiences often depend on the school they are placed at.
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similarly 2 years ago (edited)
There ARE good places to work, but you have to get lucky. I've been at the same place almost 20 years now. I currently earn about 50% more than when I started, and my bonuses have grown a bit faster than that since I started. I get two bonuses a year that each equal about two months salary, so that's like 4 months salary on top of my monthly earnings. I get 20 days off a year, and can earn compensation time on top of that (and rarely use it all). For the second time in my career, I'm currently a department head for a department of exactly ONE (me!). I have small class sizes (I currently only have one class with more than 12 students). I've been there long enough I can make my own curriculum and, within guidelines, I pretty much decide what to teach and how. So, yeah, if you're going for certain programs, or you get trapped in Eikaiwa (English Conversation) this describes it pretty well. My advice: find a nice, progressive private school.
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
Wow, this person sounds pretty darn salty and must have had a horrible experience. I taught English abroad and while is is an extremely difficult job that does not pay well I never found it as bad as this person is making it sound.
#26
Freelance filmmaker here (cinematographer, director, producer).
Upsides:
- I can charge $150+ / hr.
- I can usually survive on less than 100 days of work per year.
- Seeing your name in the credits of a film/TV show feels pretty good.
Downsides:
- There is not a clear career path / road map to success. It’s mostly right time, right place, luck of the draw.
- A normal shift is 10.5-12.5 hours and have often gone 18+hrs…for WEEKS AT A TIME with sporadic days off.
- It can require extended travel, often with no warning.
- A job typically gets booked as a “hold” (which is a soft “maybe this will actually happen” kind of commitment) and will often get pushed or dropped with zero explanation or recourse for payment.
- With every job, you must negotiate against a shrewd producer who is always “working with a tight budget” whenever the client is: Disney, Facebook, Nike, Coldplay (insert Fortune 500 company / organization not hurting for money)
- Getting work often has zero to do with your portfolio or level of talent.
- Competition for work is FIERCE and often results in people undercutting each other (even as friends) to get that gig.
- For equipment, I have invested tens-of-thousands of dollars with the hope of rolling the new gear into my rental kit…only to have a client decline to use my camera or lenses in favor of cheap / inferior rental equipment.
- Films are no longer “fun” to work on
- I am self employed and have no insurance
- It costs $10k to join the Union to not have to fight for a decent rate
- The divorce rate in the film industry is extremely high
- There is zero stability as a freelancer
- I’m always “working”
- My mental health has suffered during periods without work. You begin to question why so-and-so is working and you are not. It’s a vicious cycle.
- On the best days, I feel like a disposable cog in a machine and not an artist.
Johnny 2 years ago
Companies don't earn billions of dollars a year by being generous with spending. Everything they do has a tight budget, they may spend $100M on a movie or theme park attraction, but every dollar they spend is scrutinized and spent under a budget.
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Detective Miller's Hat 2 years ago
Both of my brothers do this for a living, this is accurate.
Mario Strada 2 years ago
I studied editing, from VHS tapes to Premiere and so on. This is exactly why I didn't pursue it as a career. Second to 3D animation, video editing is a time suck without precedent and no one wants to pay for it because there is always someone willing to accept slave wages to do it.
Jessica Blankenship 2 years ago
I loved Freelance Writing but felt the same. Writing wasn't as enjoyable as it once was....
the shrimp whisperer 2 years ago
mental health suffers often when one stares at a compute for hours at a tiime. i should know, i did digital school during the pandemic
#27
Politician No matter how good you are at your job, how much you have done, you will still be hated by half of the population Your private life will be under microscope by either side of the MSM and any small mistake will become the biggest news and headlines for them.
Will Cable 2 years ago
The trouble is many get in to power then totally ignore the people. They seem hell bent on seeing what they can get out of it for themselves.
Almarako94 2 years ago
If you get hated no matter what you do, you do what you like/gives you money
Load More Replies... crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
One thing I can glean from people's responses here is that yeah we do all hate you <3 go f**k yourself with a tree branch
S Mi 2 years ago (edited)
The microscope thing might be uniquely American. I'm Canadian, seems like we call politicians out on their social media b******t, legal issues or hate. We tend to not care who they are sleeping with (assuming it's legal) or if they are getting a divorce or if they have a family member in jail.
