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Quiz: Which career am I most suited to?

Take this 30 question test to highlight your abilities and which career might suit you best. Your dream job might be just a click away!

1. I can play a musical instrument

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

2. I often have a song or piece of music in my head

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

3. I find it easy to make up stories

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

4. I have always been physically well co-ordinated

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

5. Music is very important to me

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

6. I am a convincing liar

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

7. I play a sport or dance (or used to)

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

8. I am a very social person and like being with other people

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

9. I find graphs and charts easy to understand

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

10. I find it easy to remember quotes or phrases

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

11. I can always recognise places that I have been before, even when I was very young

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

12. When I am concentrating I tend to doodle

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

13. I find mental maths easy

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

14. At school one of my favourite subjects is / was English

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

15. I like to think through a problem carefully, considering all the consequences

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

16. I love adrenaline sports and scary rides

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

17. I find it easy to remember telephone numbers

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

18. I can tell easily whether someone likes or dislikes me

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

19. To learn something new, I just need to give it a try

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

20. I often see clear images when I close my eyes

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

21. I use my fingers when I count

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

22. At school I loved / love music lessons

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

23. I find ball games easy and enjoyable

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

24. My favourite subject at school is / was maths

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

25. My favourite subject at school was / is art

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

26. I find pleasure in reading

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

27. It upsets me to see someone cry and not be able to help

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

28. I prefer team sports

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

29. Singing makes me feel happy

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

30. My friends always come to me for emotional support and advice

Does this statement apply to you?

  • Yes
  • A little bit
  • Not really
  • No

Thank you for completing the quiz

People with Words and Language ability tend to be good at working with words and language, either written or spoken. They are good at remembering, interpreting and explaining ideas and information via language. They understand the relationship between communication and meaning.

Typical roles for people with strong Words and Language ability would include:

Journalist

The Role: Journalists research and write news articles and features for newspapers, magazines, special-interest periodicals, news agencies, radio, television and the internet.

Qualifications and Training: Most journalists begin their career by serving for two or three years on a provincial newspaper. Minimum entry requirements are 5 GCSEs (A*-C) and two A-Level passes, but more than 65% of all entrants are now graduates (e.g. degree in journalism).

Personal Qualities and Skills: Journalists must possess powers of self-expression, observation, accuracy, patience and tact. They must take pride in their work, be resourceful, willing to travel and to work under pressure. It helps to have shorthand or be able to write fast in longhand. Word processing and internet research skills are also important.

Salary: The average starting salary for trainee journalists ranges from £12,000 to £18,000 depending on the organisation. With experience that will increase to £35,000-£40,000.

Future Prospects: This is a highly competitive area to enter and many people undertake unpaid work experience before securing a job. Approximately 1/3 of journalists work freelance. It is possible to cross over from newspaper/magazine journalism into broadcast journalism as a reporter or presenter.

Further Information: National Council for the Training of Journalists: www.nctj.com

Newspaper/Magazine/Web Editor

The Role: Newspaper, magazine and web editors are responsible for the coordination of each aspect of a publication or website. You will understand the readership of the publication or website and include informative, newsworthy articles, entertaining features and high quality images. Tasks include editing and proofreading articles and features, assigning journalists to cover stories, commissioning freelance writers for features, meeting with photographers and conducting interviews.

Qualifications and Training: Most newspaper, magazine or web editors come from a background of journalism and have worked their way up to the job and so may have journalism qualifications including HND, foundation degree or degree.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You should be able to demonstrate excellent writing skills and a creative flair. You must have a strong interest in current affairs. You will have a practical approach to problem-solving and must remain calm in stressful situations. You need to show initiative, persistence and decisiveness.

Salary: Salaries vary enormously from editing a small trade magazine, newspaper or website (£25,000 - £35,000) to editing a national daily newspaper (£80,000 to £95,000).

Future Prospects: Journalism is a very competitive industry. Work experience, published articles and evidence of commitment to journalism is as important as qualifications. You could also move across and work in Public Relations (PR), website development or on a freelance basis.

Further Information: National Council for the Training of Journalists: www.nctj.com

Post Primary School Teacher

The Role: The teacher's role is to help pupils acquire particular knowledge and understanding of a subject. Teachers plan lessons, set and mark assignments, help pupils who are having difficulty and maintain a good working atmosphere in the classroom. As a post-primary school teacher you will be a specialist in 1 or 2 subjects. You will also take on the role of form tutor and be responsible for encouraging personal development and good behaviour.

Qualifications and Training: There are two main routes to teaching in Northern Ireland - a four year Bachelors in Education (B.Ed.) degree or a degree in another subject followed by a one year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Personal Qualities and Skills: Teachers must enjoy working with the age group they teach. They must be excellent communicators, able to motivate and encourage their pupils. They have to have great self-confidence to be able to handle difficult situations and discuss issues with parents as well as pupils. They must be able to work under considerable pressure, be well organised administrators and come up with imaginative solutions to problems.

Salary: Starting salary is approximately £21,000. With additional responsibilities you can earn up to £35,000 or more.

Future Prospects: For progression you can become a Key Stage coordinator, a head of department, a head of year group and take on further leadership roles.

Further Information: Department of Education: www.deni.gov.uk

Primary School Teacher

The Role: The teacher's role is to help pupils acquire particular knowledge and understanding of a subject. Teachers plan lessons, set and mark assignments, help pupils who are having difficulty and maintain a good working atmosphere in the classroom.

Qualifications and Training: There are two main routes to teaching in Northern Ireland - a four year Bachelors in Education (B.Ed.) degree or a degree in another subject followed by a one year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Personal Qualities and Skills: Teachers must enjoy working with the age group they teach. They must be excellent communicators, able to motivate and encourage their pupils. They have to have great self-confidence to be able to handle difficult situations and discuss issues with parents as well as pupils. They must be able to work under considerable pressure, be well organised administrators and come up with imaginative solutions to problems.

Salary: Starting salary is approximately £21,000. With additional responsibilities you can earn up to £35,000 or more.

Future Prospects: For progression you could become a coordinator of your specialist subject or work with teachers in nearby schools and ultimately take on leadership roles (VP, Principal) in the school or other primary school.

Further Information: Department of Education: www.deni.gov.uk

Public Relations (PR) Officer

The Role: The chief aim of the public relations (PR) officer is to ensure that the correct information about their organisation or client is made known to the right people in order to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organisation and its public.

Qualifications and Training: Most entrants to the profession are graduates. There are also postgraduate and diploma courses run by the Institute of Public Relations (IPR).

Personal Qualities and Skills: Public relations officers must understand people and what motivates them and have the ability to get on well with people from different backgrounds. They must be imaginative, creative, and reliable and have good managerial skills. Excellent written and spoken communication skills are essential.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £22,000 to £28,000. Experienced PR officers can earn between £25,000 and £40,000.

Future Prospects: PR is a growing industry however there is strong competition. You will start as a PR assistant and then progress to a role as account executive followed by a move into a senior role.

Further Information: Chartered Institute of Public Relations: www.cipr.co.uk

Solicitor

The Role: The role of a solicitor is to provide clients with skilled legal representation and advice. The clients can be individual people or companies, or any type of organisation or group. A solicitor may work on all kinds of legal matters, from house purchases to defence of people accused of crimes; from selling a corporation to drafting a complicated will or trust. Solicitors may also represent clients in court.

Qualifications and Training: The training of solicitors takes place in two stages - the academic and the vocational. Most, but not all entrants to the profession are graduates with a Law degree, although certain non-Law degrees are acceptable. For the next stage, the one-year vocational stage, there are two organisations in Northern Ireland which offer the vocational training to become a solicitor: the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, part of Queen's University Belfast and the Graduate School of Professional Legal Education, part of Ulster University based at its Magee campus.

Personal Qualities and Skills: To be a solicitor you will need strong spoken and written communication skills. You will need to be able to analyse large amounts of information. You will also need confidence and the ability to work under pressure.

Salary: Starting salary for a trainee solicitor would be about £16,500 per year but can rise to £25,000 to £75,000 once qualified.

Future Prospects: There is keen competition for traineeships, but when qualified there are good prospects in private practice, government and industry. You can specialise in one area of law and may eventually become a partner in a firm or even a judge.

