Do you have creative flair? Why not follow a career as a florist?

The most common way to enter this creative profession is to find work at a florist’s and then train and learn on the job. You will often be expected to do this whilst also following a relevant college course, either as a day release student or on a part-time basis. To find a place with a florist you must show a keen interest and it is helpful if you also have some retail experience as you will, of course, be dealing with customers. There are floristry apprenticeships available too and it is a good idea to check which schemes are available in your local area.

The qualities and skills required for the job include having an artistic flair, developing a growing knowledge of plants and flowers, having a helpful, pleasant manner and good communication skills and an ability to work under pressure. Working as a florist, like most retail jobs, will most likely include working on Saturdays. You will also be expected to work longer hours over busy times of the year like St. Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day, Christmas and Easter.

Once qualified, and with a few year’s experience under your belt, it is possible to do this job on a self-employed basis, maybe even working from home or you could even start your own business. There may also be opportunities later to go into floral design or teaching and lecturing.

Requirements for becoming a chef

If you are looking for a job where there are plenty of vacancies and plenty of job opportunities, then you may consider training to become a chef.

You will need to have a passion for food and an enjoyment of cooking and be enthusiastic about learning new skills. It is helpful if you have good “people” skills, are good at organising and can work well under pressure.

You will then need to make sure you have plenty of kitchen experience from washing up, to chopping vegetables, to baking and preparing meals. You can start to gain experience like this from helping out at home but you will then, ideally, need to take some kind of food preparation and cooking course. Most local further education colleges offer various kinds of catering course, part-time and full-time, from simple level 1 courses to more advanced ones and specialist ones, like becoming a patisserie chef or learning the art of cake decoration. You may also find details of catering apprenticeships from local colleges or employers and you could start your culinary education by taking an apprenticeship.

Catering and Hospitality

If you are looking for a job with plenty of vacancies and where you will be very much in demand, then consider training as a chef.

OK, the downside might be some unsocial hours and probably split shifts, but, if you want a job where you will never need to worry about being unemployed, then cooking in a restaurant or pub kitchen may be the answer. Nowadays, every high street in the country has a good choice of cafes, fast food restaurants and pubs and bars. Thirty years ago, when you spent the evening in the pub, you would be lucky if there was more then a packet of peanuts or pork scratchings on offer if you felt peckish. Now, just about every pub  offers a good choice of food, at lunchtimes and in the evenings. As a result, there is a real shortage of chefs and kitchen staff. So, if you have an interest in cooking and are not afraid of hard work and don’t mind working evenings and at weekends, then you could be guaranteed work for a very long time.

Temporary Work for Students – Part 2

Retail work, bar work, tutoring and working in a cafe or restaurant have already been mentioned as suitable work for students looking to supplement their incomes whilst studying. There are also other opportunities available.

Look out for jobs on the university campus. Many universities offer part-time work for students, often in the Student Union or as ambassadors on Open Days. As an employer, you will find them very understandable when you need time off for revising or sitting exams.

If you are outgoing and popular, firms may want you to work for them doing PR work. For instance, you could work for a club helping to promote student nights. Firms will usually look at your Facebook and other social media profiles to see how many people you know, as they will be interested in getting as many people as possible into their club or buying their brand.

Child Minding could also create another work opportunity and may especially appeal to anyone thinking of working with young children as a career. You will no doubt need DBS clearance and if you have a car and a clean driving licence then this may also be an advantage.

You may also want to consider working at events. Sign up with an agency that supplies staff for big events. Whether they are business conferences, concerts or sports matches, there will be opportunities for bar staff, waiting staff and stewards. Agencies will often arrange transport to venues too.

Temporary work for Students – Part 1

With the prospect of heavy student loans to pay off after graduation and fewer maintenance grants available for students during university, many students look for part-time jobs whilst they are studying. Doing some kind of part-time work is a good way of gaining employment experience, boosting the CV and learning new skills which are often transferable to other work later on.

Retail – With extended retail hours, many shops take on part-time staff for weekend or evening work. If you are a fashion student, then working in a clothes store may give vital work experience. Students who are interested in technology may like to look for work in mobile phone shops or computer outlets. Most stores offer good discounts to staff (though you may find that you will need to be working for a minimum of 3 or 6 months first) and this may be a valuable perk.

Pub or Bar work may be especially suitable for those students who are particularly sociable. Going to work in a pub on a Saturday evening may almost feel like going out, rather than slaving away at work! That’s not too say, that bar work is easy and, with many bars staying open until the early hours, you may want to make sure that you are not working too many late shifts which may have a detrimental effect on your studies.

Many students find work in restaurants and cafes too. If you work in one of the more prestigious restaurants, then you may find the tips are particularly lucrative.

Another opportunity may come through tutoring. Many parents are willing to pay extra to make sure their child gains a good grade in maths, in particular. So, if algebra is your thing, then you could try sharing your knowledge and skills to help a child gain good GSCE grades. Music students may also find opportunities to teach musical instrument tuition. Hourly rates of pay for tutoring and teaching are very rewarding and students may find that teaching on a Saturday morning is preferential to working in a shop for 16 hours or more. If students do decide to go down this route then it is recommended that they apply for a DBS certificate (formally known as a CRB check).

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