10 current vacancies that are out of the ordinary

Do you get a sinking feeling when someone asks you what you do for a living? Is it, well, a bit humdrum?

A survey earlier this year revealed that four in ten Brits wish they had a more unusual career.

But what's stopping you? The weird, wonderful jobs are all out there, just waiting for you to apply. We look at ten decidedly unusual vacancies that you can apply for right now.

Elf
There's no height restriction, but you do need a sunny disposition: the Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon is looking for "customer service elves". Dressed in a handmade festive costume, you'll be stationed at the entrance and exits of the shopping centre and be the first port of call for shoppers' enquiries. You'll help them with their shopping, direct them where they need to go and answer any queries.

Canine hydrotherapist
Originally the Northamptonshire Institute of Agriculture, Moulton College offers a range of courses in land-based subjects, sports and construction. Now, its animal therapy centre is looking for a canine hydrotherapist - a sort of cross between a veterinary assistant and a lifeguard, perhaps? You'll need relevant qualifications and experience, and be prepared to work evenings and weekends.

Curator at a toy museum
You'd be the envy of every under-10 in the world with this job: "What, you get to play with toys all day?" The V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green museum is looking for a curator to join its collections team, looking after the collections, working on exhibitions and displays and promoting the museum through talks, publications and media appearances.

Royal Marines bugler
Toot toot! The Royal Marines Band Service is looking for a bugler to provide music for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who operate all over the world. This means playing at ceremonial and state occasions, major concerts and other events, as well as providing military support as part of a medical team. Oh, and you get to wear a snazzy blue uniform and white helmet.

Diver at an aquarium
Scotland's national aquarium, Deep Sea World in Fife, is looking for a diver/aquarist. It houses the largest temperate marine display in the UK, with an underwater walkthrough tunnel, as well as tropical marine, freshwater, reptiles, amphibians and marine mammal displays. The diver/aquarist will take members of the public into the main tank as part of a dive experience package, and will perform shows and maintenance dives. Ideally, you'll be qualified to PADI Divemaster or equivalent and hold a valid HSE dive medical, but training is available.

Member of a Katy Perry tribute band
A Manchester-based, already established Katy Perry tribute band is looking for a new female singer: it's doubling up on dates, and so needs an extra performer asap. The show is a managed act, and comes with dancers or as a solo show, but all shows are sent with a technician, and all costumes, tracks and choreography are provided. You'll need access to your own transport, be willing to travel and be able to work weekends.

Blogging about Manchester United
FullTimeDEVILS, a Manchester United YouTube channel, is looking for an audience development researcher/social media manager based in London and Manchester. You'd be working to build audiences on YouTube, other social media platforms, football websites and mainstream media, looking after the YouTube channel itself and managing the various social media accounts. You'd need video editing experience, video shooting and presenting skills and website SEO experience. And you'd need to love Manchester United.

Water vole keeper
The Wildwood Trust is looking for someone to look after its group of captive water voles in Herne Bay - feeding them, keeping their enclosures and cages clean, helping with captive breeding and getting the voles ready for reintroduction to the wild. The water vole keeper will also give public feeds - less dramatic than feeding time at the safari park, but probably easier on the nerves.

Comedian
Are you a stand-up comedian - or a burlesque dancer, a fire dancer or even a grungy pole dancer? If so, there might be a place for you in, um, the Church. The London club of this name caters mainly for young Kiwis, Aussie and South Africans and holds up to 1,700 at a time. Customers have "short attention spans", says the ad - so comic acts will need to be fast-paced, and other performers will need to be something really special.

Warden at Buckingham Palace
This one's just a summer job, starting next June and running through to September. Every year, Buckingham Palace takes on around 350 people to deal with the palace's annual opening to the public. Some sell tickets and work in the various gift shops; others act as wardens, welcoming visitors, giving out audio guides and caqrrying out ticket and security checks. You'll be taught a lot about the buildings and works of art, and pass it on to visitors.

See more unusual jobs on AOL Money:
Weird jobs: professional sex toy tester earns £15k
The ten strangest jobs in Britain
Ten weird and wonderful jobs that really do exist