By Randall Sing in College Jobs — Jul 1, 2024

Top 10 Weird College Jobs

From Snake Milker to a Professional Line Sitter There's a Lot of Money Waiting For College Students

What do Snake Milkers and Professional Mourners Have in Common, Both Are Weird

Ok, folks. Yes, you could train to be a barista, but seriously, some bizarre and overlooked opportunities are ripe for the taking. As my first boss used to say, there's a top for every pot, and hey, if it works for you, who am I to judge?

I made this a top ten list as I challenge anyone to get more oddball than this group. Still, if you find something worthy of addition, I'm open to making it a top eleven or twelve.

Snake Milker

Job Role: Extract venom from snakes for research or antivenom production.
Where to Find It: Research labs, zoos, or companies like the National Snakebite Center.
Why It's Weird: Requires handling dangerous reptiles and involves precise techniques to extract venom.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Biology or zoology majors interested in hands-on experience with reptiles.
Intern Ads: Labs and wildlife centers may offer internships for zoology or animal science students.

My Take: I remember signing my daughter up for playing with reptiles in elementary school. I'm seriously hoping it doesn't lead to this internship.

Cemetery Plot Photographer

Job Role: Take photographs of gravestones for genealogy projects or families who can't visit.
Where to Find It: Platforms like Find A Grave or freelance photography websites.
Why It's Weird: Combines photography with graveyard visits, which isn't typical for most jobs.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Flexible schedules and potential for students studying history, genealogy, or photography.

My Take: I must admit, given how hard it is to find a specific gravestone and the difficulty for some families to get to a grave, it might make sense for a college student.

Crime Scene Cleaner Assistant

Job Role: Assist in cleaning up biohazards after crimes, accidents, or deaths.
Where to Find It: Bio-cleaning companies are paid to clean up crime scenes.
Why It's Weird: The nature of the work is morbid and involves cleaning potentially hazardous materials.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Forensics or criminal justice majors may find this relevant experience, and it's well-paid for part-time work.
Intern Ads: Some biohazard cleaning companies offer internships for students pursuing forensics or environmental health.

My Take: For the enterprising Bio majors that need an "in" to Forensic Pathology

Chicken Sexer

Job Role: Identify the gender of newly hatched chicks for poultry farms.
Where to Find It: Agricultural job boards, hatcheries, or specialized poultry training programs.
Why It's Weird: The job requires staring at chicks' nether regions all day—a skill that must be learned and mastered.

My Take: I didn't forget the Agriculture students, and you're not weird. Someone has to make the call, literally, to ensure we all have an endless supply of nuggets.

Golf Ball Diver

Job Role: Dive into ponds on golf courses to retrieve lost balls, which are cleaned and resold.
Where to Find It: Local golf courses or niche companies like Second Chance Golf Balls.
Why It’s Weird: Involves diving into murky, sometimes gross, water for golf balls.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Great for certified student divers who want flexible and adventurous work.

My Take: This one has college side hustle written all over it. Why caddy when you can dive instead? I also found a BLS notation for this job, so it's a thing.

Professional Line Sitter

Job Role: Wait in line for someone who doesn’t want to wait for themselves (e.g., product launches, concert tickets, or restaurant reservations).
Where to Find It: Platforms like TaskRabbit or local classified ads.
Why It’s Weird: You’re paid to stand in a line for hours while others benefit from the purchase or service.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Students often have flexible schedules and are used to long waits.

My Take: This is another cool side hustle, and a plus is that you can study while in line for the newest phone or concert tickets.

Live Mannequin

Job Role: Stand still in storefronts or at fashion shows to display clothing.
Where to Find It: Department stores like Macy’s or through modeling agencies.
Why It’s Weird: Requires standing still for hours while people stare at you.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Ideal for aspiring models or those with theater training who can manage long periods of stillness.

My Take: This is a "thing" in NYC. Noticed them recently during fashion week. If you get good, you can sit on a bench in Central Park and scare the crap out of tourists who'll take pictures of anything that appears to be pinned down, including a motionless human-looking mannequin on a bench.

Water Slide Tester

Job Role: Test water slides for safety, speed, and fun levels.
Where to Find It: Resorts or water park companies.
Why It’s Weird: Paid to essentially have fun and slide down water slides all day.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Young, energetic, and open to temporary or seasonal roles.

My Take: I checked, and it's a thing. Who'd a thunk you could get paid to slip 'n slide?

Costumed Mascot Performer

Job Role: Perform in a mascot suit for sports teams, promotions, or children’s parties.
Where to Find It: Any caterer or party rental company will give you great referrals and you'll make much more than any hourly work you can find.
Why It’s Weird: Requires performing in a bulky, often uncomfortable costume in front of large audiences.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Energetic, often need performance experience for drama or communication degrees, and can handle the physical endurance.

My Take: I knew, this was the first thing that came to mind when you read weird jobs. But hey, you can get paid well to don a costume for Jimmy and Jane's party but try not to make it clown. Those are just scary.

Professional Mourner

Job Role: Attend funerals to grieve on behalf of families who need larger attendance or emotional support.
Where to Find It: Services like Rent a Mourner (UK-based but similar services exist in the US).
Why It’s Weird: Mourning is typically a personal experience, but this makes it a paid performance.
Why College Students Are Perfect: Drama or theater majors can practice emotional acting in real-life settings.

My Take: Well, look, everything from the UK eventually comes stateside. This is easy work, and apparently, rent-a-mourner is a thing in the UK. You can get some publicity by putting an ad on TaskRabbit, but please be discreet.