29 incredible one-of-a-kind jobs

The world's best dream jobs?

Travelling the world, playing with LEGO, and counting swans for the King might sound like fun hobbies – but there are some lucky people who get to do these things while being paid. As the old saying goes, choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life...

Read on to discover some of the world's most enviable one-off jobs.

All dollar values in US dollars

The Simpsons series analyst

The Simpsons has been credited with predicting everything from Donald Trump's presidency to the recent energy crisis. Eagle-eyed fan of the series? This could have been the job for you. In October 2021, PlatinCasino.co.uk was recruiting for one lucky person to watch every episode of The Simpsons – all 700-plus of them – in a bid to help the online casino predict the future.

The successful 'Simpsons series analyst' was charged with spending eight weeks watching 284 hours of TV, writing detailed reports of key storylines to feed back to Platin Casino's prediction experts. In return, they earned a $6,875 (£5.2k) salary, $105 (£80) to cover Wi-Fi costs, a Disney+ subscription, and even a weekly box of doughnuts. 

Chief Crust Taster

If doughnuts don't quite tickle your fancy, how about pizza? In September 2021, Pizza Hut Delivery advertised for an official Chief Crust Taster to test the brand's stuffed-crust pizzas. The successful applicant was paid $6,874 (£5.2k) for the role of tasting and rating "tastes, textures, and lots of cheese". Where do we sign up?

Digital travel guides

In 2018, airline WOW air was offering a truly once-in-a-lifetime summer job. Two lucky people were given the opportunity to relocate to Iceland and then jet off on a range of documented trips: four within Iceland itself and a further eight around the globe.

From June to mid-August, the two chosen 'digital travel guides' were kitted out with an apartment in downtown Reykjavik, a car and a monthly salary of $4,000 (£3k). They were tasked with creating content that covered everything from local cuisine to nightlife recommendations, as well as ideas for how to explore on a budget. 

Visitor Services Manager at an historic castle

Back in April 2018, St Michael's Mount Castle in Cornwall, England announced that it was looking for one lucky candidate to live within its historic walls. The salary on offer for the quirky opportunity was a princely £25,000-£30,000 ($33k-$39k) a year, with the incredible job requiring the successful applicant to manage a team and deliver tip-top customer service to visitors.

Pro McDonald’s Monopoly Player

The McDonald’s Monopoly stickers – which can be exchanged for prizes ranging from French fries to holidays – are a huge hit in the UK every year. But not everyone is a winner. With that in mind, services company Bark got creative in 2018 and recruited a select few "Pro McDonald’s Monopoly Players" to help those who are cash-rich but time-poor to finally win big.

The Monopoly players needed to ask their clients how many meals they should buy, which prizes they were looking for, and how much money they were happy to spend. The salary remained undisclosed, but unlimited Big Macs were presumably a serious perk of the job. 

Professional slacker

In January 2018, a Swedish branch of travel agency TUI offered four "slowpokes" the chance to become professional slackers in a very unusual one-off employment opportunity. The successful applicants were required to "sit in a beach chair wearing a summer outfit (not swimwear)", with their "feet in the sand", as part of a clever 'fake beach' created at a shopping mall in Stockholm. 

Responsibilities were listed as "none" on the job description, with required qualifications including "not at all able to think outside the box" and "impressive ability to focus on your own relaxation". 

Chief Adventure Officer

In December 2017, National Rail advertised for a Chief Adventure Officer. At the time, the role was billed as ‘Britain’s ultimate part-time job’. The successful applicant was paid £10,400 ($13.7k) to vlog their adventures, which saw them take the train around the UK as well as Interrail around Europe, armed only with a 16-25 Railcard. Their destination was decided by the public, who voted on their route and activities. 

Cancún Experience Officer

Most people associate the role of CEO with pressure and stress. However, in November 2017 the city of Cancún had an opening for a very different type of CEO: a Cancún Experience Officer.

The Mexican city was looking for someone to live there between March and August 2018, and to experience all that it has to offer. The lucky employee was given a salary of $60,000 (£45.5k) and was housed in luxury hotels as they showcased the best of what Cancún had to offer.

