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 feedback to Platin Casino's prediction experts. In return, they earned a $6,875 (£5k) salary, $105 (£75) to cover Wi-Fi costs, a Disney+ subscription, and even a weekly box of doughnuts.
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 will earn $6,874 (£5k) for the role of tasting and rating "tastes, textures, and lots of cheese". Where do we sign up?
Ever imagined working for the royal family? It might sound like the plot of a made-for-Netflix movie but it can actually happen in real life, too. In May 2019, the UK's Royal Household advertised for a Digital Communications Officer: someone who could find “new ways to maintain The Queen’s presence in the public eye and on the world stage.”
The position had a salary of $38,700 (£30k) and, as well as tweeting on behalf of HRH, the successful applicant would also be required to write features for the Royal Household’s website.
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 (£2.9k). 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.
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 $33,000-$39,000 (£24k-£28k) a year, with the once-in-a-lifetime job requiring the successful applicant to manage a team and deliver tip-top customer service to visitors.
And that's not the only quirky oppportunity that St Michael's Mount Castle has recruited for: fast-forward to spring 2021 and the organisation was looking for another 'live-in castle officer' to join its team.
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.
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".
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 $13,700 (£9.9k) 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.
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 (£43.4k) and was housed in luxury hotels as they showcased the best of what Cancún had to offer.
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...
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 $33,000 (£24k) 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.
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, team work and self-control." Ramchandani's $108,000 (£78k) salary is funded by the LEGO Foundation.
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 (£48.6k) salary.
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 (£29k) 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.
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.
Carlsberg Singapore offered the job of 'beer taster' to one lucky fan at the end of 2016. The beer company paid $20,000 (£14.5k) 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.
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 (£23.2k). The Centre hoped that the role would raise awareness of panda conservation, and reportedly received more than 100,000 applications for the job.
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 ($1,334) 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”.
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 (£54.4k), with accommodation, food, and expenses included.
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 (£19.6k).
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 (£7.2k).
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.
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.
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 $12.84 (£9.50) an hour while higher-ranking professionals, such as the King's private secretary, can earn $200,000 (£146k) a year, according to Hello magazine.
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