Toy Industry Workers

One way to find out more about toys and the toy industry is to become familiar with the typical consumer, that is, children. If you have a younger brother or sister, observe what toys he or she plays with most and try to determine why. Think about what toys you enjoyed as a child and figure out what was appealing to you. Volunteer your time at a neighborhood day care center or a children's hospital ward or babysit to learn more about what kids like to play with and why.

Read industry magazines and Web sites to learn more about trends in the business. Global Toy News (https://globaltoynews.com), for example, is one such resource.

A part-time or summer job at a toy store is another good way to explore this field. It gives the opportunity to see what new toys are on the market, how companies advertise and promote their toys, and what types of toys parents and children buy.

Search for jobs at local toy manufacturers. The most likely areas to find jobs are in assembly work, sales, and marketing. A large portion of toys sell in the period before Christmas, so toy companies must have their products ready ahead of time. The months from July through September are usually the busiest in the year, and jobs may be most available during this time.

Participate in information interviews with toy industry workers. In such an interview—which can be conducted in-person, on the phone, or through video-conferencing technology—you will get the opportunity to ask workers about their job duties, work environment, likes and dislikes about their careers, educational training, and other topics that will help you to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor or a teacher to help you set up information interviews. Perhaps you could even job-shadow a toy industry worker to learn even more about the field.