Further Information: The Law Society of Northern Ireland: www.lawsoc-ni.org

Training Development Officer

The Role: As a training development officer you will be responsible for making sure your company's staff have the skills and knowledge they need to make the business as efficient as possible. Some of your work will involve looking at how to provide the best training at the lowest cost, but you will also deliver training yourself. You will have to write reports and make presentations.

Qualifications and Training: With relevant experience and skills entry is possible without a degree or HND, although having one can be an advantage. Useful subjects include human resources, psychology, IT and business.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You should be interested in people and in helping them to develop and improve their skills. You will need to be able to pass on your knowledge and expertise in a lively, interesting way by designing imaginative and varied training. You will need to be organised and able to plan ahead, meet deadlines and assess the effectiveness of training.

Salary: Starting salaries typically range from £22,000 to £30,000. Experienced training managers can earn up to £40,000 or more.

Future Prospects: Opportunities for training development officers and managers exist in all mid-size to large companies. And with increased specialism and technical training more companies are using self-employed consultants to deliver their training.

Further Information: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development: www.cipd.co.uk

Translator

The Role: As a translator you will convert written text such as letters, reports, leaflets and brochures from one language to another. You will ensure that your translation matches the tone and style of the original and has a high standard of grammar. Translators provide services to specialist translation agencies, private companies, local government bodies and international organisations.

Qualifications and Training: Most translators have a relevant degree in one or more languages or in one language combined with a specialist subject such as business, law, engineering, computer studies, translation or interpreting.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Translators must work to a high standard of accuracy, so attention to detail is important. The ability to write in your chosen languages in a range of styles is essential. Being well organised will help you meet project deadlines and you'll need a confident approach to work on a freelance basis and promote your services.

Salary: Most positions pay between £18,000 and £21,000 per year and senior translators can earn up to £60,000.

Future Prospects: As a translator you could work for a variety of employers translating medical, technical, legal and other documents. Most translators work on a freelance basis. Demand for translators is growing.

Further Information: Chartered Institute of Linguists: www.iol.org.uk

TV/Film/Radio Editor

The Role: TV, film and radio editors play a key role in the post-production process by assembling the final product from captured footage and additional sound and graphics. You will ensure the continuity and order of these productions which may include TV and radio programmes, films, music and corporate videos and advertisements.

Qualifications and Training: There are no specific academic requirements but many entrants have completed a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject such as film, IT, media studies or visual arts.

Personal Qualities and Skills: It is essential to be creative and have a passion for your chosen medium. Good attention to detail, plenty of patience and the ability to identify good storytelling techniques are important.

Salary: New entrants can expect to earn £18,000-£25,000. Senior editors can achieve up to £70,000.

Future Prospects: There is fierce competition for entry-level positions with most roles based in London in post-production companies, independent production firms, broadcasters and companies in the film and computing software sectors. You may choose to go freelance with experience.

Further Information: Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematography and Theatre Union: www.bectu.org.uk

People with Logical Thinking and Maths ability tend to be good at detecting patterns, analysing problems, performing mathematical calculations and doing scientific reasoning and deduction. They understand the relationship between cause and effect.

Typical roles for people with strong Logical Thinking and Maths ability would include:

Accountant

The Role: Accountancy involves using maths to provide a company or an individual with detailed information about their financial status and how they can maximise profits, minimise tax payments, etc. You will provide advice on financial planning, tax return preparation and future planning of budgets, costs and growth.

Qualifications and Training: To be a qualified accountant you must hold a qualification from one of the recognised accountancy organisations. The training programmes to achieve these qualifications do not require a university degree although most accountants do progress into accountancy via a relevant degree.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need confidence working with numbers and be interested in how companies/organisations work and/or how individual financial planning works. Very good problem solving skills will be needed along with excellent communications skills as you will be working with senior members of companies as well as individuals who may not be that familiar with financial concepts.

Salary: While working and training for their accountancy qualifications graduates may earn between £15,000 and £25,000 based on where they are in the training process (non-graduates generally earn less). Qualified accountants with experience can earn £50,000 to £100,000.

Future Prospects: Progression routes for accountants tends to be quite structured, especially in larger organisations, with progression to manager within 2 to 3 years. Many accountants also become self-employed, providing accountancy support to a number of clients.

Further Information: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants: www.accaglobal.co.uk

Bank Cashier/Customer Advisor

The Role: As a bank cashier or customer advisors you will work for banks and building societies and are the first point of contact for customers with enquiries or complaints. You may be working in a branch dealing with customers face to face, or you could be based in a contact centre liaising with them over the phone or by email. You will be handling customers' accounts, including the paying in and withdrawing of money using computerised systems.

Qualifications and Training: Different employers have different entry requirements but most expect 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including English and maths.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need excellent customer service skills, communication skills and must be confident working with numbers and computers. Since you will be working as part of a team a helpful and positive attitude is valuable.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £12,000 to £18,000 a year. With several years' experience and supervisory responsibilities you could be earning from £18,000 to £30,000 a year.

Future Prospects: There is a growing demand for skilled people in all areas of customer service. You could progress to specialise in an area such as mortgages or pensions or into management. You could also gain further professional qualifications in order to train as a financial advisor or bank manager.

Further Information: Career A-Z: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/banking-customer-service-adviser

Engineer (e.g. Aerospace Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer)

The Role: At a high level, working in engineering involves 'the application of science and maths to the solving of practical problems and the making of useful things'. At a practical level, it involves design, development, production, operations management and maintenance activities in a specific field (mechanical, electrical, etc.).

Qualifications and Training: Most professional engineers are graduates who have completed a degree in one type of engineering. For most degrees you will need 3 A-Levels in subjects such as physics, maths, chemistry and other science subjects although the specific requirements vary by the field of engineering. Technician engineers do not require a degree but you should have 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including maths and a science subject.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Professional engineers require excellent problem solving, scientific and technical skills. They need to be imaginative in finding solutions to difficult problems and they need to have a rigorous and thorough approach to research and testing. They also need good team-working skills and good project management skills. Working at a technical level you will need good numeracy skills and good manual dexterity.

Salary: Starting salaries for professional engineers vary quite widely because of the broad range of disciplines included but are in the range of £20,000-£25,000 rising to £30,000-£45,000 with experience. Technician level jobs attract salaries of between £16,000 and £26,000.

Future Prospects: There are good opportunities for promotion in engineering. The skills you acquire will make you suitable for higher positions and many professional engineers move into consultancy, management or research roles.

Further Information: Engineering Training Council in Northern Ireland: www.etcni.org.uk

Financial Advisor

The Role: Financial advisors offer client consultations on a wide range of financial issue including mortgages, pensions and investments. You will also be producing reports and annual summaries for clients to keep them up to date with their financial situation.

Qualifications and Training: There are no specific entry routes and qualification requirements depend on the employer. However, it is common to want a minimum of 2 A-Levels and 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including English and maths.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Good communication skills are essential in order to explain complex financial matters simply to your clients. You will need to enjoy working with numbers and have the ability to analyse and understand technical financial information. You must be self-motivated and organised and have good computer skills.

Salary: Starting salaries at trainee adviser level vary from £22,000 to £30,000 and a standard qualified adviser would earn up to £40,000.

Future Prospects: The demand for financial advisers is growing; working in insurance companies, banks and other businesses as well as being self-employed.

Further Information: Career A-Z: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/financial-adviser

Insurance Broker

The Role: As an insurance broker you will act as an agent between clients and insurance companies. You will advise on the best policies to meet your client's needs and negotiate deals. You could advise individuals or business clients.

Qualifications and Training: Although there are no formal entry requirements, most organisations prefer graduates with a degree in accounting, economics, mathematics, business or management.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Brokers need excellent spoken and written communication skills in order to obtain information, negotiate deals, sell policies and explain complicated financial issues to clients in simple terms. You should be able to manage your time well as you will work on multiple projects at once. Good computer skills are also important.

Salary: Non-graduate trainees can expect to earn about £16,000 a year while graduates on training schemes may earn £22,000. Over time and with experience you can progress to £80,000 or more.

Future Prospects: As a broker you could work in a small company, dealing with a wide range of services or specialise in a specific area of insurance within a larger organisation. You can move into a management role or become an account executive dealing with more complex claims.

Further Information: Chartered Insurance Institute: www.cii.co.uk

Sales Representative

The Role: As a sales representative you will be responsible for selling your company's products or services to existing clients and creating relationships with new clients. You will most likely specialise in a particular market, such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, engineering or consumer goods.

