The top 5 jobs for spring
A CareerOne investigation has found the top 5 jobs to hold in September, October and November in terms of a comfortable work environment and workload.
With flowers blooming and the wedding season blossoming, florists are flushed with an abundance of work and flowers from which to choose. Burnside Florists owner Eiren Stojakovic says more sun than in winter encourages flowers to grow bigger and faster. That raises stock availability, quality and variety.
She says an increase in weddings being held in spring increases the workload and excitement in the shop. “It’s the best time of the year,” she says. “It’s better to be busier than quieter.”
Spring is a good time for winemakers to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labour before the start of the next vintage.
South Australian Wine Industry Association chief executive Brian Smedley says many winemakers are travelling within the state, across Australia or overseas at this time of year to promote their last vintage.
Most of the crushing of grapes and blending of juices has been done and buds are yet to burst in the vineyard, meaning many may be enjoying a drink from the 2010 vintage, he says. “Some people thrive on the seven-days-a-week, 24 hours-a-day in vintage but it is less stressful and less busy at this time of year,” Mr Smedley says.
Engineers Australia SA division executive director Caroline Argent says not all civil engineers spend their working day outside as their speciality is so diverse. Many, however, can leave a stuffy office and get out to work sites, which makes spring a pleasant time of year for their work.
Outdoors is the workplace for gardeners, who can enjoy the mild temperatures and sunny days in spring after cold, rainy days of winter and ahead of blistering hot days in summer.
Mellissa Styles, 23, is studying a Certificate III in horticulture so she can start her own gardening business next year. She says spring is the best time of year for her work. “I think it’s the perfect time of year, as everything is starting to come up and we can start to see what it’s meant to look like at it’s best,” she says.
Although stuck inside, senior office managers have put to bed many end-of-financial year duties and have fewer staff off sick with winter illnesses.
GARDENER
* Gardeners are involved with maintenance of parks and gardens as well as restoration and creation of new green spaces.
They can mow lawns, install irrigation, prune trees and plant new seedlings, either individually or as a member of a team.
* Qualifications: TAFE SA certificate/diploma of horticulture.
* Average salary: $45,000 – $70,000.
* Best spring job: Sunny, mild days make it comfortable for gardeners to work outside and the workplace environment is aesthetically pleasing with flowers blooming.
SENIOR MANAGER
* A manager is the team leader of a group and takes on senior responsibilities and workloads.
Managers are involved in workforce operation and development, performance development reviews, leave notices and staff workloads.
* Qualifications: Management courses are offered by SA’s three universities, TAFE SA and other registered training providers.
* Average salary: $70,000 – $160,000.
* Best spring job: Some of the toughest jobs for managers are behind them as the end of financial year has passed, performance reviews are completed and pay increases assigned. Fewer staff are off sick with winter illness.
FLORIST
* Florists source flowers to design and create bouquets and floral arrangements for special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, funerals and anniversaries. Many start out as assistants to another florist and progress to owning a business.
* Salary: $25,000-$80,000.
* Best spring job: An increase in flowers grown in spring makes it easier for florists to source stock and increases the quality of their products.
More work creates an income boost for self-employed florists.
CIVIL ENGINEER
* Civil engineers design and co-ordinate the construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams and buildings.
They can work in an office during the development of a project as well as on-site during the construction phase.
* Qualifications: University of Adelaide/Flinders University/University of South Australia bachelor of engineering.
* Average salary: $80,000-$160,000.
* Best spring job: Civil engineers who have work under way at construction sites can give in to the lure of a sunny, mild spring day and leave the office to do their work in the outdoors, on-site in the fresh air.
WINEMAKER
* WInemakers plan, supervise and co-ordinate the production of wine.
They work in the vineyard, cellar and office to produce the best possible wine – from when the grapes are grown and the juices are blended to tasting and liaising with buyers.
* Qualifications: University of Adelaide bachelor of oenology.
* Average salary: $50,000 – $150,000.
* Best spring job: This year’s vintage is over and the next is yet to begin, leaving winemakers with time to cosset the precious vines, enjoy drinking the previous fruits of their labour and travelling to promote their products.
