Mental Floss

JOB SECRETS

Aldi is known for its unique cost-cutting measures that allow the chain to have some of the lowest prices for groceries.

The grocery chain's employees walk tens of thousands of steps every day. They're entitled to sit down at the cash register.

Jake Rossen


Being a brewmaster is about more than just sampling beer and coming up with new recipes. Maintenance and sanitation also play a huge role in the job.

Brewing beer for a living sounds like a dream job. Mostly, it is. Unless you get beer sludge on your pants.

Jake Rossen


Seeing Eye instructors with the dogs they are training.

We spoke with trainers from The Seeing Eye about why certain breeds make great guide dogs, how they keep their owner’s safe from low-hanging branches, and whether they can read cross signals.

Michele Debczak




Abby Cadabby, Suki Lopez, and Elmo (L-R) on Sesame Street

For the show's 50th anniversary, the performers talk back pain, bloopers, and why they sometimes declare one of the legendary puppet cast members "toast."

Jake Rossen
A degree in lexicography can actually hurt your chances of getting the job.

A degree in lexicography can actually hurt your chances of getting the job. Here are some more secrets from the people behind the dictionary.

Michele Debczak


Drew Angerer, Getty Images

Pursuing extreme weather isn't for the faint of heart. Three professionals talk about tornadoes, hurricanes, and the perils of flying houses.

Jake Rossen




iStock/Tero Vesalainen

Here's what Airbnb hosts had to share about their experiences, from guest horror stories to the lifelong friendships they formed.

Michele Debczak


Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Employees of the famous fast food chain serve up details on fry burns, requests for grilled cheeses, and why they're not always happy about Happy Meals.

Jake Rossen
iStock/South_agency

Uber drivers are the unsung heroes who make sure we get home from the airport or the bar at an affordable price. Here are some of their personal stories.

Emily Petsko
Suzi Pratt/Getty Images for Norwegian Cruise Line

We asked Starbucks employees to tell us what's really going on behind the counter, from their pet peeves to their strategic use of decaf.

Jake Rossen
Christie's auctioneer Tash Perrin conducts a sale.

Sometimes, they stick their tongues out and recite Humpty Dumpty before a big auction. But there's a good reason for that.

Emily Petsko


iStock.com/Emir Memedovski

Opticians rarely get as much credit as their optometrist counterparts, but they're a vital part of the eyewear world. Here is what they actually do.

Shaunacy Ferro






Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Target employees go out of their way to make sure customers leave happy, but they really hope you're not a "Karen" or a hardcore Funko collector.

Jake Rossen