Saturday, February 8, 2025
On February 5, I had an online meeting with my Korean student, during which I asked her about her New Year’s resolution. Toward the end of the meeting, she asked about mine, and I promised to share it during our next session. Initially, I was planning to take the easy route by reusing last year’s resolution. However, as I reflected on what I had advised her, I realized that I had to practice what I preached. I needed to reexamine my path and future goals, fine-tuning my focus if I didn’t want to simply go through the motions. For this, I’m grateful to my student.
Yesterday, I wrote about new professions that have gained traction and have been officially recognized as distinct job types. Some emerging jobs, though not yet on the list, have already carved out significant niches in the market. These occupations have appeared rapidly in response to market demand, and some may evolve into specialized fields in the future.
The first category includes consulting services with added "spectator value." This means making the consulting process public. For example, a patient consulting a psychologist might have their session open for public viewing—much like a reality TV show. Practitioners provide consulting services, but the process is so compelling that it attracts a large audience. Of course, this would require informed consent from both parties involved.
Another intriguing job is that of a matchmaking analyst. This person analyzes potential marriage partners for others. You send them a resume of a person, and the matchmaking analyst can immediately deduce from their language the other person’s temperament, physical traits, financial situation, and professional background.
For instance, if a man says, "My family owns a house," it’s likely that the house isn’t actually his. If he claims his height is 176 cm, it’s probably under 175 cm. If his self-description doesn’t mention his weight, there’s a good chance he’s overweight. It’s a fun job that requires knowledge of Chinese culture and psychology.
In essence, this job combines service with entertainment. Some matchmaking analysts even film the analysis process, turning it into short videos or live streams. Reportedly, those with strong speaking skills can gain hundreds of thousands of followers in just a month.
Another example is live-streamed legal consultations, which are also like a reality show. Lawyers host Q&A sessions, typically addressing marriage and family matters. Users bring their cases to the live stream, and the lawyers act as advisors, solving emotional issues while guiding asset distribution. These real life stories are often "more exciting than fiction," attracting a large number of viewers who treat the lawyer’s live stream as both entertainment and relationship advice.
A Chinese saying comes to mind: "只有你想不到的，没有做不到的"—"There’s no such thing as what you can’t do, only what you haven’t thought of."
In a world where innovation often meets entertainment, these new professions highlight how closely the lines between work and leisure are blurring. As technology evolves and societal needs shift, new roles are emerging that challenge traditional notions of career and service.
Whether it’s providing valuable advice or offering a unique form of entertainment, these jobs represent the creative ways in which we are constantly redefining our professional landscape. The future, as they say, is full of possibilities—there’s no limit to what we can create, as long as we’re open to thinking beyond the ordinary.