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30 People Answer What’s The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession

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Few things are more annoying than being asked a seemingly innocent question: “Oh, you're a programmer? I have a problem with my printer…” You may wonder what’s wrong with it. Well, how about “Oh, you’re an accountant? I have some tax questions I want to ask you!”

You see, it would be totally fine if it wasn’t so absurdly irritating. Talking about our professions is one thing, but assuming you know something the other person needs and thus, you have to help, even though it has little to do with your job, is another.

So when someone asked to share the annoying stuff people ask when you tell them your profession, it blew up on r/AskReddit, amassing 79.5k upvotes and 23.9k comments. Let’s see what people had to say and don’t forget to tell us what questions about your profession annoy you in the comment section below!

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#1

"Oh you're a geologist? What kind of rock is this?" Just kidding, we love that s**t and will tell you a long story of the history of that rock and how we saw examples in the field in the middle of nowhere.

CarbineFox Report

Final score:

125points

Dorothy Parker 4 years ago

My husband, a geographer by degree, does that. A lot.

24points

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#2

"Oh you work in Social Media? How do I blow up my Instagram/Youtube?"

Conversation usually then goes somewhat like this:

"You need to provide good content that matches your target audience."

"Yeah....but I don't want to put any real work into that."

"Then buy 500k fake subs from India or China."

"But they are not real people."

"Well you are not providing any real content."

DrPCox85 Report

Final score:

107points

Vic 4 years ago

Wait, I'm from India! How do I sell this "subs" thingy? Anyone buying?

44points

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#3

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh, you're a pharmacist? Well I have this huge, gaping wound on my left butt cheek, can you look at it and tell me what I can use over the counter?"

Sir... Please go to the hospital...

brow3477 , Clean Wal-Mart Report

Final score:

106points

Valentina Vitale 4 years ago

Seriously - you’re actually going to come to the counter and show me (and everyone) the rash under your breasts??!

5points

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Confused conversational partners are real and they occur more often than we’d like. Think of the last time you told someone “I work for myself as a freelance writer” and received “Oh, so you, like, write books?” Most of us devote so much time and effort to our careers, it’s kind of irritating to get all those sorts of questions from people who have no clue what you’re doing (and often, they suppose they do!)

So, how to speak about your profession to people so you can share your enthusiasm and not receive any more annoying questions? To find out how to talk about your profession like a pro, Bored Panda reached out to Kat Boogard, a Wisconsin-based freelance writer who specializes in writing on careers and self-development. Kat told us that the real hangup is that we use our careers to define ourselves. That’s the reason why so many of us become irritated by the “what do you do?” question.

#4

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh you're a Graphic Designer? Can you make a logo for me really quick? It's for my cousin's birthday. I don't have any money to pay but I'll have multiple revisions that will cut into your actual paying work time, but then get upset when you ask for payment"

DJRonin , Leni_und_Tom Report

Final score:

104points

Falcon 4 years ago

Where's the part where they call themselves an influencer and want free stuff for "exposure"

67points

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#5

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "You're invited to my.. party/event/wedding/celebration.. please could you bring your camera"

imontiza , eltpics Report

Final score:

98points

Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago

I'm a photographer. Was in the wedding party. The mother of the bride was irate that I didn't bring my camera (I was never asked to), because "who's going to take photos of the reception / bridal waltz / cutting of the cake?". She was so angry, that it was impossible to remain friends with the couple. I now pre-empt all invitations, with the fact that I do NOT work, when a guest.

116points

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#6

"You're in the Air Force? So you fly planes?"

Nah I fly a desk.

cjt11203 Report

Final score:

96points

zims 4 years ago

Chair Force

101points

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“That can cause real problems for a lot of people. Maybe they're laid off or between jobs. Maybe they're starting their own business. Or maybe they work in a career that's not super 'obvious' to a lot of people. That means the 'what do you do?' question can inspire a lot of dread and even self-doubt.”

Kat said that the best way to describe your profession is just doing it head-on, “with the knowledge that a lot of careers are going to require more explanation than others.”

Moreover, “what do you do?” is often a default conversation starter, but Kat assured us that there are plenty of other ways to get the discussion rolling, like asking someone what hobbies they enjoy.

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#7

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh you're an artist ? Can you draw me, I'll pay you with exposure"

KalosKaghatoss , Christian SengerFollow Report

Final score:

86points

MyrkurDragon 4 years ago

"Sorry, can't make art for free" "well screw you your art is bad anyway!!"