Qualifications and Training: There are no specific entry requirements, but if you choose to work in a technical field (e.g. pharmaceuticals or engineering) a relevant degree is likely to be required. However, employers are more interested in your sales and communication skills rather than any formal academic qualifications.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You must have good people skills as much of your success will depend on how you interact with customers and your ability to maintain relationships with them. Excellent communication and negotiation skills are essential as are organisational and time management skills.

Salary: You will often be paid a basic salary plus commission, which will be based on meeting sales targets. Starting salary could range from £15,000 to £20,000 per year plus commission but your salary can be much higher than that depending on your performance.

Future Prospects: With experience and success you could be promoted to sales team leader or sales manager.

Further Information: Institute of Sales Management: www.ismprofessional.com

Scientist (e.g. Biochemist, Chemist, Environmental Scientist, Physicist)

The Role: Research scientists work in medicine, physics and life sciences. They are employed in industry and universities. The topics and issues they research are extremely wide ranging and are, of course, determined by the particular field of science in which they work. In whichever scientific specialism researchers work, their main role is to design, carry out and analyse the results of scientific experiments.

Qualifications and Training: Scientific research is a graduate entry profession. Scientists working as technicians will generally have a relevant undergraduate degree. Research assistants usually need to have a masters degree and research scientists have usually completed a PhD.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Regardless of which field of science you enter, you must have a rigorous and questioning approach to whatever you do. You need good numeracy skills and the ability to interpret data accurately. Many posts require good computer skills and/or the ability to work with highly specialised equipment. You must be able to work on your own and as part of a team.

Salary: Starting salaries: technician level £16,000-£20,000; research assistant level £20,000-£25,000 and research scientist level £25,000-£33,000. However, research scientists working in industry may earn considerably more: £45,000-£60,000.

Future Prospects: If you go into research and development you would start by working as part of a team. With further training and experience you could advance to higher level positions and consultancy work. You may choose to undertake academic research and go into lecturing or teaching.

Further Information: Science Career Pathways: www.sciencecareerpathways.com

Software Developer/Programmer

The Role: As a software developer or programmer, you will be designing, developing and testing computer software for your clients to improve their business' productivity and efficiency. You may also improve existing software by analysing and fixing any problems. Your clients could be companies from a variety of industries (e.g. finance, insurance, retail or building industries).

Qualifications and Training: Entry is usually by means of a degree, foundation degree or HNC/HND in a relevant subject such as programming, software engineering or computer science.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to have excellent computer skills with an in-depth knowledge of up to date packages and software coding techniques. You must also be a good communicator as you will be working with other IT professionals and members of staff. Being logical and having a knack for problem solving will be vital.

Salary: Software developers and programmers can expect to start on salaries ranging from £20,000-£26,000. Senior management roles can pay up to £70,000.

Future Prospects: Software developers are employed by a variety of industries and you can progress to senior or management roles or work as a contracted IT consultant.

Further Information: The Chartered Institute for IT: www.bcs.org

Statistician

The Role: Statistics involves the use of mathematical techniques to collect, analyse and present large quantities of factual information. You will plan and undertake surveys using a range of mathematical research methods.

Qualifications and Training: The usual entry qualification is a degree in statistics or other area such as maths, economics or operational research.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Strong mathematical skills are essential for producing and analysing a range of statistical information. You will also need excellent problem-solving skills to create practical solutions and collect information on specific issues. Excellent computer skills are a must.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £22,000 to £30,000 and with experience you could earn up to £50,000.

Future Prospects: You could develop a career in government but there are also many opportunities in scientific and medical research and pharmaceutical development. You could also choose to do academic research and teach.

Further Information: Royal Statistical Society: www.rss.org.uk

People with Musical ability tend to be good at the awareness, appreciation and the use of sound. They recognise tonal and rhythmic patterns and understand the relationship between sound and feeling.

Typical roles for people with strong Musical ability would include:

Acoustician

The Role: Being an acoustician involves the understanding, control, regulation and management of sound and vibrations. You could be involved in a myriad of industries including music, healthcare, telecommunications and the military and you could work with many kinds of noises including building/architectural acoustics, aerodynamic noise, electronic acoustics and environmental noise.

Qualifications and Training: To be an acoustician, you will most likely have a university degree in a relevant subject such as acoustics, maths, physics, mechanical engineering or environmental science.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need a keen interest in sound, how it behaves and also in solving problems of sound - how to control it, how to reduce it, how to modify it, etc. Abilities with maths and physics are required along with excellent communication skills, project management skills and people skills.

Salary: Starting salaries with a bachelors degree range from £20,000 to £25,000. With graduate degrees and experience, the salary would rise to £35,000 and above.

Future Prospects: Progression routes for acousticians include taking on supervisory or managerial roles or specialising in a particular area of acoustics. Many acousticians also become self-employed, providing acoustic consulting services to a number of clients.

Further Information: Institute of Acoustics: www.ioa.org.uk

Composer/Songwriter

The Role: Composers and song writers create original music for a variety of uses. You could sell your songs or be approached to write for an established commercial organisation. You could work within TV, film, computer games and radio.

Qualifications and Training: Academic qualifications are not essential, however useful qualifications include GCSE and A-Level in Music, BTEC Level 3 in music practice or popular music and relevant degree courses.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to have outstanding musical or lyrical talents. You will need dedication, determination and self-discipline as the music industry is extremely tough and disappointment may well be frequent.

Salary: If commissioned by a large company or orchestra as a composer you can expect to earn about £500-£1000 per minute of music. Songwriters could earn about £300 per minute of music.

Future Prospects: The music industry is highly competitive so it can take a long time to gain any recognition for your work. Most composers and songwriters are self-employed.

Further Information: British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors: www.basca.org.uk

DJ

The Role: As a DJ you will play and mix music for audiences at live venues or on the radio. You could use vinyl, CDs, digital files, turntables, mixers, microphones and amplifiers. You could work in clubs, at weddings and other social occasions or as a radio DJ.

Qualifications and Training: There is no specific entry route to this job and no formal qualifications are required. Radio DJs may find qualifications in journalism, broadcasting or media advantageous.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You must have a passion for music, excellent coordination, good communication and listening skills and a lively outgoing personality. You must have advanced technical skills and practice techniques such as mixing, scratching and cross fading to make your performances interesting. Hard work and persistence are key to success.

Salary: At the start of their career DJs often do unpaid work to gain experience. After that earnings could range from £50 to £300 per session and established DJs earn £500 to £1000 per session. Most DJs have another job to supplement their income.

Future Prospects: Some DJs stay in the job only a short time before moving on. Some move into careers in music production or retail.

Further Information: Career A-Z: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/dj

Entertainment Manager

The Role: Entertainment managers take responsibility for the schedule of visiting entertainers to a venue, achieving a balance of activities that engage the age, gender and cultural interests of the audience. You will plan, organise, advertise and oversee the running of a full calendar of events.

Qualifications and Training: There are no formal entry requirements for this career. Experience, enthusiasm and personality are more important than qualifications. Degrees, foundation degrees and HNDs are not essential but could be useful to have in a related field such as event management, performing arts or business studies.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Confidence in speaking in public is essential. You will need persuasive powers, imagination and considerable personal initiative.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £12,000 to £15,000 and with experience that will rise to £18,000-£20,000 per year.

Future Prospects: With experience you could move into other managerial roles within the hospitality industry.

Further Information: Input Youth: www.inputyouth.co.uk/jobguides/job-entertainmentmanager.html

Event Organiser

The Role: As an event organiser you will be planning and organising events of varying sizes and ensuring that they run to plan on the day. You could find yourself organising anything from conferences, seminars and meetings to parties, ceremonies or weddings.

Qualifications and Training: There are no set entry requirements for this profession but many entrants have degrees in a variety of disciplines such as events management, conference and exhibition management, hospitality management, marketing, tourism and business.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You need to be incredibly well organised. Work can be tough and stressful so you need energy and stamina. You should relish taking on a heavy workload. You should be a team player who is good at communicating with others. Your project management and problem solving skills should be very good.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £18,000 to £25,000 but with experience you can earn up to £45,000 or more.

Future Prospects: Starting off in roles such as assistant events manager, you can aim towards positions such as event organiser or event manager and even look towards starting your own company.

