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Why is an animal’s temperature taken from its bottom? ...and other really important questions kids have about their dream jobs

6 March 2019

Deciding on the right career path can be fraught with difficulties.

We may have a dream job in mind, but how are we to know if it involves doing something revolting, or working unsociable hours?

To get some answers we tasked children with asking the most important questions about their dream jobs.

So if you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be a space engineer, a vet nurse, an entrepreneur, a plumber or a personal trainer, read on…

To the space engineer: ‘Do you work in a top secret environment?’

Space engineer Liam Quinn makes satellites for a living and he revealed that secrecy does play a part.

“There are some pretty secret things we work on. It’s important that when we’re talking to people we’re careful about what we let them know. There’s a lot of companies doing similar things to what we’re aiming to do and we don’t want to let them know how we’re doing it.”

Teamwork is really important in Liam’s job. “We build the satellites together and we check each other’s satellites to make sure we’ve done our jobs properly. So it’s really important that you’ve got each other’s backs and you support each other.”

“Working here is super-fun," said Liam. “It’s such a cool job!”

Secrets of a Space Engineer

Liam Quinn has always been fascinated by space, and he now has a job making satellites.

To the vet nurse: ‘Why is an animal’s temperature taken from its bottom?’

Veterinary nurse Jess Snedden answered this one: “[We do it because] that’s the nearest place we can get to for a core temperature”, she explained.

Jess’s job is to care for patients through their operations and to make sure they get home safely.

“I do feel sad when I see a sick or hurt animal,” she admitted. “But part of my job is helping them get better.

“I chose to become a vet nurse because I love animals and being able to heal them and help them get better makes you feel good” said Jess.

Secrets of a Vet Nurse

Jess Sneddon looks after the animals having treatment at the vet practice where she works.

To the entrepreneur: ‘Can you get up at any time you want?’

Alex Barron had an idea for a brand new business and made it a success, but although he’s his own boss he can’t take it easy.

“I can get up at any time I want, but there’s so much work that we need to do I don’t very often get to sleep in anymore.”

But there are some advantages. For example, he can wear whatever he likes to work!

“I very rarely wear a suit — usually jeans and a t-shirt and trainers.”

Alex has had to work hard to make his business successful, even working without pay to begin with.

“I do get paid now,” he said. “But at the start we went for a long time without being paid, so there was lots of hard work and no money.”

Secrets of an Entrepreneur

Alex Barron had an idea for a business, set it up, and now runs his own company.

To the plumber: ‘Do you ever get wet?’

Zoe Hume is approaching the end of her four year plumbing apprenticeship. She’s learning to install baths, sinks, and showers, as well as the pipework behind them.

“It’s a really hands-on job,” said Zoe. “You need to think and act fast. It can be fun when you have a laugh with your work friends, and it can be yucky ... a blocked toilet is not a nice scene.”

And in answer to the all-important question: “Every day you get wet,” she said.

“See the way your fingers go all wrinkly in the bath? It’s like that every time I go home.”

Secrets of a Plumber

Apprentice plumber Zoe Hume loves her job and the challenge of not getting wet every day!

To the personal trainer: ‘Do your clients ever moan?’

Kristeen Pollock trains 10 clients each day to help them get fit.

“My clients moan all the time,” said Kristeen. “But I’m very good at blocking them out!

“Personal training is good fun because you get to meet lots of different people and when you help people reach their fitness goals it makes them very happy.”

Being a personal trainer isn’t for night owls; Kristeen starts work early and has to get up 4.30 every morning. There are other downsides to the job, too.

“Sometimes people’s sweat goes on to me and that’s quite yucky. Sometimes people feel sick and that’s quite bad, and also lots of people have fainted as well, said Kristeen.

“But I love my job!” she said.

Secrets of a Personal Trainer

Personal trainer Kristeen Pollock shares the best, worst and yukkiest bits about her job.

What is your job really like?

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