Do you get excited when the pumpkins come out and the costume shops fill up? If Halloween is your favourite time of year, there are jobs out there where you won’t have to hang up your cape on 1 November. Plenty of real jobs have a slightly spooky side.
We’ve dug up six lesser-known careers with a creepy twist for Halloween fans to explore.
Phlebotomists the real-life blood collectors
Unlike vampires, phlebotomists don’t want to drink your blood, just take a small sample of it – for science.
Pathology collectors are health workers who take blood and other samples from patients, then label and store them so a lab can test them. Those results help doctors work out what’s making someone sick. It’s a great job if you’re calm, caring and not squeamish. In Australia, you’ll usually need a Certificate III in Pathology Collection to get started in this career.
Forensic entomologist aka bug detective
When police find a body, some tiny witnesses have often got there first: insects. Because insects arrive and grow in a predictable order, they work like a natural stopwatch. Forensic entomologists who study all kinds of creepy crawlies use the information to help investigators figure out how long ago someone died and whether a body has been moved.
A very small, specialist field, many forensic entomologists mix crime casework alongside university research or teaching. If this is a career you’d be interested in pursuing, you’ll need to study a science degree in biology, zoology or entomology, then complete postgraduate studies in forensic science or entomology.
Venom Doctor
Venomologists (also called toxinologists) like real life “Venom Doc” Dr Bryan Grieg Fry, study animal venoms, toxins, and venomous organisms from snakes, spiders, and scorpions, to jellyfish and even some plants. Working to understand how the venom is made as well as effects on the body of people bitten or stung, and how they can be treated. Some collect venom by ‘milking’ snakes and spiders. Others work in labs, testing how toxins behave. Their research helps make antivenoms, and scientists are even studying venom to create new medicines. Talk about turning poison into potion.
A small but exciting research field, jobs are mostly found at universities, research institutes, or antivenom and drug manufacturing companies. You’ll need to start with a science degree in biology, biochemistry or pharmacology, then most venomologists go on to complete a PhD. An ideal job for people who don’t mind being around all things slithery and bitey and can keep their cool in scary situations.
Bat specialists
What’s more Halloween than creeping around a cave or old an old barn at dusk, waiting for bats to fly out? For bat ecologists, it’s all in a night’s work.
In many countries, bats are protected by law, so ecologists often check buildings before demolition or construction. Bats are also important indicator species impacting pollination and pest control among other things, helping scientists monitor the health of ecosystems Ecologists use bat detectors to turn their high-pitched calls into sounds we can hear, helping identify bats and protect their roosts and habitats.
Chiropterologists are scientists who specialise in the scientific study of bats (from the taxonomic order Chiroptera). They focus on the creatures themselves, their anatomy, physiology, genetics, taxonomy, and behaviour – they might spend more time in labs that bat ecologists who need to be out in the field.
If you’re batty about bats and can see past the myths and superstitions to appreciate the cute creatures for their amazing contributions to the natural world, then this could be the perfect career path to explore. You’ll need to study ecology, biology or environmental science and joining a local bat conservation group is a brilliant way to start now.
Grave Keepers
This sounds spookier than it is, someone has to look after the graveyards and maintain the peaceful plots where loved ones are laid to rest – and it’s a bigger job than you might think. Cemetery managers run everything from burials and cremations to record keeping, grounds and budgets. They help grieving families plan services and choose plots. Many also care for old headstones and run community events, like heritage walks. Picture part gardener, part historian, part business boss.
If you’re the kind of person who runs towards cemeteries rather than away from them, you’re caring and compassionate, and are looking for a varied job, working as a cemetery could be highly rewarding. Many start in grounds or office roles and work their way up. Look for training that’s relevant for Cemetery and Crematorium Management to give your skills and boost.
The science of spooky
Do ghosts exist? Can some people read minds? Parapsychologists are the professionals who use science to put claims like these to the test. They design experiments, interview people about strange experiences and look for everyday explanations, like tricks of the mind. Sometimes the answer turns out to be our own brains filling in the gaps, which can be just as fascinating as ghost stories and paranormal activity.
Paid roles tend to be rare. Most parapsychologists are psychologists or researchers who study unusual experiences as part of wider work, but there are opportunities out there. The University of Edinburgh even has a research unit dedicated to it. For a career in this field you’d need to complete a psychology degree, then move into postgraduate research.
Professional scarers
Imagine getting paid to leap out of the shadows and make people scream. Haunted house actors, or scare actors, are the people who bring horror attractions to life. They wear creepy costumes and make-up, stay in character for hours and time their scares perfectly. It’s not just about yelling ‘boo!’ – good scare actors read their audience and know when to back off.
While this could be mostly seasonal, part-time work that peaks around Halloween, some actors might be lucky enough to work permanently in similar roles as part of haunted house, old gaol, and cemetery tours. It could be a fun way to build acting experience and earn extra cash that leads to something longer term. You probably won’t need formal qualifications, but drama classes, school plays and local theatre could help you stand out.
Ready to haunt your future career?
Halloween only comes once a year, but a career you love can last a lifetime. Whether you’re drawn to blood, bugs, bats or things that go bump in the night, there’s a real job out there waiting for you.
Here’s one simple step you can take today. Pick the job that gave you the biggest shiver of excitement, and find out more about it. Our Job Spotlights are a spook-tacular place to start and there are 7 more spooky careers to explore in this blog. Who knows? You might just discover a career you’re dying to try.
