The American unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in a while, but with millennials ages 18 to 29 still likely to be underemployed or unemployed, it might be time to start considering "alternative" career options.
When a Redditor asked how to land obscure jobs, responses proved that your "dream" job might be out there—you just haven't heard of it yet.
If working a traditional 9-to-5 after college is not in your cards, check out these five decent jobs off the beaten path:
The American unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in a while, but with millennials ages 18 to 29 still likely to be underemployed or unemployed, it might be time to start considering "alternative" career options.
When a Redditor asked how to land obscure jobs, responses proved that your "dream" job might be out there—you just haven't heard of it yet.
If working a traditional 9-to-5 after college is not in your cards, check out these five decent jobs off the beaten path:
1. Digging graves
If you believe in ghosts or have a fear of being buried alive, this job isn't for you.
But Redditor Bamboopro said digging graves isn't bad and is also easy to get into: "I am employed as a gravedigger. Saw an ad on Craigslist and applied. Pay is decent and the work is fairly enjoyable. Winter kinda sucks though due to all the frost in the ground."
While this job might seem too spooky, online employment agency Job Monkey says gravediggers earn an average of $40,000 a year. Another job perk? Job security—it's not like people will stop needing graves any time soon.
2. Trapping insects
If you'd like a job and prefer being outdoors, have you considered insect-trapping?
Redditor VernalPoole got the job after volunteering for a local park:
"Insect trapper, here. I travel around a territory and set up insect traps, looking for invasive species. I got the job by volunteering for two days at the local park, where they taught me what to do. 48 hours later there's a job ad in newspaper (different park system) and I really cleaned up by using the appropriate key words and phrases in my application.
This is the second job I got by volunteering. I spent 5 years as a caretaker in a private nature reserve, which started when I had some free afternoons and I called them to volunteer. They said 'We don't need volunteers right now, but we have a paying job if you want.' Sight unseen, over the phone. Sweet."
According to employment website Indeed, an insect trapper in California has an average salary of $41,000.
3. Shooting birds
You know how birds sometimes mess up jet engines? Turns out, there's an actual job to stop that from happening.
Redditor Beacone explained that all they do is drive around and shoot birds:
"I drive around the airport runway shooting any birds that fly in to the landing air space with a shotgun. It's so they don't f*ck up the jet engines.
I found out about the job through a friend who was working on a runway expansion. I thought it was hilarious / cool and it turned out there was actually an opening (RARELY opens up as a job). I applied and got it, mostly because I can actually shoot, unlike most of the other applicants.
The best part about it is the fact it pays $150k a year (AUD)."
While Beacone said it's a tough job to land, the airport seems like a good place to check for obscure job listings.
4. Installing safes
While it sounds like something out of a heist movie, installing safes is an actual job.
Redditor TexasJaeger described irregular hours and some perks:
"I used to work for a safe-moving company installing gun safes, luxurious jewelry safes, vault doors, and anything in that realm. Pay was great and many people would tip us (Especially for the luxurious safes, they cost on avg 5k and up, many were in the 20 to 35k range). Work was hard at times but we had this machine called an ultralift (heavy duty stair climbing dolly that could lift 1200lb on its own) that did most of the heavy lifting.
I got to see a lot of amazing homes and meet some cool customers (big business owners, inventors, big time doctors, etc.). The only problem was the hours, if no one in my area needed a safe moved I didn't work ... I got the job by pure chance, the owner of the company delivered a safe to my parents house and he asked if I wanted a job once he was done, sounded like a fun job, so I took it. Ended up quitting because I was in school and I wasn't getting a lot of work, and when he had a job for me, he would call the morning or a few hours before, even on days I was off."
5. Writing speeches
If you think U.S. President Barack Obama is that eloquent on his own, think again.
Speech writers are responsible for helping many leaders seem articulate, composed, and capable.
Redditor Primuspilus explained: