‘Job’ candidate wants to join the workforce, as long as she won’t be forced to work, envisions career as a professional slacker with minimal effort and maximum relaxation

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Jan 12, 2025 9:00 AM EST

It's hard not to roll your eyes at the sheer audacity of this post. A "job" where you just sit around and read books? Really? While the rest of us grind through deadlines, meetings, and the endless demands of modern work, you're out here dreaming of a life that sounds more like a vacation than a career. 

The tone is almost laughable—"I don't require a lot of money," "don't even need benefits." Benefits? Who are they? I don't know any benefits! It's as if this person has stumbled into adulthood and decided to opt out of its most basic struggles.

But then again… imagine it. A quiet corner with soft warm light, the weight of a hardcover in your hands, the soft rustle of pages, the world fading into the background as you lose yourself in stories and ideas. No emails to answer, no office politics to navigate, just you and the written word. Maybe there's a small desk where you occasionally check in a patron or answer a phone call, but mostly, it's just peace. 

The kind of peace that lets you breathe deeply and think clearly for the first time in years. Is it so wrong to want that? To dream of escaping the grind for something simpler, gentler? More quiet, maybe even more natural? The idea starts to feel intoxicating, kind of like stepping into a warm bath after a long day. 

Ahem, I mean—what? No, of course not. That's ridiculous, right?

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  • Haha, sorry, no. I mean, the thought of endless quiet and a stack of books might seem tempting at first glance, but it’s hollow, isn’t it? It lacks the fire, the purpose, the chase, the sense of accomplishment that comes from real work. There’s something truly special—dare I say, life-affirming—about being part of a team that values every ounce of what you bring to the table. To contribute to something bigger than yourself? That’s the kind of fulfillment you can’t find in silly books and daydreams.

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    Jobs for people who don’t really want to work?

    "I would like to get a job where all I do is sit around and read books"
    via aliaksandrbarysenka

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    I would like to get a job where all I do is sit around and read books. Maybe I check in a few people or pick up a phone but mostly I'm just allowed to sit and be chill. I
    via SnooDingos9837

  • And let’s not forget the energy, the desire, the challenges, and even the beautiful chaos that comes with it all. That’s where the magic happens I tell you. It’s not just a job; it’s a calling. A place where your work doesn’t just matter—it resonates. Sure, it’s easy to romanticize a life of quiet detachment, but there’s pride in knowing you’re part of something that keeps the wheels turning, even if those wheels never quite stop—spinning endlessly, with all of us running just hard enough to keep pace. It’s a rhythm, a purpose, even if it sometimes feels like the path loops back on itself, it’s all about staying in motion people, C’mon! LFG!

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    via simonkr

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  • Who would trade this for anything else? Certainly not me. You wouldn’t be able to even think about it if you were working for someone like Greg, my boss, and mentor, whom I’d like to thank for creating an environment so rewarding, so inspiring, that I can’t imagine ever wanting more. Truly, I mean it.

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    don't require a lot of money, have zero criminal issues, and don't even need benefits (what are those?!). I just need something to do that doesn't kill
    via SnooDingos9837
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    my soul, tax my broken body (too much manual labor jobs), and helps put me back in the capitalist slave market so I can do my duty and be a good plebeian.
    via SnooDingos9837
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    Any ideas are welcome. All negativity will be ignored; I don't feed trolls. TIA
    via SnooDingos9837
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    Cheezburger Image 10451648768
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Update: wow!! Lots of great ideas and some truly real sh. Totally didn't expect any real answers! Ha! This gives me hope THANK YOU!
    via SnooDingos9837
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    Metafx If you don't care about your hours, I've heard working overnight as security can be pretty laid back. You'll definitely have a lot of downtime.
    via Metafx
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    Inevitable_Usual3553 Hotel night audit shift. You deal with very minimum amount of people if any at all. The actual work can take up to 20-60 minutes to complete
    via Inevitable_Usual3553
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    notevenapro I worked at a flower cart in sunny california for 5 years. Just sold flowers and read books.
    via notevenapro
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    ObjectiveBike8 Lift bridge operator. You can read a book while waiting for boats to pass. Then making sure it's safe to open. I know retired people do it for insurance so they can read most of the day. I'd
    via ObjectiveBike8
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    be shocked if the job openings in the US are more. than a few hundred each year. So you'd probably have to move or wait years for an opening in your area.
    via ObjectiveBike8
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    Daisygurl30 Any job suggesting customer facing in person or over the phone is not easy or for people who really don't want to work. Just keep that in mind.
    via Daisygurl30
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    SomnambulistPilot Over The Road Truck Driver. I just listen to podcasts or audiobooks all day while enjoying beautiful scenery across the country. I may only talk to people for a cumulative hour per week.
    via SomnambulistPilot
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    There are definitely some downsides, but it beats the heck out of an office job. My body is confined to a little box and strapped to a seat, but my mind is free to wander anywhere I want as I crisscross the country.
    via SomnambulistPilot
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    fme222 My first job was at a sensory deprivation float tank spa. It had 3 float tanks (1 person each), people would book them for 60-120 minutes
    via fme222
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    (nice nap in a small dark quiet room floating in a foot of salt water). Open by appointment only. In- between clients I pressed a button on the wall to filter
    via fme222
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    bottle and a rag to do a quick wipe down of the little shower area in front of each tank where people would undress and took me about 5 minutes. Then I had an
    via fme222
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    and read or play on my phone as people floated/slept. I had severe social anxiety and major depre sion/anxiety/low confidence and this was the perfect first job for me to gain some confidence. Only
    via fme222
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    one person worked per shift, and most were either other awkward students/recent grads in same position as me (I ended up recommending it as a first job to many of my and my
    via fme222
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    sister's friends over the years) or older people looking to slowly enter back into the workforce after being a stay-at-home parent etc.
    via fme222
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    USAhotdogteam I told myself years ago work is a joke, so I am only going to figure out to how maximize my income earned and reduce hours worked. I have no complaints.
    via USAhotdogteam
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    goldenrodddd I had a job like that for one summer, I sold vehicle permits at the entrance to a state park. You can only read so many books in a day, day after day, before it starts to feel maddening. Just my two cents.
    via goldenrodddd
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    breezy_yeet Lift operator at a ski resort. Most read or watch tv all day. You can also ski on your breaks if you're into that but you don't have to. My boss doesn't even like skiing he just does it so he can read and write.
    via breezy_yeet
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    jaxthegerman Gas station, midnight shift. You'll stock a few shelves and then sit for 6.5 -7 hours. You might see 5 people all night.
    via jaxthegerman
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    xcadam Be a ceo
    via xcadam
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    smartfbrankings Work for the government.
    via smartfbrankings

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management employment issues boss workplace-stories jobs employee hr manager job bosses work job candidate employees supervisor overworked-employees workplace work-life balance funny job application
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