When you think of the “10 common professions” that shape our daily lives, you probably picture the modern versions of each. Yet beneath the surface lie bizarre, unexpected beginnings that made these jobs what they are today. Let’s dive into the quirky histories that gave rise to the roles we now take for granted.

10 Common Professions: Surprising Origins

10 Flight Attendants

Nowadays, the image of a flight attendant conjures a stylish woman in a fitted uniform, but the earliest cabin crew were all men. Dubbed “couriers,” they were often the teenage sons of wealthy patrons who funded the pioneering flights. As commercial aviation expanded, the duty of serving passengers and offering refreshments temporarily shifted to the co‑pilot. It wasn’t until the 1930s that airlines rehired dedicated cabin staff, this time hiring women—specifically nurses—because airlines believed medical expertise would reassure nervous flyers.

The first woman to officially hold the title was Ellen Church, a licensed pilot and registered nurse. When Boeing Air Transport (now United Airlines) balked at hiring a female pilot, Church persuaded them to employ her and seven other nurses as cabin crew. Beyond battling airsickness, Church argued that female attendants would calm anxious travelers, famously stating it would be “good psychology to have women up in the air. How is a man going to say he is afraid to fly when a woman is working on the plane?”

World War II saw many of those nurse‑attendants enlist in the military, prompting airlines to turn to ordinary women for the role. Male flight attendants only made a comeback in the 1960s, and even today they remain a minority in the profession.

9 Barbers

Professional barbers have been around since at least Ancient Egypt, where aristocrats kept personal hair‑cutters on staff. In Classical Greece and Rome, the barbershop doubled as a hub for gossip and political debate. The real twist arrived in medieval Europe, when barbers began performing surgical procedures alongside haircuts.

The turning point came in 1163 AD when a papal decree prohibited clergy from shedding blood. Monks, who traditionally handled bloodletting and minor surgeries, turned to barbers—already equipped with razors and present in many monasteries—to fill the gap. Since physicians deemed bloodletting beneath their dignity, they gladly ceded the task to barbers, who soon handled amputations and abscess lancing as well.

Barber‑surgeons flourished during the bubonic plague, a period that decimated the physician class. In England, barbers and surgeons originally formed separate guilds, but Henry VIII merged them in 1540. Notable figures like Ambroise Pare, often called the father of modern surgery, began as barbers. The iconic red‑and‑white barber pole may even symbolize blood‑stained bandages. As modern medicine advanced, barbers were gradually barred from medical work in the 18th century, cementing their role as hair‑care specialists.

8 Soccer Referees

Early football matches operated without a referee. Instead, each team’s captain settled disputes on the field. As the sport grew more competitive, both sides began bringing an umpire to monitor play, but they only intervened when asked by the players.

Because the umpires were paid by the competing clubs, they frequently clashed, prompting the creation of a neutral referee appointed by both teams. This official watched from the touchline, kept time, and could warn or expel players for repeated rough conduct, but otherwise only acted when the two umpires couldn’t reach agreement.

In 1891 the Laws of the Game were amended to give the referee final authority, birthing the modern official. The former umpires evolved into today’s linesmen or assistant referees. However, it wasn’t until the 1970 World Cup that referees received the now‑familiar red and yellow cards—modeled on traffic lights—to reduce confusion over dismissals.

7 Telephone Operators

In the infancy of telephony, callers could not simply dial a number and be instantly connected. Instead, they first reached a telephone operating center where a human operator manually operated a switchboard, routing the call to its destination. Complex calls sometimes required up to six operators frantically plugging cables into massive wall‑sized panels.

The inaugural operators were teenage boys. Phone companies believed the job demanded quick reflexes, stamina, and dexterity—traits they associated with young males—and, importantly, the workers were inexpensive.

Predictably, problems emerged: the boys often played pranks on callers, abruptly ending conversations or deliberately linking strangers for amusement. They also developed a reputation for swearing, brawling, and drinking on the job. The chaos forced Bell to dismiss all its teenage male operators, replacing them with young women deemed more genteel yet equally cheap. Other firms followed suit, and men only returned to the profession after equal‑rights legislation in the 1970s.

