Amy Pickerill has landed what many will consider the dream job of 2018.
Readers following our coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent visit to Edinburgh may have noticed Amy standing next to the royal couple as they met well-wishers in the city.
She has now been officially named as Private Assistant Secretary, aka right hand woman, to Ms Markle.
Amy, a former PR professional for RBS before becoming a press officer for Kensington Palace, will now be responsible for advising on royal protocol, handling gifts and helping to organise the royal wedding.
She’ll also be rubbing shoulders with the great and the good, as well as attending all the best parties in the land. Nice work if you can get it.
For many, a dream role goes hand-in-hand with a dream salary and, in 2018, the best paid jobs are going to be a mix of established professions and new roles created by technology.
Legal & Medical
Those working in the highest tiers of law and medicine are typically well paid. A medical practitioner such as a consultant earns around £75,577 while the average salary of a legal professional is £73,864, according to the ONS.
Aviation
High-flying jobs in aviation can also be well-rewarded, with pilots earning between £80,000 and £90,000. In recent years air traffic controllers have also seen their salaries rise by a sizeable 60%.
Technology
Advances in technology are creating new jobs at a pace that often outstrips supply – this is why digital designers and software developers can command high salaries. An ethical hacker, testing companies’ IT security, can earn up to £90,000.
High-demand
A skills shortage can push up salaries as organisations fight over the best candidates. Add in the fact unemployment levels in Scotland have been relatively low and this has led to shortages of skilled labour. The most significant vacancies are for nurses and teachers, but there is also a shortage of engineers and developers.
While earning big bucks is a major attraction for some, for many a dream job is about following a passion and being paid for it. For others, it can be the idea of doing something a bit quirky that appeals.
Talking of which, did you know it’s possible to earn a living as a flume tester in the UK?
Yes, you can take home a cool £20,000 a year for the pleasure of trying out and rating water slides. The only qualifications you need are the ability to swim and a passion for having fun.
If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, perhaps you can spend your days researching what is your perfect cuppa.
Professional tea tasters really do exist and are paid £25,000 to taste teas all day long. It takes up to five years to train but can lead to a career travelling the world.
Adrenalin junkies may also be interested in a role that rewards handsomely while testing the nerve. London’s iconic Gherkin building requires a team of nine window cleaners to keep it looking tip top. They are paid £50,000 and there really is no glass ceiling.
If you, too, are ready to make your dream job come true in 2018 take a look at the roles on s1jobs.