Further Information: Association for Conferences and Events: www.ace-international.co.uk

Musician

The Role: Whether you work as a classical or popular musician, your main responsibility will be to perform and entertain an audience. You will spend the majority of your time practising in order to develop and strengthen your ability on the instrument/s you play. You may compose your own material or play existing music.

Qualifications and Training: Classical musicians undertake extensive musical training and academic qualifications. Some musicians also pursue music degrees at universities, specialist courses at music colleges and relevant postgraduate qualifications.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You must be extremely musical, particularly if you are looking to work as a classical musician. As there is great competition for jobs you will need determination, tenacity and resilience.

Salary: Classical musicians employed by an orchestra usually receive a salary between £22,000 and £26,000. Solo musicians can achieve £500 to £2,000 per week depending on their popularity.

Future Prospects: Classical musicians may rise to enjoy success as solo artists or may work in group ensembles. Diversifying into teaching is common. Prospects for popular musicians are varied and depend a great deal on how successful you become.

Further Information: UK Music: www.ukmusic.org

Recording Industry Producer

The Role: Recording industry producers are employed by recording companies to work with artists to produce music tracks or demos. You will discuss ideas with artists and their management, plan new projects, listen to existing tracks and identify areas for improvement.

Qualifications and Training: There are no specific qualifications although formal music training of some kind is recommended. Courses that may help you develop skills and experience include foundation degrees and degrees in music production, music technology, music practice and music industry management.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You must have excellent communication skills to give instructions to others, persuade people to try your ideas and to build up a good network of contacts. You should have a good ear for music, high stamina, self-discipline and patience.

Salary: Salaries start at £15,000 per year. With experience and hard work you can earn £30,000 or more.

Future Prospects: You will probably progress to a producer position after several years working as an assistant sound engineer or sound engineer.

Further Information: Music Producers Guild UK Ltd: www.mpg.org.uk

Singer

The Role: Singers perform in front of an audience in clubs, at gigs, on television or radio, in a recording studio or in an opera house. They work as solo artists or as part of a backing group, choir or chorus. You will spend many hours practicing in order to develop and strengthen your breathing and vocal ability.

Qualifications and Training: Academic qualifications are not strictly required in order to become a singer, but they quite often demonstrate talent, commitment and the necessary expertise to succeed in the music industry to potential employers or clients.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to have an exceptional talent for singing in order to get noticed in the music industry. Owing to the intense competition in this area you will need determination, self-discipline and resilience.

Salary: As a solo singer you could earn between £150 and £450 per concert. Chorus singers usually earn between £70 and £100. Backing singers on albums are paid £110 or more for a 3 hour recording session. If you become a commercial success you can earn substantially more.

Future Prospects: Singing is a highly competitive industry and opportunities for full time work are extremely limited. Most professionals supplement their income with another job so you could look into teaching or writing songs for other artists.

Further Information: Career A-Z: www.vocalist.org.uk/singing_careers.html

Sound Engineer

The Role: Sound engineers set up, operate and maintain a range of technical equipment that is designed to capture, magnify and manipulate words and music. Theatrical sound engineers insert sound effects into productions. Recording industry sound engineers capture speech, music and other sound effects and modify them using sophisticated technology to create, for example, pop songs, adverts and computer game soundtracks.

Qualifications and Training: Although it is possible to work up to this position without academic qualifications, larger studios and companies prefer candidates to hold relevant qualifications. These range from GCSEs in music, maths and physics to degrees in music production or audio technology.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need a good musical ear and excellent sense of timing in order to put together pleasing and appropriate soundtracks/background audio to a range of productions. You should also have knowledge of both electronics and computer systems.

Salary: Sound engineer salaries start at £15,000 to £18,000 per year. With experience this could rise to £30,000.

Future Prospects: Competition for jobs is intense and you may have to spend a long while proving your credentials as a runner or gofer. Theatre sound engineers may go on to become sound designers whereas recording sound engineers tend to move into roles as producers.

Further Information: Professional Lighting and Sound Association: www.plasa.org

People with Physical Body and Coordination ability tend to have good body movement control and manual dexterity. They have good physical ability and balance along with good eye and body coordination.

Typical roles for people with strong Physical Body and Coordination ability would include:

Actor

The Role: Acting involves performances in front of audiences, either live or recorded, and may include singing and dancing as part of the role. You may act in dramas, comedies and musicals on stage, on TV and in films.

Qualifications and Training: To be an actor requires talent but doesn't have any specific qualification requirements. However, most actors have some formal training such as drama school courses and degrees.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to be fully dedicated to acting as it is a very competitive job and may require years of effort to be successful. You will also need excellent communication skills and have a good memory, be creative, be adaptable and be self-confident.

Salary: Minimum pay for theatre workers is approximately £400 per week although top tier venues will be higher. For film and TV work the pay will vary widely. Most actors maintain a second job to support themselves with 75% of actors in the UK earning less than £5000 from acting and only 2% earning over £20,000 per year.

Future Prospects: Progression routes for actors depend on talent, dedication, hard work and luck. Some actors move on to writing and directing while others move to teaching drama and theatre studies.

Further Information: Drama UK: www.dramauk.co.uk/homepage

Army Officer

The Role: As an Army officer you will lead, command and train a team of soldiers either on training exercises or on actual combat, peacekeeping or humanitarian operations. You will work within a specific skill area such as combat, intelligence, engineering or medicine.

Qualifications and Training: To qualify as an Army officer, you must have 7 GCSEs (A*-C) including English, Maths and either a foreign language or science. You must also have at least 2 A-levels. A degree is not required but about 80% of officer cadets accepted each year are graduates.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to have excellent self-discipline, confidence and be able to lead and motivate the team of soldiers and junior officers under your command. You must also be decisive, being able to work under extreme pressure at times. You will need to have determination, courage and a good level of physical fitness.

Salary: Starting salary for graduates entering the Army officer corps is £25,000, rising to £30,000 upon completion of training at Sandhurst. Non-graduates start at £16,000 during training, rising to £25,000 once commissioned as an officer.

Future Prospects: Progression routes for Army officers are structured as you gain experience and after 3-5 years you can expect to be promoted to captain. Leadership training can improve your promotion prospects.

Further Information: Army: www.army.mod.uk/join

Army Soldier

The Role: As an Army soldier you will be defending the UK and its allies in combat missions as well as taking part in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. You will be involved in ongoing training exercises to maintain your fitness and military skills. In addition you will train and work in one of more than 130 different trades.

Qualifications and Training: To become an Army soldier there are no formal qualifications required although some technical roles require certain GCSEs. However you will have to pass a number of numeracy and literacy tests and complete a physical assessment and pass a medical check.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to be able to work in a team, respond to orders, work on your own initiative at times and support others - both professionally and mentally. You must be disciplined and able to think and act logically under pressure. You must be physically fit.

Salary: Starting salaries for Army Soldiers start at £15,000 per year in training which rises to £18,000 once qualified as a private. This will rise as you are promoted up the ranks with time and experience.

Future Prospects: Progression routes for Army Soldiers are structured starting as a private and then being awarded promotions as your skills and commitment increases.

Further Information: Army: www.army.mod.uk/join

Chef

The Role: As a chef you will cook for restaurants, cafes, bars, cruise ships and catering firms. You may also work for specialist food companies helping to create new products. You will coordinate kitchen activities and supervise the preparation of food by your team of kitchen staff.

Qualifications and Training: Academic qualifications are not essential, however there are a number of qualifications available that could give you an advantage from GCSEs in Hospitality and Catering to foundation degrees and degrees in professional culinary arts and culinary arts management.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Kitchens can be hot and hectic environments so you need to be able to remain calm under pressure. Good teamwork, communication and multi-tasking skills are important. You should have excellent cooking skills, be very creative and passionate about food.

Salary: A head chef could earn anything from £20,000 to £150,000 depending on their skill. Trainee chefs may earn between £12,000 and £20,000.

Future Prospects: There is currently a shortage of qualified chefs so prospects are good. Gaining significant experience may allow you to open your own business or go into teaching.

Further Information: Becoming a Chef: www.becomingachef.co.uk

Dancer

The Role: Dancers use movement and the language of their bodies as a way of expressing ideas and emotions to an audience. You will focus on any number of styles including street, cultural, modern, contemporary, classical ballet, jazz or tap dance. You might find work in theatres, cabaret clubs, cruise ships or video/TV studios.

