Name: Dominic Lisa Wolny Age: 26. Occupation: Nanny Career path: I left school and got into this job quite by chance. A friend of mine who was living in Yorkshire had six children and she needed help. I worked for her for two years and got all the training I needed. I moved to London when I was 18 and registered myself as a nanny with an agency. I easily got work and had four permanent jobs and as much temporary work as I wanted. I must say it is always easy to find work in this career. After eight years in London I decided to go travelling and I landed up in Hong Kong. I started off working in various expatriate bars around town and then decided to get in touch with an agency. I approached Star Nannies who were brilliant at finding me work. For the past nine months now, I have been working as a full-time nanny for a couple with two children in Discovery Bay. Although I have no formal training apart from various First Aid courses I don't personally think a formal qualification is necessary. I've been doing this - looking after kids from a couple months old to 12 years - for more than eight years now and I think a love for children, an ability to relate to them, confidence and experience are what counts. You've either got the right temperament or you haven't, and no amount of training can impart patience and some of the other qualities you need for this job. Dominic's day: I live in Central which means I have to get up early and catch the ferry to Discovery Bay in time to start work at 8am. As soon as I arrive I make the two children, George (20 months) and Arabella (three and a half years) their breakfast and get them dressed. Their mother leaves for work at 8.30am. Twice a week Arabella and I take George to nursery school and on other days the three of us spend the morning swimming, playing at one of the playgrounds or in the Resident's Club play room. There are a lot of children around in Discovery Bay and we always find other children to play with. We get home in time for lunch then we take Arabella to school at 12.45pm. George maybe naps and then we collect Arabella from school at 3.15pm. Sometimes I take her to dance classes and if we don't have anything planned then we go to the beach or out for a walk. We get home at about 5.30pm and I bathe the children, give them their dinner. We play and read books until mum comes home at about 7pm. I am left pretty much alone during the day although the children's mum sometimes phones to talk to them. At the end of every day I write in a diary what we did that day, who we saw and how school was. I would also include things like how the children ate, if I think they are not well and so on. I enjoy my job although looking after two children from Monday to Friday is hard work and a lot of responsibility. I do get attached to the children and they grow fond of me - this is the rewarding part of my work. On weekends I really relax. Ambition: Go back to England and work with homeless people. Salary: $15,000 a month. Name: Esther Suminggao Age: 30. Occupation: Child-minder and domestic worker. Career path: In 1990 I came to live and work in Hong Kong. Before that I worked in a garment factory in the Philippines, but my friends used to send me photos and they looked so happy, glamorous and rich that I decided Hong Kong was the place to earn a good living. I found a Chinese employer before coming to Hong Kong and I worked for them for two years. When my contract was up I decided that I should take a job with a family because I was quite lonely and bored working for them as they both worked during the day. I then worked for an English couple who had two children and this employer taught me all I know about children. I hadn't had any real experience with kids in the Philippines, but I soon learned. For the past three years I have been with a couple with one child, but they both work long hours so I look after the little girl, Holly, most of the time. Day: I wake up at 7am, but my employer looks after her in the mornings. She bathes her, gives her breakfast and dresses her, then puts her on the bus for playschool. I make use of this time and the rest of the morning, to start cleaning, washing clothes and doing whatever housework needs to be done. By the time I fetch Holly from the bus at 12.30pm I should have finished the housework because Holly demands my attention in the afternoons. I give her lunch and then we decide what to do for the rest of the day. Sometimes I take her to Hong Kong Park, to Ocean Park or to the zoo, but sometimes we just go and play with one of her friends in the Pokfulam neighbourhood. I bring her home at about 5.30pm and cook her dinner. If my employer is working late then I read to Holly and put her to bed, but my boss likes to be with her as soften as possible. I am left in charge of Holly during the day, but sometimes her mother asks to meet her for lunch. I enjoy my job, but the best part of all is looking after Holly. Obviously after spending so much time with her I love her very much. There are days that are tiring, but I would much rather have her company than be lonely. I think being a domestic worker and nanny can be a good job if the family are good to you. My employers treat me well and make me feel part of the family so I am happy. I don't mind long working hours and I have Sundays off. Ambition: Go back to the Philippines someday when I have enough money saved and open my own business. Salary: $4,500 including food allowance.