As promised in The Secrets of Success: Introducing Careers Corner post, we would like to introduce the very first of our featured monthly interviews with freelancers and professionals who haven taken time out of their busy schedules to talk to us about their careers.

First up is Steph, 37, who works for the hot creative agency – The Church Of London, who publish the Little White Lies and HUCK magazines. As Ad Director, he is responsible for most of the revenue and has been involved since the beginning. He has been in publishing for 6 years and sales for 8 years.

Interestingly, Steph used to help run a private nudist beach near St. Tropez!

How did you get in to your chosen career?

By chance, as most people do. A very good friend worked in Chicago and as I was still restless (aged 28), when he offered me a sales job for peanuts I went for the travel experience and the vain hope of earning millions like he was. It was fun of course.

What are the top tips you’d give to somebody thinking of entering a career in this field?

Do it for the right reasons. There’s no point in doing anything unless you love the subject matter and you’re motivated. I’m motivated by the fact we began something from nothing, our honesty and by the inspired people who walk through our door.

What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job?

Watching the design/editorial crew come up with ever more awesome products, and winning business that feels a perfect fit with what we’re trying to achieve.

What are the drawbacks?

The pressures of small business, no marketing budget and the number-crunching agency world with no vision.

What is an expected salary for someone starting out in this field/industry?

In sales, around £15k with a small commission. Similar for design/writers/production but no commission – just the joy of seeing your work on a published page!

What was your first job, and did you learn anything from it?

An assistant on a foreign language student summer school. I learnt that pretty women are the same the world over, and money can buy you nice things (my first hi-fi system).

What job did you want to do when you were a kid?

David Attenborough’s or Gerald Durrell’s.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made career wise?

Not having enough fun with it.

If you were Sir Alan Sugar, which well-known person would you most like to hire or fire (and why)?

I’d hire Chris Evans – complete go-getter and fun with it.
I’d fire that annoying Chris Moyles sidekick – how on earth?

What was the last album you listened to?

Timmy Curran – Word Of Mouth.