Survey Reveals Which Careers Are Considered Turn-Offs In Relationships
A recent Reddit discussion drew attention to which careers are perceived as the hardest to date. People didn’t focus on income or prestige, but on time, emotional availability, stress, and lifestyle conflict. Many responses came from lived experience, which showed that long shifts, constant travel, public scrutiny, and emotional burnout shaped how people judged compatibility.
And though these careers were not described as bad career choices, they were deemed to be difficult foundations for long-term relationships.
Influencers and Content Creators
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Various people have said that dating influencers is mentally draining, as opposed to exciting. On that note, several stories focused on constant filming and repeated photo sessions. One partner described sitting quietly during hotel shoots because they felt invisible. Another mentioned that they spent money on props that never served real enjoyment.
Doctors and Surgeons
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Medical careers were frequently repeated because of the extreme time constraints in the profession. Users mentioned that the fatigue of long shifts and overnight calls carried over into their home life. One comment joked that two doctors living together needed calendars to schedule meals.
Restaurant Workers and Chefs
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The restaurant industry has come under scrutiny for its unforgiving schedule. Nights, weekends, and holidays usually belong to the job. Some commenters grew up with parents in the kitchen and remembered always competing with work for their attention. There were also some individuals who dated chefs and felt sidelined during major events.
Travel-Heavy Careers
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Couples who made it work with travel-heavy jobs built their habits around consistency, rather than frequency. They scheduled regular check-ins, even brief ones, and set clear expectations about communication. That helped reduce feelings of neglect during long stretches apart. But even with those efforts, there were some who admitted the distance still wore them down.
Military Service Members
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It is a well-known fact that military service requires strict schedules, geographic flexibility, and extended periods away from home. Assignments often come with short notice, and relocations are common, particularly for those in specialized roles, such as military medicine. Deployments add further separation, which makes it challenging to maintain routines.
Law Enforcement Officers
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Much like military service members, law enforcement officers tend to carry the weight of their work into their personal lives. The job places them in high-stress situations with little room to disconnect afterwards. Several commenters shared stories of psychological distance, controlling behavior, or burnout affecting the home environment.
Healthcare Managers
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A healthcare manager described missing multiple holidays due to urgent calls involving police and emergency teams. The job didn’t allow for proper time off, with responsibilities continuing well beyond regular hours. Many said the mental load became harder to shake after work. Some couples blocked out protected time, but unplanned interruptions typically made that difficult to maintain.
Pastors and Religious Leaders
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Religious leadership roles were highlighted due to their public visibility and community expectations. Some partners felt watched or judged during church events. One commenter described pressure to behave perfectly at all times. Those navigating this space benefited from honest conversations about privacy and boundaries, especially when personal beliefs or comfort levels differed significantly.
Sales Professionals
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Working in sales means dealing with targets, client demands, and frequent travel. Individuals noted that this pressure followed them home, particularly during busy seasons. One partner said conversations started to feel transactional, like everything had a goal. The constant performance mode made it challenging to unwind.
Night Shift Workers
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Previous research has linked night shift work to disrupted sleep, lower mood stability, and higher relationship stress. These effects were clearly evident in stories shared by individuals who date or live with night shift workers. They described barely speaking to each other during the week, despite living together. Rotating schedules made things worse.