2020 was the year we all stayed at home. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 46.6% of people in employment in the UK worked from home. And with the furlough scheme extended, 2021 looks like most people will be continuing to earn a living from their humble abode.
Most of the jobs people do at home you would consider as ‘pretty normal’. But we’ve come to learn that working from home has also made way for some very weird and wonderful roles you might have not heard of before.
So, if you’re bored with your current job, you might be interested in one of these…
Netflix Tagger
Love spending hours binging on Netflix? One of their roles consists of tagging content in order to make it optimised for search results. You have to be equipped with critical thinking, visionary perception, and the ability of editorial analysis but if you have a good understanding of how TV programs and shows are related to each other, this could be the perfect job for you.
Ethical Hacker
It might sound dodgy, but this job is absolutely legal. The role of an ethical hacker (aka white-hat hacker) consists of understanding computer systems and networks like hackers do with the owners’ permission to identify security vulnerabilities and prevent a possible cyber-attack in the future. To become a certified ethical hacker, you need to pass an exam, but then you can get down to ‘good hacking business’ from the comfort of your home.
Fortune Cookie Writer
Consider yourself a bit of a fortune-teller? With over 3 billion fortune cookies made annually, if you are a smart cookie with writing skills, this could be the job for you.
The Online Dating Profile Writer
When it comes to finding love online, a profile full of interesting information about the user will undoubtedly be more appealing than one with no personality. But what do you do if you don’t know how to ‘sell yourself’ online? You hire a Dating Profile Writer. With online dating on the rise during the lockdown, there is a special service that will guarantee that your profile stands out. You could literally be the cupid of creative copy.
Colour Consultant
Do you have an eye for colour and understand the varying hues of a colour pallet? If you feel confident enough about telling the difference between shades, you might have what it takes to be a colour consultant. Colour consultants are often hired by big companies to help them create new products and eye-catching marketing campaigns.
Apology Expert
If you struggle to string a sentence together when it comes to making an apology, there’s someone out there that can do it for you. An Apology Expert is often hired by companies at times when they require an official apology to be made on behalf of them. Apparently, there is an art to how you say sorry, and the wrongdoer can use an apology expert to send a formal apology on their behalf.
Be a Rented Friend
Are you a great friend? Then why not get paid for it?! RentAFriend.com is a website that allows you to rent friends from all over the world. You can rent a local friend to hang out with, go to a movie or restaurant with, or someone to go with you to a party or event. And during the lockdown, even more people have rented a friend online to keep them company while they’re stuck at home. This is more than just a pen-pal or someone you send the odd Facebook message too. This is a full-on committed friendship.
Virtual Exotic Dancer
Are you missing the buzz of the pre-covid nightlife? Second Life is a virtual world known for its risqué nightlife. There’s a virtual nightclub with virtual hosts, bartenders, exotic dancers and others to entertain the customers and get paid to do so.
Odd Work From Home Workspaces
With so many people working from home, we also thought we’d look at some of the weird and wonderful ways people have adapted their homes into workspaces. Forget the converted bedroom office, the kitchen table or the shed at the bottom of the garden, these workspaces are way more interesting…
Got an old piano you don’t use anymore? Why not convert it into an office?
Dreaming of better days abroad? Why not bring the beach to work with an indoor sandpit?
Got some old bus parts laying around? You could convert it into your corner office.
What weird and wonderful jobs or workspaces have you come across?