Paula Wilcox: What is the worst job you have ever had?

The question

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's long-running Q&A repeatedly asks this standing question, with minor tense variation.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Paula Wilcox

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I don’t think I’ve ever done a job that I hate. I worked as a temp briefly when I was out of work and it was fun.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

Mo Gilligan British comedian

Handing out leaflets for a dry cleaner’s, because no one wanted them and, if people did take them, they just threw them on the floor.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 November 2021 source ↗

Working in a bottle factory, which lasted one day, and the Radio 1 breakfast show.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

I worked in a cafe, which I loved, but when it was quiet we had to scrape the fat out from between the tiles on the floor with a butter knife.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 September 2023 source ↗

Michael Ball English singer, presenter and actor

Handing out leaflets for a European coach trip wearing just lederhosen, in February and March in Surrey. It was freezing, and I got fired.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