#28
Accountant/Auditor. It’s mentally exhausting. People are f*****g sensitive and weird when it comes to money. I have to request pretty standard information, which make some clients get very defensive. I’m not questioning the quality of your work, jesus christ calm down. People also don’t understand the importance of little things like keeping receipts/invoices. It’s rare to find business owners who are organized and know anything about accounting. I helped with the back end work of doing tax returns and it amazes me that there are people who have been doing taxes for 20+ years yet you still have to beg them for the same information every year. I’m the type of person who after 2-3 attempts, I will just move the f**k on. Also, it’s funny how growing up the saying is “if you don’t want to deal with people, be an accountant!” Big nope. You have to not only get information out of people, you have talk about money with them and like I said before, always a sensitive issue.
JoJoB 2 years ago
I got my Accounting degree right before my 60th birthday. It's my third career, and I love it!
Roald 2 years ago
I have an accouting company. I like to help people and see their business prosper. But oh boy - the tax season. 5 months of long days, short nights, no weekend. And getting accused of calculating wrong. 'Ive never paid so much taxes' - yeah, you never earned so much OR: yeah, but you failed to follow up on my advice i gave you last year.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
When I was auditing taxes, I vastly preferred deal with the accountant rather than the actual taxpayer. There were just some lies they couldn't bring themselves to tell.
Julie Snelling 2 years ago
I don't understand why Americans have to do their own taxes. The only people who do their own taxes in the UK are self employed people.
BluEyedSeoulite 2 years ago
Adam Ruins Everthing does an episode in it. The govt was trying to develop its own online program that one can assume would turn into the govt does it for you and you confirm it is correct or make adjustments. However, TurboTax(Might be H&R Block) dudes were like, "No! Outsource it to us!" when we did that a bunch in the 80s and 90s (like school loans and prisons). They ended up getting in trouble because the agreement was to provide FREE tax filing and they were shady AF about it, hiding the free service on the website. So corporate greed and lobbying
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Donna Clanclan 2 years ago
I worked for a somewhat disorganized CPA. I never told him as he had mental struggles, but it was a bit annoying.
#29
Advertising
Most people in advertising get aged out of the profession between the ages of 35 and 40.
The Veil of Fire 2 years ago
I believe I see the same five tv ads every commercial segment. Three of them are either lawyers, class action lawsuits, or tear jerking donate now ads. rarely anything new or different. I turn off sound now during commercials. No entertaining commercials. And get Kardashian nasally voices off the commercials.
Frando Bone 2 years ago
Thats why i made the switch to PR. Advertising started to suck a long time ago. Can't be clever, can't be humorous, can't be too targeted. Every ad needed to be all things to all people.
Paulo Freitas 2 years ago
Só do football players lol, except most of them are much better payed lol.
#30
I build power lines-
it’s extremely hard on your body, long hours, work a lot of weekends and holidays. The pay is good but you can only do this trade for so long before your body gives out.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
And hopefully you don't get knocked on your a*s. Voltages and currents this high are not to be trifled with.
Rostit . 2 years ago
if that tube was an actual HV enclosure then yeah, that would be some serious power! Nitrogen insulated type stuff.
Load More Replies... David 2 years ago
I know OP did not choose the photo but I'm laughing at how "stock" it looks. So many elements make it look super staged / not real. That far away look is a bonus. Not sure if he is being introspective, thinking about going poop or just staring at some worker over there and wishing he had his job instead.
kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
I like his sideways pocket that will let his wrench fall out easier.
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#31
Dog Groomer - customers are the worst part about this job. The lack of understanding of the physical and mental toll of the job; the impression that we are magicians that can fix months of neglect without making fluffy look naked; not knowing anything about the breed of their own dog and it’s needs. The risks of being bitten, scratched, pooped on, peed on, a**l glands expressed on you (you do not unsmell that). Hair splinters in your skin in literally every imaginable spot (nipples included), hair and dander in your lungs. Repetitive strain injuries, and the likelihood that you’ll have severe arthritis when you retire. Deafness from the noise. Corporate grooming- slaving away for a company that cares about nothing but the money and forces you to push products on customers who clearly don’t want them, and said products being pretty useless anyway. Private grooming- the whole organisation of your own diary and trying to get bookings/if you’re lucky having to reject bookings. Some weeks are just mad quiet for no reason and you’ll be wondering if you can afford your rent. You want to charge your worth but clients refuse to pay it because “you just play with dogs all day” or “I could do that at home”
#32
My father is a doctor and wouldn’t recommend it to his six children. My oldest brother is a math professor and he wouldn’t recommend it. My sister is a lawyer. Doesn’t recommend it. I’m a electrical engineer who does integrated circuit design. I actually wouldn’t have talked someone out of it though I personally wish I had gone into software or at least computer architecture if I wanted to make chips. Instead of analog circuit design. But the last three years have been so stressful I wouldn’t recommend. So I don’t know what to think.
