David Ajala: 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.

DA

David Ajala

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Telesales – having to sell terrible kitchens. I thought, maybe I’m not a good actor because I can’t even convince myself that these kitchens are worth paying for.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 230 →

Charles Collingwood

Standing outside a pub in Acton on a freezing February day in a threadbare overcoat doing market research.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

Alison Moyet English singer

A 12-hour nightshift at a toy factory in Southend.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 June 2017 source ↗

I had to clean up the sump pump [toilet system] in my house because my sister and I flushed things we shouldn’t have.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 October 2025 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 ↗

More from David Ajala

View profile →

Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

When I was naive to the complexities of life.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

Helen Mirren was in the elevator with me at the National Theatre. She pressed the button but it didn’t move. I said, “Fancy seeing you here and being stuck in an elevator.” And she said, “Was that meant to be funny?” I apologised, and she laughed. Even talking about it now, it feels so awkward and embarrassing.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗

Question How would you sum yourself up in three words? Identity & self

Curious, playful and silly.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

Finding a tenner in your jeans pocket. It has always been there but you find it at the moment you really need it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗

Question What worries you about getting older? Time & hindsight

I don’t think anything scares me. It’s a gift and I want to embrace it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

To a resistant materials teacher at secondary school called Mr Noel. He had a comb-over and whenever he turned his back to write on the blackboard, we would roll up bits of paper and launch them at his head. Once, I hit him. I remember him turning around and looking crestfallen.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗

More on craft & work

Also answered this

Indira Varma, Craig Charles, Rebecca Ferguson, Russell Mael, Nigel Havers, Jessica Brown Findlay

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All craft & work questions
The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer