Stephen K Amos: What is the worst job you have ever had? — FLAPSS

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.

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Stephen K Amos

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I was a guard on the Orient Express – however, only when it was stationed at a railway siding in Vauxhall.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Krishnan Guru-Murthy British journalist

I did a terrible job of fixing the downstairs loo once.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 January 2021 source ↗

Rachel Whiteread English artist

Serving tea in an insurance office to people who seemed to despise me at the age of 16 was pretty unpleasant.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 December 2017 source ↗

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.

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

Craig Revel Horwood Australian-British choreographer and director

Potato-picking in my home town, Ballarat.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 December 2018 source ↗

More from Stephen K Amos

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Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

Looking back is not productive.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

John McCarthy, the journalist who was held captive for five years in Beirut. I’ve met him and he was so full of peace, humility and forgiveness – it was inspiring.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

Question What would you most want to leave your children? Death & what remains

The notion that anything is possible.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

Question What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? Failure & regret

“Do you know what your problem is?” It was a dear friend of mine. They were referring to the fact that I’m impatient.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

I’m slightly impatient.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

Question What most recently moved you to tears? Identity & self

I last shed a tear when my nephew, who is under 10, announced that he was learning the trombone. When I was about the same age and wanted to learn the trumpet, a music teacher said: “The trumpet isn’t for you. You’ve got too-thick lips.”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

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