10 Unique Jobs in the World That Sound Too Strange to Be True

People always say “you do what?” when they hear about some careers. There are some weird jobs out there that are totally real and they make you wonder how someone even thought of that work. If you’re curious about unique careers, here are 10 that are so unusual you might think they’re jokes. But no, they’re legit jobs around the world.

1. Panda Nanny (China)

What they do: Take care of giant pandas by feed them, clean up after them, monitor their health and activity. It’s like being a nanny, but for pandas.

Why it sounds strange: Because most people don’t expect “animal babysitting” of that scale. But China’s panda parks employ people just for that.

Reference: Marie Claire wrote about a job opening at the China Giant Panda Protection & Research Center for a panda nanny. Marie Claire

2. Snake Venom Collector (Global Labs / Zoos)

What they do: They milk venom from poisonous snakes. The venom is used in research, in making anti-venom, or for medical/scientific applications. It’s dangerous and unusual.

Why it sounds weird: Extracting venom from snakes sounds like a job from a fantasy movie. But it’s essential in medicine and toxicology.

Reference: FindMyShift has an entry on snake venom collectors (“Snake Venom Collector / Snake Milker”) in their list of weird jobs. findmyshift.co.uk

3. Bike Fisherman (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

What they do: Dive into canals to pull out abandoned, stolen or discarded bicycles. After retrieving them, they’re recycled or re-used.

Why it sounds weird: Who would think picking up old bikes from muddy canals could be a job? Yet it is.

Reference: Western Union’s “10 Unique Jobs from Around the World” mentions “Bike Fisherman.” Western Union Money Transfer.

Read more: 10 Best Weekend Jobs From Home to Earn Extra Income

4. Train Pusher (“Oshiya”) (Tokyo, Japan)

What they do: Help push passengers into very crowded subway cars during rush hour so doors can close. These helpers work in busy stations to squeeze people in safely.

Why it sounds weird: “Pushing people” sounds borderline rude, but in Tokyo’s super crowded metro, it’s an official job.

Reference: Western Union’s article includes “People Pusher,” also called Train Pusher (Oshiyas in Japan). Western Union Money Transfer

5. Professional Mourner (Various parts of Asia / Middle East)

What they do: Hired to cry, lament and mourn loudly at funerals. Sometimes part of the ceremony, sometimes more theatrical. This helps honor the deceased in cultures where expression in mourning is very public.

Why it sounds strange: Because mourning is usually seen as spontaneous. Paying someone to do it seems odd. But in some cultures it’s traditional.

Reference: India Times’ “10 Bizarre But Real Jobs That Exist In The World” includes “Professional Mourner.” Indiatimes

6. Odor Judge / Odor Tester (Various companies)

What they do: Smell unusual items such as feet, breath and laundry detergent. It’s to test whether products’ scent masking or deodorizing works. They evaluate odour strength and help R&D for deodorants, shoes and soaps.

Why it sounds strange: Smelling gross stuff might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But it’s a legit job for product developers.

Reference: Listed under “Odor Judge” in the India Times article.

7. Water Slide Tester (Europe and Tourist Resorts)

What they do: Try out water slides for comfort, speed, safety, splash quantity, that sort of thing. Ensure rides are fun but also safe. They test slides before opening or after refurbishment / repairs.

Why it sounds weird: Playing in a waterpark is usually vacation and it’s not work. But someone has to test the fun safely.

Reference: “Water Slide Tester” is mentioned in Weird Jobs Around the World (2025 Global Guide to Strange Careers). interviewquestions.guru

8. Gumologist (Flavor Developer for Gum)

What they do: Someone who develops chewing gum flavors. Tastes, tests textures, designs new flavors for gums/bubble gums.

Why it sounds strange: Because when you think of flavor creation, ice cream or chocolate might first come to mind—not gum. But gum is a real industry.

Reference: “Gumologist” is included in the FindMyShift article on the weirdest jobs in the world.

9. Ethical Hacker (Bug Bounty Specialist / Cybersecurity)

What they do: They try to hack into systems (with permission) to find vulnerabilities so companies can fix them before real hackers exploit them. They may get paid per bug discovered.

Why it sounds unique / weird: Because many people think hacking is always bad. But this type of hacking is legal, ethical and actually rewarded.

Reference: “Weird Jobs by Continent” section in InterviewQuestions.guru – Weird Jobs Around the World includes “Ethical Hacker.”

10. Pet Food Taster (Global)

What they do: Humans employed to taste-test pet food by checking flavor, texture, and quality before it goes to market.
Why unique: Tasting dog or cat food doesn’t sound appetizing, but someone has to ensure quality.
Reference: The Guardian covered professional pet food tasters.

Why These Jobs Feel So Strange

• Many of them are tied to cultural traditions (professional mourners, panda nannies).
• Some are extremely specialized (gum flavor testing, odor judges).
• Others arise from unique geographical or environmental issues (bike dredging in cities with many canals).
• Some jobs are about pushing comfort zones—doing weird sensory tests, or handling things others avoid.

What You Can Learn from These Unique Careers

• Creativity: People invent roles based on needs others didn’t think about.
• Courage: Some jobs are messy or uncomfortable. If you can adapt, you stand out.
• Passion over norm: A lot of these people love what they do even if others think it’s strange.

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