20 Jobs That Are (Much) Better or Worse Than You Thought

From Focus.com

If you're looking for a career change or are just interested in what other kinds
of jobs are out there, start investigating the job market by taking a
look at this list of 20 jobs that are either much better or much worse
than you might have thought. Don't end up in an even more stressful,
unrewarding job than the one you just left because you were harboring
false expectations about the life a doctor or a CEO supposedly leads. At
the same time, try searching outside of the box by giving freelancing
or tattoo artistry a chance. You just might discover your true calling.

10 Jobs That Are Worse Than You Thought

The glitz and glamour of these 10 jobs overshadow the disadvantages
of long hours, minimal recognition and high-stress environments. Think
twice before you set up an interview for one of the following jobs.

1. President of the United States: OK, so even if you wanted
   to be the next president of the United States, you probably wouldn't
   get elected. But ever since elementary school, hasn't
   every kid dreamed of one day becoming the leader of the free world? If
   you're still envisioning yourself at the podium, you might need a
   serious reality check. World leaders get very little sleep and are
   blamed for every negative trend in security, taxes, the economy and
   health care. Plus, they almost never have a day to themselves for their entire term. Sure, you
   get to travel the world and have access to the best food, doctors,
   airplanes and exercise equipment around, but is it all worth it if you
   don't have time to enjoy it?


2. CEO: CEOs are awarded huge salaries, attend great
   parties, work in a big office all to themselves and earn respect
   in their field from co-workers, business partners and even competitors.
   But just like the president of the United States (although on a lesser
   scale), CEOs represent their companies in the public eye and are forced
   to accept the blame and responsibility for whatever goes wrong in their
   business. CEOs may also get special perks like trips on a private jet or invitations to
   extravagant parties, but they also sacrifice time with family and
   friends in the name of work.


3. Spy: A sexy spy might make a great Halloween
   costume, but unless you're seriously ready to dodge real (not plastic)
   bullets and are willing to sacrifice your identity for a mission no one
   will ever hear about, enlisting in the CIA
   to get your kicks isn't a good idea. Officers take a pledge of
   confidentiality that goes way beyond sharing trade secrets with
   competitors: Your entire identity is fake, and even if you manage to
   pull off a blockbuster-worthy performance on your next mission, you
   won't receive any recognition for it. In addition to
   jetting off to other parts of the world and keeping your life a secret
   from friends and family, spies can find themselves in extremely
   dangerous situations involving prison time, assassins or worse.


4. Artist: The romantic ideal of an artist's life
   includes sipping lattes, napping often and creating wonderful
   masterpieces, whether in print, on stage or on the canvas. However, most
   artists could barely afford a latte and have to perform "sellout" jobs in order to support themselves until
   said masterpieces are complete. An artist must be completely devoted to
   his or her craft before settling on this frustrating, though sometimes
   rewarding, career.


5. Public-Relations Executive: Throwing fabulous
   parties, schmoozing with the media and hanging out with high-profile
   clients is all in a day's
   work for the fabulous public-relations executive, is it not? It is not.
   While some public-relations firms specialize in event planning, many
   executives find themselves begging newspapers and magazines for a few
   lines of copy and a photograph, crafting editorials for clients, and
   basically trying to satisfy everyone at once. The cherry on top?
   Public-relations executives get almost no recognition for their
   overtime: All of the praise goes directly to the client.


6. Doctor: While clever physicians can find niche
   opportunities to keep them active in research, teaching and treating
   patients in specialized fields, U.S. News & World Report maintains that these days, "doctors are spending
   less time than ever with patients and more on paperwork." Besides
   continually working overtime, as well as "trying to care for
   noncompliant patients" and chronically ill patients, doctors must also
   be vigilant against malpractice suits, hospital scandals affecting their practice and more.


7. Personal Assistant: Can you imagine what it's like
   to be Lindsay Lohan's personal assistant? Besides Lindsay's car-chasing escapade involving the mother of her
   personal assistant just before being arrested for a DUI, the personal
   assistants of celebrities have likely seen it all. From babysitting to
   shopping (not always as glamorous as it sounds) to car maintenance, we
   the daily chores that an assistant has to dignify
   quickly overwhelm any initial starstruck fantasies.


8. Professional Athlete: How great would it be to play
   the same game you loved as a 10th-grader professionally? Professional
   athletes can make anywhere from six-figure salaries to tens of millions
   of dollars thanks to advertising deals, promotional events, tours and
   everything in between. The downside to being a professional athlete,
   however, is that your bankable status is as unstable as you are trendy. Brett Favre aside, most athletes are booted out of
   the industry as soon as they sustain too many injuries or reach a
   certain age. Consider your career ruined if a scandal breaks out, and frequent trades mean that
   you'll have to uproot your family and say goodbye to friends all too
   often.


9. Attorney: If you see yourself bustling around the
   big city fighting for justice and digging up clues like the lawyers crafted
   by Hollywood, take into consideration that U.S. News & World Report
   also rates attorneys as one of the most overrated careers of
   2008. While "a legal career promises prestige, money, and the chance to
   use the law to make a difference in society," attorneys are often
   overwhelmed by loads of paperwork and hours of overtime spent on
   seemingly frivolous cases.


10. Restaurant Owner: Sure, your friends think that you
    make a mean shrimp creole, but will the critics and the general public?
    Opening your own restaurant requires
    more than great recipes: You need a team of devoted, generous
    investors; a loyal following of customers; and an ample, clean space to
    serve your food. Besides struggling to attract stellar reviews and an
    enthusiastic crowd, restaurant owners sacrifice weekends and prime-time evening hours,
    when their presence is needed at the restaurant.

