A Real High Flyer

Photo credit: 
www.neo-falcon.ch

Name

Emily Guilding

Profile name

Aerosuperbatics

Occupation

Wingwalker

Is this your own enterprise?

No, the company is owned by Vic Norman who's been doing this for 30 years. 

How many years have you been doing this job?

I'm now going into my fourth year

How did it all start?

My sister joined the team 6 or 7 years ago and I was amazed with what she did. She joked that I would never have the guts to do it. So I applied and got the job. 

What does the job involve?

On a show day we go to the air show and do press activities, meet the organisers and other participants. We then take some time to do all of the advance preparation we need and then do the display which takes just under 20 minutes. After that we then go and meet the crowds and chat with the children. Some people like us to sign their programs or have a picture taken with us. 

What qualifications do you need?

You don't need to have any official academic qualifications but you do need to have a gym or dance background. Doing wingwalking requires lots of upper body strength as the display is very physically demanding on your body. When you are up there you are travelling at 150mph so core strength and neck strength are also required. It helps if you are a small person as that assists the pilots to make good tight manoeuvres. You also need to have good balance, be level headed and safety conscious as a lot of training goes into place before you can go and do a display. And of course you need to be bubbly and friendly so you can talk easily to people and in front of cameras. 

What’s the best part of the job?

Getting to travel and see new places from a unique perspective as you fly across various different cities. Since doing this job we've done displays in China, Japan, Dubai and Europe and it's awesome. 

What’s the worst part of the job?

The Great British weather. Flying in the rain is an awful experience, the pain is terrible but that wasn't as bad as a hail storm we had in Ireland. As I said, when you are travelling at 150mph and you are hit from all angles with the hail it was horrible. The weather was fine when we took off but it started when we were half way through the routine so we decided to carry on. 


What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

Get involved in lots of sport, especially gymnastic and dance. Keep an eye out on the website www.aerosuperbatics.com and follow our social media on twitter and Instagram pages. We accept applications from all over the world so you don't just have to come from England to be a wingwalker with us.

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com

Click here for David’s LinkedIn profile.

Click here if you want to take part in this blog.

Down on the Farm

Name

Sandra Palmer - Snellin

Profile name

Farmer Palmers Farm Park Ltd

Occupation

Director

Is this your own enterprise?

Its a family run business

How many years have you been doing this job?

Since January 1998

How did it all start?

My Dad and brother came up with the idea of a visitor attraction in the kitchen one day as a way of keeping the family farm stable for the future. 

What does the job involve?

The learning curve was huge when I first started. I did a small job in advertising at the age of 18 which is now one of the favourite parts of my job  My brother Phillip and I work intuitively well together but he is not a fan of the paperwork so I do all of that with my team. I've had to learn how to do everything from  setting up a shop, right through to Accounts, Marketing, running the Restaurant, health and safety, legal, planning and all HR related matters. We are still a farm and we work with DEFRA with all the animals and movement licences. It's a very long list that never seems to end. We grew from humble beginnings to a family brand in Dorset.

What qualifications do you need?

You don't always need academic qualifications, but they definitely help. The first and foremost thing you need is confidence and Life skills People learn by experience, however, you do have to have a good personality which is a real must Good customer service skills will enable you to engage with everyone around you. Running a business is so diverse so you really need to wear a lot of different hats ranging from legislation through to project management. As things grow you can then delegate which does make things easier.

What’s the best part of the job?

Being able to have the flexibility to do many different jobs within the business is what I see as important. I love to see the smiles on children's faces and know that we are helping to create great memories to both parents and children alike. Children are so dynamic and I enjoy that Farmer Palmers is part of their growing milestones as they go on in life e.g. such as saying tractor for the first time or learning how to walk. It's an awesome feeling inside. 

What’s the worst part of the job?

My lack of work / life balance. Because I do so many jobs at once I'm always on the go and trying to think of ways to help push and promote the business. I think most business owners struggle to switch off and try to give everything. I need to improve my delegation skills.

What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

Get involved with as many things as possible to get different life and social skills. Make sure you are comfortable and able to interact with the public. If you are happy in what you are doing you will be very good at it. 

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com

Click here for David’s LinkedIn profile.

Click here if you want to take part in this blog.

The Roar of the Engine

Name

Jonathan Wills

Profile name

Cotswold Classic Car Restorations

Occupation

Classic car restorer

Is this your own enterprise?

Yes

How many years have you been doing this job?

First started restoring cars in 1994 which makes it 23 now.

How did it all start?

I was working on a farm and accidentally wrote off an MG Metro on a Devonshire lane. I re shelled and rebuilt it which I quite enjoyed doing although I've always been interested in racing and Motorsport. I went to a local body shop to get the car resprayed and at the same time asked if they had any jobs going - which they did. So I ended up working at a body shop / restoration place in Taverstock, Devon which is where I started to learn my craft. 

What does the job involve?

At CCC we are a fairly sizeable business so I now do more of a managerial role rather than the vehicle restoration. This involves a great deal of liaison work between staff, clients and Suppliers. You have to ensure that you get the right person to do the right job as staff are very particular to specific roles. For example, you can't have an electrician painting the bodywork.

What qualifications do you need?

Actual academic qualifications kind of take a secondary place. You have to be very good at organisational skills and be a very good people person. The ability to encourage and get the best out of people is a skill worth having and be good at delegation. 

What’s the best part of the job?

I love seeing the completion of a project after having done what the client has asked. You can get a real satisfaction of a job well done. I also enjoy overcoming some of the problems you get and of course I love the cars. You have to be really careful as some of these are incredibly expensive. 

What’s the worst part of the job?

Sometimes a supplier will want to charge a lot of money for an item, which a client may not understand why a particular job can cost so much. You then have to explain the reasons and ensure that the client is kept happy. When you are running your own business you have to deal with all the aspects that come with it, such as handling clients through to time management, legalities and costings. This can get to be quite stressful.

What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

A person needs to think about what they enjoy doing with their life. Decide what standard of living they want and are happy with. Are they energised by creating an entity they can call their own, or do they want life to pass them by? Or are they prepared to sacrifice all things to keep going? Think carefully as to what gives you pleasure and organise it.

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com

Click here for David’s LinkedIn profile.

Click here if you want to take part in this blog.

Get up and Dance

                           Photo credit: Tony Atill


Name

Judith Jacob

Profile name

Judith Jacob

Occupation

Actress and Fitness Instructor

Is this your own enterprise?

Yes - I work freelance as an Instructor and have several different venues that I work at. 

How many years have you been doing this job?

Longer than I realise, probably over ten years. Maybe twelve or thirteen.

How did it all start?

I've always trained and done martial art / keep fit. A friend suggested I do a course at college so I did. I enjoyed doing it so I did another. I never really intended to set out and go and teach others but because it was something I enjoyed I ended up doing quite a few courses which eventually led me to teaching.

What does the job involve?

You have to work with a person to gain the maximum amount of benefit for them. Because everyone is different I usually work closely with them to find their strengths and weaknesses so as to help them achieve their goal. If a person has an injury then this can change the dynamics slightly but you can usually work on various aspects of their body, so that they can keep fit whilst at the same time not aggravate the injury. I also run Spin classes, Boxing and High Intensity Training (HIT). In addition I help people do Body Weight Training which is where a person gets to the stage where they are able to lift up their own body weight.

What qualifications do you need?

Things have changed since I started. There's a whole variety of different courses you can attend where you would normally do 3-4 things in one go. There's no single course that will cover everything as different educational establishments do different things. But it's definitely a good idea to get more than one course under your belt. It's not just a case of doing fitness as you need to know about nutrition too. I did that part at Morley College. 

What’s the best part of the job?

I like to see someone who is determined at the beginning of their fitness trial with me and watch their transformation as time progresses. It's also amazing watching someone who think they can't do something and teaching them how to achieve something. It's usually the women more than the men who say this such as being unable to do a press up. I show them how to do it and they usually shock themselves when they give it a go. This happens quite a lot. 

What’s the worst part of the job?

Every day you are somewhere else. Knowing what you are doing on a particular given day and focusing on what you are doing can sometimes be a little confusing. 

What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

Get as many qualifications as possible. You have to have a passion for fitness otherwise you will leave, especially when your body says no more. Be prepared to carry on breaking the barrier and you will love the outcome. 

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com

Click here for David’s LinkedIn profile.

Click here if you want to take part in this blog.

The world through a lens

Name

John Rose

Profile name

John Rose Photography Ltd

Occupation

Commercial Photographer / Photo Journalist

Is this your own enterprise?

Yes

How many years have you been doing this job?

11

How did it all start?

I'm actually a qualified Groundsman and worked in schools for 25 years prior to starting my own company. I did photography as a hobby which included the schools that I worked at.

In 2007 I was asked to do a friends wedding, which is where the commercial spark was lit and now I do it full time as my job. 

What does the job involve?

On a commercial basis I shoot everything from client headshots to products, events and promotional images for large corporate companies and small businesses.

My photo journalist role involves getting a request from a newspaper or magazine such as Salisbury Journal or Salisbury Life to cover an event. This role means I cover Salisbury FC home games for the sport pages in the paper, plus I get to cover a lot of Wiltshire's social events. 

What qualifications do you need?

None sadly - you can go and buy a camera, set yourself up and call yourself a photographer. That is one of the main problems. However I am qualified and continue to train with some of the top photographers. I also have a photographic and business mentor.

The technical side can, and should be learnt before considering it as a career; however getting a person to relax and creating a rapport with them in just a few seconds is a skill that cant be taught.

What’s the best part of the job?

Being able to do something I love doing and the freedom that it offers. 

What’s the worst part of the job?

The business part of running your own business. I'm a photographer, my passion is to take pictures.

What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

Learn the technical side and don't just think you can do it because a couple of friends have said you take good pictures. A good photographer needs to be able handle every situation. Digital cameras, although good, cannot do this, only knowledge of light and camera skill can.

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com

Click here for David’s LinkedIn profile.

Click here if you want to take part in this blog.

Social Media Guru

Name

Tori Gill

Profile name

tgi MEDIA

Occupation

MD of a marketing company

Is this your own enterprise?

Yes

How many years have you been doing this job?

Three. I started in 2014 but created a limited company in November 2015. 

How did it all start?

I never wanted to have own business and didn't originally intend to start one. At the beginning I worked for various councils in their Benefit departments as well as Home and Residential care. After that I worked for a marketing company where I learned a great deal of things.  I quite like doing Social Media and marketing so decided to set up the Jobs Darlington page on Facebook.

After a while I started to manage a few friends business accounts and then decided that I wanted to go on my own. Going into the private sector was scary but I knew it was what wanted to do. So with work's permission I started to take on some private clients. I was then asked if I would like to join Darlington Football Club as Commercial Director. It was by taking on this role that I really learned how to do business. However, my passion for doing Social Media on my own was calling, so I left the safety of working for a company and set up tgi MEDIA. In the beginning I had just 8 clients. It was relentless as I was working 7pm to 12 midnight 7 days a week for 16 months just to get things off the ground.  But it grew! Within a month of going Ltd I took on my first member of staff and now, just over twelve months later I have two full time members and 35 clients. 

What does the job involve?

We manage other companies social media accounts. You name it we will manage it on their behalf. We can take over their accounts and build up their following on social media and help to increase the digital presence for companies. 

What qualifications do you need?

I don't have anything relevant to do the job. I built up a few management qualifications from the council I worked for. I also have a Diploma in design which is nothing to do with marketing. It's experience that really is the key so on the job training is the best thing you can have, The people who worked for me did their application process through Twitter and have their own Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. 

What’s the best part of the job?

Flexibility. I love being my own boss because you can do what you want when you want. It helps me work around my children and go to their concerts or other events. 

What’s the worst part of the job?

Never really getting a break. I'm always working such as doing invoices late at night. I have holidays planned but they are working holidays - have laptop will travel. One day I'd just love to go to a spa for a day and turn my phone off with no worries but it just doesn't work like that. 

What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

You might think the grass is greener having your own business but it's very hard work so expect to have nothing to start off with. It takes months to build up relationships but it can be very rewarding too. 

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com

Click here for David’s LinkedIn profile.

Click here if you want to take part in this blog.

Calling all Cool People

In the world there are several Accountants, Teachers and Nurses but what about someone who’s a Sports lawyer, Aircraft re-fueller or Audiologist?

The purpose of this blog is to interview those who have chosen to take a career path different to the norm and tell their story.

We want to know what it’s like to do the role, what qualifications are required and why you've chosen to do it. The aim of the blog is to inspire future generations that you can be whoever you want to be as well as to provide an interesting and entertaining article for the reader.

So if you have an unusual job and you want to tell the world about what you do, maybe you have some good advice, or maybe you just want to inspire others then email here and we'll get back to you to arrange an interview.

In the meantime, click on the links below to see the latest cool kids on the block.

Peter Lythgoe

A man with his finger on the button

Brett Tapping

Lights, Camera, Action

  Krystyna O'Brien

  Queen of the Airwaves

Tori Gill

Social Media Guru

   John Rose

   The world through a lens

                                                                 

Paul Scully MP

In the Corridors of Power

Judith Jacob

Get up and Dance

Jonathan Wills

The Roar of the Engine

Sandra Palmer - Snellin

Down on the Farm

Emily Guilding

A Real High Flyer

Lucy Duffy
Helping others where they need it

David Wayman
Actor and Voice over Artist

Jimmy Cricket
Comedian

Gerald Ford

 Living the High Life 

About the Interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com 
LinkedIn profile information Click here



Please note - no payment will be made for any interviews undertaken. Welcome to the Interview is designed to be a light-hearted topic to show others about a job that someone does. Nothing more, nothing less. If you take part in this blog you are agreeing to have your name and photograph on display as part of the World Wide Web but all other personal contact details will not be disclosed.

Queen of the Airwaves

Name

Krystyna O'Brien

Profile name

Krys O'Brien

Occupation

Writer, Radio Presenter and Actress

Is this your own enterprise?

Yes

How many years have you been doing this job?

Radio Presenting since 2007

How did it all start?

I started acting when I was in school - I played Alice in Alice Through the Looking Glass when I was 7. At the age of 14 I got my first professional job at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, where I played the part of a girl called Anne. The production was called Final Wave by Stephen Bill and starred the actor Gordon Kaye, who's most famous for playing the hapless French cafe owner in 'Allo 'Allo. Whilst at school I was invited in to Sheffield Radio to talk about Shakespeare and loved doing it.

In 1984 I was awarded a full scholarship by the Polish Government to study Polish at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, for a year. I then returned home to do my four year BA (Hons) degree in Polish studies at SSEES, University of London. In 2007 I attended an interview on Meridian FM about my acting career. They got me to do a weather reading, after which I was asked to co-present a show.  My own shows followed after this and I became the station’s ‘Rock Chic’!  I've also done some Hospital Radio, joined Uckfield FM in 2013, who I'm still with, and then became a Traffic and Travel Presenter for Radio Jackie in 2016.

What does the job involve?

You need to be good at doing research as you have to be able to find material that is current and relevant to the days you are on air. Local newspapers are always a good source for this as they can cover all kinds of subjects for you to talk about. The playlist is done by the station manager so I don't need to worry about selecting tracks for my shows, unless I do an evening’s ’Specialist Show'. Depending on what shift I'm doing, there may be competitions to do, guests to interview - either live in the studio or via the phone - or on location during an outside broadcast.  There are also vox pops to record and features to create and edit. Alternatively I could be doing simple “infills” or “links" between songs. No two days are ever the same.  I also write, record, act in and sound edit radio plays. These are hard work but great fun creatively.

What qualifications do you need?

Although I have a BA Hons in Polish Studies it's not the academic side that's important in a job like this, although you do have to be technically competent to work the equipment. As long as you have a good personality, are able to present well and can “wing it" then you are fine. However, punctuality is a must so you do need to be self disciplined.

What’s the best part of the job?

Communicating with people. Knowing that you are someone's friend. Being kept on your toes and one step ahead of yourself, and of course the music! 

What’s the worst part of the job?

Getting up at 4am to do a breakfast show starting at 6am. Especially on winter mornings. And encountering huge egos, which seem to go with the territory.

What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

Find a local community radio station or Hospital Radio and see if they will take you on. In most cases you will be working on a voluntary basis so be prepared not to receive any income straight away. Make demos of yourself and send them out to stations. Another good place to start is on Student Radio at University. I love doing this job especially as it can give you a huge buzz which makes you forget all your problems when you are in the zone. If you are having a bad day when you go into the studio, you can end up going home a different person.

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email: davidwalkerfj@gmail.com 

Click here for David's LinkedIn profile. 

Click here if you want to be part of this blog

Lights, Camera, Action

Name

Brett Tapping

Profile name

On Stage Solutions

Occupation

Theatre equipment specialist Company Director

Is this your own enterprise?

Yes

How many years have you been doing this job?

  

Six

How did it all start?

I was working as a project manager in the same industry when the company I worked for went bankrupt. My colleague and I decided to finish the current job to ensure the client had what they needed and so I thought about carrying on my own. If other people can do this then, why can’t I?

What does the job involve?

  

The day to day running of the business covers a multitude of tasks including financial, health and safety, clerical, marketing / sales, installations and customer training. And making tea.

What qualifications do you need?

You need to have your basic English and Maths to ensure that you can communicate well with your clients plus making sure your quotations are accurate. More importantly however is you need to ensure that your invoices are right. In this industry, it helps if you have rigging and electrical design / installation certifications as they are a great advantage in this role.

What’s the best part of the job?

Working for myself. I get a real sense of satisfaction of seeing a project through from the initial design concept right through to the finish. I recently worked on installing the lighting equipment for a brand-new TV Studio in Central London which was a lot of hard work but looked great when we had finished.

Some of the jobs I do brings a focal point to the community. This can help people to enrich their experience with new facilities, which I also enjoy.

What’s the worst part of the job?

Working for myself – it’s a double-edged sword.

What advice would you give to someone who was looking to do this as a career?

It’s not just a 9 - 5 job. It can be very rewarding but you are not likely to get rich quick and at times it can be very frustrating and hard work.

About the interviewer:

David Walker spent over thirty years working as a technician with the Theatre, Film and TV industry before deciding to change career and move into journalism. He studied with the BCJ and received his Diploma in 2016. Now he works freelance covering online, print and radio broadcast. His specialist areas are Motorsport, Travel, The Arts and the Mars One Project, although he is never afraid to try anything new and relishes a challenge wherever possible.

To contact David please email davidwalkerfj@gmail.com

LinkedIn profile information Click here

Click here if you want to be a part of this blog