'Everyone hates me until they need me': 25 Under-appreciated jobs we couldn't survive without

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jul 10, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

You're due for a dentist appointment. 

How do I know? Because we are all due for a checkup–we're just procrastinating and pushing the appointment because everyone detests going to the dentist. That is… until we have a raging toothache and can't sleep at night. The dentist will always be the bad guy until we desperately need him, and for many jobs out there, that's a daily reality. Everyone harshes on lawyers, making fun of their firm-issued BMW–at least, until we find ourselves in a pickle, seeking legal counsel and an ally in court. 

So if you've ever felt under-appreciated at work, you might also be a quintessential employee in the cogs of the machine of society, making the wheels go round with every 9-5 shift, watching everyone be a hater until they beg you for your services. Scroll to read about some other jobs that we couldn't survive without; it may make you think twice about calling your dentist to schedule your annual visit.

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    Cheezburger Image 10371488256
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    "Everyone hates me until they need me." What jobs are the best example of this?
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  • 03
    Radiant_... • 21h ago "Try getting a dentist appointment when you have a raging toothache. Crickets." Dentist
    via Radiant_
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    Hakuna MatataNTh... 20h ago This is a bit niche, but since I work in the field: road maintenance. People get so inexplicably furious when they're mildly inconvenienced due to us fixing stuff, but God forbid there's a pothole, or a tree goes down, or it snows. Then we're all buddy-buddy again.
    via Hakuna MatataNTh
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    mastercylinder2 20h ago Hate them until you need them? A tow truck
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    KhaosElement • 20h ago IT. When everything is working? "Why do we even have IT?!" When something is broken? "Why do we even have IT?!"
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    ageekyn... 21h ago ⚫ Edited 21h ago Housekeeping. People were such to the housekeepers at the hotel I worked at. To them they were a bunch of foreigner skum, personal servants, and thiefs. In reality those girls were the hardest workers I've met, and for little pay in return. They had a lot of integrity.
    via ageekyn
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    PresidentHurg 20h ago Cleaning staff and garbage workers. I remember a strike in The Netherlands at it's biggest trainstation because of low wages and lack of recognition. Trash piled up to 30cm high, you had to wade through discarded rotting hamburgers, cans of cola and more. People are freaking pigs and they keep it from being noticed.
    via PresidentHurg
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    J120101 • 20h ago Truck drivers. People will always complain about them when driving near them but they're the reason why stores can always be running stocked with items.
    via J120101
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    rubrent 20h ago Teachers. Apparently, currently teachers are grooming children and letting kids use litter boxes, but then I remember once the pandemic hit everyone was calling teachers essential because people were forced to deal with their evil spawn they spewed onto the world....
    via rubrent
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    Obi1NotWan • 20h ago Administrative assistants. We do a lot of things that people just think magically happen.
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    Aromatic-Home9818 Lawyers.
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    RainMan915 21h ago Food service workers. People seem to hate them while they need them.
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    14mch40s 21h ago Shipping and receiving depts at any company
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    Jordantrolli 17h ago Children services. Everyone hates us and has an opinion. Of course if there's a child being locked in a basement then we get called.
    via Jordantrolli
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    lake_effect_snow • 20h ago CPAs but accountants in general. No one wants to talk to us or hear about our work until it's imperative. And then at least some of them are astonished by standard market rates and feel they're being fleeced.
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    JuicyDiii 21h ago IT support specialists, because no one appreciates them until the Wi-Fi goes down!
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    Keilibry 21h ago Definitely tech support and IT professionals. Most people don't think about them until their computer crashes or they can't connect to the internet. Then suddenly, they're the most important person in the office
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    iamwearingashirt • 19h ago Lol. This feels like a family feud question. Show me LAWYERS! That's our number one answer on the board!
    via iamwearingashirt
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    rosegoldeneyes • 20h ago Veterinarians and vet techs are a fun example of people hate us when they don't need us, and they hate us even more when they do need us. Spoiler alert, we aren't getting any of your money. Dunno where it goes, but not to my pockets.
    via rosegoldeneyes
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    ImpliedSlashS ⚫ 22h ago Plumber, electrician, doctor, police officer
    via ImpliedSlashS
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    headshotscott • 19h ago I'm thinking most people hate professions that they need to maintain something. To help you keep the status quo.
    via headshotscott
  • 23
    Mechanics don't upgrade your car, but they charge a good deal of money to make it what it was before it broke.
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    Insurance agents take your money and then they only pay off by putting you back where you were. You're out plenty and you only get what you had before.
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  • 25
    Lawyers are in a category all their own. Of course there are other despised professions that I don't fit that dynamic.
    via headshotscott
  • 26
    Politicians are universally hated. Salespeople. Marketing people. Telemarketers. All those seem to be people who try to get us to buy things. People seem to like doctors but hate dentists.
    via headshotscott

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under appreciated boss worker employee manager job work coworkers working ceo employees supervisor workplace company coworker business
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