Global Q&A: ‘What’s the worst job you can think of?’

Tahira Shahid, Islamabad, Pakistan (The Epoch Times)

Experiences that affect our health and well-being, even possibly endangering one’s life, from acting ethically to attitudes of boredom, are some of the common considerations for defining the worst jobs. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Pakistan to Africa and from South Korea to Brazil discovered when they asked locals around the world, “What’s the worst job you can think of?”

Islamabad, Pakistan
Dr. Rafi, 72, University Professor

The worst job I can think of having is any job that is monotonous. I also think any job is the worst if you do not want to do it. It is hard to do the same thing day in and day out, and important to find something that one does for reasons other than just making money. Like, now in my “retired” years I have found teaching students, helping them learn and be successful very satisfying. I not only impart knowledge, but let them know I care and listen to their problems. I try to be a role model.

 

 

Kassel, Germany
Rebekka Heinrichsmeyer, 31, Artist

To be a prostitute. You have to have two faces there and you are not able to be clear with yourself. This is untruthful. In my work as an artist I made a system out of boxes. I had one box for those without work, the prostitutes and the disabled persons. Because I had no idea about prostitutes, I interviewed some of them. All of the women working as a prostitute told me that they had to pay taxes, but were not able to say that they were mother of a child, because otherwise the rest of the parents would not allow their children to play with their child. This is really a bad, double-minded job. I think, they too have two faces; they are double-minded. This business is very untruthful.

Deajeon, South Korea
Sunghwan Im, 22, English College Student

The worst job I could think of is being a policeman, because they get hardly any vacation; I heard from my friends they have not much vacation. So when I get a job, I want a job with a lot of vacation. Also, a policeman’s job is very dangerous and you could die. And the pay of police officers is really low in Korea.

 

 

 

 

Taipei, Taiwan
Lin Tsung-hsien, 40, Freelancer

There’s no “worst job,” it’s about the mentality of the person that’s doing it. If you want me to answer, though, then the job that makes you unhappy is the worst kind of job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auckland, New Zealand
Mrs. Botha, School Teacher

I think rubbish collection must be the most awful job to have. Dealing with waste, the smell would be so off putting it would make me feel sick. There is also a dangerous aspect to it, with broken glass and toxic substances that people dump without consideration of others. I am grateful that I have a job where I can encourage others, and the opportunities to learn and develop.

 

 

 

Sofia, Bulgaria
Miroslav Borisov, 28, Supply Specialist

The worst job I can think of is being a miner. This is because at this job people work hundreds of meters deep down in the ground where the oxygen is in limited quantities, and you don’t see daylight for many hours. Having in mind all the dirt as well. ... No thanks.

Not only for the people, but this is one of the worst jobs for the Earth as well. It is a reason for erosion, loss of biodiversity and contamination of soil and water.

 

 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Maria Darci G. da Silva, 39, University Professor

For me, the worst job is that of those people who work in telemarketing and are selling things over the phone, trying to convince you to buy things you do not want to consume and that neither they themselves want to sell. Sometimes, people mistreat them because they are in a bad mood. Not even they would consume such products, but they need to do this work to survive. I don’t think this is a worthless job. I know that there are other jobs where people do unethical things. But this was indeed the first job that came into my mind when you asked, and I certainly would not want to have it.

 

San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy
Yuri Arrostini, 33, Tobacconist

I don’t think any one type of work is the worst, but maybe the worst for me would be to work as a bricklayer or mason, because I never work with my hands, such as in a factory or in laborious work or anything similar. I am not accustomed to doing that, so that is the worst for me. All my life I have worked closely with people in social work or jobs working closely with people.

 

 

 

Gliwice, Poland
Pawel Dumanowski, 20, Storekeeper

For me, the worst job is that of a policeman, because this work is largely guided by mood, not an objective sense of justice. Moreover, it is a job in which people are prone to being corrupted, because most people offer them bribes.

 

 

 

 

 

Brisbane, Australia
Brice Connolly, 34, Assistant Manager

I think pumping sewage tanks. That’s what my dad does and I’ll never do it. I think it’s pretty foul, pretty disgusting, good money, but I wouldn’t be wanting to do it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burkina Faso, Africa
Dondasse Pato, Communication Specialist

Cleaning the roads is the worst job in my country. Working for the mayor, some have to clean the roads and are exposed to accidents and all kinds of diseases. The pay is very little.

 

 

 

 

 

Norrköping, Sweden
Lena Toftgård, 55, Training Instructor

The worst job/occupation I can think of is to be a fisher in a little boat far out on the open sea where it is rough, cold, hard work, and scary.

 

 

 

 

 

Look for the Global Q&A column every week, when Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “How important is your country to the world?”