67points

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#8

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh, you're a teacher? Please explain to me how my child's teacher had the audacity to give them a C despite it being very obvious that my child is a genius!"

Bonus points if they want you to explain the grading criteria in a completely different subject and level of schooling than you teach. Like, I teach high school and community college English and Social Studies - why do you expect me to know the grading criteria for middle school math?

Theartofdodging , Daniel Nugent Report

Final score:

83points

Pearl Of the SeaWing RainWings 4 years ago

This one must be SUPER ANNOYING.

30points

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#9

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh your a musician, play that one that goes, bun dum dum bun dum donn bom"

bigEchees , Mitch Bennett Report

Final score:

82points

Berry Budgie 4 years ago

This is my friends with me😂😂😂

33points

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Kat also suggested a way to deal with people who think they know everything about your profession. “As a freelance writer, I get a lot of puzzled looks when I tell people what I do for a living. Then they quickly move into the assumptions—like that I write books or I don't do much of anything all day.”

She usually uses an example that people can relate to her career in their daily lives. “So, when people are struggling to understand what I do, I'll say something like this: 'You know how when you're preparing for a job interview and you Google common interview questions? The articles that show up in the search results are the type of stuff that I write.'"

#10

"Oh you're employed by our company as a robotic process automation engineer, does that means we're all going to be replaced by robots?"

I've come up with the perfect response to this now. "No, just you"

Cyrus-187 Report

Final score:

82points

Pearl Of the SeaWing RainWings 4 years ago

XD beautiful

24points

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#11

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession “Oh you work for a law firm? My son’s ex-girlfriend wants full custody of their kid. What should he do?”

A. I’m a mass tort paralegal, I don’t do family law B. He needs to get a lawyer.

MelpomeneLee , osseous Report

Final score:

77points

Viviane 4 years ago

A few friends have asked my law librarian husband for legal advice. Yes, he has a degree. In library studies. No, he did not have to pass the bar exam to get his job.

29points

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#12

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession Oh you are an accountant, can you do my taxes?

No Mary i can't. I work for a corporate company not frigging H&R block. I mean I probably could but I don't wanna.

summerwritingcat , Motaz Altahir Report

Final score:

72points

Blue 4 years ago

Yeah I work as an accountant as well and my friends ask me that ALL THE TIME. It's really annoying.

21points

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#13

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh, you are a Mathematician? What is 35122*748383?"

Use a goddamn calculator.

Dark_Ruler , Caitie McManus Report

Final score:

70points

Marcellus the Third 4 years ago

Simple: it's ab where a=35122, b=748383. Only use for numbers outside of teaching is to order pages and footnotes/references.

18points

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#14

"You work in a restaurent? How about treating me to dinner sometime?" - A lot of people assume that they can get free drinks and food just because I happen to serve food or tend the bar at the place. That is not how it works...Also "We are friends so I don't need to tip you!" - Well, that is how you got unfriended really quickly.

NoisyNatalie Report

Final score:

67points

Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago

I'd be questioning the type of "lot of people" who keep asking you to steal. I've been in hospitality since I was 14 (paid my way through highschool & uni), and never had anyone ask me to steal for them. :o

20points

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#15

I was going to have surgery and about 10 minutes before I was scheduled to go under the knife, the nurse asked me what I was studying. I told her I'm a computer science student and without skipping a beat she asked me to help her download WhatsApp on her Huawei!

Since I'm also studying genetics, I also often get requests like "does this rash look bad" or "can you clone my cat".

NO. LEAVE ME ALONE.

BloatedCrow Report

Final score:

62points

Berry Budgie 4 years ago

“CaN YoU ClOnE My CaT”

47points

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#16

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession Oh, you work in construction? (Proceeds to ask about fixing things around the house, asking if something was installed wrong because it doesn't "look right", or wanting a price quotes for various projects)

New_Game_P1us , TLC Jonhson Report

Final score:

59points

Gary 4 years ago

Or the other side of the coin. They ask you to quote and at the same time ask you how you propose to do what they are asking for. I'm sure as soon as I have left they are looking on YouTube to see how to do it themselves.

12points

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#17

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh, you're a programmer? I have a idea of a cool app!"

lowleveldata , ah.radwan Report

Final score:

59points

Momma Panda 4 years ago

I will not pay you to develop the app, it will look good in your portfolio, so consider that your pay.

