Professionals Discuss 10 Career Paths That Are Glorified By Society, But Are Actually Miserable in Reality: 'Too many people think farming is idyllic and simple.'

• 01

  Farming

  
  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  "Too many people think farming is idyllic and the simple life they need to slow down.

  It's neither idyllic nor simple. But it does have its moments."

  –baiganbartha

• 02

  Actor

  
  via Yunus Tuğ (Unsplash+)

  "For every Academy Award winner, there are thousands of people who live gig-to-gig hoping to be discovered one day."

  --Fantastic_Ad_1936

• 03

  Trades

  
  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  "Trades seem to be getting a glazing at the moment for being AI proof but they aren't easy jobs. Most are pretty physical, bad pay as an apprentice, not always great for women and sometimes you're dealing with literal excrement."

  --BorisBC

• 04

  Marine Biologist

  
  via Molly the Cat (Unsplash+)

  "It is very rare to ever be in a job that is actually labeled as Marine Biologist. I have worked many jobs over the years and shoveled rotten fish, and currently maintain a research facility which involves raking composting toilets and repairing engines or pumps. The "glamour" of marine biology is usually the places you can work not the actual job itself. Also this is just the technical stream of it not to mention the awful rigmarole of being an academic and fighting for grants etc to pay your own salary."

  --AncientWeekend69

• 05

  Pharmacist

  
  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  "At least 6-9 years of university, less than half a doctor's salary, and zero respect from patients or the healthcare system. All you have to look forward to is burnout with every budget cut, because we have no advocacy."

  --ArtichokeSandwiches

• 06

  Pilot

  
  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  "Hours of mind numbing boredom. Walk through airport. Eat airport food. Stay in mid hotels. Rinse and repeat."

  --CarminSanDiego

• 07

  Academia

  
  via Vitaly Gariev

  "People's idea is that you'll be researching some breakthrough in your field or at least studying something of practical use.

  The reality is that it's all basically brown nosing so you don't get defunded or canceled for "lack of results" (ie results that probably contradict what the interested parties want). And the people in charge of you are an infinite supply of soulless bureaucrats."

  --Barakyte

• 08

  Freelance

  
  via Paige Cody

  "I don't think my mom is ever "off the clock". It can be 8pm and someone would call for something"

  --Paige Cody

• 09

  Video Game Developer

  
  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  "People expect creative freedom, but it's mostly relentless crunch hours, poor pay, and lay-off threats."

  --Dangerous_Guess_1059

• 10

  Doctor

  
  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  "It's super stressful. Patients are entitled and just treat us badly. I get the system is broken, but I don't break it. I'm trying my best. Admin sets unrealistic metrics and blames us when we can't meet them. Insurance companies doing everything they can to cut reimbursement. The ever-looming threat of a lawsuit, that can come for personal assets not just professional ones. Sure, I take home a good salary, but I don't really know anyone who enjoys what they do. About 1/2 of my colleagues are just so boring they can't think of anything else they could have done, and the other 1/2 are actively trying to find an exit. Most wouldn't recommend medicine to their kids. I certainly won't."

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