#33
University professor.
If you land a permanent, full-time position at a good institution, it's an amazing career. But you almost certainly won't land such a position. There aren't enough jobs, and the number is shrinking.
Brocken Blue 2 years ago (edited)
It’s adjuncts are far as the eye can see now… Nearly everyone who I got a graduate degree with who intended to teach in a university is now out of the system. Just didn’t pay enough for the amount of hours worked
JJ 2 years ago (edited)
Don't know where you come from, but I can confirm from Germany - and we have health care, paid leave and all the stuff here. I've been working in research for five years now, at a private and a federal university and don't see much difference. Pay is good, but professors work way more than they're supposed to. My boss even works sick or when he's got time off. And it's not just professors. Same goes for other staff who usually just get temporary contracts. I still like my job, though, esp. since my boss is really cool and doesn't give a f*ck about my work schedule or place, as long as I get my work done properly.
Load More Replies... David Paterson 2 years ago
University income has shrunk every year in real terms for the past 25 years.
SobyKay 2 years ago
I cant think of a good reason not to be a uni professor. Its very good career.
Brocken Blue 2 years ago
What country are you in? Because I feel like that’s the big difference.
Load More Replies... #34
Long haul trucker It’s nice getting to work alone and see the country, but it absolutely destroys your social life. I only get one day off for every week I work so every month I only get 3 or 4 days at home. In that short amount of time I have to cram in all my socializing, dealing with family, and any errands I have to do at home.
Lizz 2 years ago
Especially the drivers who cut you off and expect you to slam on the brakes 100 yards later....
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OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
I have to admit I've never understood why anyone would want to do long haul driving. But that long time alone sounds d*mn attractive 💭
#35
Corrections, 90 percent of the time it’s pretty chill. But the other ten percent is balls to the wall fighting back just enough to gain control, all while the inmate wether they are covered In s**t, p**s, blood, or all three is trying to kill you, or at least seriously injure you. Mandatory overtime 12 hour shifts turn into 16 or longer back to back to back the deaths you walk into seeing. The brutality of it. Look up correctional officer statistics.
Qadgop the Mercotan 2 years ago
I practiced Corrections Medicine for 20 years, after 20 years in the private sector. What an experience! Fascinating patients, but someone was always trying to con me for drugs, low bunk, extra mattress, special shoes, unneeded tests, etc. Also threats of being sued if I didn't give them what they wanted. Well, if they were in prison, I figured their lawyer wasn't that good. Corrections officers sure have it rough dealing with their side of things. Lack of funding/public support for the work we did made it worse.
crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
As a middle schooler the glass is too damn thin here it is not our fault that it breaks every time someone touches it. Also there's very little blood and they painted over the drops that I signed from last year.
Load More Replies... #36
Software engineer. Long hours. You get paid well but you long for the days in a sweaty server room laughing with friends and eating chips. You spend your time in meetings to explain to people what you want to do and why you can't do it in three hours. You get harassed by a variety of accountant class people implementing something they got paid a lot of money to learn at a conference. You get just about everyone in your family asking you why you are not farming cryto or why you are not a multimillionaire at this point - that Elon musk- a great coder. IT used to be the best most fun thing in the world. Then money happened to it.
Almarako94 2 years ago
Money is the dooming point of every profession. They wasted time of their life to get the money so if they spend it they want the best possible outcome and are really pissed if it doesn't meet their expectations.
Helen Bennett 2 years ago
I'm a proud, happy part of a software development team. We work in a functioning way, we look after our hours and our mental health, we are valued by the rest of the business and we're doing good work on a good product. This is very much down to a change of manager. Many jobs have the potential to be great or to be awful. Right now I'm really glad we changed for the better.
Gabriela Cink 2 years ago
Useless meetings for hours and short time for work is making this profession painfull
#37
PR. Definitely used for propaganda.
Kel_how 2 years ago
I was a Communications major in college and one of our specialties was a PR track. I took one class and was completely disgusted. Big companies treating people like sh*t and using PR to lie about how great they are. No thanks.
WindySwede 2 years ago
Johnson Johnson "we use do not absolutley not use asbes.."
