The exciting, innovative jobs common in the local market
CAIRO: Let’s face it; all jobs are not created equal. While every job comes with its perks and drawbacks, some are just more glamorous than others. A look at the local scene highlights a number of the most exciting, creative and, yes, the sexiest careers out there.
Fashion designer
Average salary: Varies
Nothing screams glamor more than a job in this industry. From silks to runways, a fashion designer re-invents the meaning of style.
According to Dina Said, an Egyptian fashion designer and the sole Egyptian contestant on the Lebanese fashion reality show Project Runway, the most exciting part of the job comes at the end.
“You’re in complete awe when you see the finished product that went from mere scraps of material to a final creation. You are taking a vision that’s in your head and making it a reality, says Said. “Also, there are so many dimensions to fashion designing, you don’t know where to start and that feeling is exhilarating in itself. For her, fashion design is the art of accessorizing the body.
While the idea of creating a whole wardrobe of fantastic designs sounds like fun, the job does come with not-so-fun aspects. First, one must practice patience.
“It takes time to make a high quality product – from sketching the design, selecting the material, to actually making it, it’s a very-detail oriented job and the slow process can be frustrating and strenuous, she says.
Cost is another con; fashion designing is an expensive career.
“If your planning to go the whole nine yards with a fashion line, the cost can be exuberantly high, especially if you are just starting out and trying to create a name for yourself, she says.
For those interested in becoming fashion designers, Said’s advice is to go back to school and get a degree in fashion design. “You have to know the basics of designing before pursuing a career in this industry, she says.
Jewelry designer:
Average salary: LE 2,000-5,000 per month, depending on experience
Jewelry design is another hot career. “Designing, drawing and then finding the stones and what I can make with my sketch, that’s the most glamorous part of the job, says Malak Nakhla, a designer at Nakhla Company, specialized in hand-made jewelry made of gold and semi-precious stones.
As for the drawbacks, Nakhla says that selling is by far the worst part of the job. “You end up getting complaints and requests from customers all the time. Can you make this shorter? Can you make this longer? Can you make this in a different color? Because our jewelry is hand-made rather than mass-produced, it takes time and effort to make a product the way you want it. To have to alter it for the customer can be a very frustrating procedure, she says.
Like Said, Nakhla suggests that people interested in pursing this profession take jewelry design courses.
“I also recommend taking art courses and courses in hand crafting so that you have an idea of what you can or cannot make with certain stones, she says.
Film Director/Producer
Average Salary: Depends on film budget
Producers and directors are really entrepreneurs with a creative flair. “The most exciting part of the job is the process itself, especially the editing phase, when you get to see the film coming together, says Karim Fanous, a freelance director and editor, whose short film “Alla Fein (Where To?) was featured in a number of international film festivals and was screened at the Cairo Opera House.
“Having a concept [and] then executing it, that’s the reward of having worked on a project for a year. It’s like constructing a building, he says.
Yet, a career in filmmaking comes with many challenges. For starters, directors and producers struggle to get a film done against time and budget constraints, which takes away from the creativity of the process. The logistics are also turn-off, according to Fanous.
“Right after you finish shooting, you have to spend a couple of days putting the footage on a computer. It’s called digitizing your footage. That, for me, is the most tedious, frustrating part of the job, says Fanous.
While filmmakers do not need to have a certain background to make a movie, according to Fanous, those pursuing the career need to be good storytellers. “You need to be in touch with human emotions and be able to bring that out on screen, whether through images, writing, or photography, he says.
Wedding/Party Planner
Average Salary: Varies. Average fixed cost: LE 40,000
For wedding planners, love can be a profitable business. According to Mahmoudaki, one of Egypt’s most prominent wedding planners, this business can be a raging headache, unless you have a passion for marriage.
“This job is full of little details and can be very tiring. You must love it to succeed. It’s like fishing. If you don’t have patience, sooner or later you are going to put down the rod, says Mahmoudaki.
The most exciting part of the job is in the process itself, he continues, from creating a concept to executing it. As for the worst part of the job, Mahmoudaki attributes it to the tardiness of others.
“When the suppliers I work with are late in completing or handing over things, it affects our work and delays our schedule, which can be very frustrating and stressful as you get closer to the wedding, he says.
For those interested in such a career, innate characteristics, such as talent and taste, is all you need, states Mahmoudaki.
Journalist
Average Salary: LE 400-3,000
“There are many exciting aspects to being a journalist, says Ahmad Aboul-Wafa, a freelance journalist. “Interviewing people, getting explosive or comic reactions, is one part of the job I love. You also get to learn about various industries and careers, so it’s a job-come-education of sorts.
According to Aboul-Wafa, the worst part of the job is deadlines. “Also, the way people perceive journalists as these spies who are coming in to spy and investigate them, before reporting them to the police, that can get very annoying, and hurtful at times, he says.
While a degree in journalism can be beneficial, especially when it comes to learning how to structure a story, those who want to apply for a job at a publication should be well-read, have fresh ideas, honest curiosity and, at the heart of the matter, good writing skills.
Other glamorous careers include chefs, pilots, photographers and models. And if your current job is not in any of these industries, have no fear. A hot job starts with a hot attitude.
