History Main / WorkplaceAcquiredAbilities

* Early in ''Film/Spotlight'', we learn that Mark Rezendes worked as a cabdriver before he became a reporter. This skill comes into play after he gets a key piece of evidence later in the movie, when he advises the cabby taking him back to the ''Boston Globe'' office that he'll get there more quickly if he ''doesn't'' take I-93.

To become a hero, one has to train their body and mind so that it can think and act quickly in a life or death situation. They might enroll in a local dojo to learn martial arts or study psychology in order to better understand the human mind. However, there are times when the hero's best training can come from their day job or general hobbies. Often times it's a means of acquiring a ChekhovsSkill.

* Sena of ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'' began developed his exceptional footwork as a result of being bullying into (literally) running errands throughout his school years. He was briefly taught some proper running technique by a football-playing friend of his beforehand, though, and has to put in a lot of hard work to refine his skills for use on the field.

* ''[[TheWheelOfTime Perrin]]'' is made extremely strong due to being an apprentice blacksmith. And also gets his alternate [[DropTheHammer weapon]] from it.

* Doctor Stiles was able to defuse a bomb in ''TraumaCenter'' because of his steady hands and surgical tools.
** In the second ''TraumaCenter'' game Stiles uses his surgical knowledge and tools to dismantle a computer operated door.

* Andy in ''Film/TheGoonies'' was able to save her friends from a deadly trap on account of the fact she took piano lessons when she was four years old.

* ConanTheBarbarian became so strong because in his youth, he was a slave who did some [[WheelOfPain really heavy work]].
** This explanation is exclusive to the movie; in Creator/RobertEHoward's stories, he was enslaved only after he was as strong as he was.

* ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'': Nicko Heap during his work on Jannit Maarten's boatyard picks up some impressive strengh that plays a minor role in the ''Syren'' plot.

* Jay and Grant from ''GhostHunters'' often use the same skills they use from their plumbing day jobs in order to debunk and solve alleged hauntings.

* In both ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'' and the [[SwordOfTruth original books]], Richard's skills as a woods guide come in handy quite often, considering how often he and his party find themselves wandering through one sort of wilderness or another.

* Makanochi Ippo from ''HajimeNoIppo'' acquired his large amount of strength in his arms and legs by helping out his mother's fishing business.

* In Tempting Fate, the main character picks up some very interesting skills in her day job. She does temp work for the gods -- specifically, the Greek Fates.

* In Temping Fate, the main character picks up some very interesting skills in her day job. She does temp work for the gods -- specifically, the Greek Fates.

* Simon from ''[[TengenToppaGurrenLagann Gurren Lagann]]'' was a former driller who later piloted a robot; the robot's special weapon is a giant drill.
* Sanji from ''OnePiece'' acquired his speed and toughness while working in the kitchen under a bad-tempered RetiredBadass.

* Takumi from ''InitialD'' learns his drifting skills by making a nightly tofu delivery up and down a mountain for five years. The only reason he bothered with the drifting, rather than just driving normally? Driving was boring, and he wanted to get home faster. He doesn't even realize exactly what it is he's doing before he begins racing.

* Sena of ''[[EyeshieldTwentyOne Eyeshield21]]'' began developed his exceptional footwork as a result of being bullying into (literally) running errands throughout his school years. He was briefly taught some proper running technique by a football-playing friend of his beforehand, though, and has to put in a lot of hard work to refine his skills for use on the field.

* Yorick from ''YTheLastMan'' is an escape artist and magician by hobby. The various magic tricks he's learned has saved his life on more than on occasion.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[AggressiveNegotiations Negotiation comes in handy even when rocket launchers are involved]]]]

* In both ''LegendOfTheSeeker'' and the [[SwordOfTruth original books]], Richard's skills as a woods guide come in handy quite often, considering how often he and his party find themselves wandering through one sort of wilderness or another.

* Inverted in ''KimPossible'', Ron gets running experience while doing some [[CouldHaveBeenMessy Deadly Dodging]] and makes use of it in the local sports team. Played straight in the same series, as Kim uses her cheerleading moves to [[SheFu dodge death rays and other obstacles]].

* {{Chuck}} frequently uses his IT skills gained at the Buy More either on missions or as cover.

* The Box Ghost from ''DannyPhantom'' looks like a longshoreman and is first seen at a port. Hence his status as master of "All things cardboard and square".

[[caption-width-right:350:[[AggressiveNegotiations Negotiation]]]]

This explanation is exclusives to the movie; in Creator/RobertEHoward's stories, he was enslaved only after he was as strong as he was.

* Rock from ''BlackLagoon'' was a former salaryman before joining the Lagoon Company. Now he uses his previous skills and handles business negotiations and public relations for the group of mercenaries.

* ConanTheBarbarian became so strong because in his youth, he was a slave who did some [[WheelOfPain really heavy work]].
** That's the movie. In Creator/RobertEHoward's stories, he was enslaved only after he was as strong as he was.

[[caption-width-right:350:Negotiation]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/BlackLagoon http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BLnegotiation_8881.png]]]]

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* ''The Persian Boy'' the eunuch Bagoas is a trained dancer. He uses a dance move to kill a soldier who is trying to rape him.

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* ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'': Nicko Heap during his work on Jannit Maarten's boatyard picks up some impressive strenght that plays a minor role in the ''Syren'' plot.