Could you take visitors on a tour?
Tourist guides show visitors around places of interest, such as towns and cities, historic buildings, gardens, religious sites or museums and art galleries.
You will need excellent communication skills in this job.
You will also need to have a good memory for facts, figures and events.
If you’re good at public speaking, and are interested in history and the arts, this could be the ideal job for you.
There aren’t any specific entry requirements to get into this work, but many employers would ask for GCSE passes, particularly in English and maths.
There are courses available in tourist guiding that could help you develop the skills you would need.
As a tourist guide you could work in one place such as a castle or historic house.
Alternatively, you could accompany groups on day tours to a number of interesting places or sites.
You would escort groups around the site or area, and give information about its history, purpose, architecture or other points of interest. Guided tours could include: • Sightseeing tours • Tours for special interest groups • Themed walks. You could also work as a driver guide taking small groups of tourists on guided tours around places of interest in a car or minibus.
Tourist guiding is often seasonal work, so your working hours will vary.
You could work up to 40 hours a week during the peak season in the UK, which is usually the summer months.
You are likely to work at weekends and sometimes in the evening. A lot of tourist guides have more than one job so that they have work outside of the peak season.
Some tourist guides may travel outside of the UK to find work. You would usually spend most of your working time on your feet, and you could work indoors or outdoors.
There are no set entry requirements to becoming a tourist guide, but it will usually help if you have some GCSES (A-C), including English and maths.
It would also be an advantage if you have experience in jobs that involve dealing with the public and giving presentations.
It could be useful if you speak a foreign language fluently, but this is not essential.
An interest in working with people and excellent communication skills, and a clear voice to speak to groups are must have skills.
You must have the ability to present information in an interesting way.
You must have a good memory for facts, figures and events and have a keen interest in the arts, history and other related subjects, such as architecture.
Good organisational skills for planning tours is also essential as well as being able to manage your time well.
Many tourist guides are self- employed. Some guides will work in salaried jobs for tour operators or coach firms. Other employers include organisations such as the National Trust, English Heritage, and owners of visitor attractions and historic properties.