These days, there are a multitude of jobs to choose from: doctor, teacher, clown, plumber, and the list goes on. But wait a minute … What if you find yourself dreading to be like everyone else – stuck in the office and making documents for important meetings? Well, don’t worry! Fortunately, there are some special jobs that remain obscure, but have spared many people’s lives from becoming a mundane routine!
1. Odor Tester
This man does exactly what his title implies and is sometimes asked to put his nose into clients’ armpits to judge effectiveness of a deodorant! So, to be qualified as an odor tester, you cannot just have a sensitive nose, but have a strong stomach to match.
2. Hair Boiler
Hair in this case does not mean human hair. These groups of people are asked to boil animal hairs in water until they curl up for later use. They not only have to stir and inspect the “soup” of animal hair, but may have to work in post-processing too.
3. Professional Whistler
This lucky guy simply whistles tunes to earn money. He adds the pleasant music to movies, TV, and radio commercials. A professional whistler can also play a variety of music genres with an extensive repertoire. If you want to be a professional whistler, practice whistling every day from now on!
4. Pet Food Tester
Yes! It is hard to believe, but many pet food companies actually do use human testers to taste their products. Pet food testers have specially trained their palate so that they know exactly what dogs and cats like to eat. They say that once you are used to it, pet food tastes as delicious as chocolate and cake.
5. Dice Inspector
They work in a gambling house, but do not gamble themselves. Instead, they inspect the participants and aim to detect any flaws in the die that would give unfair advantages or disadvantages when gambling. Impeccable eyesight is required for this job.
6. Organ Procurers
This job is not as scary as it sounds. In fact, their work is crucial for patients waiting for transplants. Organ procurers seek out donors and put them in contact with the right patients, forging a connection that saves lives. Without them, patients’ surgery would be much slower and inefficient.
7. Gumologist
This is one of the rarest, but most sought-after, jobs in the world. Gumologists are paid for developing the best stick of chewing gum for gum companies. However, chewing gum is not enough to succeed in this job; gumologists should also be able to deal with all the chemicals inside gum. Food chemist Jessee Keifer of Cadbury Schweppes is one of the only gumologists in the world.
8. Gross Stunt Tester
When watching reality TV shows such as Fear Factor, you may be shocked to see what trials participants are faced with. They eat insects, put their hands inside a shark’s mouth, and partake in other “gross” activities just to win a prize. More surprisingly still, is the fact that gross stunt testers have to undergo the same trials to ensure participants’ safety and health prior to these shows.
9. Hand Model
Some of the renowned hand models earn even more money than normal fashion models. You can be one of these models only if you have attractive hands and nails. Unlike full-on actors, you don’t have to worry about invasion of privacy, paparazzi, or gaining weight. It sounds like a dream job come true!
10. Professional Sleeper
It’s hard to believe that money can come into your pocket while you’re asleep! This may sound fascinating to people who have a hard time getting out of bed every morning, or to those of us who are generally lazy. Serving medical purposes, professional sleepers help scientists to solve the mystery of disorders such as insomnia.
About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.
Photo by CammiRose via Flickr