Qualifications and Training: Most professional dancers take classes in at least one form of dance from a very young age. Entrants to this career usually undertake a 3 year vocational diploma or degree at a specialist school.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Anyone entering this area of work must enjoy performing and be very talented to succeed. You must be dedicated to improving your technique through daily practice - sometimes for as long as 10 hours each day. You need a good sense of rhythm and timing and being creative and imaginative is desirable. You must enjoy working with others.

Salary: Dancers usually work on a freelance basis and can expect to start on £400 per week rising to £450 to £500 a week with experience. Those working on a West End show can expect to achieve £550 per week (£28,000 if employed for a full year).

Future Prospects: Your future prospects as a dancer will largely depend on talent, hard work and luck. If you are employed by a dance company you can progress from chorus to solo parts. And after professional performances you can become a dance teacher or a choreographer.

Further Information: Council for Dance Education and Training: www.cdet.org.uk

Driving Instructor

The Role: As a driving instructor you will teach people how to drive safely and well enough to pass their driving test. You will explain basic motor and road skills as well as safe driving. It will be your responsibility to plan driving lessons to suit your pupil and give constructive criticism.

Qualifications and Training: There are no formal academic requirements to become an Approved Driving Instructor but you will have to pass a Driving Theory Test, a Driving Ability Practical Test and an Instructional Ability Practical Test.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Not only will you need to be a good, safe driver, you will also need teaching skills. People learning to drive are often stressed and anxious so you will need to be calm, steady and patient. As many instructors are self-employed you will need to have a good business sense.

Salary: A full-time driving instructor could earn about £15,000 a year as a starting salary. With several years' experience this could rise to £25,000.

Future Prospects: Driving instructors could work for driving schools, operate under a franchise or have their own business. About 80% are self-employed. In time you could progress to a role as a trainer for new driving instructors or become a driving examiner.

Further Information: Safe Driving for Life: www.safedrivingforlife.info/

Firefighter

The Role: As a firefighter you will be dealing with a range of emergencies; not only fires but also helping at other incidents such as rescuing trapped animals and people, handling chemical spillages and assisting at road, rail or air crash scenes.

Qualifications and Training: No formal qualifications are required although you should have a good general standard of education and any qualifications you bring with you may help with future promotion. Entrance is dependent on passing practical and written tests, a psychological test, a medical and an interview.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to stay calm in dangerous situations. You need to be an excellent team player. You will need to be able to deal with very stressful and disturbing situations.

Salary: For full time firefighters the salary starts at about £22,000 per year and rises to £29,000 per year with experience. Management roles have higher salaries.

Future Prospects: The main employers are the regional fire services but airports, the Ministry of Defence, the RAF and the Royal Navy also recruit firefighters. You will undergo regular training throughout your career and could work towards specialising in a particular area of the services. Promotion to supervisory and management roles is by clear grades and given on ability, but exams must also be passed.

Further Information: Fire Service Recruitment Information: www.fireservice.co.uk

Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer

The Role: Fitness instructors and personal trainers teach people how to exercise in a safe and effective manner whilst also helping them work towards personal fitness targets. You could provide a one-on-one service, direct group fitness activities and classes or undertake a combination of both. You could work in a health club, community gym, leisure centre or private gym.

Qualifications and Training: No formal academic qualifications are required for this career but you do need an industry-recognised qualification approved by the Register of Exercise Professionals such as a Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Training.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need excellent interpersonal skills so that you can attract new business opportunities, chat to clients and advise them on fitness and dietary requirements and build good relationships with other team members. You must be very enthusiastic about training and fitness.

Salary: Starting salary is about £12,000 to £13,000 but with experience will rise up to £25,000.

Future Prospects: As society has become increasingly aware of health and fitness issues, the demand for fitness instructors has grown, although in certain areas and popular gyms the competition for jobs can be tough. With experience you could move into roles such as fitness manager or sports facility manager.

Further Information: Career A-Z: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/fitness-instructor

Landscape Architect

The Role: As a landscape architect you will design or develop new or existing outside spaces. You will then make a plan listing what plantings and construction work is required and calculate the cost. You will then see the project through to completion by supervising the work on-site.

Qualifications and Training: You will need a degree in landscape architecture or a relevant first degree followed by a postgraduate qualification.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will have to enjoy being outdoors and want to make a difference to the environment. You will have to be creative and have excellent design and drawing skills that may require computer-aided design (CAD).

Salary: Starting salaries are around £20,000 per year. Once you have become fully qualified as a chartered landscape architect salaries could range from £25,000 to £45,000 per year.

Future Prospects: Organisations that recruit landscape architects include local authorities, botanical gardens, large private estates, the National Trust, building contractors and landscape design houses. You may also choose to become self-employed.

Further Information: Landscape Institute: www.landscapeinstitute.org

Police Officer

The Role: Police officers are responsible for safeguarding communities from crime by apprehending criminals and maintaining order. You will spend your time on patrol, responding to any situation that occurs. You will keep records, take statements and write reports. You may need to give evidence in court and may also give educational talks in community venues.

Qualifications and Training: You must have 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including English and maths and furthermore entrance is dependent on passing medical, fitness, eyesight, literacy and numeracy tests. A relevant qualification such as BTEC, HNC/HND or degree in police studies or criminology may enhance your application.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You must have excellent communication skills in order to deal with a variety of people on a daily basis whose position could range from that of criminal who needs restraining to a victim who needs careful treatment. You need to be non-judgemental and need courage, initiative and common sense. You will also need to have good problem solving skills.

Salary: A typical starting salary is £19,000. Once you have completed your initial training this rises to about £22,000. For senior officers the salaries can reach over £50,000.

Future Prospects: You can move upward to the level of sergeant and inspector based on examination and interview. To progress further you must demonstrate your skills to a board of judges.

Further Information: Police Service NI: www.joinpsni.co.uk

Sports Coach

The Role: Sports coaches provide specialist support, motivation and knowledge to athletes in order to help them attain their best performance and achieve personal goals. As a competitive coach you could work with a variety of levels of athletes, ranging from children's football or netball teams through to professional and even world class sports professionals.

Qualifications and Training: All sports coaches must hold a qualification that has been accredited by the national governing body of their chosen discipline. These include NVQs, HNCs, HNDs and foundation degrees at colleges and universities.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need excellent communication skills and need to have good motivational abilities to inspire and encourage sports players to push themselves. You will need an in-depth knowledge of your chosen sport. An understanding of nutrition and physiology is also useful.

Salary: Newly qualified coaches earn between £15,000 and £25,000 but experienced coaches can earn £35,000 or more with coaches at the highest levels earning well over £100,000 per year.

Future Prospects: The vast majority of sports coaches work on a voluntary or part-time basis so competition is fierce for full time paid positions. Career prospects will depend on the level of success you achieve and you could move into related development or management positions.

Further Information: Sports Coach UK: www.sportscoachuk.org

Sports Professional

The Role: Sports professionals are paid players who compete across the globe in their chosen sport, often in front of an audience. You will need to spend a great deal of time in training in order to maintain a high standard of general fitness, alongside honing your skills in your chosen sport.

Qualifications and Training: You do not need any academic qualifications for most sports. Aptitude and enthusiasm for your sport are the key requirements to become a sports professional.

Personal Qualities and Skills: First and foremost, you will need to have an outstanding natural ability in your chosen sport. You must also have the necessary commitment and self-discipline to maintain a continuous training schedule and strict eating regime. You will need to have a highly competitive nature but also a polite and pleasant manner in order to get on with team members, fellow players and coaches. As well as being physically fit, you must be mentally stable so that you can cope with the pressure of competitions, defeat and disappointment.

Salary: If you start your professional career as an apprentice you may earn less than £10,000 a year plus accommodation and food allowances. Once established as a sports professional you should earn £20,000 a year and above with highly successful professionals earning annual salaries in the millions.

Future Prospects: Most professional sports players are spotted at an early age by a talent scout or coach. Unfortunately most sports professionals cannot earn a living playing their chosen sport alone, so you might have to supplement your income with full or part-time work. Sports professionals rarely continue to compete after they have reached their mid-30s but there are opportunities to work as a coach, manager, or commentator or even earn money as a TV personality.