6 Computer Programming

Today, the stereotype of a programmer is a young, male tech‑nerd. Historically, however, the field’s pioneers were women. The first recognized computer programmer is Ada Lovelace, a 19th‑century mathematician and daughter of poet Lord Byron. Working with Charles Babbage, she translated a description of his Analytical Engine and penned an algorithm—now considered the first program—to compute Bernoulli numbers. Lovelace also foresaw computers handling non‑numerical data, a vision that remained theoretical because Babbage never built his machine.

During the 1940s, the University of Pennsylvania’s ENIAC, one of the earliest electronic computers, required six women to “set up” calculations, making them the first practical programmers. Women dominated programming into the 1960s; Cosmopolitan even touted it as a prime career path for women, quoting Dr. Grace Hopper, who likened coding to planning a dinner. Meanwhile, men gravitated toward hardware, viewed as more prestigious.

Eventually, male programmers instituted professional societies and hiring practices that favored men, effectively pushing women out of the field. They also introduced personality profiles biased toward male applicants, reinforcing the myth of the antisocial, disinterested coder—a stereotype that persists today.

5 Firefighters

Firefighting dates back to humanity’s first densely packed settlements, but the earliest documented professional brigade appears in Ancient Rome. Wealthy Marcus Licinius Crassus assembled a private fire‑fighting outfit that would negotiate fees with property owners before extinguishing flames; if no fee was agreed, they simply walked away, allowing the blaze to consume the building.

Inspired perhaps by Crassus, Emperor Augustus later created the Vigiles, a public bucket brigade that offered free fire‑suppression services. Over time, fire‑fighting responsibilities fell largely to local watchmen, whose primary concern was crime prevention rather than blaze control. The Great Fire of London in 1666 spurred English insurance companies to form their own brigades, issuing badges to insured buildings. These private units would only intervene if the structure was covered by the right insurer, leaving many houses to burn until the appropriate brigade arrived.

Edinburgh established the first modern fire department in 1824, led by James Braidwood. He later transferred to London, where his reforms laid the groundwork for contemporary firefighting. Tragically, Braidwood died while battling a warehouse fire in 1861, cementing his legacy as a pioneer of the profession.

4 Nurses

Today, men constitute roughly six percent of U.S. nurses, yet the earliest nursing school, founded in Punjab around 250 BC, accepted only men, as women were deemed insufficiently “pure” for the role. An early Christian group called the Parabolani consisted entirely of male caregivers, though they also earned a reputation for violent clashes with non‑Christians. Throughout the Middle Ages, several male religious orders, such as the Alexian Brotherhood, dedicated themselves to nursing, a tradition that persists in some form today.

Modern nursing is often traced to Florence Nightingale, who championed compassionate, scientifically grounded care. During the Crimean War, she organized a team of female nurses at the Scutari hospital, dramatically reducing mortality rates and gaining worldwide fame. Nightingale’s reforms elevated nursing to a respectable, female‑dominated profession, while the proportion of male nurses dwindled. The U.S. Army even banned men from nursing in the early 1900s, and many nursing schools excluded male applicants until the early 1980s.

3 Secretaries

The role of secretary dates back to ancient scribes, with the term derived from the Latin “secretum” because early secretaries were entrusted with confidential information. In medieval times, clerics performed much of this work, giving rise to the phrase “clerical work.” Full‑time secretaries re‑emerged during the Renaissance, though they were initially male.

A surge of women entered the field during the American Civil War, when the U.S. Treasury hired 1,500 female clerks to fill a manpower gap. The invention of the typewriter further cemented women’s dominance, as the device was deemed suited to delicate female fingers. Despite the skill required—Time magazine once boasted secretaries could take dictation for two separate stories simultaneously—pay remained low and advancement opportunities scarce.

