thirty-five Important Work opportunities That No more Exist – Part one

It’s not uncommon to hear someone exclaim, “Robots will be taking over our jobs soon!” While this might seem like an exaggeration, there’s a kernel of truth to it. Consider the kinds of work people did centuries before you were born—before the advent of electricity, computers, and the internet. If you haven’t thought about it, now is the time. Here are the first ten out of thirty-five jobs that were once crucial in society but have now vanished:

The First 10 Extinct Jobs

1. Bowling Alley Pinsetters (Pinboys)

Before Gottfried Schmidt invented the mechanical pinsetter in 1936, boys were employed to manually reset bowling pins, clear fallen pins, and return bowling balls. The advent of mechanization marked the end of these jobs.
Let’s hope they didn’t stand too close to the bowlers.

2. Milkman

While refrigerators became a household necessity in 1913, milk consumption predates that era. A milkman’s role was to deliver this dairy goodness to people’s homes regularly to prevent it from spoiling.
Nobody wants sour milk, so this job joined the ranks of extinct professions.

3. Radio Actors

Before television, people sought entertainment through radio. Radio actors performed skits similar to modern-day TV shows.
Some argue that these presentations were even better than today’s reality shows. Who knows, this occupation might stage a comeback and exit the list of extinct jobs?

4. Phrenologist

In the 18th to 19th centuries, phrenologists claimed to “read” a person’s intelligence based on the shape of their head.

5. Ice Cutter

Remember the ice cutters from the opening of Disney’s Frozen? Before refrigerators, they collected ice from lakes and rivers during winter for year-long preservation.
I doubt they sang while doing it, though.

“Living” Jobs That No Longer Exist

Now, onto the second part of this list, which deals with living things—or rather, things that used to be alive.

6. Badger

Badgers were food buyers who purchased goods from farmers and sold them at markets. They were persistent sellers and the source of the phrase “to badger someone.”
We have a modern-day version of these individuals—telemarketers.

7. Leech Collector

Leech collectors gathered leeches from various locations and sold them to doctors, who would use the creatures for medical purposes.
It’s no wonder this profession is part of the extinct jobs list—after all, leeches are no longer a staple in medical treatments.

8. Rat Catcher

The name says it all. Cities used to be infested with rodents, and rat catchers were hired to reduce their numbers. It was a public service, in a way.
Rather than consigning this role to the extinct jobs list, the rats should have learned to cook. They might have been more helpful.

9. Resurrectionist

Resurrectionists would exhume corpses from graves and sell them to medical schools for dissection and autopsy purposes.
It was a risky job—especially with zombies around.

10. Powder Monkey

If you were a young boy on a warship between the 16th and 19th centuries, you might have been a powder monkey. These boys were responsible for reloading cannons with gunpowder after each shot, owing to their small size and agility.
Modern-day young boys find very different uses for quick hands.

The contrast between the job market of the past and the present is striking. Regardless of the changes it undergoes, you must be adaptable. Check out our top resume writing service reviews and select the one that will help you land your dream career.

Resources: Mental_floss | IJReview | Business Insider
Photograph by Skitterphoto through Pexels