Monday, May 17, 2010

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

This article in Woman's Day about unusual jobs got me thinking. I'll pass on being an odor tester or a professional whistler, but two jobs in the article caught my attention. How cool would it be to be a furniture tester (sometimes I just want to take a nap) or a wine taster?

But one job made me bristle--writing fake reviews. As someone who freelances by writing book reviews and who tries to be fair and honest but not mean in my reviews, knowing that some people (I won't call them writers) get paid to lie in print about the quality of hotels, restaurants, etc. to hike ratings makes me want to scream. Writing fake reviews is just wrong!

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, here's my question: What's the weirdest job you've ever had? If you've never had a weird job, what's the most fun job you've ever had?

One fun job I had as a teenager was working in the candy department at Sears. It was a yummy job until the day a professional crook short changed me out of $20. The man went through the store gyping cashiers. I fell for it, but then realized what happened and told my supervisor, who called the police. It was also at Sears that I was introduced to unusual candy requests. One I remember was being asked to mix redskin peanuts and jelly beans. After I tried it, I discovered it actually tasted good.

So, how about you? Any unusual jobs or job-related experiences you want to share?

14 comments:

  1. I don't think much of the fake reviews, but if you see an opening for a chocolate taster, let me know.

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  2. Most of my jobs growing up were pretty boring: babysitting and the like. But one summer I got to spend in Florida helping manage my aunt and uncle's motel (I was 17)--fun, fun, and more fun!

    Pat
    www.critteralley.blogspot.com

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  3. I once worked at a sewage treatment plant. Students will do just about anything for a summer job! Thankfully it wasn't as bad as it sounds :)

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  4. Hi Patricia,
    A chocolate taster job would be great.
    Donna

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  5. Hi Pat,
    Now that sounds like a FUN job. I bet you have some great stories to tell about that summer!
    Donna

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  6. Hi Jemi,
    Glad to hear it wasn't as bad as it sounds.
    Donna

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  7. Hmmm...I worked as a Sunday dispatcher for the Las Vegas Sun back when Hank Greenspun still ran the show. I had a huge wall map and directed the "runners" where to deliver missed papers. That was back in the early '80s, long before GPS!

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  8. Hi Lisa,
    Sounds like a fascinating job, and thank goodness for GPS.
    Donna

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  9. Well,,,MY weirdest job related experience is the first chapter of my book!! So, I cannot reveal any of that!! :D

    BUT, I do have a pretty good one I can share! Just last year, when I worked part-time at Barnes & Noble...oh yeah! spent all my pay there!.....It was during the first few nights I worked, and we'd been told we could have water at the cashier counter, but NOT to let the customers see us with it!! When no one was in line, I got thirsty and grabbed my water that was under the counter, squatted down to "hide"....and started to lose my balance! I must've stepped backwards 2 or 3 steps before falling flat on my rear end!!!!!! The man and woman working with me, checked on me, and I was fine...except for my ego!! I was SO embarrassed!

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  10. Hmmm...funnest job? Worked at a Top 40 radio station. Weirdest job? Working at a Top 40 radio station.

    Once, I worked as a gift wrapper. But I always felt boxed in. (Um, sorry.)

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  11. I'm right there with you regarding fake reviews! Makes my blood boil.

    The best job ever is reporting. No contest. I've used it as an excuse to get inches from tigers, fly in a helicopter, slip backstage at concerts, visit crime scenes, and have pictures to prove I was almost gored by a wild cow at the county fair. Once, I even flipped the bird to a county commissioner. He laughed.

    Someone needs to make a reality show staring a reporter.

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  12. Hi Cathy,
    How funny! Boxed in, I like that.

    I briefly was a gift wrapper at Sears, but after seeing some of my handiwork, the supervisor sent me back to the candy department.

    Donna

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  13. Hi Sarah,
    Sounds like you've had some amazing experiences as a reporter. A reality show with a reporter sounds like fun.
    Donna

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