12 Most Overrated Jobs

[Dave_Berry]

"When parents look at their young children and imagine what they'll be when they grow up, many different possibilities come to mind. They dream of little Junior growing up to be a surgeon, or perhaps a commercial airline pilot, or maybe a banker, and they imagine a rewarding future of power, prestige, and high pay.

The reality is actually a little different. The job search portal CareerCast.com, created a list of 12 jobs that are traditionally believed to be great occupations, but that actually look a lot better on paper than they might be in reality ..."

Dang. You mean reality can be different than imaginations?

12 Most Overrated Jobs | Power Your Future - Yahoo! Finance

[archiemom]

They got it right when they included architects on the list. And not just because the future job prospects are so poor.

[missypie]

I have a fabulous job. Being a transactional lawyer suits me very well. I get to work indoors in a lovely office, with other smart people, and make enough money to put me maybe in the "three percent." I can't sing or dance. It's a good job for a detailed oriented smart person.

[mathmom]

Architecture has served me pretty well. My practice is mostly additions and renovations and they seem to go one whether or not the economy is booming or busting. However it's definitely not a way to get rich and I count on dh for health insurance and have no overhead.

[MiamiDAP]

There cannot be any general statement/opinion. The job that do not suit you personally is overrated, the job that you love is not. I have been at both, I have switched from engineering after 11 years of experience, I am very happy that I did. I am sure that there are many others who would not consider engineering overrated as it was for me as well as many who consider my current job overrated, while I enjoy it immensely.
How anybody can make such a general statements, I advise anybody not to listen to any others (I listened to my parents) and pursue what they think is the best for them personally and what can support you finanacially (have to make sure about second one)

[busdriver11]

Good words of wisdom, Miami.

I have a feeling that those of us in "the 12 most overrated jobs" are going to be posting here to defend them. In defense of airline pilots, whom the article listed as underpaid, over-stressed, and working long hours....I don't know anyone at my company who makes as little as they list as an average salary, the stress is occasional, not constant (most of the time it's fairly interesting), and some days have long hours, some don't. Many times the length of the day is our choice.

Then again, I wouldn't want to work for most of the airlines, because they did take large pay cuts and they don't have the work rules my company does. But there still are some great airline jobs out there.

[missypie]

The reality is that most of us need some kind of a job. Perhaps the title should be more like "these jobs aren't the road to wealth or adventure that they're cracked up to be." I mean, I'd rather be a lawyer than a dental hygenist or even a paralegal. It suits me and since I have to work, I might as well do that.

Every year, Parade magazine does a "What People Earn" article...just a lot of head shots, giving the person's job, location and salary. They always throw in a few movie stars or professional athletes. But other than those, virtually all of them are not earning six figures.

[musicamusica]

I am surprised that my job/business is not on the list. I'm telling you right now----
Industrial Products Distribution is not half as glamorous as it sounds.

[barrons]

The top 25% in many of those make much more than the average. Every surgeon in my wife's office makes well over $500k without killing themselves. And staff is well paid too.

[nj2011mom]

I like how broad the last one is: "Senior Corporate Executive". I don't think anyone starts out with that as a career goal. (except possibly the kids in the WSJ article that are sitting on their parents's couch eating their parent's food and unhappy with job offers, but that's another thread!)

[HImom]

Running a non-profit and working in public health is not nearly as glamorous as it may sound either.

[wis75]

Please note the article is addressing jobs from the perspective of families thinking they are dream jobs for their children. The point of the harsh listings is to give a reality check for jobs many perceive as the best path for their kids or jobs they envy. Lists like this are to capture the audience and make them rethink common misperceptions. They are not meant to be the final word. Obvioulsy many who like those jobs and do well with them. But there are also many who don't. Why 12, not 10 or 50? It is a list to provoke thinking about reality instead of assumptions. It is a sampling only- some examples.

It is interesting to note "physician" between psychiatrist and surgeon- all 3 are physicians, "primary care" should have qualified the plain physician. It is good to list salaries and job stresses. Some people think all real estate agents earn tons, especially when expensive cars are driven by some to show success. Some jobs with high salaries may not be worth the stress and loss of family time.

[archiemom]

^^That's my point, exactly.^^ I am not complaining about the state of the architecture profession. I made a choice when I was in college and have since defined my career in a (non-traditional) way that works for me. My husband made the same educational choice and now struggles with a traditional, sole-proprietor practice.

But there is definitely an unrealistic perception both by CC posters and other high school students that I have met over the years, that architecture is a creative, glamorous, well-paid career field where one spends all day drawings and designing with plenty of time for family (ala Mike Brady). I blame movies and tv (see Fictional Architects in Movies) and also colleges that emphasize creativity at the expense of practical application. I'll bet this is true for most of the careers listed in the article.

[Hanna]

:: Psychiatrist and surgeon as distinguished from physician? If by "physician" they mean primary care, internal medicine, or "family practice, they should say so. Psychiatrists are physicians, too.

[wavylays94]

This article is ridiculous..
The reason why being a psychiatrist is overrated is because they have to deal with the mentally ill?! SHOCKER
I'm sure that any prospective psychiatrist is totally averse to that..