Erin Mursch
We’ve dug into the careers and lives of a wide range of professionals to find out what their jobs are really like, how they got started in their industries, and what it takes to be successful in their roles.
From a Christie’s auctioneer to a Starbucks barista to a tarot card reader, our job diaries profile dozens of unique careers that people are curious about. We spoke to a USPS employee who’s been working tirelessly through the pandemic, a fintech president managing her company from home, and a celebrity dog groomer who charges $300 an hour to pamper wealthy people’s pets. There’s a phone sex operator who made $258,000 in one year working from her car just a few nights a week and a webcam model who brings in $1,000 a day.
Here’s an inside look at their journeys, their days, and their advice for other aspiring professionals.
An ethical hacker: Job diary: I’m a ‘white hat’ hacker. Here’s what my job is like, and 5 things I think everyone should do to protect their personal information.
A nautical performer: Job diary: I’m a professional mermaid who makes upwards of $250 for an appearance. Here’s how I turned my passion for cosplay into a business.
Home baby-proofers: Wealthy expectant parents in New York are paying this couple hundreds of dollars to baby-proof their homes
A charity auctioneer: Job diary: I'm a live auctioneer for Christie's. Here's how I landed the job at 24 and what a day in my life looks like.
A cat sitter in Australia: Job diary: I'm a cat sitter who just finished my first pandemic-era job. Here's how I landed the gig in a competitive cat-sitting market — and why it was surprisingly easy.
A rideshare driver in New York: Job diary: I'm an Uber driver in NYC who's been disinfecting her car after every ride since the pandemic started
A nail artist: Job diary: I'm a mobile manicurist who travels around NYC giving $85 manicures to clients who all want to keep me a secret
A best friend for the wedding: Job diary: As a professional bridesmaid, I deal with everything from missing grooms to wedding crashers. Here's what a day in my life is really like.
An at-home sex worker: Job diary: I'm a phone sex operator who made over $258,000 in one year. During the pandemic, I'm busier than ever.
An adult film actress: Job diary: I'm a 32-year-old porn star making five figures a month from home during the pandemic. My secret weapon is my gift of gab.
A KonMari organizer: I'm certified in Marie Kondo's tidying methods and have been helping people declutter their homes virtually during the pandemic — here's what a typical day is like
A USPS worker: I've been a postal worker for 17 years, and I'm unnerved by the current situation: 'It's getting scarier'
A fintech president: Inside the daily routine of a fintech executive who spends her days championing diversity in the world of investing — and balances all of it with spending time with her wife and kids
A webcam model: Job diary: At age 46, I earn over $1,000 a day as a webcam model. It's my ideal job — here's why.
A rural beekeeper: Job diary: I've been a beekeeper for 4 decades, co-founded an urban bee non-profit, and now I work at a hotel connecting the community through beekeeping
A barista in New Jersey: Job diary: I've been a Starbucks barista for 8 years. Working at the coffee chain sometimes feels like a social experiment.
A personal stylist: A day in the life of a Bay Area fashion stylist and single mom who is working from home during the pandemic
A tarot card reader: Job diary: I've been a professional tarot card reader for over 20 years — here's what my days are like
A celebrity magician: A day in the life of a 'billionaire's magician,' who's hired to fly around the world and entertain the elite
An English teacher in France: For 2 years I taught English in small, idyllic cities in southwest France — and it wasn't the vacation I thought it would be
A kids' etiquette instructor: I run a children's etiquette school in NYC. Here's how I'm helping my high-profile clients' kids learn manners and people skills amid a pandemic.
An intern and social media influencer: I'm a Google intern and TikTok influencer who's living with my parents in Texas for the summer — here's what my days are like
A luxury dog groomer: I'm a celebrity dog groomer in NYC who charges $300 an hour to pamper pets — I even give henna treatments to make dogs look younger
A COVID-19 tester: A day in the life of a COVID-19 tester in South Carolina, where new cases surged to a record-breaking daily high this week
Business Insider regularly interviews top business leaders who are propelling their companies to success during the coronavirus pandemic. Read about them by subscribing to Business Insider.