Pet grooming, Segway tours, and other weird summer jobs

WHAT do you think when you hear the word ‘blimp’? If you said ‘Duff’, this could be a job for you. If you said ‘Hindenburg’, you’re too old.

WHAT’S the first thing you think of when you hear the word ‘blimp’?

If you answered ‘Duff’, this could be a job for you. If you said ‘Hindenburg’, chances are you’re too old.

With the HSC over, many school leavers will be looking for work.

Whether you want a summer job, something to do in your gap year or the start of a new career, it never hurts to think outside the box.

You could be a Segway tour guide, a pet groomer, or personal shopper.

Or, as we said, you could fly in a blimp.

Mark Finney, 50, a pilot with Van Wagner Airship Group, has been flying blimps for 14 years, in just about every country in the world.

“Japan, India, North America, Canada, Western Europe, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and everywhere in between,” he says. “It’s just like being at sea. We move every couple of weeks or so, going from port to port.”

Van Wagner has secured a contract with Appliances Online to fly an airship around Australia for the next two years — literally, that’s it — and is currently advertising for ground crew.

Unfortunately, you don’t fly around in the actual blimp most of the time, but you do get to travel around the country. There are 13 crew all up — six in the air and seven on the ground.

Inside the blimp are two qualified pilots, two licensed aviation mechanics, a crew chief and a clerk, while ground staff include watch keepers and ground attendants.

“We like people who are willing to work in a team, who are willing to travel, who are physically able. If you’ve got a truck license that’s even more of a help,” says Mr Finney.

“You don’t need a degree in aeronautics, it’s more about being practical and good with your hands. All crew get plenty of opportunity to go up in the ship as well. While we tend to get more male crew members applying, we do recruit female crew as well.”

The blimp flies 30 hours — six hours a day, five days a week — and covers an average of 320 kilometres a day.

The schedule is yet to be determined, but a trip to across to Perth is on the cards. According to Mr Finney, that hasn’t been done since the 1980s.

So does everyone always make jokes about the Duff Blimp? “No, but we always get asked about hydrogen and the Hindenburg,” he says.

“The big classic zeppelins were filled with hydrogen. They wanted to use helium, but due to politics the Americans wouldn’t sell it — they were the only reliable source in the world — so they were forced to use hydrogen. The rest was history.”

Blimps today are extremely safe, as long as you keep an eye on the weather, he says. “We’re very careful with the weather. I’ve never had an engine failure. I have had storms chasing me but always managed to get it on the ground.”

Ground crew need to be prepared to act fast if a storm blows up. “Weather forecasting is very good these days, but it can still take you by surprise. When the blimp is travelling we stay close to the crew all the time, and in an emergency we may have to quickly land in a farmer’s field so crew really need to be ready to go.”

EIGHT WEIRD SUMMER JOBS

BLIMP TEAM

“Hey there, blimpy boy, flying in the sky so fancy free.”

Ever wanted to fly in an airship? The new Appliances Online blimp is recruiting ground crew. You can expect to travel all over the country supporting the blimp, with accommodation costs and a meal allowance on top of your salary. Staff are needed for a minimum two years.

FATHER CHRISTMAS

This could be you.

Always wanted to try on the big red suit? For those wanting to earn a bit of cash ahead of a January holiday, Santas are being recruited across the nation. A real Santa beard “would be desirable” according to one ad, but is not compulsory.

SEGWAY TOUR GUIDE

Get paid to do this.

If trudging around the city showing tourists the sights sounds too exhausting in the summer sun, how about doing it on a Segway? Enthusiastic and energetic people are required — you’ll need a driving licence, though. If that’s not exciting enough, you can always become a Zipline adventure tour guide.

BECOME A STAR

You don’t have to look like a supermodel.

Ideal for people who can work at a day’s notice, talent agencies are frequently recruiting for TV extras and models. You don’t need experience, and you don’t have to look like a supermodel.

PERSONAL SHOPPER

She looks so happy. You could be this happy.

Airtasker has a slew of small jobs available — buying and delivering items from Ikea, buying beer and party balloons, delivering drinks and ice, and even researching the costs for Winnebago hire in New Zealand. If you can design websites and logos, have a ute available, or don’t mind cleaning and gardening, there’s a wealth of opportunities.

PET GROOMER

This is Snoopy Morrison. She always claims the best chair.

Love animals? If you know your way around a shaggy dog, this one could be for you. Hot summer days mean a surge in pets needing their coats trimmed, so sharpen your clippers. Dog walking is another good option.

ENLIST IN THE GREEN ARMY

You probably don’t need to wear a suit.

The Green Army is a government initiative for 17 to 24-year-olds that supports environmental and heritage programs across Australia. You get to work outdoors and pick up valuable skills.

BE A DJ

These people look like they’re having a nice time.

Possibly not quite the glamour end of the international club scene, but it’s a start. Mobile DJs are wanted for various summer events. It’s a good option for those that prefer to work nights and spend their days on the beach.

Originally published as Pet grooming, Segway tours, and other weird summer jobs