Have you ever found yourself peeking out the window on a slow workday, daydreaming about a future where you feel truly fulfilled and excited about your career aspirations? Or stared at your phone, feeling a tiny pang of envy as you see family members and former classmates on social media thriving in their dream careers, maybe in some faraway country? Trust us, it’s an almost universal experience at some point. The question “What’s your dream job?” has the power to evoke a whirlwind of emotions — hope, uncertainty, excitement, or even a sense of melancholy about all the what-ifs and might-have-beens.
We understand the yearning to find that perfect career — the one that not only pays the bills but also fills your heart with joy and a sense of purpose. That’s why, here at Bored Panda, we’ve decided to take a break from our usual adorable animal content and embark on a mission to explore dream jobs. More specifically, what people revealed to be their dream job, no matter how crazy or unrealistic it may be!
We Pandas know a thing or two about dreaming big (and napping even bigger), after all. So, we’ve scoured our favorite bamboo forest, aka the internet, to bring you some epic, inspiring, and honest responses to the ever-daunting question, “What’s your dream job?” You’ll find dream career stories told by people from all walks of life — some heroes who achieved their childhood dream, others who are still chasing it, the ones who gave up and found another purpose, and a few who shared some unique jobs that we’re not even sure exist. This is our dream jobs list, and we can’t wait to hear your personal story of searching for what makes your heart sing!
#1
Xaraxa wrote:
"Park ranger would be cool. Nature cops are bad*ss."
"Park ranger would be cool. Nature cops are bad*ss."
Commenter No. 2 replied:
"I have a dormmate from college who became a state trooper and did that for a few years, then transferred and became a conservation officer. He seems to enjoy what he does. He drives around a big state-issued truck and sometimes a boat. Spends all day in nature. I'm sure that like any law enforcement job it can be high stress at times.
"I have a dormmate from college who became a state trooper and did that for a few years, then transferred and became a conservation officer. He seems to enjoy what he does. He drives around a big state-issued truck and sometimes a boat. Spends all day in nature. I'm sure that like any law enforcement job it can be high stress at times.
He was in the news a few years ago for being part of busting a poaching ring."
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25points
#2
"This is going to be really specific but I've always wanted to be a caretaker at a red panda conservation facility."
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24points
#4
"Forever student.
I would start with all the fields I couldn't study because I would not have a decent living with them:
Astrophysics, mathematics, Paleonthology, history, exobiology... So many cool stuff to learn!"
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22points
#5
Commenter No. 1 wrote:
"I'd start keeping bees. I hear it's a very risky business now because populations keep plunging, but it'd be a nice way to preserve part of the ecosystem. Also honey."
"I'd start keeping bees. I hear it's a very risky business now because populations keep plunging, but it'd be a nice way to preserve part of the ecosystem. Also honey."
hyenamagic replied:
"As a business it may bee risky but if you’re interested in beekeeping look up a local apiary group and your local zoning laws! There are tons of hobby beekeepers! The starting investment isn’t super high compared to some other hobbies, and bees are fairly low maintenance. If you’re not in a place where you can install your own hive, there might very well bee a group you can volunteer with (and get some honey out of). Save the bees!"
"As a business it may bee risky but if you’re interested in beekeeping look up a local apiary group and your local zoning laws! There are tons of hobby beekeepers! The starting investment isn’t super high compared to some other hobbies, and bees are fairly low maintenance. If you’re not in a place where you can install your own hive, there might very well bee a group you can volunteer with (and get some honey out of). Save the bees!"
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22points
#6
"My job is repairing cars and trucks for a big name manufacturer. If money wasn't a problem, I'd start a non profit and volunteer to repair the vehicles for those in need. Are you the single provider for your household and need repairs so you can get to work? I'd love to help. I know sh*tty things happen at sh*tty times. That would be my dream if money wasn't an issue."
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21points
#10
"Honestly I'd love to just be like a free-range do-whatever-you-want inventor. Like to just have an engineering lab and getting funding from the government or private investors to just make whatever I come up with and bring all these ideas I have to life on my own schedule would be great."
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20points
#11
"Mad scientist. I wanna engineer tissues for things like organ transplantation and improved cancer treatment. Giant robot can come later, but I married an ME, so that’s on track.
I’m applying for my PhD. Wish me luck, I’m terrified."
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19points
#12
"Wind farmer. I love wind turbines; would love to know how to do maintenance on them and then just spend my days driving around the country servicing wind turbines."
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19points
#13
PunkZillah wrote:
"I want to be a death doula."
"I want to be a death doula."
JimmyFett replied:
"I thought I was the only one. My wife says nobody would want this but I've spent the last 16 years in the hospital watching people having their dream of a "good death" smashed. There is a need.
"I thought I was the only one. My wife says nobody would want this but I've spent the last 16 years in the hospital watching people having their dream of a "good death" smashed. There is a need.
It's sad that we cleanse death from civilization to the point that people don't recognize the eventuality of it."
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18points
#15
"Snowplow driver for a small rural township. Just wanna get up at the crack of 1am with a thermos of coffee, hop in a truck with some music and plow the roads."
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18points
#16
"A few years ago I would have said doctor. Now I am a doctor so if I had to pick another dream job I’m going wizard this time."
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17points
#17
"Retirement. Just retire and work around my cabin in the woods. Cutting trees, splitting logs, cleaning, hunting, fishing.
Soon. Really soon."
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17points
#18
"Water slide tester, I fear no slide."
"**Apparently you get paid around $70k per year."
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17points
#19
HCgamer4Life wrote:
"Getting paid to do absolutely nothing. I'd love to wake up every morning and see 10,000$ has been deposited into my bank account. Ah, the dream."
"Getting paid to do absolutely nothing. I'd love to wake up every morning and see 10,000$ has been deposited into my bank account. Ah, the dream."
am0x replied:
"I like working, but working on what I want to work on.
"I like working, but working on what I want to work on.
Even if I had this, I would still have a job of some sort, even if it is a failing Twitch streamer."
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17points
#20
monty2 wrote:
"Redevelop historic buildings in urban areas in a way that respects their unique features and history and also equips them to improve the surrounding urban fabric."
"Redevelop historic buildings in urban areas in a way that respects their unique features and history and also equips them to improve the surrounding urban fabric."
waitthissucks replied:
"Hey I'm a city planner and this is was historic preservation planners do. Make it so!"
"Hey I'm a city planner and this is was historic preservation planners do. Make it so!"
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16points