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Innovation

Professions in China you did not know existed

Being one of the world’s economic powerhouses, China presents a perfect place for career progression. The huge job market offers strong job prospects in various professions for ex-pats and citizens alike. That’s why it’s easy for businesses to attract top talent in the country. And, with China’s employer of record services, such as China EOR and China PEO, hiring these professionals is a breeze for both foreign and local businesses.

On the flip side, however, the country has some other professions that you would never think of. How about sniffing paper towels to test for strong odor, sorting chicks by gender, or being a punching bag where people let out their frustrations?

As unappealing as these may sound, the good thing is that these odd jobs actually pay a lot of money. For instance, sorting chicks can earn you a whopping $28,000 a year.

Here is a list of other professions of that nature.

Crab binders. Crabs are one of the traditional delicacies in China. However, as loved as they are, people dread seeing them crawling out of the pot when cooking. The solution is binding the legs together with a rope. It goes without saying that after buying crabs, you need someone to tie up those creepy creatures. That is how you get crab-binding men who make approximately $1,467 a month. You only need to have the ability to tie up at least six crabs in a minute to earn the title of master.

Sleep testers. I’m sure you have never thought that sleep could be a skill that could land you a job. Well, in China, it actually is, and it is lucrative for that matter. This profession came about in the process of hotel owners seeking to offer their guests the comfort they would find in their own beds. A hotel sleep tester is expected to sleep in different beds and make a report on the findings. In addition to the perks, you get to travel the country with accommodation fully paid for you.

Children playmates. Parents are becoming busy by the day, leaving no time to play with their children. Most parents today don’t know their kids well, or what they like. Even if they were to find the time, they wouldn’t know how to play with the kids. However, thanks to professional children playmates, parents in China no longer need to worry about playing with their kids. These professionals are knowledgeable in everything about children, knowing how to interact and play with them. If you can keep up with kids’ stamina and activeness, this might be just the job for you.

Hired bridesmaid. Every girl’s dream is to be a bridesmaid someday. However, most girls live their lives without getting such an opportunity. How about finding such a chance, and being paid while at it? In China, women who can’t get bridesmaids for their big day are always willing to pay for the service. The “bridesmaids” are only required to make her day colorful – just smile and have fun. If you can fake a story about a bride that you don’t know, or awe the crowd with stories of your “escapades” with the bride, you can perfectly fit here.

Ethical hacker. Hackers are known for all the bad reasons. Businesses have suffered in the hands of hackers. To prevent them from stealing their precious information, businesses need to be a step ahead of these malicious people. That is, scan the vulnerabilities of their systems from time to time. And, what better way to do it than hire hackers to try to hack the system? This profession has been booming in China, and if you are a hacker with a conscience, this might be just the job for you.

Live mannequin. If you have ever visited a clothes store with kids, you probably have a clear picture of what they do to mannequins. Surprisingly, you can make $100 an hour working as a live mannequin in China. You only need to be strong enough and patient enough to withstand the nasty things kids do to mannequins.

Leveraging odd jobs in China for personal growth

The ordinary things you do in your day-to-day life can be turned into money-earning careers in China. Well, not careers in the conventional sense, but means to earn a living and take care of your family. What matters is to make a living legitimately.


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