Some jobs were killed by tech, others fell into obscurity because society “moved on.” But plot twist—what if they are not gone for good? With our nostalgia-obsessed culture, AI fatigue, and cottagecore daydreams, those 15 forgotten careers might be waiting in hiding for their reboot. So get ready—some of these jobs are history’s weirdos, although they might be your grandkid’s next dream gig.
Knocker-Upper (Alarm Clocks Are Rude Anyway)
Yes, believe it or not, this was an actual job in days when alarm clocks were yet to be invented. Back in those days, one would knock at your window using an extended cane (or pea gun!) to wake you. With today’s culture of detox from everything related to technology? Imagine hiring someone who is fashionable in retro gear to knock at your window like some attitude-wielding sleep fairy.
Town Crier (The Older, Louder Cousin of TikTok)
“HEAR YE, HEAR YE!” sounds medieval, but imagine roller-blading town criers delivering local news, lost pet alerts, and in-store promotions. With TikTok drama and people wanting human connection beyond cold headlines, can today’s Crier become the future of local news? Don’t laugh—it can literally go viral.
Switchboard Operator (The Human Version of “Press 1 for Yes”)
In those days, a call used to mean an operator manually inserting phone lines to connect you to your loved one. And although today we have AI in command, there’s something strangely intimate yet playful with an actual human who can hook you up to someone—like an in-call concierge.
Milkman (Now With Oat Milk and a QR Code)
The milkman never ghosted us—just took an extended sabbatical. With doorstep delivery back in style and humans yearning for retro nostalgia, Milkman 2.0 can make its grand retro comeback in its own vegan form and a branded tote bag. Imagine kombucha, almond milk, and plant-based creamer at your doorstep – but now with WiFi.
Leech Collector (For Real)
Sounds gross, but leeches used to be medical necessities. And guess what? Leech therapy still finds its niche in specialty practice. If wild wellness trends (looking at you, goat yoga) continue trending upward, who’s stopping leech collectors from becoming the next offbeat wellness guru? “Hey everybody, come hang out let’s leech together!” Yikes.
Lector (The Office Storyteller)
In Cuban cigar factories, workers would read newspapers or novels aloud to pass the time. It was not just background sounds—it was an actual stand-in for the live, dramatic original audiobook. With offices growing emptier and podcasting by AI creeping in, who won’t enjoy a friendly human lector reading today’s news?
Bookbinder (Yes, People Still Lust Over Leather Covers)
In an age of TikTok book haul and Kindle, physical books with hand-bound covers are making a slow, sexy return. Enter the bookbinder: someone who crafts literary masterpieces that smell like wood glue, romance, and intellectual superiority. Etsy shops, please.
Log Driver (Risky But TikTok-able)
These dudes used to balance on floating logs, steering lumber down streams like real-life superheroes. It is risky (surely), sensational (definitely), and completely TikTok-able. Call it “River Rodeo,” and you have got the next adventure craze.
Soda Jerk (Flavour Engineer 2.0)
The “soda jerk” was not an insult so much as an actual profession shaking carbonated beverages at diners in spectacle. With retro restaurants, vintage dining halls, and all stylized à la mode, do not be surprised to see the soda jerk back—shaking multicolored elixirs in bow ties and attitude.
Pinsetter (The Man Behind the Bowling Alley Glam)
Before machines became part of our lives, humans used to set bowling pins—and somehow satisfyingly so. With retro bowling back in fashion (but make it aesthetic, please), a human pinsetter may just come back for retro bowling atmospherics, TikTok fame, or an overzealous bowling league.
Telegraph Operator (The Morse Code Revival?)
Okay, listen to us—morse code is low-key cool. With survivalist culture, retro technology, and individuals learning retro skills “just in case,” the telegraph operator can still have its day. Think of texting in dot-dash just to be cool. “LOL” becomes “.-.-“.
Typist (For the Luxe Life)
Yes, certainly we have voice-to-text. But somehow, putting your scrawly handwriting in someone’s hands who can make it come alive so gracefully in typescript is classy. Think of high-pressure resume services, vintage romantic letters, or stylish novel scripts printed out on antique typewriters. Its revival? Chic, slow, and oh-so-typewriter-core.
The Rat Catcher (Urban Jungle Edition)
Cities get filthier, and rats thrive. In earlier centuries, rats were driven out by rat catchers, sometimes helped out by ferrets. Today? With urban rodent problems and consumers adopting organic products, gritty chic can be revived in rat-catching.
Lamplighter (For LEDs Bring No Delight)
Yes, we now have automatic lighting, yet do you ever get to enjoy the poetics of lamplighter strolling by with pole in arm? Truly aesthetic, yes? With retro neighborhoods and vintage tourism so trendy, who is to stop those romantics from coming back to give city streets an antique glow again? Bonus points: each photo will be devoured by Instagram.
Sin Eater (Creepy Comeback?)
This is straight out of one of those horror movies. Sin eaters were hired to “eat” a meal off the dead, ritually devouring their sins. Spooky stuff, maybe—but in an age obsessed with true crime, paranormal, and unorthodox ritual, who’s to stop this strange, gothic role from creeping back into fringe culture?
18 Forgotten Etiquette Rules That Should Make a Comeback
Remember when people had manners? Back then, etiquette was not just for stuffy dinner parties; it was about not annoying everyone around you. Somewhere between texting at the table and ghosting on plans, we lost sight of simple etiquette.
18 Forgotten Etiquette Rules That Should Make a Comeback
16 Historical Figures Who Changed the Course of History
Some of them are celebrated, while others are conveniently forgotten because their impact was too disruptive. But one thing is for sure: the world would never have been the same without them. Let’s talk about the legends who changed the course of history entirely.
16 Historical Figures Who Changed the Course of History