There are hundreds, if not thousands of career paths that one can select. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a job after finishing your education. Or even if you are bored of working in your industry and want to work elsewhere. There’s always going to be a career choice out there for you.
But did you know that there are some career paths that people seldom choose? It can be for a variety of reasons. For instance, there might be a low demand for the work in your area. Or you need to have a lot of experience and qualifications before getting considered for a job.
For this article, I decided to do some research into this fascinating subject. Keep reading to find out what the five most undesirable career paths that most people are least likely to follow!
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Milkman
There are few places in the world where you can enjoy getting fresh milk delivered to your doorstep each week. In places like the UK, doorstep milk delivery is something of a novelty rather than a useful service.
Decades ago, the picture painted was somewhat different. In those days, people didn’t have the luxury of being able to order groceries on the Internet. Nor could they have them delivered to their homes at a convenient date and time.
Busy families welcomed doorstep milk deliveries. Nowadays, it’s a job that people seldom want to do. For a start, you have to begin your round at the crack of dawn. So, if you’re someone that isn’t a “morning” person, this is the job from hell!
Second, the use of that service is in decline. Milk delivery firms try to keep costs down by operating out of fewer depots and outsourcing customers services to Asia. It’s likely that the age of doorstep milk deliveries will soon be over. And that’s something people looking for a new career path don’t want to hear.
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Matchmaker
Do you remember the days when people found it tough to find love in a life without the World Wide Web? Irrespective of the reasons, they would usually turn to professional matchmakers.
In a nutshell, they were dating agencies that were the forerunner to online matchmaking sites. You know the ones: match.com and Plenty of Fish. You’d have to pay a subscription fee to join, and they would invite you to have a video profile of yourself recorded.
These days matchmakers still exist. But they are usually individuals that work on a freelance basis (I can see that you are thinking of the movie “Hitch”)! There is one reason people don’t want to be modern matchmakers. And that is because they are competing with the online matchmaking sites I mentioned a moment ago!
In a world where competition for jobs is high, the last thing you want to do is become a matchmaker. Not unless you wish to look for a new job four weeks later!
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Farmer
Now here’s a surprising entry in the list of least attractive career paths! The agriculture industry is massive, and farmers play a major part in generating income for it. But, did you know that few people want to be farmers these days?
It’s surprising considering agriculture is an industry worth billions each year! I think one of the reasons there are fewer farmers in the 21st century is because a lot of “Generation Y” people believe it’s an old or dying sector.
That in itself makes no sense because there will always be a demand for farming! Without a healthy farming sector, we would have no choice but to grow crops and raise livestock ourselves. Try doing that when you’ve got a 9-5 office job!
Another reason why farming doesn’t appeal to some folks is the fact that it’s a physical and demanding job. But technology and machinery takes care of lots of laborious tasks for us. For example, Mark from AutoTrader tells me that many farmers are selling their machinery and upgrading to newer models. Despite the negative connotations sometimes associated with farming, it’s actually a rewarding job to have.
In Africa, for instance, there is a need for more people to set up farms so that fresh fruit, vegetables and livestock can help to feed people living in areas of famine. I think people that aren’t too sure about becoming farmers should consider volunteering at their local farm. I’m willing to bet that having a proper insight into farming will convince them it can be a good career choice!
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Travel Agents
I used to love visiting my local travel agency with my parents. I’d read the brochures and check out all sorts of exotic and fascinating destination ideas. Travel agencies were retail establishments packed with staff and customers, especially on weekends.
When you wanted to get away from the monotony of life, you would head down to your local travel agency and select an attractive holiday. Nowadays, things couldn’t be more different! Few people are willing to become travel agents in the 21st century.
One primary reason for the sharp decline in travel agency staff is the Internet (surprise surprise)! Today’s “Generation Y” shoppers are savvy enough to seek out the best deals online. They will then plan their itineraries themselves. Many websites are offering great deals and convenience to book in a few clicks.
That’s because the Web offers a plethora of ways to cut out the middleman (i.e. travel agencies). And to save significant sums of money too. These days, travel agencies can seldom afford to pay a “living” wage to their agents. We all know the cost of living is increasing each year. That’s why people prefer to seek alternative career paths where they can earn more money.
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Road Sweepers
Don’t knock it; road sweeping is a legitimate occupation. And it’s one that thousands of people around the world still have! Sure, it’s not a high-flying job where you get to walk around in expensive suits and make six-figure sums. But it’s a rewarding career to the few people that carry out the work.
The only trouble with having a career as a road sweeper is that you’ll find it hard to seek out a job in the sector. Why? Because most road sweeping duties are carried out by machines, not humans!
In a bid to increase efficiency, local councils invest millions in special machines that have robotic arms. Those “arms” are attached to brushes and vacuum devices to suck up dirt and debris on the road.
I guess that’s the way the modern world is evolving – replacing people with machines. Still, if you live in a rural area, it’s likely you might happen across this rewarding job.