Secretaries often performed humiliating tasks, from personal errands to uncomfortable advances. Helen Gurley Brown recalled that male bosses would pick a female secretary “to chase and catch so they could take off her underwear.” Nevertheless, the position offered many women a respectable career path, with guidebooks urging them to become a lawyer’s, doctor’s, or scientist’s secretary because they once hoped to be in those professions. The 1960s and ’70s saw a shift as women’s liberation and broader career options created a secretary shortage. Professional associations began training members in accounting and management, and the term “secretary” gradually gave way to the more dignified “administrative assistant.”

2 Lawyers

Legal systems trace back to early civilization, predating the Code of Hammurabi (18th century BC). Yet a recognizable legal profession didn’t solidify until later. In Ancient Greece, sophists acted as early lawyers, though citizens were originally required to defend themselves in court. Over time, people could hire advocates, but payments were prohibited. Rome faced similar constraints until orators began accepting “voluntary gifts,” effectively creating the first paid lawyers.

The Roman legal tradition survived the empire’s fall, thanks largely to the Catholic Church’s canon law. Legal scholars resurfaced in the 12th century at the University of Bologna, while England’s Inns of Court trained apprentices to argue before royal courts. This gave rise to the dual system of solicitors and barristers that persists today. Unlike many European nations that rely on legislative codes, England’s system evolved through precedent. The United States, described by Alexis de Tocqueville as a nation of lawyers, adopted a codified constitution, cementing the legal profession’s modern form.

1 Cops

Law enforcement’s roots stretch back to ancient societies where early policemen often doubled as garbage collectors and fire‑fighters. The world’s first organized police force emerged in Egypt around 3000 BC, primarily tasked with maintaining public order and collecting taxes. Egyptian provincial chiefs bore the ominous title translating to “chief of the hitters.” In ancient Athens, a magistrate group called “The Eleven” oversaw criminal justice, assisted by 300 armed Scythian slaves tasked with keeping the peace.

Many early cultures recruited slaves or lower‑class individuals for policing, making the job socially degrading. The Romans largely ignored dedicated police, preferring citizens resolve disputes through civil lawsuits. Augustus did create three “urban cohorts” focused on public order rather than crime prevention. This view of crime as a private matter persisted into the Middle Ages, with rulers rarely establishing formal police forces.

In England, the Anglo‑Saxon Frankpledge system required communities to band together, raising a “hue and cry” to chase criminals. Refusal to join made one a criminal. The Normans introduced the constable, overseeing local watches but still relying on civilians to apprehend offenders. England’s first salaried police, the “Bow Street Runners,” appeared in 1750, yet it wasn’t until 1812 that the London Metropolitan Police Department was founded, becoming the model for English‑speaking nations. In the United States, Boston established its first professional police force in 1838, replacing volunteer watchmen and semi‑professional constables.

Several trades and professions we know today look nothing like their original incarnations. In fact, many have morphed so dramatically that their early days would be almost unrecognizable. Could you imagine that the world’s first airline never flew a plane? That the earliest fuel stop was actually a pharmacy? Or that funeral directors once ran the first ambulance services?

10 trades professions: A Quick Overview

10 Funeral Homes Operated The First Ambulance Services

During the American Civil War, funeral establishments stepped in to provide the earliest ambulance operations, ferrying wounded soldiers to field hospitals. Those primitive ambulances were essentially hearses equipped with a stretcher, a blanket, and a bottle of whiskey serving as crude anesthesia. Over time, oxygen tanks were added, and the staff learned basic lifesaving techniques, effectively becoming the first paramedics.

The vehicles were, in fact, the same horse‑drawn hearses used to transport corpses to cemeteries. These larger carriages were necessary because ordinary horse‑drawn wagons were too short to allow a patient to lie flat.

Interestingly, funeral houses weren’t primarily motivated by saving lives or even charging hefty fees. More than half of the families they served never paid for the transport. The real profit lay in the subsequent burial services, as the funeral home that delivered the ambulance was most likely to be hired for the interment.

