The most and least glamorous jobs for those early in their careers

[00:00:06] Welcome to From Dorms to Desk, job hunting tips for those early in their careers, a podcast brought to you by College Recruiter Job Search Site, which believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career and hosted by Work Defined. Join our AI co-hosts as they dive into tips, tricks, and insights that will help you land your next part-time, seasonal, internship, or entry-level job. Let's get your career started.

[00:00:33] Hey everyone, welcome back. We're doing a deep dive today into glamorous jobs.

[00:00:39] Ooh, fun!

[00:00:41] Yeah, we found this survey from way back in 2006 from salary.com, and they asked people, you know, what jobs do you think are the most glamorous?

[00:00:51] Interesting.

[00:00:52] And least glamorous, and it might seem a little dated, but it's pretty interesting to look at what people thought then and how much that maybe has changed or stayed the same.

[00:01:01] Yeah, and you know, it's interesting about this one is they actually tie the perceptions of glamour to like actual salary data.

[00:01:08] Oh, wow.

[00:01:09] So you can kind of see how people are weighing, you know, following their passions versus the practical side of things.

[00:01:15] I like that.

[00:01:15] Yeah.

[00:01:16] So let's get into some of these jobs that they listed, so like at the top of the list.

[00:01:19] Yeah.

[00:01:20] The most glamorous fashion designer.

[00:01:22] Of course.

[00:01:22] Yeah.

[00:01:23] Makes sense.

[00:01:23] Big surprise there, right?

[00:01:24] Yeah.

[00:01:25] Then we have investment banker.

[00:01:26] Okay.

[00:01:27] Airline pilot.

[00:01:28] Mm-hmm.

[00:01:29] And event planner.

[00:01:30] Yeah.

[00:01:30] It's giving very like Hollywood, you know.

[00:01:33] Yeah.

[00:01:33] These are the jobs you see.

[00:01:34] Yeah.

[00:01:35] In the movies.

[00:01:35] It's that cool factor.

[00:01:37] Yes, exactly.

[00:01:38] So it makes you think like, why are these?

[00:01:41] Yeah.

[00:01:42] What is it about these?

[00:01:43] It's so captivating.

[00:01:44] Right.

[00:01:44] You know, I think they all have this thing where they're highly creative.

[00:01:50] Okay.

[00:01:52] You know, they have visibility.

[00:01:53] People know what they do.

[00:01:54] Yeah.

[00:01:55] And then there's like the potential for high earnings, which, you know, kind of classic

[00:02:01] glamour ingredients.

[00:02:03] Think about movies like The Devil Wears Prada or like Catch Me If You Can.

[00:02:07] Totally.

[00:02:08] These very-

[00:02:09] High stakes, high reward.

[00:02:10] Yeah.

[00:02:11] Exactly.

[00:02:11] Exciting, aspirational.

[00:02:12] Okay.

[00:02:13] So let's flip it around now.

[00:02:14] Okay.

[00:02:14] Let's look at the bottom of this glamour list.

[00:02:17] The least glamorous.

[00:02:18] The least glamorous.

[00:02:19] Okay.

[00:02:19] So we've got janitor, telemarketer, parking lot attendant, and even statistician.

[00:02:27] It's hard to imagine like a big blockbuster movie about a glamorous parking lot attendant,

[00:02:34] you know?

[00:02:34] Maybe a hidden gem waiting to be made.

[00:02:37] Yeah.

[00:02:37] Maybe that's the next big hit.

[00:02:39] But I do think it's interesting how these jobs are kind of associated with more routine

[00:02:45] tasks.

[00:02:46] Like there's not a lot of public visibility.

[00:02:48] Yeah.

[00:02:48] Sometimes even negative stereotypes.

[00:02:50] So they just don't have that like aura of excitement or influence that those other

[00:02:55] jobs had.

[00:02:56] This is where things get really interesting.

[00:02:58] Okay.

[00:02:58] The survey found that glamour doesn't always equal big bucks.

