Want to do something unusual for a living? MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry explores some of the strangest jobs that exist – and you don’t need a degree to do them
If the 9-5 grind is getting you down, or the idea of a “normal job” fills you with fear, then it’s time to think a little differently.
There are lots of jobs these days that don’t need a degree, or that let you train as you go along. But what about the more unusual jobs out there? Let’s take a look at some very real jobs that you could consider doing – if you’re brave enough!
Become a professional sleeper
Do you just really, really love sleep? You could get paid to do it! There are lots of ways to be a professional sleeper. For example, you could be a mattress tester. This requires you to sleep on different mattresses in different conditions and write an honest review. You could also partake in market research focus groups about sleeping.
Another way to get paid as a professional sleeper is for medical studies. This one isn’t a full-time job, but can pay handsomely. Some studies want healthy adults, while others will look for people with sleep disorders so they can research them further. Check out Trials4Us as a starting point to look for clinical study research trials.
Help people as a bereavement co-ordinator
If you want to help people through tough times, consider becoming a bereavement coordinator. You often need a counselling certificate, but not a degree. A bereavement coordinator helps families coordinate funeral arrangements for their loved ones.
They step in at a difficult time in their lives, to take the load of some of the administrative demands of death. They often also provide counselling support to families, especially if employed in a long-term care setting such as within a hospice. A bereavement coordinator salary is around £30,000 a year depending on location and experience.
Become a voice actor
While the argument about AI in audiobooks drags on, there is a massive demand for real human voices in a wide range of media. This could be for audiobooks, voiceovers on corporate videos, or even as a voice actor in children’s cartoons.
Voice actors need to have range, ideally an ability to manage different accents too. Some voice actors, such as many audiobook narrators, are able to work from home if they have the right setup of a soundproof room and suitable audio equipment. Other jobs will require them to visit a recording studio.
Voice actors find work in a similar way to screen actors: they often need an agent for the higher paid jobs, but can also find work by networking with authors, writers, and audio producers.
Make food look great
You know all the food adverts we see on the TV and in print? How a pizza slice is pulled to reveal that delicious string of cheese, or the Christmas turkey on a feast table looks good enough to eat? That’s the work of a food stylist.
Food stylists use all kinds of tips and tricks to make food look great in videos and photos. The way they learn is actually usually via culinary school or courses, to learn about plating techniques. They will also be passionate about trying out techniques and creating an online portfolio using social media, to show off their stylist skills.
Get paid to write subtitles
Inclusive content is increasingly important, so most TV and web shows need subtitles. AI subtitles are still dodgy (just watch any auto-captioned YouTube video!) so TV, film, and corporate commercial companies use real people to write subtitles.
You get paid to watch adverts, films, clips, web series, any kind of video content, and provide subtitles. The titles need to match up to the timing on screen, so it’s quite an intensive job sometimes. However, captioning can make things fun – a classic example is [mooing in fear] in Jurassic Park when the poor cow is lowered by crane to its dinosaur dinner fate.
Look on production company and broadcaster websites for jobs to get paid to write, as well as sites like Indeed. Some jobs will require a degree – particularly if you’re translating to a different language – but many have a simple entry test to see if you’re up to scratch.
Get paid to shop
Finally, if you have a great eye for bargains and just seem to ‘get’ other people’s taste when you meet them, personal shopping could be for you. This isn’t just department store personal shopping – although that’s a creative and fulfilling role too – but more like a concierge service.
High net worth individuals have a constant need to buy gifts for friends, colleagues, and loved ones, as well as home décor and other things for themselves. But they don’t always have the time! So, they employ a personal shopper to find unique pieces that suit their (or the recipient’s) style, and arrange the delivery of the item too.
Personal shopping like this is usually a freelance business – so you can set your hours and rates. There are other ways to get paid to shop, such as mystery shopping, but they’re part-time – personal shopping can be a full-time income if you want it to be!
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