The practice ended after Congress enacted the Highway Safety Act of 1966, which imposed strict standards on ambulance design and mandated trained medical personnel. Funeral homes could not meet the new regulations, so they ceded the business to hospitals and dedicated ambulance companies.

9 The First Gas Station Was A Pharmacy

In August 1888, Bertha Benz, wife of automobile pioneer Karl Benz, embarked on the inaugural long‑distance motor‑car journey, traveling from Mannheim to Pforzheim with her two sons. She piloted the Patent‑Motorwagen No. 3, the vehicle her husband had built.

Karl was initially reluctant to market the car, and when Bertha suggested a publicity trip, he refused. Undeterred, she set off without his permission, only informing him later via a letter. The journey was riddled with breakdowns, which Bertha skillfully repaired herself.

The biggest hurdle appeared when she ran out of fuel. She walked to a local pharmacy in Wiesloch and bought Ligroin—a petroleum solvent used for cleaning at the time—that served as the car’s fuel. This pharmacy is now recognized as the world’s first filling station. Soon after, other pharmacies stocked Ligroin and later gasoline, supplying motorists until purpose‑built gas stations emerged.

8 The First Motels Were Unbelievably Luxurious

Motels are often associated with budget lodging, but the very first ones were opulent hotel‑like complexes built around automobile parking. Arthur Heineman, noticing that conventional hotels lacked adequate parking for the newly popular car, erected the Milestone Mo‑Tel Inn in 1925 near San Luis Obispo, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The establishment featured a series of bungalows, each with its own garage, allowing up to 160 guests overall. A night’s stay cost $1.25, and owners could park their cars right beside their rooms. Separate quarters were also provided for chauffeurs, should travelers employ one.

Heineman invested $80,000—a fortune at the time—to equip the motel with central heating, private showers, a bell tower, and other upscale amenities that would be foreign to today’s roadside inns. He envisioned a chain of 18 such motels across California, but the Great Depression curtailed his expansion plans.

When the economy recovered, competitors entered the market, sparking price wars that quickly transformed motels into the economical, no‑frills accommodations familiar to modern travelers.

7 The World’s First Airline Used A Fleet Of Airships

Deutsche Luftschiffahrts‑Aktiengesellschaft, better known as DELAG, holds the distinction of being the globe’s inaugural airline. Founded on November 16, 1909 as a subsidiary of the Zeppelin Company, DELAG’s fleet consisted exclusively of rigid airships rather than airplanes.

Although DELAG did not commence scheduled passenger service until 1919—offering routes between Berlin and southern Germany—it had earlier operated sightseeing tours for the public eager to experience high‑altitude travel.

The parent Zeppelin firm created DELAG to generate an additional revenue stream, fearing that military contracts alone might not sustain the company. DELAG continued operating until 1935, when changing market conditions led to its dissolution.

6 The World’s First Commercial Airline Used Airboats That Flew 1.5 Meters (5 Ft) Above The Water

While DELAG pioneered airline operations, it did not provide regular commercial flights until after World War I. The St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line, launched in 1913, claims the title of the first scheduled commercial airline.

The carrier shuttled passengers across Tampa Bay using the two‑seat “Lark of Duluth,” an airboat that took off and landed on water, maintaining an altitude of merely 1.5 meters (about five feet) above the surface. The pilot occupied one seat, while one or two passengers cramped into the other.

The inaugural flight occurred on January 1, 1914, carrying former St. Petersburg mayor Abram C. Pheil, who secured the ticket by winning a $400 auction. Subsequent travelers paid $5 per trip.

This service dramatically cut travel time: the 29‑kilometre (18‑mile) crossing took just 23 minutes, compared with two hours by steamship, four to twelve hours by train, and roughly twenty hours by automobile. Despite its success, the line folded later that same year.