[00:03:03] Interesting.

[00:03:04] They found a glamour discount.

[00:03:07] What?

[00:03:07] Which basically means some of these super glamorous jobs actually pay less than you might think.

[00:03:14] Oh, wow.

[00:03:15] Like fashion designers and event planners often earn less than jobs with less glamorous

[00:03:23] types.

[00:03:24] It's interesting.

[00:03:24] So it's almost like people are willing to take a pay cut for that.

[00:03:27] Yeah.

[00:03:27] A chance to be part of something exciting.

[00:03:29] Yeah.

[00:03:30] It's like the glamour factor.

[00:03:31] Yeah.

[00:03:32] It's part of the compensation.

[00:03:33] Exactly.

[00:03:33] So I'm going to ask, would you take a pay cut for a more glamorous title?

[00:03:40] That's a good question.

[00:03:41] I think I would.

[00:03:42] I'm kind of thinking I want to rebrand myself as like a celebrity waste manager.

[00:03:47] What?

[00:03:48] Yeah.

[00:03:48] And like design sheep garbage trucks.

[00:03:53] Now that's a visual.

[00:03:55] Right.

[00:03:55] That's good.

[00:03:56] That's it.

[00:03:57] You bring up a good point though.

[00:03:58] Yeah.

[00:03:59] The relationship between salary and glamour.

[00:04:02] Yeah.

[00:04:03] Is not straightforward.

[00:04:04] Not at all.

[00:04:05] There are other factors at play.

[00:04:06] Right.

[00:04:07] So what are those?

[00:04:08] Yeah.

[00:04:08] What is that secret sauce that makes one job glamorous and another not so much?

[00:04:13] Yeah.

[00:04:13] Yeah.

[00:04:14] I think if we look at, you know, the data.

[00:04:16] Yeah.

[00:04:17] And those jobs that people usually think are glamorous.

[00:04:19] Uh-huh.

[00:04:19] There are a few key ingredients.

[00:04:22] Lay it on me.

[00:04:23] What's the recipe?

[00:04:23] Okay.

[00:04:24] So first there's visibility.

[00:04:25] Okay.

[00:04:25] Okay.

[00:04:25] These jobs tend to be in the public eye.

[00:04:28] You know?

[00:04:28] Okay.

[00:04:28] People know what you do.

[00:04:29] Right.

[00:04:30] And maybe they even admire you for it.

[00:04:32] That makes sense.

[00:04:32] Like think about fashion designers.

[00:04:35] Yeah.

[00:04:35] Pilots.

[00:04:36] Uh-huh.

[00:04:36] Even reporters.

[00:04:37] They're all seen as having-

[00:04:39] They have a certain level of-

[00:04:40] Well, expertise.

[00:04:41] Right.

[00:04:41] Expertise influence.

[00:04:42] Yeah.

[00:04:42] Exactly.

[00:04:43] Okay.

[00:04:43] And that kind of goes into the second ingredient.

[00:04:45] Okay.

[00:04:45] Which is impact.

[00:04:47] Okay.

[00:04:47] People see these glamorous jobs as making a difference, you know?

[00:04:53] Yeah.

[00:04:54] Like an investment banker.

[00:04:55] Yeah.

[00:04:55] Who's helping companies grow or an event planner.

[00:04:59] Yeah.

[00:04:59] Creating these-

[00:05:00] Yes.

[00:05:00] Unforgettable experiences.

[00:05:02] Exactly.

[00:05:03] Okay.

[00:05:03] And then there's creativity.

[00:05:04] You know, glamorous jobs tend to have a lot of self-expression.

[00:05:08] Right.

[00:05:08] And innovation.

[00:05:09] Yeah.

[00:05:09] You're not just following a script.

[00:05:11] Right.

[00:05:11] You're bringing your own vision.

[00:05:12] You're bringing something new.

[00:05:13] Exactly.

[00:05:14] Okay.

[00:05:15] I think this might be a little controversial.

