What do an energy manager, story sack project officer, finance adviser, cook, firefighter, music service co-ordinator and beach care officer all have in common?
They're all jobs at Cumbria County Council, which means they're all 'public sector' jobs.
Next week is Public Sector Jobs Week, promoting the huge variety of jobs available, the exciting work, and the benefits of working in the public sector.
As the second largest employer in Cumbria, the county council has job opportunities throughout the area.
Some are office based, others are mainly outdoors and there are also jobs that involve visiting people in their own homes.
The many benefits of working in the public sector include the chance to work closely with people in the local community, a large number of flexible working opportunities, annual leave, training and development opportunities and a good pension scheme and pay.
As there are so many different types of job, people can enter public sector work with a variety of skills, experiences and qualifications.
Iain Dawson is part of the county council's web team, responsible for web development. Previous jobs have included working for himself as a commercial pilot, flight instructor and advanced ground instructor in the USA. He said:
"Having decided to go back to being an employee, I decided early on that I wanted to work for an organisation involved with public service an not one devoted purely to profits at all and any cost. As I have matured in years my sense of what is important in life has changed."
Carl Swan now works as a social worker in Cumbria County Council's adult social care department, but he used to be a professional footballer. His first experience of adult care was as a volunteer one day a week at a day centre in Sheffield:
"I enjoyed this time very much and it made me think of taking it further when I finished football. After a bad injury and some disilluion I decided to apply for a job at a day centre in Chesterfield.......they sent me to Stockport Polytechnic to get my qualifications in social work."
A job as the county council's news manager was the first in the public sector for Gareth Cosslett - he left behind London and a private sector job as a producer with Sky News:
"It has definitely been a change for the better......and I am still minded of the fact that the people who share the Settle to Carlisle train with me every morning to work in effect pay my wages.
"It puts an added layer of responsibility on your soul, but it's actually a good feeling to be promoting the cause of Cumbria for Cumbrians."
The county council's head of equality and HR is Maria Mina. She said:
"We sometimes don't shout about it enough, but the public sector is an exciting, dynamic and rewarding place in which to work and hopefully this third annual special week will help us get across the idea of just what's available in terms of jobs.
As well as local authorities, the public sector includes the emergency services and the NHS, so there's a job out there that will suit nearly everyone."
You can find more information about current vacancies within Cumbria County Council by looking in local press or by visiting our website at www.cumbria.gov.uk/jobs
ENDS
Further information from Alison Lister, Media Team on 01228 606335
Notes for editors
Please find attached four 'case studies' of people who work at Cumbria County Council
Case Studies (PDF format file, 27Kb)