30points

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#18

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession Oh you're a paramedic? I have this thing on my toe, Will you check it?

chumpidcul , Ambulance Report

Final score:

58points

Neva Nevičica 4 years ago

I have a friend who is a doctor and one who is not, and whenever we were hanging out, every conversation would turn into the non-doctor asking the doctor about her poop, periods, her grandmas prescriptions and hospital procedures. It was so exausting for the doctor (and me:D) that we stopped hanging out.

28points

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#19

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession "Oh, you're a chemical analyst? You must know how to make drugs"

Absolute_Predator , Daniel Morrison Report

Final score:

58points

Hugo McColl 4 years ago

Breaking bad

13points

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#20

Oh you’re an astronomer? Why is my outlook as Pisces so negative this month? I heard all the planets are going to be lined up what does that mean for my horoscope?

Rand_alThor_ Report

Final score:

55points

Momma Panda 4 years ago

I'm surprised to hear that people still belive in horoscopes..

38points

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#21

So you're a dermatologist? Have a look at this mole I found conveniently between my butt cheeks during this lovely wedding ceremony.

Dr_immigrant Report

Final score:

49points

Pearl Of the SeaWing RainWings 4 years ago

It's safe to say I will not become a dermatologist.

29points

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#22

"oh, you're a writer? Can you help with this very important legal letter?"

And a non-job bonus: "you're married to my programmer son, can you help me with my phone?" My husband gets the "you work in IT, my printer isn't working" questions from his mum. She thinks he does tech support. He programs systems for universities, government departments, etc.

KittikatB Report

Final score:

47points

Andrew Robertson 4 years ago

"My husband gets the "you work in IT, my printer isn't working" questions from his mum." Sounds like a totally reasonable thing for a mum to ask her son.

23points

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#23

"Oh, you're a truck driver? Can you come tell me what's wrong with my car?"

Umm, ma'am, I just drive the damn things... You want the shop guys for that.

Final score:

46points

Marcellus the Third 4 years ago

Just go for the actually used technical language: "I think that's gonna cost ya, looks like the f***ing f***er is f***ing f***ed."

27points

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#24

Oh you're a mechanical engineer, can you fix my car?

MHRolley Report

Final score:

45points

Joy Stowe 4 years ago

I know 30 mechanical engineers and have worked with them every day for 14 years. Every one of them could fix your car. Not that they want to, but they can.

10points

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#25

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession Sell me this pen

DominoEfct1 , Brian Turner Report

Final score:

45points

Andrea Serrano Morales 4 years ago

ight bet, this pen has a 39.9% of ink and it has a 67% accuracy when writing, it has an incredible feature when writing, the ball inside will stop movin and the ink will not run into the writing surface. For a VERY fair price of $59.99 YOU can get this once in a lifetime opportunity of a not very well working pen! ( how did i do )

19points

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#26

Oh, you’re a therapist? tells me about their family member who really needs to see a therapist

Conscious_Tea Report

Final score:

43points

Blarrg 4 years ago

Therapist too. I get "Oh, are you analysing me?" Nope. Already finished.

5points

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#27

Oh you're a nurse, can you have a look at my ingrowing toenail / tell me why I have a rash down below

shellshocked_637 Report

Final score:

42points

Berry Budgie 4 years ago

Ewwww

18points

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#28

Oh , you are a comedian? Tell me a joke.

Solum_Nox Report

Final score:

42points

The one and only 4 years ago

ur life (I'm sorry this is a joke)

37points

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#29

"Oh, you're an electrical engineer? Can you wire my garage?"

McDougal_Scarborough Report

Final score:

36points

WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago

Yes I can. Can you pay me $150 per hour?

23points

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#30

"Oh, you studied linguistics? What does this word mean?"

MountainGoatAOE Report

Final score:

33points

Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago

I have a B. Languages (including linguistics).... NEVER been asked anything along those lines. (maybe I'm lucky?)

8points

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#31

“Oh, you’re a voice actor? Do “x” character’s voice!”

P0tentialAH Report

Final score:

16points

Pearl Of the SeaWing RainWings 4 years ago

*guilty face*

7points

#32

Oh, you studied psychology? Then I'll have to watch what I'm thinking, as you can read my mind.

Final score:

15points

StinkyMonkey 4 years ago (edited)

Yep. My dad's a psychiatrist and now he just tells people he's an English teacher if random people ask him what he does, because most people just stopped talking when he told them his job before.

6points

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#33

Oh your a psychologist, can you chat to my kid and see if he is depressed

Lethal_bizzle94 Report

Final score:

14points

Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago

1) ask the kid yourself... you're the parent. 2) observe your kid yourself.... you're the parent. 3) if you don't have the kind of relationship where this is possible.... you BOTH need to talk to a psychologist.