Pizza Taster

Pizza Hut isn't the only brand that's prepared to pay for professional tastebuds. In October 2017, Bath Pizza Company in Somerset, England posted a job listing for a 'Pizza Taster'. The company was looking for someone to give feedback on their menu for two hours a week, offering a competitive salary as well as 'pizza perks'. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it...

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Ice cream-selling DJs

DJing and serving ice cream from a campervan sounds like it could be the best summer job ever – and it's even sweeter if you get paid £25,000 ($33k) to do it. 

In May 2017, UK dairy firm Yeo Valley was searching for two 'outgoing' recruits to attend events and festivals throughout the UK, behind the wheel of their custom silver ice cream van. Based at the company's HQ in Somerset, which is considered to have one of the best staff canteens in the UK, the successful applicants had to be willing to ‘strut their stuff’ in front of large crowds.

Professor of Play, University of Cambridge, UK

Cambridge University recruited its first 'LEGO Professor of Play' in May 2017. The successful candidate was Paul Ramchandani, a child mental health specialist who's responsible for studying the importance of play in education and ensuring that "children are equipped with 21st century skills like problem-solving, teamwork and self-control".

Ramchandani's $108,000 (£82k) salary is funded by the LEGO Foundation. 

Instagrammer for Royal Caribbean International

Think 'summer job' and you might imagine working in a store. But in 2017, Royal Caribbean International was looking for someone to join their team for a three-week summer internship – and the role involved sailing around the world on three different cruises rather than stacking shelves.

To get ‘on board’ with this dream job, the successful applicant was expected to take three stunning photos every day and post them to Instagram. The happy snapper also got to take home a $67,100 (£51k) salary. 

'The best job in the world'

After beating 17,000 other applicants, Sorelle Amore won the Best Job In The World Competition, hosted by high-end property and travel company Third End in 2017. The role involved receiving $40,000 (£30k) to travel the world over three months, staying at a dozen luxury properties in 12 different global destinations.

The Australian YouTube star stayed in an amazing variety of locations, ranging from a five-star Scottish castle to a mansion with eight staff in the Costa Rica rainforest. 

Absolut Vodka professional taster

At the start of 2017, Absolut Vodka had an opening for a “billion-dollar nose” to join its ranks as a professional taster. The successful candidate would be a “tastemaster and trendspotter”, who would take part in “brainstorming” innovative ideas.

And, of course, they’d need to be a “storyteller and star”, as well as a “doer and a team player”. An all-rounder, then... with a penchant for vodka an obvious bonus. Although the salary wasn't specified, the position was advertised as being mid-senior level. 

Anniversaries assistant to the British royal family

King Charles III has a packed address book, so the royal household employs somebody to keep on top of crucial dates and "send out messages that mean so much to so many people". Buckingham Palace was hiring for the role in 2016, offering £22,000 ($28.8k) per year.

Hedgehog officer

The UK’s Suffolk Wildlife Trust hired a hedgehog officer in 2016, offering a salary of £24,000 ($33k).

The successful candidate is in charge of turning Ipswich into the most hedgehog-friendly town in Britain by organising eco surveys, community events, and conservation projects. This is one job where prickly customers are to be expected. 

Tortoise walker

In 2016, Manhattan resident Amanda Green advertised on Craigslist for someone to walk her pet Henry. But Henry wasn't a dog – he was a 16-year-old African tortoise with a penchant for summer strolls through Central Park. Pet store worker Amalia McAllister beat hundreds of applicants to land the $10.72 (£8.12) an hour job, proving that slow and steady can sometimes win the race. 

Beer taster

Carlsberg Singapore offered the job of 'beer taster' to one lucky fan at the end of 2016. The beer company paid $20,000 (£15k) for the stint, which was part of their ‘Probably The Best Job In The World’ campaign.

The job required zero experience, although the applicant was expected to have 100% passion for the brand. The campaign was won by Daniel Osgodby, who beat four other finalists in a series of tasks, which included picking out Carlsberg in a blind taste test. 