Further Information: Sport Northern Ireland: www.sportni.net

People with Visualisation ability tend to have good visual and spatial perception with the ability to interpret and create visual images. They have pictorial imagination and expression. They understand the relationship between images and meanings and between space and effect.

Typical roles for people with strong Visualisation ability would include:

Animator

The Role: Being an animator involves creating animations and other moving image artwork. These may be original works telling a story via animation or could be used by TV companies, film companies, games developers, on websites or in films.

Qualifications and Training: To be an animator you will most likely have an HND, foundation degree or degree in a relevant field such as animation or art and design.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to be creative and have a strong imagination to create new ideas for animated characters and stories. Computer skills are also important with knowledge of relevant software such as Flash, Maya and After Effects. Manual drawing and modelling remain important as well.

Salary: As an animator you can expect a starting salary from £12,000 to £15,000, which will be higher with more experience. The computer games industry tends to pay more.

Future Prospects: Progression routes relate to bigger and more complicated projects and will be very competitive. Future growth in animation is certainly around computer generated animation. More experienced roles would include being an animation director.

Further Information: Creative Skillset: www.creativeskillset.org/creative_industries/animation

Architect

The Role: Architects design buildings as well as the areas surrounding the buildings. This may be new buildings or changes, renovations and restorations to existing buildings. You will work with the clients, decide on materials to use and design the buildings.

Qualifications and Training: To be a professional architect you must be a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). This entails a 3 year degree in architecture, a 1 year placement, a 2 year diploma with a final 1 year placement in architecture.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to be very creative and able to create detailed designs to the client's needs and desires so you'll have excellent communication skills to work well with those clients. You'll also need to be organised and have excellent problem solving skills. CAD (Computer Aided Design) skills would be an advantage.

Salary: After qualification you can expect to earn between £25,000 and £30,000. With experience you may become a partner in a firm and may make between £35,000 and £80,000 a year.

Future Prospects: Progression routes for architects tend to start out in a private practice to gain experience although you may also work directly for organisations such as construction companies, developers or local government. Self-employment is a viable direction for many experienced architects.

Further Information: Royal Institute of British Architects: www.architecture.com

Beauty Consultant

The Role: As a beauty consultant you will work in department stores and other public locations promoting and selling beauty products on behalf of cosmetics companies. If you are self-employed you will have to control every aspect of your business including sales, finances and marketing.

Qualifications and Training: Although formal qualifications are not generally required, 5 GCSEs (A*-C) may prove useful, particularly in maths and English. Other qualifications (certificates, diplomas, NVQs) in beauty consultancy and beauty therapy may prove useful.

Personal Qualities and Skills: A sociable and professional approach is important because you will meet many customers. Working on a store counter can be fast paced so you should be able to stay calm in busy situations. You will use your communication skills to encourage customers to find out more about your products.

Salary: Starting salaries are usually between £12,000 and £13,000. Experienced beauty consultants can expect to earn from £19,000 to £23,000.

Future Prospects: As well as working within department stores, there are opportunities to work in airports and hotels. With experience you could progress to working as a team manager and then move onto an area management role. You may also choose to be self-employed and promote and sell products from your own home.

Further Information: Hair and Beauty Industry Authority: www.habia.org

Beauty Therapist

The Role: Beauty therapy involves providing a range of face and body treatments to customers and clients. These could include facials, massages, electrolysis and waxing treatments. Beauty therapists provide these services in beauty salons, health clubs and hotels.

Qualifications and Training: To work as a fully qualified beauty therapist you need at least a level 3 qualification in a subject such as beauty therapy, advance beauty therapy, massage and Indian head massage, etc. Candidates are also usually required to have some GCSEs.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need a calm, confident manner and an interest in helping people with a range of therapies. You will need good communication skills and a well-presented appearance.

Salary: Once qualified as a beauty therapist you could receive a starting salary of between £11,000 and £13,000 rising to £17,000 with experience, or above if you go into a senior or management position.

Future Prospects: With experience you can progress into a senior or management role. You may choose to set up your own beauty therapy business or move onto training and lecturing in beauty therapy.

Further Information: British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology: www.babtac.com

Cartoonist

The Role: As a cartoonist you will plan and draw original cartoons and captions. These can be single images, whole cartoon strips or entire books. You will promote and market your work. Cartoonists create images for greeting cards, adverts, book illustrations, magazines, newspapers and websites.

Qualifications and Training: A strong portfolio and relevant experience are usually more important than formal qualifications. However most entrants have an HNC/HND or degree in an art and design subject such as graphic design, illustration or fine art.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Creativity and an excellent sense of humour are essential. You should have a vivid imagination and be up to date with current trends. Good drawing skills are very important. You need to be well organised with good business management skills and self-motivation is important.

Salary: New cartoonists with regular work could earn up to £15,000 per year. Established well known cartoonists whose work is in demand could earn up to £50,000.

Future Prospects: Most cartoonists work on a freelance basis for a number of employers at the same time. Some work as animators for companies that develop games and other IT resources. With experience you could run workshops in schools, libraries and museums.

Further Information: The Art Career Project: www.theartcareerproject.com/discover-the-lighter-side-of-life-with-a-career-in-cartooning/7617/

Engineer (e.g. Aerospace Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer)

The Role: At a high level, working in engineering involves 'the application of science and maths to the solving of practical problems and the making of useful things'. At a practical level, it involves design, development, production, operations management and maintenance activities in a specific field (mechanical, electrical, etc.).

Qualifications and Training: Most professional engineers are graduates who have completed a degree in one type of engineering. For most degrees you will need 3 A-Levels in subjects such as physics, maths, chemistry and other science subjects although the specific requirements vary by the field of engineering. Technician engineers do not require a degree but you should have 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including maths and a science subject.

Personal Qualities and Skills: Professional engineers require excellent problem solving, scientific and technical skills. They need to be imaginative in finding solutions to difficult problems and they need to have a rigorous and thorough approach to research and testing. They also need good team-working skills and good project management skills. Working at a technical level you will need good numeracy skills and good manual dexterity.

Salary: Starting salaries for professional engineers vary quite widely because of the broad range of disciplines included but are in the range of £20,000-£25,000 rising to £30,000-£45,000 with experience. Technician level jobs attract salaries of between £16,000 and £26,000.

Future Prospects: There are good opportunities for promotion in engineering. The skills you acquire will make you suitable for higher positions and many professional engineers move into consultancy, management or research roles.

Further Information: Engineering Training Council in Northern Ireland: www.etcni.org.uk

Graphic Designer

The Role: Graphic designers produce original images and designs for use in published or other materials such as leaflets, brochures, websites, logos and stationery. Most work is now done on computer although manual techniques are occasionally used.

Qualifications and Training: The majority of entrants have a degree in a visual arts subject such as graphic design, fine art, illustration or 3D design. Entry without a degree is possible if you have an exceptional portfolio but progression is difficult without formal training.

Personal Qualities and Skills: It is essential to have a strong creative flair, the imagination to develop original designs and a good eye for layout. You need good communication skills and the confidence to present ideas to colleagues and clients. You also need to be able to multi-task and work well under pressure.

Salary: A junior graphic designer can expect to earn £14,000-£25,000 per year and with experience that could increase to £45,000 or more.

Future Prospects: In large organisations there is the possibility of progressing to senior level and eventually director role. In smaller companies many designers will decide to become self-employed within 5-10 years. There are many freelance opportunities.

Further Information: Creative Skillset: www.creativeskillset.org/creative_industries/advertising_and_marketing_communications/job_roles/4243_graphic_designer

Photographer

The Role: Photographers create photographic images using technical lighting and equipment. Using your eye for design and knowledge of photographic techniques you will create images for a specific brief. Many photographers work with digital enhancing techniques to modify and improve the images they produce.

Qualifications and Training: There are no set academic requirements to become a photographer but the following courses may be useful: an A-Level in photography; a City & Guilds Levels 1-3 in photo imaging and photography; an HNC/HND in art and design or a relevant degree.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need a strong visual sense and an eye for what makes a good picture. You will need the technical knowledge and skills to get the most from lighting, studio set-ups and camera equipment. The use of editing software means that computer skills are increasingly important.

Salary: As an assistant photographer you can expect to earn about £10,000. Depending on your experience and popularity this can increase to £25,000 to £65,000 once established.