16points

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#34

Oh you're travel agent, when is covid going to end?

Askanner Report

Final score:

14points

Colin L 4 years ago

Sometime after they develop a vaccine and prople stop being so stupid.

6points

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#35

“Oh, you’re an accountant? Can you add and/or multiply these huge numbers in your head lightening fast?”

No. You have no idea what I do....

garbagepencil Report

Final score:

13points

Shelby P 4 years ago

this is what we use excel for...

2points

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#36

30 People Answer What's The Most Annoying Thing Others Say After Learning Their Profession cAN YoU hACk fAcEbOok???

rafily , Jeff Dlouhy Report

Final score:

13points

Berry Budgie 4 years ago

Why tho?

6points

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#37

"Oh, you're a law student? What would happen if (insert hypothetical legal scenario)."

Prepare for disappointment, because the answer to almost every legal question is "it depends".

I've also been asked who is likely to win the next General Election. I don't know. I study law, not politics. I also can't predict the future.

Noodle613 Report

Final score:

13points

Viviane 4 years ago

Among the people around me who've been asked for legal advice: my then-16-year-old niece who was sorting mail at her dad's law firm and my husband who is a law librarian who helps law clerks find information.

1point

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#38

Oh you’re an Occupational Therapist- Can you help me find a job

Funke-munke Report

Final score:

12points

Claire Conroy 4 years ago

I mean, occupational therapy is not about finding people jobs. To be fair, maybe they should change the title...it is kind of misleading.

5points

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#39

“Oh you’re a firefighter? Do you actually go to work?”

DickRubnuts Report

Final score:

12points

Neva Nevičica 4 years ago

No, i dance around a pole on bachelorette parties, you moron.

26points

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#40

Oh you work at an aquarium? This thing is wrong with my animal...

FearlessBookworm3 Report

Final score:

10points

mysty 4 years ago

yes, because people who work at aquariums have unlocked all knowledge of every single organism around the world.

5points

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#41

"Oh you work in finance? What stock/fund should I buy? / you must be making a boatload on your personal investments with all the insider information you have access to!"

waffleswithsprouts Report

Final score:

10points

Katherine Boag 4 years ago

Yike

1point

#42

Ohh, you're an engineer (software)? Can you fix my mobile?

Final score:

8points

#43

Oh, you’re architect? Can you draw up this house I designed in autocad?

Final score:

8points

Deanna Davis 4 years ago

Oh you're a stylist? What would you do to MY hair???

3points

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Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Justinas Keturka

I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

What questions about your profession annoy you?

troufaki13 4 years ago

I'm pretty sure everyone does that, even those who whine when others do it to them.

20points

Black Goat of the Woods 4 years ago

Oh, you're an archaeologist? So you can plan my new house? -No sir, that's an architect. Ah, my bad. So you dig up dinosaurs then, isn't it? -No sir, that's a palaeontologist. I got it! Pyramids! -No sir, that's an egyptologist. So what do you do then? -I work as a programmer because archaeology doesn't pay bills. XD

19points

Laura 4 years ago

Oh, you're a baker? The worst - make my wedding cake in 3 days, and instead of paying you, you'll get lots of exposer and more orders. Nope, not happening.

9points

Olivier Dhuyvettere 3 years ago

i get this stupid question: oh you're a baker, do you make bread and pies when you're at home? my response: no i do it for at least 10h a day, why would i come home and start doing what i just did at work, do you do your job constently when you are home?

0points

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troufaki13 4 years ago

I'm pretty sure everyone does that, even those who whine when others do it to them.

20points

Black Goat of the Woods 4 years ago

Oh, you're an archaeologist? So you can plan my new house? -No sir, that's an architect. Ah, my bad. So you dig up dinosaurs then, isn't it? -No sir, that's a palaeontologist. I got it! Pyramids! -No sir, that's an egyptologist. So what do you do then? -I work as a programmer because archaeology doesn't pay bills. XD

19points

Laura 4 years ago

Oh, you're a baker? The worst - make my wedding cake in 3 days, and instead of paying you, you'll get lots of exposer and more orders. Nope, not happening.

9points

Olivier Dhuyvettere 3 years ago

i get this stupid question: oh you're a baker, do you make bread and pies when you're at home? my response: no i do it for at least 10h a day, why would i come home and start doing what i just did at work, do you do your job constently when you are home?

0points

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