Load More Replies... #38
Urban Planner
NIMBY rage directed towards you, with the City Council joining in. Public hearings that sometimes last until 2 in the morning.
scag$y 2 years ago
Here's a thought. People might like it 'in their back yard' if it looked better. Everything new in my city is made of steel, glass and cheap cladding. It looks awful and is designed to be obsolete in as little as a decade. Please, please, please can we go back to brick and stone buildings? Please?
#39
Lawyer
The field can be thankless and the stress is unrelenting. There can be days that make it worth it, but you can have all the work caught up to be blown up and have several days in a row ruined by something dumb. Law school was insanely clicky and people are hyper-competitive, a sense of community can be hard to find while superiors take no hesitation in reminding you that you work for them
Paulo Freitas 2 years ago
I could never be a lawyer lol, Im a s**t liar, i can allready see myself deffending some dude " your honor, yes my client os a c**t and a danger to others, and yes he's definitly guilty, but i don't want him to go to jail because he's paying me "
Ray McArdle 2 years ago
And if you dare to walk into a courtroom, you'll find yourself flailing because the judge made a decision without hearing both sides, and then bullies you. The other lawyer is dishonest, and a bumbling fool, the judge is no better, your client is disappointed with the results because their friend got a better outcome, and you don't get paid. Not to mention it's hyper competitive as there are so many lawyers. Good luck earning enough to pay the gaudy student loans.
Detective Miller's Hat 2 years ago
I've been a paralegal for 15 years. Mostly I enjoy it, but there are SOOOOO MANY crazy and/or painfully stupid people getting themselves into ridiculous messes, it's unbelievable.
#40
I worked in a comic store for far longer than anyone should. The only money in comic stores is owning one, and you'd better be smart about it. The worst customers are entitled c***s, most people are flippers that don't preorder s**t and then complain when you don't let them have 10 copies of something on release day. The best parts of the day are people that dig through bins and actually like comics, and aren't solely interested in turning a profit. And there's not nearly as many of those as their should be. Don't work in a comic shop.
#41
Working in IT means most of the time people barely know you exist, until something goes wrong then you become everyone's worst enemy. Then, the moment you fix it you get months of complaints that "it no longer works right because of whatever you did" even though you didn't actually change anything. You need to grow a really thick skin, especially if you work in technical support, which everyone in the IT industry does at some point.
Almarako94 2 years ago
You're a human being, if they get rude, hang up, everytime they call you again, ask if they calmed down, if not hang up again, repeat until they learn to treat you as a human.
Geoffrey Scott 2 years ago
Our IT (at our school) and I interact pretty well. He hung a screen for a teacher and drilled through the wall of an adjoining room I JUST got done painting. I now call him Happy Drillmore...he calls me a whiner.
Šimon Špaček 2 years ago
"You touched my Outlook and now this page wouldn't load, what did you do?"
Almarako94 2 years ago (edited)
I listen carefully and if they start to get unfriendly i use whatever they said against them. You can't work from home because you don't want to buy an internet connection so you didn't work for 3 days, but are perfectly capable of working in the office? If you're nice to me i help you convince your boss to buy you an internet connection, if you're not nice i tell your boss you didn't work for 3 days.
François Bouzigues 2 years ago
I switch to tech support after starting in sales. Found the human aspect of IT positions the absolute best of my carreer. It is really worse and many many places / positions.
#42
Passenger railway, as an operations functionary, for a privatised operator. Crazy hours. Some weeks upwards of 80. Dealing with scum of the earth fuckwits who think hanging around train stations is cool. Dead people. Explaining to some pen pusher screaming at you why is the train late that there was a problem, for which they don't give a f**k, because their on time bonus is at stake. Like, say a single line working two way traffic. Don't need to be Einstein to figure out only one train at any one time can go on it.
#43
Architect At least double the work of any standard engineering professional, with the lowest pay rate. Often times not sleeping due to deadlines. Lengthy testing process (ARE requires multiple long tests which require you to study on your own time like the BAR, but instead of one test you have many). Usually the “bad guy” in the construction industry. (Contractors b***h, owner bitches about added costs and at times blames you and engineers will generally not understand why certain things are designed) I love my job and wouldn’t ever do my life any other way, but definitely some negatives that if you cant accept you shouldn’t be in the industry
howdylee 2 years ago
You're at the wrong office then. There are firms that are not slave drivers or have project managers that know how to schedule work vs deadlines. You're not going to be a Starchitect designing the next building for a magazine cover, but there are plenty of fulfilling, and dare I say good-paying jobs out there.
Almarako94 2 years ago
Biggest downside: having to draw shoeboxes for years unless you land an audtion. And even if the people have money, all they want are flat white walls and rectangles only.
What do you think ?
Paulo Freitas 2 years ago (edited)
Oh i dunno, i like the prospect of teaching English in Japan, i mean Im not an English native, nor do i have a degree in English language, but according with the OP Im Over qualified allready, and the idea of being in some remote backwater village in Japan is quite apealing.
Load More Replies...
Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
"Everything sounds exciting until you actually try it. Then you find out it's just another job. I bet even people like Cohen the Barbarian wake up in the morning and think 'Oh NO, not another day of crushing the jewelled thrones of the world beneath my sandalled feet'." ~Terry Pratchett, "Moving Pictures".
Alex Martin 2 years ago
We're physically and mentally designed to hunt and gather for five or six hours a day and then hang out, make babies, and sleep for the rest of the time. We settled down, started farming and it has been hard ever since.
Victoria Pitt 2 years ago
I'm a graphic designer and it's pretty alright. I worked in print production and manufacturing for a long time so that was pretty deadline driven and stressful, but when I switched to a marketing department of a private company, it became extremely relaxed. If you are interested in the field I would recommend learning web and UX though (wish I had), you'll get paid 2-3x more.
Greg Wilhelm 2 years ago
I'm a Certified Arborist. Been doing it for 20years. Everyone thinks it's such a fun job, climbing trees all day. It sucks.... So much physical and mental stress. The tree dictates where you climb. You can't just pick a safe and comfortable spot to sit in. It f*****g sucks.... But I embrace the misery and put the tree first and my body second.
Diolla 2 years ago
I've had decent jobs in the past.... bookseller (literature), software engineer, change controller..... am currently a specialist hairdresser and a Vodun priest... really work CAN be fun. OK some jobs are always c**p (as posted above) but generally it's just a matter of making the best of it. I mean, we do jobs beause we get compensated for doing them, not for the fun of it, mostly.
WhiteClawOfDeath 2 years ago
Let's do a second one with amazing jobs, cut out the overlapping ones and see what rests.
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
So according to this thread almost every job is terrible. You can certainly love what you do, but I think that most jobs are going to come with their issues.
Paulo Freitas 2 years ago (edited)
Oh i dunno, i like the prospect of teaching English in Japan, i mean Im not an English native, nor do i have a degree in English language, but according with the OP Im Over qualified allready, and the idea of being in some remote backwater village in Japan is quite apealing.
Load More Replies... Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
"Everything sounds exciting until you actually try it. Then you find out it's just another job. I bet even people like Cohen the Barbarian wake up in the morning and think 'Oh NO, not another day of crushing the jewelled thrones of the world beneath my sandalled feet'." ~Terry Pratchett, "Moving Pictures".
Alex Martin 2 years ago
We're physically and mentally designed to hunt and gather for five or six hours a day and then hang out, make babies, and sleep for the rest of the time. We settled down, started farming and it has been hard ever since.
Victoria Pitt 2 years ago
I'm a graphic designer and it's pretty alright. I worked in print production and manufacturing for a long time so that was pretty deadline driven and stressful, but when I switched to a marketing department of a private company, it became extremely relaxed. If you are interested in the field I would recommend learning web and UX though (wish I had), you'll get paid 2-3x more.
Greg Wilhelm 2 years ago
I'm a Certified Arborist. Been doing it for 20years. Everyone thinks it's such a fun job, climbing trees all day. It sucks.... So much physical and mental stress. The tree dictates where you climb. You can't just pick a safe and comfortable spot to sit in. It f*****g sucks.... But I embrace the misery and put the tree first and my body second.
Diolla 2 years ago
I've had decent jobs in the past.... bookseller (literature), software engineer, change controller..... am currently a specialist hairdresser and a Vodun priest... really work CAN be fun. OK some jobs are always c**p (as posted above) but generally it's just a matter of making the best of it. I mean, we do jobs beause we get compensated for doing them, not for the fun of it, mostly.
WhiteClawOfDeath 2 years ago
Let's do a second one with amazing jobs, cut out the overlapping ones and see what rests.
Loki's_Lil_Butterknife 2 years ago
So according to this thread almost every job is terrible. You can certainly love what you do, but I think that most jobs are going to come with their issues.
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