14 Dream Jobs That Are Secretly Life-Wrecking Nightmares

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Are you seeking a job that takes your career to the next level?

Do you want security, success, and satisfaction along the way?

No matter what field you are in or plan to enter, knowing what challenges may be hiding around each corner is essential.

While some jobs come with their risks and rewards being upfront and visible from day one, others can have surprises lurking deep within, and if you’re not careful, they could completely derail your ambitions.

Today, we explore 14 common but risky career paths with surprising twists that can leave even experienced employees feeling blindsided.

Here is a closer look into the darker layers of these popular occupations.

#1. Musician

The music industry is known for being creative, competitive, and sometimes unforgiving.

While making a great living as an artist or musician is possible, it doesn’t always come easily.

For starters, many people struggle with jumping into the mainstream.

While YouTube and social media have made it easier for others to discover you, there is no guarantee you will be able to turn it into a career.

There is the pressure of producing new music, being on tour most of the year, and dealing with shady agents looking to line their pockets at your expense.

#2. Freelancer

Freelancing can be a great way to make money, but it carries some risks.

Depending on who you work with, you run the risk of completing the work but never receiving a paycheck.

Be sure to understand the legal and financial implications of contracting your services before you take on any projects.

Also, remember that freelancers are not eligible for many benefits employers provide, such as health insurance or paid time off.

#3. Working With Celebrities

Working with celebrities comes with a host of perks. You get to meet famous people, get paid well, and do what you love in such a way that it feels much better than styling everyday people.

However, it’s not always as glamorous as it sounds.

Many celebrities are not as kind or easygoing as they’re said to be, making the job extremely stressful.

There’s also the constant worry that you might lose a client if you make a mistake, which can lead to chasing down others, repairing your reputation, and trying to find a way to supplement your income if you’re still growing your business.

Overall, working with non-famous people may be the better path.

#4. Doctor

Many people view doctors as high-status in our society. A medical degree is often considered a one-way ticket to the good life.

However, there’s a lot more to consider than just the money. Many people talk about how depressing it can be to be a doctor, especially when you have to deal with patients who are unkind or who, at worst, pass away.

It’s widely known that doctors don’t actually talk about their feelings and instead compartmentalize and force down their emotions.

This is made worse by the burnout accompanying this position, as doctors work long hours with little sleep and have significant expectations placed upon them.

Some end up with severe mental health issues due to this behavior.

Others become far more desensitized and display less humanity even when faced with mistakes that would shock or horrify others.

Some people manage this career choice well, but even more out there realize that the significant investment required to get the degree and the promised outcomes weren’t worth it.

#5. Academia

Getting a degree in a field you’re passionate about can be exciting. Some choose to use this degree to start their own business or find a job doing what they want to do.Others will instead look for a job in the academic field.

But while teaching others might seem rewarding, academia isn’t always what it appears to be. Some former people who worked in academia describe co-workers as full of narcissists scavenging for funding and going against each other for what little attention they can get.

Many people believe they’re better than others, even if they don’t say it aloud for the world to hear.

They also described how their choice to leave was one of the best choices they’ve ever made, even if it was a bit harder to find a job using their acquired degree.

#6. Teaching

It doesn’t take someone in the teaching profession to understand what a nightmare teaching can be.

Teachers have been woefully underpaid around the country for years, which doesn’t seem to be changing, regardless of how many teacher strikes there are.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there. Teachers deal with many dangers in the workplace, mainly because they cannot do anything should a student act out.

There’s also a growing number of jobs targeting this position, which makes it difficult for teachers to do their jobs effectively.

Many former teachers openly talk about how becoming a teacher wasn’t worth it, even if they love working with children and helping educate the next generation.

#7. Retail Jobs

Working in retail is often cited as one of the worst jobs.

You work long hours, including nights and weekends, for minimal pay.

Add in co-workers who slack off, call out, or quit without warning, and you are the one to pick up the slack.

If all this wasn’t bad enough, you have to also deal with rude customers.

When I worked in retail, seeing how poorly people treated me was shocking.

#8. Audio Engineering

Most people think of creative careers in music as strictly performance.

But a lot goes on behind the scenes to bring the magic to life.

Some people who went into audio engineering describe it as fun initially.

However, they faced numerous problems throughout their career, including always being on the road and never resting and enjoying themselves at home.

They said the pay wasn’t ideal and did not receive benefits because they were independent contractors, not employees.

#9. Zookeepers and Related Animal-Centric Jobs

There are a lot of people who have a deep passion for caring for animals.

Unfortunately, this desire to tend to other creatures doesn’t always result in a dream job.

Take, for example, zookeeping. Most people talk about the fact that there’s a lack of jobs available, that the jobs available pay very little in return for the hard work required, and how the work is often quite rigorous and not as glamorous as others portray it to be.

Of course, this seems to be a trend across the board as other groups have described similar conditions working at animal shelters or even as a vet.

Even if you’re deeply passionate about something, that doesn’t always mean you’ll love doing it!

#10. Non-Profit Work

A trend here is that passionate people end up with some of the worst jobs.

While this is not always the case, some companies may leverage a passion for getting people into positions where they’re underpaid and overworked.

An excellent example of this is some jobs at non-profits.

While many people go into non-profits to make a difference, they talk about how their role simply didn’t pay them enough to exist outside of work and how they were required to carry a workload that was impossible to manage alone.

Some switch to corporate jobs because they get paid more, even if they don’t make as much impact.

#11. Flight Attendant

Something is exciting about the prospect of being able to travel the world.

This is why some people might look for a job where they can do so, like becoming a flight attendant.

However, many former flight attendants have cautioned against this.

One of the key reasons cited is that it’s just consistently going from hotel room to hotel room and not being able to do as much as you thought you would (or being able to relax at home).

Another reason is the fact that they have to deal with passengers constantly. While there are great people on flights, the ones that stand out are the ones that are rude and create problems.

Consider looking for a similar job with less face-to-face interaction!

#12. Railroad Worker

There are some universal experiences that people share as children.

One that you may be able to relate to is having a love for trains stemming from a train set that you received when you were younger.

Some people may take that passion to the next level by choosing to work on railroads.

But no matter what you’ve heard, those who have made this a career were unhappy with their choice.

This field is hazardous, with many handling materials that can put their lives in danger (and some having stories of co-workers passing due to such an occurrence).

The hours are long, many work late into the night, and there’s little time off to enjoy life.

Of course, this has become more common knowledge due to recent railway accidents and new legislation regarding railways.

Even if trains appealed to you when you were little, the chances that you wouldn’t like doing these jobs today are relatively high.

#13. Graphic Artist

Graphic artists are everywhere, from advertising agencies to tech startups.

They seem like a great job opportunity for creative types, but it can be an exhausting and frustrating career in the long run.

The hours can be grueling, the pay often isn’t commensurate with the work required, and it’s difficult to get recognition or advancement due to the industry’s highly competitive nature.

#14. Video Game Tester

Many see video game testers living the dream, playing video games all day and getting paid for it.

But it’s a tedious job filled with long hours, low pay, and little recognition.

The job also requires high focus and attention to detail to ensure all bugs are caught before the game is released.

While some gamers may find this dream job appealing, it’s important to consider the position’s realities before making a career out of it.

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Here is how you can get paid to do close to nothing at all.

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Here is everything you need to know about making money with memes.

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Apps That Pay Real Money

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Here is a complete list of the best apps that pay you real money.

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Make Money With Your Body

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Take for example selling blood plasma or taking part in research studies. If you want to know how to make money using your body (and put forth very little effort in the process) you need to check out this article.

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It’s become second nature.

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