homework,” she says. “It’s great to get
away from everyone so that I can have
the time to think creatively.”
And just like all of these kids who
are working in a field they love, her
goals are lofty. “It would be amazing
to have my pictures hung in a gallery
one day. Having people come to see
my work would be the ultimate.”
Finding their motivation
Kukka Hopson, the director of Hong
Kong-based model and talent agency
Peanut Butter ’n Jelly, has more than
50 kids on her books, ranging from
babies to 18-year-olds. Some are in
hot demand on a regular basis for
work in advertising, television, radio,
film and print.
“When the children are younger,
the motivation to work comes from the
parents. But as the kids get older, their
motivation often comes from earning
extra pocket money,” she says.
“They often tell me they are
saving up for the latest iPad or
iPhone, and it gives them a sense
of satisfaction being able to buy it
themselves.” In some cases, the pay is
substantial. The average hourly rate
for kids in the industry is between
HK$600 and HK$1,000 per hour,
for a minimum two-hour booking.
The agent takes out a 20 per cent
commission. Overtime is paid when a
job runs over eight hours.
As well as having big dreams,
Kukka says there are several character
traits of children with successful
careers. Confidence in themselves and
their own ability is at the top of the
list. They need to be able to interact
well with adults and kids alike, and
being able to go with the flow is also
important. Good manners help, as
does patience, because long hours,
overtime and lots of waiting around
can often take their toll.
“Kids who melt down easily
generally don’t do well in the working
world,” Kukka says. “They need to
be able to adapt when circumstances
change or things don’t go as planned.”
School plays an important part in
all of this, too. Many schools promote
and support children taking on roles
in the adult world in the belief that it is
good preparation for the future – some
supportive teachers will encourage
the “working” kids to share their
experiences in front of the class.
Hong Kong International School
guidance counsellor Sam Fleischmann
believes students who take on some
kind of employment expand their
minds, develop crucial critical
thinking skills and improve their
ability to work in a team environment.
“If they couple this out-of-school work
with excellent in-school theoretical
and practical training, they will
enter higher education and their
career aspirations with experience,
confidence and problem-solving
skills,” he says.
While entering the workplace
may not be appropriate for every
child, many seem to thrive on the
expectations and challenges and gain
confidence from their success. We can
all relate to the warm fuzzy feeling
on being told we’ve done a job well,
children and adults alike.
Above all, kids who are successful
at work don’t actually view it as work
at all; rather, they all seem somewhat
surprised to be getting paid for doing
something they love.
And any career coach will tell you
that’s the secret to a happy work/life
balance for anyone.
Photo: Galaxy Hair by Emma Vermylen
Photo: Layered self-portrait by Emma Vermylen
February 2014
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