Quirky and quick?
Have you ever been paid to fill up the salt, pepper and ketchup? Maybe you’ve taught prisoners to play the guitar or run a comic stall? Many people are happy to do something out of the ordinary, for the money or the experience. But do these short-term jobs ever lead to a career that is similarly strange?

From casual to career
Strange jobs can help you to pick up new, unexpected skills, which you can develop. Sarah, who sold ice-cream one summer, told us she learnt about queue management, which came in handy for organising students when she became a teacher. Adam, who sold comics, became adept at recognising customer types and predicting their questions, which was another useful skill for his teaching career.

Be surprised
Nigel, used to be a truck driver, but was involved in an accident, giving him time to re-think his work options. It was only much later when he sold up house and bought a long boat to live in that he discovered his second career: repairing boats on the canals. Seeing the opportunity, and boosted by engineering courses, he now has a thriving business.  

Remember, if you want to do something different, there are many routes to get there. And it can be the strangest small jobs that lead to a great career.

Anatole
February 2007

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