Ever found yourself watching your favourite TV show and thought, ‘They’ve got the best job EVER. How do you do that?’ We do. All the time. (Apart from when we’re watching Orange is the New Black. Obvs.) Kirsty McKenzie’s taken a look at some of TV’s leading ladies and found out how you get the brilliant jobs they have.
Rachel Zane, Suits, Paralegal
Law is fast becoming a very over-crowded market – the number of training contracts for would-be solicitors has fallen from more than 6,000 in 2008 to 5,200 in 2013. Working as a paralegal, like Rachel Zane in Suits, can be a great alternative to the normal legal career path. Paralegals help solicitors to give legal advice to clients in a variety of legal work, typically specialising in a particular area of law. Salaries for paralegals are usually around £20,000 to £25,000 a year, but experienced paralegals can earn up to £35,000 a year. A new Modern Apprenticeship in Paralegal Practice launched in early 2014 incorporating the new Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Paralegal Practice Level 3 (SCQF Level 7). Most employers are looking for paralegal trainees with one or two Highers, preferably including English. Some firms actively encourage paralegals to progress to be trainees, but being a paralegal is increasingly becoming a career in its own right. Representative bodies such as the Institute of Paralegals and the National Association of Licensed Paralegals are setting standards and raising professionalism.
Jess Day, New Girl, Primary School Teacher
Daydream of spending your days in quirky floral dresses as you finger paint and sing-song-teach the times tables to a bunch of cute but challenging seven year olds? Jessica Day, she of the off-beat fringe and glasses fame, is your icon and you dream of following in her footsteps to become a Deputy Headteacher. To become a primary teacher you could complete a four or five year degree, including a teaching qualification. Several universities in Scotland offer an MA or BA Hons with a teaching qualification, and the University of Glasgow offers an MEd Hons in Primary Education. Alternatively you could complete another degree and follow it with a a one year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Primary Education.The PGDE is offered by the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde and the West of Scotland. Entry to courses usually requires a minimum of four to five Highers, including English.
Olivia Pope, Scandal, Crisis Management
You can’t get enough of Scandal, the pacy political drama that’s all pastel suits and power games. You see yourself stepping into the dangerously high shoes of Olivia, whose career as head of a crisis management firm is all about ‘fixing’ even the messiest of Washington’s scandals. Most PR firms deal in Crisis Management and it helps to have experience in journalism, marketing, advertising, or like our favourite gladiator, a degree in law. Don’t worry if a degree isn’t something you’ve set your mind on – training in PR often happens on the job but some companies do offer graduate training programmes. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) offer professional training courses at all levels. Their Foundation Award is for school leavers/students wishing to enter PR and the Advanced Certificate is for graduates who would like to move into PR, or have at least two years PR experience.
Ellie Miller, Broadchurch, Detective
Who hasn’t been gripped by the likes of Taggart, Morse or, of course, the runaway success of Broadchurch? You’ve seen the show, screamed the clues at the TV and now you think you’ve got what it takes to catch the real life baddies. Obviously it is not all thrills and glamour – the job demands long hours and nerves of steel and it will take you at least two years in uniform (and passing the necessary exams) before you can become a detective. Salaries start around £25,96 but after 10 years service your salary will be at least £36,519 a year. While no formal entry qualifications are required, you must be at least 18 years old, physically fit and be a British, European Union or Commonwealth citizen; or have permission to stay in the UK indefinitely. If you meet these requirements the next step is to apply – find recruitment details on the Police Scotland website (www.scotland.police.uk/recruitment).