29 Once-Respected Occupations That Have Slipped Into Disrepute

As the internet often shows us, there’s a job out there for everyone – whether that’s sitting on the couch in a bathrobe reviewing snack foods, operating a drone, or developing AI that could one day take over the world, the possibilities are endless. And the respect? Well, that’s up to us to create, but it might not come from our grandmas any time soon.

But hey, just when we thought the job market was a sinking ship, new classes of work came in like a superhero squad ready to save the day – and by save the day, I mean make a ton of cash. Enter social media content creators, crypto investors, NFT creators and dropshippers.

Imagine telling your grandma you're going to make your living by showing off your life on Instagram, trading virtual currency or selling something you don’t actually own. She’d probably hand you a spoon and tell you to get back to work, but now, these entrepreneurs are raking in six figures.

And of course, we have AI specialists. A decade ago, no one even knew what machine learning was, unless you were watching sci-fi movies, but even then, it felt pretty out there.

Today, AI is the backbone of everything from customer service bots that ask if you’d like fries with your existential crisis to self-driving cars. If you had told someone in 2005 that their future could involve writing code that teaches computers how to be “smart,” they’d think you were just pulling their leg. But here we are. The future is now.

Then there’s the gig economy—the world of Uber drivers, freelance writers, and even the guy who somehow makes a living being a full-time professional napper. Yep, that's a thing, and so is the professional panda cuddler. I think I just found my dream job.

These are jobs that didn’t exist a decade ago. I’m pretty sure social media influencer or panda cuddler were not options on the university application form when my mom was a student. Just saying.

Meanwhile, engineers, doctors, teachers and journalists have taken a big hit. There was a time when these folks were admired, like they were the rock stars in society. But not so much anymore, and these classic professions have lost a lot of respect over the decades, according to people online.

I’m guessing the fact that you need to study for 12 years to be a doctor and work for another 10 for low pay, before you can earn well in the field, might have something to do with it.

It's understandable why so many folks opt for more contemporary fields, rather than the classic ones, as these new jobs can earn them big bucks in just a few months, if done right. Technology and shifting societal values are huge factors. The values from a few decades ago, like status and stability, have been replaced by freedom and finances.

We wanted to know more about what people valued, in terms of profession, a few decades ago, so Bored Panda reached out to someone who has spent 40 years in pretty much the same role. Eng. Liana Hancu, PhD is an engineer and professor at Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, who has spent a lifetime at the same university.

Professor Hancu told us that, looking back at her 40 years in the field of engineering, if she were to start university today, she would still pursue a career in manufacturing engineering, as it is a dynamic field that always pushes you to think creatively.

We asked Professor Hancu how she views the appeal of unconventional careers, like social media content creators and freelancers, compared to traditional professions such as engineers or teachers. She told us that these modern career paths are intriguing for her because they encourage self-expression and creativity in unique ways that traditional professions might not.

However, they come with significant unpredictability. While she respects the courage it takes to succeed in such roles, she appreciates the stability and lasting contributions provided by careers like engineering and education.

We wanted to know how the role of an engineer has evolved over the decades, and if the profession still holds the same respect and prestige it once did.

“Automation and now AI have revolutionized the profession. However, I do think that some of the respect has waned, partially because people don’t always understand the depth and breadth of what engineers do and how this contributes to the development of society. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that, without engineering, content creators would not exist today,” Professor Hancu explained.

We also asked Professor Hancu if she has noticed any significant changes in the attitudes, motivations, or skills of engineering students today compared to those from 20 or even 30 years ago. She told us that these changes are very obvious.

“Students today are incredibly tech-savvy, but I sometimes see less curiosity about fundamental principles and more focus on quick results. There’s a shift towards instant reward, which is likely influenced by the digital age. However, they are also more socially aware, which I find inspiring,” Hancu explained.

So, what does this all mean? Well, it’s pretty simple: respect isn’t permanent, and in the blink of an eye, your prestigious job might just be the punchline of a Reddit post. The important thing is to roll with the changes and if your job isn’t being respected now, just wait until a new one pops up. Who knows, maybe “chief virtual reality experience consultant” is in your future.

Until then, we’ve created a list of the professions people used to think highly of, but are not as respected as they used to be, according to folks online.