10 Jobs That are Better Than You Thought

If you're ready for a career change, don't rule out any of these jobs
just because you think that they might be too unstable, boring or
common. From freelancer to consultant, several of these careers can
become the key to a whole new lifestyle, full of job autonomy and
creative opportunities.

1. Freelancer: Freelancing can introduce a rewarding lifestyle for an individual
   who craves flexibility and creative freedom. While freelancers do the
   work that the customer requires, they manage to enjoy more autonomy in
   their jobs than most professionals. Along with the creative-spirit
   label, however, comes the unfair social stigma of being unstable or
   unable to find a "real" job. Freelance
   pay is often low, as the general outlook of companies that want to
   outsource is that anyone can write, design or program. If that were the
   case, though, why even hire a freelancer? The next time you enlist the
   talents of a freelancer, don't underestimate his or her talents.


2. Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: While even the top
   makeup artists experience unstable careers, union strikes and
   less-than-desirable pay, they're sometimes able to manage an employer's
   budget and experiment with high-end products they wouldn't normally get
   to use themselves. Makeup artists and stylists are also encouraged to
   flex their own creative muscles to make the most of their products and
   try out new looks on the job. Working on big studio projects or on
   Broadway will allow you to get up close and personal with famous stars.
   If you're a stylist or a beautician with a celebrity clientele, why not
   link up with them for a business partnership à la Kate Hudson or Jessica
   Simpson?


3. Librarian: U.S. News & World Report considers a job as a librarian a decidedly
   "underrated career." If you work for a school, you'll enjoy school
   holidays, but if not, the magazine still holds that "librarians' work
   hours are reasonable" overall.


4. Cameraman: Cameramen (and camerawomen) for network
   TV stations like NBC can earn around $60,000 per year, though most in the
   industry probably make less. The perks? There is no dress code, you have
   the ability to manage your own equipment, and you can use your own
   expertise and creativity to figure out how to get the best shots. If
   you're really at the top of your game, the chance to shoot film for TV
   shows, movies and commercials with big stars is a possibility.


5. Stay-at-Home Parent: True, stay-at-home parents
   don't make money based on their duties as an errand-runner, a babysitter
   or a dishwasher. Despite the study that found that stay-at-home moms
   would earn more than $131,000 annually if they got paid,
   publicizing the fact that you stay home all day with the kids and the
   chores won't get you the "ooohs and ahhhhs" that saying you're a doctor
   or a lawyer will. Special perks for stay-at-home parents that other
   professionals rarely enjoy include skipping the daily commute; not
   having to abide by dress codes; and avoiding tedious reports,
   evaluations and meetings.


6. Consultant: Consultants often get to specialize
   in several different areas, including "working as a speaker, trainer,
   and writer as well as providing" basic industry information for their
   clients, according to Job Profiles. If you run your own consulting
   company or are a partner in a small firm, you may get to dictate your
   own hours, choose your own projects and work hard to build up a
   reputable profile in your field as a go-to industry expert. Once you're
   known around town, other opportunities could open up, like blogging,
   hosting seminars or even snagging book deals.


7. School Psychologist: Just because you're not
   charging clients hundreds of dollars to sit on your swanky couch doesn't
   mean that you aren't sitting in a lucrative spot in your industry. U.S.
   News & World Report includes the school psychologist in its list of the
   Best Careers of 2008. The median national pay is $62,600 per year, and
   school psychologists get school holidays, including summers, off from
   work.


8. Journalist: Low pay and minimal creative freedom
   (at least in your early days) often deter great writers from pursuing careers in journalism, and many instead
   opt for law school or graduate programs. The life of an experienced
   journalist, however, is not so bad: Travel opportunities are just around
   the corner, whether you report on the weather, politics or style
   trends. Getting to see your name in print is not only rewarding, it's
   the optimum branding mechanism for when you want to develop your
   career and explore other avenues later in life. Journalists are also
   some of the most informed members of society, as their job requires them
   to be the first to know about economic changes, the law and even
   community scandals.


9. Nanny: The nanny appears on our list of the most
   underrated jobs not because it's actually the perfect career, but
   because many people still don't understand the heavy workload and long
   hours that nannies face. Thanks to the book-turned-film "The Nanny
   Diaries," college girls may now understand that getting any old job as a
   nanny isn't as easy as it sounds. Live-in nannies have it especially
   hard, as they are required to be arts and crafts experts, tutors,
   nutritionists, fitness instructors, counselors and more. Depending on
   their employers, nannies may also find it hard to have a personal life
   of their own, as last-minute meetings and parties come up, canceling the
   poor nanny's plans. On an up note, however, The New York Times reports that "as affluent employers have faced
   growing demands on their own time, many nannies are starting to oversee
   the parents' lives as diligently as they do (or once did) the
   children's. And some now say their work has almost as much potential for
   career development as that of the doctors, lawyers and bankers they
   work for." So you see, nannies don't just babysit.


10. Tattoo Artist: Outside of the tattoo industry,
    tattoo artists don't get a whole lot of respect. Still regarded by some
    as a rebellious career choice in which hepatitis runs rampant, the
    tattoo industry is actually a legitimate, booming business that can turn
    into an enjoyable, lucrative career path. Most parlors don't open until
    the late morning or afternoon, and cable TV shows like "L.A.
    Ink" and "Inked,"
    while not typical of most tattoo shops, have shown us the laid-back
    atmosphere where tattoo artists come to work. Talented artists can earn
    decent money, and conventions, guest-artist job openings and other
    events offer excellent opportunities for travel, career mobility and
    self-promotion.

The original source of this article is HRWorld.com , part of the Focus network of sites.