Kate Humble: What is the worst job you have ever had?

The question

What is the worst job you have ever had?

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.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I lived in Cape Town, and I was spotted on the street and signed up by a modelling agency. I did about three shoots before I realised I hate having my photograph taken and I like food.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 December 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 230 →

Chiwetel Ejiofor English actor

At King’s College hospital when I was 16; the job was putting hundreds of pieces of A4 paper into A4 transparent envelopes. I lasted one day.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2024 source ↗

Jessica Raine British actress

A temp job at BT. I still have nightmares about ADSL lines. I still don’t know what one is. I would find myself on national conference calls being questioned about ADSL lines and told that the problem was in London. I would try not to breathe so they would forget I was there.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 March 2019 source ↗

Adam Kay British comedy writer, author, youtuber, comedian and former physician

A comedy gig at an army barracks for thousands of angry, horny squaddies just back from six months in the desert. I was on straight after the stripper.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗

Liev Schreiber American actor

Acting – it’s also the best, though.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 September 2024 source ↗