Many of us would feel rather grumpy at the prospect of rolling out of bed at 6pm to get ready for work.
But for more than three million UK workers this topsy-turvy way of living is the norm – and one that’s essential in keeping our world turning.
That’s because for many workers, especially those employed in hospitals or in the ambulance and fire services, being a creature of the night simply goes with the territory.
Okay, it can be problematic planning a social life when your today is somebody else’s tomorrow. Then there’s waking up at 3am on your night off because your stomach thinks it’s lunchtime.
But as with every job there are upsides as well as downsides – you never get stuck in a traffic jam and breakfast cereal always tastes better at night.
For those working in the care sector meeting the nocturnal needs of others is as much a vocation as it is a job.
Typical vacancies on s1jobs include nurse, care assistant, nightshift project worker, and residential care staff. Some of these roles may be permanent nightshifts or occasional nights mixed in with days.
The fact is being a night-time care assistant isn’t too far removed from the daytime job. It may be quieter but there’s still plenty to do.
Responsibilities include helping residents prepare for bed, carrying out personal care, answering emergency bells or calls, as well as making cocoa.
And remember not everyone is able to sleep, so there will always be human contact, whether that’s having a bit of a blether, or offering comfort and reassurance.
Although many care jobs involve looking after the elderly, there are charities and projects also needing nightshift workers.
Quarriers, for instance, one of Scotland’s largest social care charities, runs a homeless project that supports young, single people, often with other personal difficulties such as drug addiction, alcohol misuse and mental health problems.
Remember, in social care, working the nightshift can have a big impact on your own health, both physically and emotionally, so it’s important to find a routine that suits the switch to the dark side.
New nightshift workers need to give their bodies time to adapt to a different rhythm, such as timing meals and activities to match the new ‘day’.
If you have what it takes to enjoy this new nightlife, check out all the latest social services/housing/childcare vacancies on s1jobs.