5 Barbershops Doubled As Operating Rooms

Until the 18th century, barbers also performed surgical procedures, operating under the joint guild known as the Company of Barber‑Surgeons. They handled ailments that physicians shunned, such as syphilis, and even extracted teeth—functions that today we associate with dentistry.

Bloodletting, a now‑discredited practice intended to purge disease, was a staple service offered by many barbers. Some historians suggest this is why modern barbers display the iconic red‑and‑white pole: the red symbolizing blood, the white representing bandages—though the theory remains debated.Barbers frequently advertised their bloodletting by leaving bowls of fresh blood in their shop windows, a vivid reminder of their medical role. Over time, surgeons grew uneasy sharing the profession and lobbied for separation. In 1745, the guild finally split, allowing surgeons to form an independent body.

4 The First Newspapers Were Books

Before the familiar daily broadsheet, news circulated in pamphlets, corantos, and especially newsbooks—small volumes that bound together multiple pamphlets. These newsbooks resembled ordinary books, complete with title pages, and were printed and sold like any other publication.

Early newsbooks typically focused on single events—battles, disasters, or celebrations—rather than offering a roundup of diverse stories. The earliest recognized newspaper, however, was produced by Johann Carolus in Strasbourg, Germany, and began distribution in September 1605.

Carolus titled his weekly paper “Relation aller Furnemmen und gedenckwurdigen Historien.” Unlike its predecessors, this publication covered a broader range of topics, spanning four to six pages per issue, establishing the template for modern journalism.

3 The First Movie Was Only 2.11 Seconds Long

Today’s feature films routinely run two hours or more, but the inaugural motion picture lasted a mere 2.11 seconds. That brief clip, titled Roundhay Garden Scene, was captured in 1888 by French inventor Louis Le Prince.

The film simply shows Le Prince’s son Adolphe, along with a few friends and relatives, strolling through a garden. Le Prince created the footage while testing a new camera he had designed.

It’s worth noting that an earlier visual experiment, “The Horse In Motion,” was produced in 1878—a full decade before Le Prince’s work. However, that earlier effort consisted of a series of photographs taken with multiple cameras and later assembled into a moving sequence, and thus is not considered a true film.

2 The First Psychiatric Hospitals Were Private Businesses

Early mental‑health institutions, known then as lunatic asylums, began as for‑profit enterprises run by unscrupulous owners who cared more about revenue than patient welfare. Conditions were often as grim as prisons, with patients subjected to harsh treatments.

Before these private asylums appeared, families typically cared for mentally ill relatives at home. The first private facilities emerged in the 1600s, offering a grim but convenient alternative for overwhelmed families.

Operators employed brutal methods—iron restraints and horse‑like whipping—to control patients, mirroring the treatment of obstinate livestock. While some churches ran modest, nonprofit asylums, they could not accommodate the growing demand, leaving many families with no choice but the profit‑driven establishments.

The tide turned in the late 18th century as more humane, publicly funded lunatic asylums began to appear. By the 1800s, government‑built institutions replaced the private outfits, eventually evolving into the modern psychiatric hospitals we know today.

1 Priests And Medicine Men Were The First Barbers

Barbering traces its roots back over 6,000 years, originating with priests and healers who performed hair‑cutting as part of religious rites. Ancient peoples believed that spirits entered the body through the scalp, so a haircut was a sacred act meant to trap benevolent spirits and expel malevolent ones.

Individuals would allow their hair to grow long, inviting “good” spirits, then partake in elaborate ceremonies where the hair was trimmed, symbolically locking those spirits in place. This practice gradually faded during Egypt’s ancient era, when regular shaving became common to maintain cleanliness in the hot climate.

In the tapestry of popular culture, countless jobs once dotted everyday life so thoroughly that they became cultural touchstones. Sadly, many of those once‑familiar careers are now disappearing, edging toward extinction. Below we count down ten iconic professions that are slipping away like the dodo. Even if you weren’t alive when these roles were commonplace, you’ve likely encountered them on classic films and TV shows, leaving you with a nostalgic sense of having missed out. Let’s dive in and reminisce about the good old days of these fading trades.

