The next time you’re bored at dinner, here’s a discussion guaranteed to re-animate conversation. Simply ask “What do you think is the world’s most unnecessary/useless/over-rated job?” (choose any option – they all work).
The night I asked, suggestions came thick and fast. And most of the reasons people gave for disparagingly rating jobs the way they did fell into clear categories:
1. Do nothing
2. Add nothing
3. Cost a lot and do nothing
4. Talk a lot and add nothing
5. Why do they bother?
6. Think they matter but don’t
7. Complicate everything
8. Superficial
9. Lack ability
10. Lack personality
11. Clueless
12. Ruthless
13. Make no difference whatsoever
14. Pen pushers
15. Grizzlers
16. Vultures
17. Leeches
18. Bullshitters
19. Fence squatters
Interestingly, a number of vocations received ratings in multiple categories.
How do you think other people see the work you do?
Are they right?
