Gradulthood Jobs: The Professional Queuer

I can think of worse places to queue.

You think of queuing, and you probably associate it with something that you don’t like doing, something that takes precious minutes out of your hectic day, but do you really dislike it? Or do you actually appreciate the fine intricacies of a queue?

However much I’ll moan about standing in a queue at a bar, or for a bus, or in a shop, as soon as this quintessentially British aspect of daily life is taken away from me, I find myself grumbling even more. This was something I didn’t realise until I was in South America for a few months, where queues are virtually non-existant. People will go out of their way to stop you getting out at a junction, and it’s an absolute miracle if a queue forms at a bus stop, let alone there actually be a stop for said bus.

This experience made me appreciate the fine art of queuing. And who can deny that there is a certain satisfaction that can be taken from directing the bar man, who is ready and waiting to serve you, to the person who was actually at the bar first. I mean, surely you’ll get served next anyway?

With all this in mind, I present to you a way to make money from standing around, appreciating organisation - become a professional queuer.

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that this job originated stateside. It appears there are people that have so little time, that they’re willing to pay someone else to queue for them. I read about professional queuers offering their services for around £1,000, admittedly no one took them up on their offer, but still. A more likely scenario would see a wealthy business person posting on a site such as Gumtree, offering someone £50 to queue up for the latest iPhone or iPad on their behalf.

A few years ago, a student (who is no doubt a thrifty Gradult by now, or a millionaire) from London offered herself as a professional queuer for Wimbledon, and sat in the queue every day for the duration of the championships. Turning up at some silly hour in the morning, soaking up the atmosphere, and then once the tickets are on sale, giving up her place in the queue to a pre-arranged paying customer. Branson-esque that.

So next time there's a big technology release, or a big event on nearby, what's the harm in offering your services on the internet? I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon.