The core cast of Friends had an eclectic mix of professional experiences throughout the course of the show and every gang member brought something unique to the table. Phoebe enlightened her friends about the benefits of aromatherapy, while Ross talked about human evolution. Joey introduced acting techniques to his friends, and Rachel advised them on fashion. Monica was the chef across the hall and Chandler, well, working as a Processing Supervisor meant he could afford cool gadgets and let his friends have fun with them.
Having said that, the main characters were multitalented and had different sides to their personalities. And so, if they wanted to, they could have sought career changes and at the same time thrived and flourished.
Ross: Sales Representative
While Ross had many great story arcs in the series, there's plenty more he could do besides pursuing a career in paleontology. In "The One Where Rachel Quits," in order to overcome the guilt of injuring little Sarah, Ross sold Brown Bird cookies in her place to win her a seat at the space camp.
As an honorary Brown Bird, Ross exhibited best professional behavior, including staying calm while encountering an unfriendly customer through the peephole. He learned every little detail about the cookies, such as their ingredients and the shapes they came in. A well-put-together appearance, friendly demeanor, keeping a track record of the sales, and knowing where to go and when to go there (the NYU dorms around midnight) point to Ross's slick skills in salesmanship.
Monica: Interior Designer
Judging by Monica's apartment decor, the chef could have made a fine interior designer if she wanted to. Not only was she highly particular about each item in her living room, but she also knew when to take away or add extra furniture to achieve the desired effect.
One of the most iconic TV sets, Monica's retro apartment was a mix of sharp and organized style. Everything from the lavender walls to the French poster is hard to forget and the sole credit goes to Monica's creative and artistic skills.
Chandler: Stand-Up Comedian
Given the Chan-Chan man's many awkward moments and brilliant knack for observational humor, he might as well have been a stand-up comedian. Chandler's mysterious job was a source of misery to him, and it wasn't until season 9 that he finally quit it and landed an unpaid internship at an advertising agency.
Notwithstanding that Friends' plots revolved around Chandler having a lucrative job to cover his and Joey's expenses, the man had an exceptional talent for comedy. He could have tried his hand at stand-up comedy for he was funny, well-read, and knowledgeable about global affairs.
Rachel: Talent Agent
Rachel Green started as a waitress at Central Perk and worked her way up. Part of her job at the coffee house was to announce the name of the artist performing at the cafe. The way she tried to save Phoebe's gig at Central Perk in season 2, and later, demanded that Gunther give Joey his job back in season 6 proves she could oversee the day-to-day affairs of an artist, advice, and counsel them if need be.
Had Chandler tried stand-up, he and Rachel would have made a great pair -- the Chan Chan man as the comedian and by his side, the fierce manager, Rachel Green.
Joey: Carpenter
For Joey, carpentry could have been a hidden-gem alternative career. in season 3's "The One With Frank Jr" when his ion pushed him to do more and more? Joey wore his Sergio Valente work pants, fit a wood workbench smack dab in the middle of his living room, and got to work.
Even though the power saw got away from him for a few seconds and he cut Chandler's bedroom door in half, given the right kind of training, Joey really could nail carpentry. He was slightly accident-prone, but maybe nothing a couple of carpentry classes couldn't fix.
Phoebe: Social Worker
Throughout the series, Phoebe displayed core social work values in that she was committed to social justice and was more comionate than anyone in the gang. When Monica asked what Phoebe would do if she were omnipotent for a day, the latter wished for world peace, no more hunger, and good things for the rainforest.
Had Phoebe chosen social work as a profession, her experience of growing up poor in America would have guided her official duties. Since she was a comionate character, she could aid in the upliftment of the vulnerable, and the disenfranchised, thereby making a real contribution to her society.
Gunther: Dutch Language Specialist
Gunther fluently speaks to Ross in Dutch. With the increasing globalization and demand for foreign language teachers, he might as well have been a full-time Dutch language trainee.
Though Gunther's Rachel infatuation was played for laughs in the show, in all fairness, the man could have used some time away from Central Perk in trying to get over her.
Jack Geller: Lawyer
In "The One With Phoebe's Cookies," Jack Geller revealed he'd lied to Judy's father about working law. When Chandler asked what he did when his in-laws found out, "they never did," replied Jack. Ever since Jack's marriage to Judy, he'd been giving legal advice to her family and the fact that he was never caught must mean he had basic legal knowledge.
Additionally, it took no time for Jack to deduce Stephen Waltham was trying to get him to pay him for remodeling his London house in the two-parter, "The One With Ross's Wedding." He speed-read the bill and proceed to raise a ruckus, saying he was going to give Emily's father a piece of his mind. The way Jack stood up to the Walthams, not caring about the consequences of anything but the Geller reputation, goes to show he could have made a good lawyer.
Janice Hosenstein: Radio Host
The character of Janice Hosenstein is best ed for her liveliness and iconic nasal laugh. ittedly, she was a teensy bit loud at times, but what are radio-focused broadcast training programs for, after all?
Above all, Janice wouldn't have had to struggle to find her radio voice, it was already there and she just had to hone it for the platform. Given the right kind of training, she could have become a great radio presenter with an appealing voice and fantastic authority.
Dr. Green: Sailing Instructor
The Greens loved sailing, thanks to Leonard's love and ion for the sport. He was the kind of father who prioritized time on the water with his family. Rachel evidently benefited from private sailing lessons with her parent and though she wanted to the knowledge onto Joey, he wasn't as good a student.
A good teacher makes a good student, and Rachel was a seasoned sailor only because she'd been learning from Dr. Green her whole life. The man had ed on the necessary knowledge to his daughter and sharpened her instincts. As such, Leonard Green could have found his career ion in yachting.