An ambitious New Year resolution may be to get a new job. So I took a look at research from recent years about those occupations that are popular and those that are not.
Best jobs were listed as translator, web developer, surgeon, lawyer, vet, pilot, actuary, physiotherapist, architect and dentist.
Worst jobs were miner, courier, builder’s labourer, journalist, sous chef, electrician, HGV driver, waiter, care assistant and housekeeper.
I take it you note that journalism ranked fourth from the bottom of worst jobs ever. Phew. How did I get away with it? I think it’s a brilliant job and so have most of my colleagues down the years.
The least stressful jobs were receptionist, librarian, translator, secretary and charity worker. Most stressful were oil rigger, doctor, pilot, journalist (again), firefighter. I wonder where being a target ranks?
This was a job that was actually advertised. UK Paintball, which has 80 locations around the country, wanted someone to be a Human Bullet Impact Tester at £40,000 a year. They got more than 10,000 applications from around the world.
Among the pleas for the job were:
“I always dreamed of being face-covered by paint while screaming so I think I can be the perfect tester.”
“I’m a rugby player and I used to play airsoft without protection so I know physical pain. I can also break watermelon with my head.”
But I liked the chap who said he was perfect because he was fat and there was more to aim at.
Justin Toohig, of UK Paintball, said: “We couldn’t have predicted that so many people in the UK and beyond would want to get shot at for a living.”
Madness, that’s what it is. But then, what do I know? I’ve enjoyed being a journalist for more than 50 years. Maybe I’m a masochist. Maybe I should apply.