Future Prospects: To gain the essential skills you should work as a photographer's assistant. With experience you can progress into freelance work or specialise in a particular area such as press, medical or food photography.

Further Information: Association of Photographers: www.the-aop.org

Town Planner

The Role: As a town planner you will manage and develop urban or rural areas to best serve the population. When deciding how to use the land you will take into account commercial, social, environmental and heritage needs.

Qualifications and Training: A candidate will need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a related field such as geography, architecture or urban studies.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need excellent communication skills as you will need to explain your ideas clearly and produce comprehensive reports. You must be organised with good research, problem-solving and analytical skills.

Salary: Newly graduated town planners could earn between £16,000 and £28,000.

Future Prospects: Most employers are local authorities and planning consultancies. With experience and chartered status you may be promoted to senior or county planning officer or you could specialise in areas such as urban design or conservation.

Further Information: Royal Town Planning Institute: www.rtpi.org.uk

People with Relating To Others ability tend to be good at perceiving other people’s feelings. They are able to relate to others and interpret their behaviour and communication. They understand the relationships between people and their situations.

Typical roles for people with strong Relating to Others ability would include:

Advertising Account Executive

The Role: As an advertising account executive you will research, develop strategies and plan advertising campaigns to suit your clients' requirements. You will work for advertising, media or PR (Public Relations) agencies or work directly in larger organisations in their marketing department. You will work with a variety of advertising/marketing platforms such as TV, radio, billboards, online and direct mail.

Qualifications and Training: To be an advertising account executive you will most likely have completed a degree in a relevant discipline such as advertising, marketing, English, communication, business or management. Smaller agencies may give you a role without a degree especially where you have relevant work experience.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to have excellent communication skills as your role involves extensive discussion with clients and advertising providers. This will include negotiation skills. A creative flair is important as is being organised and being a good programme manager. Confidence and enthusiasm are also critical.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £18,000 to £25,000 per year which can rise to £35,000 or more with experience.

Future Prospects: Progression routes for advertising account executives depend on your abilities and experience and are very competitive. Performance of past marketing strategies and past advertising campaigns is key. With experience, advertising account executives may decide to work as freelancers or open their own agencies.

Further Information: Institute of Practitioners in Advertising: www.ipa.co.uk

Counsellor

The Role: Counsellors listen to what their clients say and ask questions in response, to help them explore, talk about and eventually resolve their problems. You will help your clients to see things more clearly, perhaps from a different point of view.

Qualifications and Training: Counselling is open to all graduates and those with an HND qualification but a pre-entry qualification in counselling is almost essential. This could be masters degree or a professional certificate or diploma. First degrees in subjects such as psychology, social studies or education are most useful for entry onto a masters course.

Personal Qualities and Skills: As most of the work involves talking with and listening to people, excellent communication skills are essential. You must be open-minded, tolerant and discreet. You need to be interested in how the mind works and in people's welfare.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £19,000 to £26,000 per year when newly qualified.

Future Prospects: Working in a large counselling unit will not leave much room for promotion, however it is possible to go on to specialise in a particular area of counselling, such as bereavement, family therapy or substance abuse. Self-employment is also possible once you have significant experience and training.

Further Information: British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy: www.bacp.co.uk

Doctor (GP)

The Role: As a general practitioner (GP) you will diagnose various health problems, physical or emotional, within your local community. You will be talking to and examining patients to find out what is wrong with them and then deciding on how to treat them. You may occasionally have to perform minor surgery.

Qualifications and Training: To become a GP you must first complete a medical degree which generally lasts 5 years. You will need at least 3 very good A-Levels including chemistry and biology. Once you have the medical degree you will need to complete a foundation programme (2 years) and specialist training in general practice (3 years) before you can qualify as a GP.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to have excellent communication skills in order to gain the trust of your patients and build good relationships with them. You must have excellent scientific and medical knowledge and should have an enquiring mind as you will need to continually update your knowledge and learn about new techniques and medicines.

Salary: During the foundation programme you can expect a salary of about £38,000 and during the speciality training you can expect a salary of about £50,000 per year. As a fully qualified GP your earnings could be between £50,000 and £80,000 per year.

Future Prospects: Demand is very high for new GPs so prospects are excellent. You may work in a large practice or a small surgery.

Further Information: British Medical Association: www.bma.org.uk

Event Organiser

The Role: As an event organiser you will be planning and organising events of varying sizes and ensuring that they run to plan on the day. You could find yourself organising anything from conferences, seminars and meetings to parties, ceremonies or weddings.

Qualifications and Training: There are no set entry requirements for this profession but many entrants have degrees in a variety of disciplines such as events management, conference and exhibition management, hospitality management, marketing, tourism and business.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You need to be incredibly well organised. Work can be tough and stressful so you need energy and stamina. You should relish taking on a heavy workload. You should be a team player who is good at communicating with others. Your project management and problem solving skills should be very good.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £18,000 to £25,000 but with experience you can earn up to £45,000 or more.

Future Prospects: Starting off in roles such as assistant events manager, you can aim towards positions such as event organiser or event manager and even look towards starting your own company.

Further Information: Association for Conferences and Events: www.ace-international.co.uk

Health Visitor

The Role: Health visitors work with people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures in various settings such as residential homes, schools, GP surgeries and village halls. You will provide advice on issues ranging from problems in children's sleep or feeding patterns, to postnatal depression, bereavement or relationship problems. Your primary patients will be parents with babies and small children.

Qualifications and Training: All health visitors must be registered nurses or midwives. To become a nurse or midwife you must complete a degree in nursing/midwifery. Generally you will need 5 GCSEs (A*-C) and 2 A-Levels to get on the course which lasts 4 years. You will also need to complete a qualification in Community and Public Health Nursing.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will be working closely with patients so you will need excellent communication skills. You must be trustworthy, understanding, reassuring and professional to inspire confidence in your patients. You must be able to prioritise a heavy workload and maintain discretion.

Salary: Starting salary is £25,000 per year which could rise to £33,000 or more with a few years' experience.

Future Prospects: Due to a shortage of NHS health visitors, prospects are excellent. Career progression could take the form of managing a team of health visitors or moving into a role as a consultant nurse.

Further Information: Nursing and Midwifery Council: www.nmc.org.uk

Human Resource/Personnel Officer

The Role: Human resources and personnel officers are responsible for recruiting staff for jobs at all levels and helping them get the training and development that they and the company need. You will be involved with negotiations between staff and trade unions on issues such as pay and conditions. You will also be involved with discipline, complaints and redundancy.

Qualifications and Training: There are no formal entry requirements for this career, but you are likely to be required to have 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including English and maths, and possibly some A-Levels. Most human resources officers have a degree or postgraduate qualifications. Some employers prefer candidates to have a professional HR qualification from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will work with people at all levels, including staff who could be angry or upset, so you will need excellent communication skills. You should be interested in people and be able to solve problems. You will also need to be tactful and diplomatic in dealing with people and be able to write clear and accurate reports, be organised and methodical and be able to work under pressure.

Salary: Average salary for graduate-level human resources officers is £25,000 although starting salaries may be lower. HR managers earn between £35,000 and £46,000.

Future Prospects: You may get more responsibility in a small company but have better prospects in a larger one. You will need to take professional qualifications and could work abroad or become a self-employed consultant.

Further Information: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development: www.cipd.co.uk

Politician

The Role: Politicians such as MLAs, MPs and MEPs, represent the people in their local constituencies in the Local Assembly, Parliament and the European Parliament, usually as a member of a political party. You will hold 'surgeries' in your local constituency and deal with issues raised by local people at local, national or European level.

Qualifications and Training: There are no formal minimum educational requirements however commitment to a political party is the most important criterion. However, due to the competitive nature of this field, most politicians at high level are graduates or hold other professional qualifications. Relevant subjects to study include politics, business, law or economics.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You should be passionate about politics and have strong social beliefs, along with a desire to represent the people of your constituency. Key skills include: communication, decision making, information handling, supervisory and management skills.

Salary: The basic salary for an MLA is £48,000 whereas local government posts will be substantially less than that and MP and MEP salaries will be £65,000 or higher.

Future Prospects: Your job in the local assembly or parliament will depend on being re-elected which means it's important to have another career option to fall back on. If successful in your career you could become the leader of your party or even the Prime Minister.

