JobsAndCareers_Winter2021/22 - 337

ENTERTAINMENT
BOWLING ALLEY TEAM MEMBER
Tenpin bowling is one of the UK's favourite leisure activities, with an
estimated value of more than £250m. If you enjoy working with customers
and making people happy, bowling alleys are the perfect place to do it.
There are lots of jobs, from food prep to amusements to reception.
What skills and qualifications do I need? Enthusiasm, being a team
player, and a willingness to get stuck in and do anything that's required are
essential. No formal qualifications are required. Customer service courses
will stand you in good stead but most employers offer on-site training.
How much can I earn? Many jobs start at minimum wage. Work your way
up to duty manager and you'll be on around £16,000, while an assistant
manager can make £25,000 and a general manager £40,000.
CASINO MANAGER
You're obliged to make customers feel safe and happy, while at the same
time ensuring they spend lots of money, so you'll need to create and market
promotions and incentives. You also need to make sure your employees are
up to date with gambling regulations.
What skills and qualifications do I need? You'll need good
communication and organisation skills, plus clearheadedness and a
knowledge of the rules of the games. A degree isn't always required but it
can give you a good start - there are courses in gambling studies at some
universities, as well as qualifications from the Institute for the Study of
Gambling & Commercial Gaming. You'll also need a licence from the
Gambling Commission. Experience is crucial; many casino managers have
previously been a floor manager or " pit boss " .
How much can I earn? At least £35,000 and as much as £80,000
depending on the size and prestige of your employer.
BETTING SHOP CASHIER
There are around 6,700 betting shops in the UK, and there's certain to be
one near you. You'll take bets and pay out winnings, and you may find you
need to explain how odds work or how certain games or machines operate.
What skills and qualifications do I need? The ability to do mental
arithmetic quickly is useful (although computer programs will do that for
you), but it's just as important that you know how to deal with customers
in a friendly and reasonable manner - especially crucial where significant
sums of money are involved. As in retail, be prepared to work long
hours and weekends. You can do an NVQ or
City & Guilds in gambling operations, and a
qualification in customer service will help too.
How much can I earn? The starting
salary will be around £14,000. If you stick
with it and end up managing a group of
stores, you can earn around £50,000.
GAMBLING
SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Software is essential to many industries
these days but gambling is particularly
prominent among these, with a large
proportion of betting done online and virtually
all operations carried out by computers.
Engineering covers architecture, development,
testing - the full software gamut.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
Coding is the obvious skill, but there's also
problem-solving, planning, communication
and the ability to work under pressure. An
interest in and understanding of gambling
would be a plus. Usually, a bachelor's or
postgraduate degree in an IT-related subject
(such as business information systems,
computer science, software development), as
well as experience with project management
and the relevant programming languages are
desirable. Apprenticeships are available.
How much can I earn? Graduates start
on at least £35,000, rising to £80,000.
MUSEUM CURATOR
Every exhibit in every museum and gallery
is carefully planned - if you've got a passion
for informing the public about art and
history, you could be that planner.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
Curators have an unusual mix of meticulousness
(for cataloguing, budgeting and planning) and
creative flair. IT skills are useful, while excellent
written English is essential. Most also have a
degree in a relevant subject such as history,
natural sciences or anthropology. Also, try to
find work experience as soon as possible.
How much can I earn? You'll start on
around £20,000 a year, rising to £40,000
or more if you progress through the
ranks to a top-class institution.
Find out more
* British Games Institute thebgi.uk
* British Guild of Tourist Guides
britainsbestguides.org
* Gambling Commission
gamblingcommission.gov.uk
* UKHospitality ukhospitality.org.uk
jobsandcareersmag.com /// JOBS & CAREERS /// 337
http://www.thebgi.uk http://www.britainsbestguides.org http://gamblingcommission.gov.uk http://ukhospitality.org.uk http://www.jobsandcareersmag.com
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