What's it like working for yourself?

Every job has its best moments and its hardest moments. In this activity you'll hear from people who work for themselves and find out what it's really like.

This activity is designed to be flexible and can be used as follows:

  • During a lesson - 40 minutes. Students work in pairs and then share their reflections with the rest of the class.
  • During tutor time - 30 minutes. Students watch the videos independently and then discuss the topics together.
  • As homework - Students watch the videos on their own and complete the reflections at their own pace.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • PSHE Association KS3 codes L11, L12, H2
  • PSHE Association KS4 codes L7, L8, L21
  • Gatsby Benchmark 5

1. Before you start

Imagine you could start your own business or work for yourself doing something you love.

  • What would you do?
  • What do you think would be the best part of working for yourself?
  • What do you think would be the hardest part?

If you're working with a partner or team, share and compare your thoughts before continuing.

2. Watch the videos

Watch the following sections for each video:

  • What do you spend most of your time doing at work?
  • What does a typical day look like for you?
  • Who do you work with and how do you work together?
  • What's the best thing about your job?
  • What's the hardest part of your job?
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Anna-Marie Descartes - DJ & Presenter

Anna-Marie is a presenter and DJ based in East London. She hosts events, creates digital content, and plays music for clients - no two days are the same.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Anna-Marie love most about the flexibility of her job?
  • What financial challenges does she face as a self-employed person?
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James Stanley - Entrepreneur

James is the co-founder and CEO of a health and wellbeing startup. He builds teams, works with investors, and deals with a different challenge every day.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does James enjoy about being his own boss?
  • What does he mean when he says "the buck stops with you"?
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Olivia Pountney - Startup Co-founder

Olivia co-founded a lab-grown diamond ring company in Cornwall. She taught herself photography, built a website, and manages the customer experience.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Olivia find most exciting about learning new things?
  • What's difficult about having no one to learn from?

3. Reflect and discuss

First, add a personal reflection for each video based on the following:

  • What surprised you most about the reality of this person's working life?

Next, compare what you noticed across all three videos and discuss with your partner or group:

  • What did each person say was the best part of their job? Do you notice anything in common?
  • What did each person say was the hardest part? Were the challenges what you expected?
  • All three people work for themselves. What are the advantages and disadvantages of that compared to working for someone else?