Lifeskills National Careers Week – A day in life of Nick Thompson

by Emma Slater on 4 Mar 2015 Our first ‘Day in the life of’ today comes from professional sailor/athlete and member of the British Sailing Team, Nick Thompson, four time Laser World Champion Medallist.

We grabbed five minutes out of his extremely hectic schedule to ask him about his job as a professional sailor.

Why did you want a job in this field?
I love being involved in sailing and being on the water but most importantly for the chance to win gold at the Olympics

What exactly does your job involve?
On water training, off water fitness training and traveling to events to compete and train

How did you get the job?
Through hard work and results, it's not the easiest job to get so you have to be willing to put in the hard work.

Did you have to do any special courses / training for it?
Lots of training when I was young plus competing on a regular basis both nationally and internationally

What do you love about your job?
Being outside most of the time, getting the chance to compete for GBR

What are the biggest challenges?
Illness and injury are always there plus, so much time away can be tough and the competition is obviously the hardest part

What are your top tips for people thinking about a career in this field?
1. You have to love the sport
2. Get in as much racing experience as you can
3. Never give up

What has been your career highlight to date?
Four medals at the World Championships.

Describe a typical day?
No day is ever that similar but they usually involve a morning workout either a long bike ride or gym session. Three hours on the water training, debriefing and either a pm gym session or stretch.

What type of person is best suited to your type of job?
You have to be driven and willing to go the extra mile.

What skills does someone need in this field?
A big variety of skills, being able to cope with pressure is important, you have to be tactically smart and also able to evaluate yourself honestly.

Read more about Nick at website