Further Information: Northern Ireland Assembly: www.niassembly.gov.uk/

Post Primary School Teacher

The Role: The teacher's role is to help pupils acquire particular knowledge and understanding of a subject. Teachers plan lessons, set and mark assignments, help pupils who are having difficulty and maintain a good working atmosphere in the classroom. As a post-primary school teacher you will be a specialist in 1 or 2 subjects. You will also take on the role of form tutor and be responsible for encouraging personal development and good behaviour.

Qualifications and Training: There are two main routes to teaching in Northern Ireland - a four year Bachelors in Education (B.Ed.) degree or a degree in another subject followed by a one year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Personal Qualities and Skills: Teachers must enjoy working with the age group they teach. They must be excellent communicators, able to motivate and encourage their pupils. They have to have great self-confidence to be able to handle difficult situations and discuss issues with parents as well as pupils. They must be able to work under considerable pressure, be well organised administrators and come up with imaginative solutions to problems.

Salary: Starting salary is approximately £21,000. With additional responsibilities you can earn up to £35,000 or more.

Future Prospects: For progression you can become a Key Stage coordinator, a head of department, a head of year group and take on further leadership roles.

Further Information: Department of Education: www.deni.gov.uk

Primary School Teacher

The Role: The teacher's role is to help pupils acquire particular knowledge and understanding of a subject. Teachers plan lessons, set and mark assignments, help pupils who are having difficulty and maintain a good working atmosphere in the classroom.

Qualifications and Training: There are two main routes to teaching in Northern Ireland - a four year Bachelors in Education (B.Ed.) degree or a degree in another subject followed by a one year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Personal Qualities and Skills: Teachers must enjoy working with the age group they teach. They must be excellent communicators, able to motivate and encourage their pupils. They have to have great self-confidence to be able to handle difficult situations and discuss issues with parents as well as pupils. They must be able to work under considerable pressure, be well organised administrators and come up with imaginative solutions to problems.

Salary: Starting salary is approximately £21,000. With additional responsibilities you can earn up to £35,000 or more.

Future Prospects: For progression you could become a coordinator of your specialist subject or work with teachers in nearby schools and ultimately take on leadership roles (VP, Principal) in the school or other primary school.

Further Information: Department of Education: www.deni.gov.uk

Psychiatrist

The Role: Psychiatrists are doctors who have undergone further training in psychiatry. As a psychiatrist you will diagnose mental health problems by talking to patients and carrying out tests. You will then decide on a course of treatment which could include prescribing drugs and talking to patients to help them deal with problems.

Qualifications and Training: Candidates must initially train as a hospital doctor by completing a medical degree (the entry requirements for medical schools are very high A-Level results). Graduates then undertake a 2 year foundation programme followed by 5-6 years of specialty training in a particular field of psychiatry.

Personal Qualities and Skills: As a psychiatrist you must be patient and caring. You will need excellent communication skills to listen carefully to people who might be confused or withdrawn.

Salary: During the foundation programme you can expect a salary of about £24,000 and during the specialty training you can expect a salary of about £32,000 per year. Consultant psychiatrists can achieve salaries ranging from £75,000 to £175,000.

Future Prospects: Most psychiatrists work within the NHS although there is also a small amount of work available in private hospitals. You could also move into academic work, either carrying out research or teaching medical students.

Further Information: British Medical Association: www.bma.org.uk

Sales Representative

The Role: As a sales representative you will be responsible for selling your company's products or services to existing clients and creating relationships with new clients. You will most likely specialise in a particular market, such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, engineering or consumer goods.

Qualifications and Training: There are no specific entry requirements, but if you choose to work in a technical field (e.g. pharmaceuticals or engineering) a relevant degree is likely to be required. However, employers are more interested in your sales and communication skills rather than any formal academic qualifications.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You must have good people skills as much of your success will depend on how you interact with customers and your ability to maintain relationships with them. Excellent communication and negotiation skills are essential as are organisational and time management skills.

Salary: You will often be paid a basic salary plus commission, which will be based on meeting sales targets. Starting salary could range from £15,000 to £20,000 per year plus commission but your salary can be much higher than that depending on your performance.

Future Prospects: With experience and success you could be promoted to sales team leader or sales manager.

Further Information: Institute of Sales Management: www.ismprofessional.com

Sales Retail Assistant

The Role: As a sales retail assistant you will deal with customers in shops offering them a polite, helpful and speedy service and sell them a range of goods. Shops range from small specialist outlets to huge department stores so your duties will vary.

Qualifications and Training: There are no minimum entry requirements for this work as training is provided by employers. However larger companies may ask for 2-5 GCSEs (A*-C), particularly in English and maths.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need to be well presented, outgoing, friendly, and polite and be able to deal with awkward customers and stay calm when you are busy. You may be working to targets and earning bonuses according to how much you sell so you will need to be persuasive but not pushy. You should also be responsible and trustworthy and be able to work within a team and on your own.

Salary: Starting salaries are around £11,000 to £15,000 per year but as a supervisor you could earn up to £20,000.

Future Prospects: Working in a small shop you will be given responsibilities quite quickly, but promotion prospects can be limited. In large stores and chains you will probably get training and can quickly become a supervisor and then move into management roles.

Further Information: British Independent Retailers Association: www.bira.co.uk

Social Worker

The Role: Working as a social worker, you will interview your clients and assess their complex problems and needs. You will then advise on the best package of care. Your goal is to support people to live independently and thrive in their surroundings. This might involve helping families to stay together, protecting vulnerable people or helping the excluded to be part of their community.

Qualifications and Training: All social workers must complete a degree in Social Work. Graduates entering social work employment in Northern Ireland are then required to complete an Assessed Year in Employment (AYE) as part of continuing social work registration requirements. During this year all newly qualified social workers will be supervised by a registered social worker.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You should be culturally aware, non-judgemental and able to engage with clients of all ethnicities, religions and backgrounds. Caseloads can be heavy, so you need to be organised and able to multi-task. Excellent communication skills are important. You must also be confident at resolving conflict.

Salary: Starting salaries range from £20,000 to £30,000 per year. Managers can earn £45,000 or more.

Future Prospects: There is currently a high demand for qualified social workers so job prospects are high. In the future you could become a senior practitioner or manager and even get involved with lecturing or self-employment.

Further Information: Northern Ireland Social Care Council: www.niscc.info

Sports Coach

The Role: Sports coaches provide specialist support, motivation and knowledge to athletes in order to help them attain their best performance and achieve personal goals. As a competitive coach you could work with a variety of levels of athletes, ranging from children's football or netball teams through to professional and even world class sports professionals.

Qualifications and Training: All sports coaches must hold a qualification that has been accredited by the national governing body of their chosen discipline. These include NVQs, HNCs, HNDs and foundation degrees at colleges and universities.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You will need excellent communication skills and need to have good motivational abilities to inspire and encourage sports players to push themselves. You will need an in-depth knowledge of your chosen sport. An understanding of nutrition and physiology is also useful.

Salary: Newly qualified coaches earn between £15,000 and £25,000 but experienced coaches can earn £35,000 or more with coaches at the highest levels earning well over £100,000 per year.

Future Prospects: The vast majority of sports coaches work on a voluntary or part-time basis so competition is fierce for full time paid positions. Career prospects will depend on the level of success you achieve and you could move into related development or management positions.

Further Information: Sports Coach UK: www.sportscoachuk.org

Training Development Officer

The Role: As a training development officer you will be responsible for making sure your company's staff have the skills and knowledge they need to make the business as efficient as possible. Some of your work will involve looking at how to provide the best training at the lowest cost, but you will also deliver training yourself. You will have to write reports and make presentations.

Qualifications and Training: With relevant experience and skills entry is possible without a degree or HND, although having one can be an advantage. Useful subjects include human resources, psychology, IT and business.

Personal Qualities and Skills: You should be interested in people and in helping them to develop and improve their skills. You will need to be able to pass on your knowledge and expertise in a lively, interesting way by designing imaginative and varied training. You will need to be organised and able to plan ahead, meet deadlines and assess the effectiveness of training.

Salary: Starting salaries typically range from £22,000 to £30,000. Experienced training managers can earn up to £40,000 or more.

Future Prospects: Opportunities for training development officers and managers exist in all mid-size to large companies. And with increased specialism and technical training more companies are using self-employed consultants to deliver their training.

Further Information: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development: www.cipd.co.uk