Examples of "niche" jobs

[Poptart4]

Everyone on MN seems to work in a very niche job that very few people could actually do. Earning lots of money of course. But they can never say what this job is as that would be very outing

So out of curiosity, can someone please list a few of these niche jobs?

I always think that mumsnetters have husbands with very niche jobs, earning about 250,000 a year but are emotionally inept, unable to wash a cup or rinse the bath out, fumble around trying to brush the dc’s hair, can barely function in everyday life BUT it’s ok because they are sooo skilled at their very Important Job and earn enough for the mumsnetter to never need to work and only need to agonize over school choices. What I actually think is these men are perfectly capable but have their at home personas down to a tee so everything’s done for them. I always imagine they do something like invent parts for space ships or study the behavior of rare beetles in a lab.

I'm the only one working in my particular role on our particular project in an organisation of 6k plus employees, one of only 5 projects in the country?
But I would say there must be a few thousand people in my job sector in the country - so not that niche.

I'm the only person in the UK who does my job and I've been doing it for nearly 70 years

I'm in a niche role for an offshore law firm. In my case my role is lucrative, but ultimately only valuable to the firm that I'm at as long as I keep producing results. It's a lot of pressure.

I'm work hard not to be irreplaceable as there is a key man risk if I am, and I personally don't like not having options for alternative employment in other countries.

I used to work in a niche job because I was the only person in 5000 employees who could do it. But now I work in a team of people that do it so I feel less special but much more supported. I can learn from them as they learn from me. Being in a niche job can be lonely and actually (in my case) career stunting unless you move. There was no where upwards for me to go. I was the most qualified and knowledgeable and they didn't need extra qualifications or knowledge for the organisation to keep going.

I work in the corporate side of a UK bank in team which specialises in and manages a lending product for some of the biggest companies in UK and Europe. It's not something most people have heard unless they work in this very 'niche' area of the industry. But it's not all that difficult and anyone bright enough could train and do my role. I might potentially keep it to myself because there simply aren't that many of us working in this product in the UK.

@Oblomov21

We have discussed this. At a dinner party a long time ago. No one I know, nor Dh, nor anyone I know, knows anyone, anyone at ALL with a niche job. So say between me and my closest friends. Anyone they know, at all, and have met, even acquaintances, anyone. 20,000 people. No one knows anyone with a niche job.

So. I call bullshit.

But maybe you either know exactly the same types of people who do more mainstream jobs or else you have an unusually stringent definition of ‘niche’?

I know people with these jobs, which I think are reasonably niche — tutu maker, forensic archaeologist, thatcher, fresco restorer, paper conservationist.

The tutu maker I met through a friend who’s an opera stage manager who worked at the ROH, the fresco restorer was in my NCT group, the paper conservationist is a friend of a friend, the thatcher worked on a house I used to live in and became a friend, the forensic archaeologist is a school run friend whose kid is in DS’s class.

I don’t know, but I’ve met a few times, a guy who designs mazes and another who designs golf courses..

@BrendaWindsor

I'm the only person in the UK who does my job and I've been doing it for nearly 70 years

:o wow, what do your children think, are they proud?

I use motivational speaking and persuasive techniques to get pandas to mate.

Not really. As a pp said, if you described mt job in enough detail you could discover I'm the only one doing it in England. However if I was hit by a bus tomorrow, some of my projects would not be delivered but the world would keep turning.

I think people who describe their own jobs in such a manner have delusions of grandeur. Those who describe others' jobs in such a way don't understand. Someone mentioned vaccine development as an example?!

Best niche job holders I know include: a Hollywood stuntwoman, a jet airliner test pilot, and a person who observes filming and signs off the confirmation that ‘no animals were harmed in the making of this feature’ certificates. I’d say they are all fairly niche. I met a roller coaster designer at a party once too.

My own job only has 613 women in the uk qualified to do it, which is not w lot, but more than the 214 women who could do it when I first started working in the profession. Not 100% niche, but I still get a lot of people fascinated in my job.

I know a mole catcher. That's fairly niche.

Sexual assault forensic nurse examiner. I'd say that's fairly niche

But presumably someone must be able to carry out that function in Eg each region?

Same for mole catcher. If I call someone they won't come up from the south west

Here's a few!! ...

Clown
Prime minister
Astronaut
President of USA
Tap dancer
Pig farmer
Royal nanny/butler/maid etc
Chocolate taster
Drugs king pin
Yakuza
Pop star
TV presenter
Weatherman/woman
Radio DJ

Basically anything more interesting than my very dull, nhs job!

@Carrotcakeforbreakfast

I'm a radiographer which isn't niche in the slightest. However, previously to my current role I worked as a forensic radiographer and not for the NHS. I did CT scans on unexplained deaths, police investigations etc. I also specialised in cardiac CT on the deceased.

It isn't so unusual anymore however when I did it. ( pre children) I believe there were only 4 of us.

Hello from a fellow forensic HCP!

I work as a foley artist, not as niche as some listed on here where they are the only one or two to do it but still quite.

It doesn't necessarily have to be totally niche to be touting though.

I run my own business, it involves working with animals. I live in a rural place. Anyone who has recognised my previous posts as being the area they are in, could put 2 and 2 together and work out who I am if I give further details.

Personally not that bothered but I've never really had a personal issue that I've posted about. Not rich either

@StealthPolarBear

wow, what do your children think, are they proud?

The eldest keeps telling me to retire. He seems quite impatient

Mime artists? Ones at the top of their game so rolling in the💰 of course.

I do MRI scans in veterinary. Don't get paid much though, less than the equivalent job in NHS

Tell him to wait his blardy turn. And feel smug he won't get anything like your seventy years

@Palata

I work as a foley artist, not as niche as some listed on here where they are the only one or two to do it but still quite.

I always think that sounds like an insanely cool job.

Igloo maker
Ant farmer
British Antarctic survey scientist
Physicist
Professional gymnast
Olympic swimmer
Celebrity baker
Singer
MP
Fire eater
Circus owner
Trapeze artist
Limo driver
Formula 1 racing driver
Tour manager
Traffic warden
Spy
Ballroom dancer
Saga tour guide
Sherpa
Dog food taster (apparently there is such a thing! Or I'm v gullible!)
Mumsnet moderator
Troll
Russian KGB
Big cat sanctuary owner
I've sculptar
Lollipop lady/man
I've cream van driver/seller of ice creams
Newspaper columnist
Speaker of the house
Thatcher
Blacksmith

...Loads more random niche jobs in my head but this post is getting long!!!

I’m a copper, not a niche job, but trained in specialist role as a hostage and crisis negotiator.

Most of role is talking people down from high places, but also means I help track down kidnappers.