Unusual jobs

James, 34, is a professional pet food taster. He says his job is not as bad as it sounds: “I spend most of my time in a laboratory. There, I find out if the pet food is healthy and safe. Smell also matters – pet owners are more likely to buy pet food if it smells nice.” But does he actually have to eat the food he tests? “Well, I do have to try it … but like all food testers, I don’t have to swallow the food when I’m finished.”

Simone, 25, is a professional mermaid. She has always loved swimming. “I never really liked going to the playground as a child, but I could swim like a fish. I always wanted a job where I could swim as much as possible. Now, I dress up as a mermaid and perform underwater in a theme park. I also offer children’s birthdays and special swimming courses. Many people want to be able to swim like a mermaid, and I teach them!” 

Haruto is 28 and lives in Tokyo.He works as a train pusher. Train pushers help passengers get onto trains during rush hour in busy cities in China and Japan. Haruto loves his job: “When I was a child, my mum always told me not to push others. But now I get paid to do that!” It’s his job to push people onto the trains so that the doors can close. He needs to be gentle and not hurt anyone. “It’s not that easy, but people know our work is necessary. We make sure that lots of people can fit on the train and that the train can leave on time!”

Yuki, 31, works in Los Angeles as a movie watcher. She gets to see films before they are played in a cinema, and gives the filmmakers feedback. Yuki says, “I look at things like the story, how the actors perform, and how the movie looks and sounds.” Yuki loves movies and pays attention to every detail to help make them great. And what’s the best part about this job? She laughs: “I’ve always loved popcorn – now I get to eat it all the time!”