[00:05:17] Okay.

[00:05:17] But I think excitement plays a role too.

[00:05:20] Ooh.

[00:05:20] Interesting.

[00:05:21] Okay.

[00:05:21] Yeah.

[00:05:22] Like some jobs just have that risk or adventure.

[00:05:24] Right.

[00:05:24] That makes them-

[00:05:25] That allure.

[00:05:26] More alluring.

[00:05:27] Yeah.

[00:05:27] Yeah.

[00:05:27] Like airline pilots or like a real estate developer.

[00:05:31] There's that-

[00:05:32] That unknown-

[00:05:33] Unpredictability.

[00:05:34] Yeah.

[00:05:34] High stakes can be appealing.

[00:05:36] Okay.

[00:05:36] So we got visibility, impact, creativity, excitement.

[00:05:41] Uh-huh.

[00:05:41] And I think we can't forget perceived value too.

[00:05:46] Like society kind of puts-

[00:05:48] Absolutely.

[00:05:48] More value on some jobs.

[00:05:49] Of course.

[00:05:50] Like doctors, lawyers-

[00:05:52] Professors.

[00:05:52] Yeah.

[00:05:53] Those all have a certain-

[00:05:55] A certain respect.

[00:05:56] Respect and admiration.

[00:05:57] Yeah.

[00:05:57] Okay.

[00:05:57] So we got visibility.

[00:05:58] Yeah.

[00:05:59] Impact, creativity, excitement, and perceived value.

[00:06:02] That's it.

[00:06:02] That sounds like the recipe.

[00:06:04] The recipe for glamour?

[00:06:05] Yeah.

[00:06:06] But here's the thing.

[00:06:07] Okay.

[00:06:07] Couldn't we apply that to any job?

[00:06:09] That's a good point.

[00:06:10] It's how you think about it.

[00:06:11] Yeah.

[00:06:12] And the value you bring.

[00:06:13] You're right.

[00:06:14] It's all about perception.

[00:06:15] Yeah.

[00:06:15] It leads to a really important question.

[00:06:17] Okay.

[00:06:18] Is job satisfaction just about glamour?

[00:06:21] That's a good question.

[00:06:22] Or is it more about fulfillment?

[00:06:24] Right.

[00:06:24] It's got to be more.

[00:06:25] Yeah.

[00:06:25] Than just the glamour.

[00:06:26] Yeah.

[00:06:27] Like you said, it's how you perceive it.

[00:06:29] Right.

[00:06:29] It's like finding that sweet spot where all your skills and interests-

[00:06:32] Yeah.

[00:06:33] Where your values align with the work.

[00:06:34] Align.

[00:06:35] Yeah.

[00:06:35] Yeah.

[00:06:36] And recognizing that real job satisfaction comes from work-life balance, opportunities to grow, and feeling like you're-

[00:06:47] Like you're making a difference.

[00:06:48] Making a real contribution.

[00:06:50] Right.

[00:06:50] Yeah.

[00:06:51] So maybe glamour is just one piece of the puzzle.

[00:06:53] I think so.

[00:06:54] Okay.

[00:06:54] But it's still a fascinating-

[00:06:55] Oh, yeah.

[00:06:56] For sure.

[00:06:56] Concept to think about because it tells us a lot about-

[00:06:59] Okay.

[00:07:00] Our values, what we admire, what we want out of our careers.

[00:07:05] I like that.

[00:07:06] Yeah.

[00:07:06] So to sum it up, it seems like glamour-

[00:07:09] Yeah.

[00:07:09] Is really subjective.

[00:07:12] It is.

[00:07:12] It's more about perception than reality.

[00:07:15] Yeah.

[00:07:15] And sometimes it comes with a pay cut.

[00:07:17] And sometimes you're making less money.

[00:07:19] It's funny how that works.

[00:07:20] That is funny.

[00:07:21] We chase these glamorous ideals.

[00:07:24] Yeah.