Why These 10 Iconic Professions Matter

1 Meter Readers

Meter readers were once a staple of neighborhood life; a familiar figure would appear at the back of a house mid‑day, not a burglar but the person checking the utility meter. These workers often chatted with residents, knew them by name, and could spot irregularities—especially for elderly customers. Today, smart meters transmit data wirelessly, eliminating the need for a human to swing by. The shift to digital devices is erasing a once‑iconic role and displacing the workers who loved the job. While companies claim they’ll retrain displaced staff, many are simply losing their livelihoods.

2 Travel Agents

Travel agents have long been cultural fixtures, experts at hunting down the best vacation deals and untangling complex itineraries. Yet the rise of the internet has dramatically shrunk demand for their services. In just the past five years, travel‑agent positions have fallen by roughly 14%, a trend that shows no signs of stopping. With flights, hotels, and car rentals now bookable at a click, the middleman’s role feels redundant. Every online booking you make chips away at the profession, illustrating how technology is cutting out traditional intermediaries and erasing jobs once considered essential.

3 Gas Jockeys

Back when pulling into a station meant a gas jockey would pump fuel, wash windows, check oil, and make sure the car was road‑ready, full‑service stations were the norm. Today, only Oregon and New Jersey still mandate full service; elsewhere the self‑serve model reigns. A few nostalgic stations keep the tradition alive, but they’re rare. The loss of these attendants means drivers forgo routine checks like oil levels, potentially compromising vehicle safety and road conditions.

4 Elevator Operators

Elevator operators once ruled the vertical highways of skyscrapers, manually guiding lifts with levers and ensuring smooth stops while reminding passengers to watch their step. Early elevators demanded a skilled hand, much like learning to drive a car. Modern elevators, however, run at the push of a button, rendering the operator’s role largely ceremonial. Some historic buildings retain operators for ambience, but their duties now center on clerical tasks and guest assistance rather than actual lift control.

5 Bowling Pinboys

In the early days of bowling, before automatic pin‑setting machines, young pinboys stood behind the lanes, resetting pins by hand after each frame. One former pinboy recalled earning about eight dollars per night, often ending the shift with broken ribs, smashed fingers, and bruises from stray bowling balls whizzing by. The relentless pace and danger spurred inventors to develop automatic pin‑setters after a particularly frustrating incident where a pinboy walked out mid‑game, prompting the creation of a machine that would never again be thwarted by a human‑error‑prone workforce.

6 Postal Workers

The future of the United States Postal Service looks precarious. Saturday mail delivery is being eliminated, and about 3,700 post offices are slated for closure, threatening over 100,000 jobs. The internet, once again, is the chief disruptor. While parcel delivery persists, the core service—mail delivery—has been eclipsed by email and instant messaging, turning traditional mail into a relic. Automated sorting machines are also replacing human sorters, suggesting that within a decade the classic image of a mail carrier might vanish entirely.

7 Movie Projectionists

When we picture a theater, we often imagine massive reels rolling in a dark booth, tended by a skilled projectionist. Yet digital technology is rendering that role obsolete. Films are now stored on hard drives and projected digitally, eliminating the need for manual reel changes, splicing, and lamp maintenance. As cinemas fully embrace digital projection, the traditional projectionist’s craft is fading, making the once‑glamorous booth a museum piece.

8 Dog Catchers

Although the role of the dog catcher isn’t vanishing, it’s riddled with myths. Historically, the job was performed by “dog whippers,” whose primary task from the 16th to 19th centuries was to keep dogs out of churches and control stray animals. Over time, the position expanded to manage all stray wildlife and safeguard animals from harm. A persistent misconception is that the dog catcher was an elected office; in reality, the role has always been appointed by municipal executives, never chosen by popular vote.