Christmas lights untangler

In 2015, British supermarket giant Tesco advertised for a festive light untangler for its store in Wrexham, Wales. Offering a “competitive” salary, the role involved checking lights for breakages and replacing broken bulbs at a dedicated light untangling stand.

Panda nanny

In 2014, the Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre in Sichuan, China hit headlines around the globe when it advertised for a professional panda nanny.

The year-long position was described as a "Chinese version of a caretaker of an island on the Great Barrier Reef" and paid the equivalent of $32,000 (£24k). The Centre hoped that the role would raise awareness of panda conservation, and reportedly received more than 100,000 applications for the job. 

Knitter in residence

While it might sound like a tall yarn, the University of Glasgow was genuinely seeking a 'knitter in residence' back in 2014. The lucky crafter would be paid a stipend of £1,000 ($1.3k) to head up the university's Knitting in the Round project for a term, and would be in charge of encouraging the campus to start knitting.

Scotland is known for its wool production, and the job was designed to show how knitting “contributes to the Scottish economy, to health and wellbeing and to cultural enrichment”. 

Chief Funster and other Australian jobs

In 2013, Tourism Queensland in Australia advertised six exciting jobs: Chief Funster, Outback Adventurer, Park Ranger, Wildlife Caretaker, Taste Master, and Lifestyle Photographer. All of the positions had a salary package of $75,000 (£57k), with accommodation, food, and expenses included. 

Resident witch

The Wookey Hole Caves attraction in Somerset, England has its very own resident witch who teaches visitors about magic and local folklore.

Anna Dixon (pictured) took over the £50,000 ($66k) role in 2013, thanks in part to her "impressive cackle" and the fact she isn't allergic to cats. 

Honeymoon travel tester

Irish tourism company Runaway Bride & Groom sought out one travel-hungry applicant to test honeymoon travel spots in 2010. The only attributes required for the role? Tip-top communication skills and "a romantically linked other half". 

The successful lucky duo got to spend six months testing out "the most romantic and ultimate wedding and honeymoon venues around the world" in return for $27,000 (£20.5k). 

Wine lifestyle correspondent

Elsewhere in 2010, Californian winemaker Murphy-Goode was on the prowl for somebody to fill the enviable role of 'wine lifestyle correspondent'. 

The successful applicant, Hardy Wallace, resided in California’s wine country for six months, sampling products and sharing his insights on social media, for the refreshing sum of $10,000 (£7.5k). 

Caretaker of an exotic island

Back in 2009, Australia's Tourism Queensland advertised for a caretaker – but for an exotic island, rather than a building. 

Billed as 'the best job in the world', the role gained a huge amount of media attention. British charity worker Ben Southall got the gig and spent six months taking care of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, sharing his experiences with the world online. 

Director of fun

Also in 2009, the National Railway Museum in York, England appointed six-year-old Sam Pointon as its Director of Fun. The train-obsessed child wrote a letter to the museum, asking to come in for an interview for a vacant director’s role. When the museum received his letter, they created the Director of Fun position and offered it to him, with his duties including making sure that other kids who visited the museum had a great time.

Sam must have been a hit as in 2017, at the still tender age of 14, the Grand Hotel & Spa in York offered him the role of Director of Fun & Families.

Asparagus reader

Fortune tellers use many techniques to look into the future, from tarot cards to crystal balls. Jemima Packington reads asparagus tips. The world’s only 'asparamancer' has reportedly predicted everything from the credit crunch to the deaths of several British politicians.

There’s no concrete salary for people who make prophecies through the medium of vegetables, but recruitment firm Glassdoor suggests a typical fortune teller makes around $32,000 (£24.2k) a year.

Swan warden

King Charles III owns all the unmarked mute swans in UK waters. His personal Warden of the Swans is entrusted with carrying out "swan-upping", an annual census of the birds on the River Thames. The post is currently held by Oxford University biologist Christopher Perrins (pictured seated to the left of Queen Elizabeth II).

It's unclear what he earns as salaries at the royal household vary hugely. Summer workers are paid £9.50 ($12.50) an hour, while higher-ranking professionals, such as the King's private secretary, can earn £146,000 ($192k) a year, according to Hello magazine. 

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