[00:07:24] But maybe true fulfillment is-

[00:07:27] Is somewhere else entirely-

[00:07:29] Somewhere unexpected.

[00:07:30] Right.

[00:07:30] So thinking about all this, think about your own career path.

[00:07:33] Yeah.

[00:07:33] What drew you to your job?

[00:07:35] Right.

[00:07:36] Was it glamour or was it something else?

[00:07:39] You know, it's funny.

[00:07:40] We always think about glamour with these specific jobs.

[00:07:43] Right.

[00:07:43] But maybe it's more about how you approach your work.

[00:07:47] Yeah.

[00:07:47] Maybe any job-

[00:07:49] Yeah.

[00:07:49] Can be glamorous.

[00:07:50] I agree.

[00:07:51] If you find that-

[00:07:53] Yeah.

[00:07:53] Meaning in it.

[00:07:54] It's all about how you see it and the value you bring.

[00:07:57] Yeah.

[00:07:58] So true.

[00:07:58] Instead of chasing those external-

[00:08:00] Right.

[00:08:01] Like markers of glamour.

[00:08:03] Yeah.

[00:08:03] Maybe it's more about finding that-

[00:08:05] Yeah.

[00:08:05] Internal satisfaction.

[00:08:07] That internal spark.

[00:08:08] Yeah.

[00:08:09] That passion.

[00:08:10] Exactly.

[00:08:10] That makes you excited to go to work.

[00:08:12] Yeah.

[00:08:13] And maybe that's the real-

[00:08:14] Maybe that is.

[00:08:15] That's the definition of a glamorous-

[00:08:16] I like that.

[00:08:17] A career-

[00:08:18] Career that shines.

[00:08:19] Not because other people think it is, but because you feel it.

[00:08:22] Yeah.

[00:08:22] Yeah.

[00:08:22] Okay.

[00:08:23] So wrapping all this up-

[00:08:24] Yeah.

[00:08:24] It seems like the idea of job glamour is a lot more nuanced than we think.

[00:08:31] It is.

[00:08:31] It's not just about the title or the big paycheck.

[00:08:34] It's about so much more.

[00:08:35] Yeah.

[00:08:36] It's more about finding something-

[00:08:38] Yeah.

[00:08:38] That aligns with like-

[00:08:41] Aligns with you.

[00:08:42] Your values and your passions.

[00:08:43] What you really want.

[00:08:44] Exactly.

[00:08:45] Yeah.

[00:08:45] So maybe next time you see a parking lot attendant-

[00:08:49] Yeah.

[00:08:49] You'll see a little bit of glamour.

[00:08:50] A little sparkle.

[00:08:51] On what they're doing.

[00:08:52] Yeah.

[00:08:52] Keeping everything running smoothly.

[00:08:55] I love that.

[00:08:56] Yeah.

[00:08:56] Well, thanks for joining us today.

[00:08:58] Yes.

[00:08:59] Thanks for listening.

[00:09:00] On this deep dive-

[00:09:01] Yeah.

[00:09:01] Into the glamorous jobs.

[00:09:04] Yeah.

[00:09:05] And hopefully it gave you something to think about.

[00:09:07] Some food for thought.

[00:09:08] With your own career path.

[00:09:09] Yes.

[00:09:10] Find what resonates with you.

[00:09:12] Yeah.

[00:09:12] Find your sparkle.

[00:09:13] Until next time.

[00:09:15] Stay curious.

[00:09:18] This has been From Dorms to Desks.

[00:09:20] Job hunting tips for those early in their careers.

[00:09:23] A podcast brought to you by College Recruiter Job Search Site, which believes that every student

[00:09:28] and recent grad deserves a great career.

[00:09:30] Each episode, we dive into tips, tricks, and insights that will help you land your next

[00:09:35] part-time, seasonal, internship, or entry-level job.

[00:09:38] Subscribe to this podcast for free now so you don't miss an episode and visit www.collegerecruiter.com

[00:09:45] to find your next great job.