9 Telephone Operators

Telephone operators once formed the backbone of communication, manually connecting callers to one another. Over time, their duties shrank from long‑distance routing to a handful of special cases, and today they’re virtually extinct. Recent years have seen the closure of the last operator centers, as automated switching and mobile technology render human intermediaries unnecessary. Many who grew up hearing the familiar “operator” voice can’t imagine a world without it, but modern telecom infrastructure has made the profession obsolete.

10 Milkmen

In classic TV shows, the milkman was a friendly neighborhood figure, delivering fresh milk daily. The advent of home refrigeration and longer‑lasting dairy processing dramatically reduced demand for door‑to‑door deliveries, turning the profession into a rarity. Concerns about milk theft—since bottles often sat on front steps—added to the decline. Yet a niche market persists; roughly five percent of U.S. households still enjoy home delivery, and new startups are reviving the service, hinting at a possible modest resurgence.

Most of the modern professions are distinguished by a progressive focus and increased comfort of the work process. However, some specialists work in terrible conditions that can cause irreparable harm not only to the nervous system but also to life in general. This article presents a selection of the world’s worst professions.

10. Hospital Laundry Worker

Hospital laundry staff work in cramped and stuffy rooms filled with dirty laundry. During the work process, these people can contract severe infections. Also, such specialists are exposed to numerous occupational hazards: Chemical exposure, physical injury, accidents.

9. Portable Toilet Cleaner

The work of toilet cleaners is not pleasant: with the help of a vacuum device, these specialists wash the tanks under the toilet bowls and collect the scattered garbage. Usually, a specialist has to clean at least 10 cabins within 1 working day. The cleaning process does not take too long, but it does not bring positive emotions.

8. Lumberjack

This is one of the most dangerous activities in the world: lumberjacks are killed almost 11 times more often than any other professional. Cutting trees is only from the outside, it seems simple, but in fact, you have to work with specialized equipment in places of increased danger.

According to official statistics, in just 1 year, there are at least 30 thousand accidents in the field of this profession. A big threat is posed not only by working tools in the form of the sharp saw but also by large tree branches.

7. Specialist in butchering carcasses at a meat processing plant

The main task of these workers is to cut the carcasses of cows and pigs, as well as the subsequent extraction of bones and internal organs.

Approximately one in three carcass butchering specialists are injured in the course of their work. There is also a huge risk of contracting mad cow disease and E. coli.

6. Animal food taster

The task of this specialist includes the study of the aroma and taste of animal feed, as well as making decisions about the need to make changes to their recipe. Among the professional duties of a taster, there are three mandatory tests: A thorough examination of the smell, checking for the content of bone residues, and identifying the required level of cartilage in the composition.

5. Malaria Control Specialist

This work is widespread in the scientific community and is urgently needed to prevent malaria. Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles darlingi mosquitoes, which rarely fall into traps on their own. For scientific research, it is important to catch live individuals, therefore, specialists in this profession act as an intermediary.

In the process of this painful and laborious activity, workers are exposed to many bites from Anopheles mosquitoes.

4. Slaughter specialist

Representatives of this profession are constantly accompanied by severe stress and an increased fear of contracting disease-causing infections. The list of diseases that can arise during work is quite impressive: gastric infections, tuberculosis, bird flu.

3. Deodorant Expert

Representatives of this profession need to observe the condition of the armpits of the test group, recording changes in odour throughout the day. Due to its specifics, this work is rather narrowly focused and unpleasant. An expert deodorant job is open at some cosmetic companies.

2. Hazardous Waste Diver

This is one of the worst jobs in the world, with workers plunging into muddy and toxic spills. The purpose of the profession is the timely cleaning of polluted places, as well as the promotion of scientific research. The conditions in which these specialists work are extremely unpleasant: minimal visibility, tight suits, a toxic environment. (source; bbc).

1. Forensic entomologist

A specialist in this profession studies the features of the development of insects on a human corpse, as well as the consequences of their reproduction. To accurately determine the age of a corpse, a forensic entomologist determines the time of the appearance of the blowflies and larvae on it.