Career options for young people
Work - Start earning now
For some, the decision to start work immediately is a
no-brainer. After all, work means earning money instead of accruing student
debts, as well as gaining practical experience – something that employers value
highly. And it is still possible to pick up qualifications along the way. If
you already have a job lined up for you when you leave school, great. But if
not, here are just some of the ways in which to get your first foot on the
career ladder.
Vacation
jobs, volunteering and work experience
Even if you’re planning on studying for the next few
years, the chances are you'll need to find short-term vacation work to tide you over.
Or you may be lucky enough to be able to look for unpaid placements to gain
work experience in your chosen career. Either way, help is at hand. If school
or college has not yet offered you the chance to do work experience, enquire
with your careers advisor or someone at your local Connexions office, who
should also be able to advise on vacation work options. There are also a number
of gap year organisations which provide information on a host of work
opportunities at home and abroad.
For information on getting temporary work, visit www.connexions-direct.com and
click on ‘Work’ then ‘Temporary and Seasonal work’
For information on work, how to find it and what to expect,
visit www.direct.gov.uk
See www.work-experience.org for
information on getting work experience
For information on volunteering and gap years, check out www.csv.org.uk
Not planning on going to University ?
For useful information visit, www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a great way to get on-the-job
training. All apprentices receive a minimum of £80 per week and
a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) upon successful completion. Some also
offer BTEC or City & Guilds certificates, some of which can provide a route
into higher education. You can do an apprenticeship in a wide range of
subjects, from sales and marketing to carpentry.
Look
for and apply for apprenticeships at www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Other
training schemes
Employers such as the police force and the army have
very specific training schemes which operate separately from apprenticeships.
Neither require specific qualifications to enter, but applicants must meet
certain requirements, such as physical fitness, to be eligible to apply.
Applicants must be 18 for the police, and at least 16 for the army.
The websites of all of the police
forces operating in the UK are listed at www.met.police.uk and
each site has information on its recruitment process and how to apply. If you’re
interested in army careers, visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk
Starting your own business
If watching ‘Dragon’s Den’ on the TV has inspired you
to start your own business, there are a number of schemes to help you. The
Young Enterprise scheme helps enterprising young people get started in business
while still at school or college. Its Company and Graduate
programmes offer students the chance to set up and run their own actual company
with the support of a volunteer mentor from business. Students
learn how to do things like raise share capital, and market and finance a real
product.
Look
for your local Young Enterprise scheme here: www.young-enterprise.org.uk/
If it’s cash you need to get started and you’re 18 or over, the
Prince's Trust’s Business Programme offers low interest loans for business
ideas and a range of other support including mentoring.
Find
out more about Princes Trust Business Programme at www.princes-trust.org.uk/
Find help and information on starting up a business at www.businesslink.gov.uk and www.makeyourmark.org.uk
Entry to
Employment (E2E) and New Deal schemes
If you haven’t got a job or course lined up by the
time you leave school, help is at hand. E2E is a programme designed to help
young people get on to an apprenticeship, course or a job while receiving an
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). New Deal for Young People is designed to
help those claiming Jobseekers Allowance to find work.
Information on both of these
schemes can be found at www.connexions-direct.com and www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Applying for work
– hints and tips
- Information
is everything. Make sure you are aware of job vacancies in your chosen
field by bookmarking all of the relevant recruitment agencies and jobs
websites on your internet browser, checking them once a week. Many
websites offer email alerts when new jobs are added. If there are any
particular companies you would like to work for, make sure you regularly
check their vacancy pages.
- Ensure
your CV is up-to-date and ready to send out. Ask someone, preferably your
careers adviser, to proofread it for you.
- Make
sure you have at least one person who is willing to give you a reference –
employers are likely to ask for one before hiring you.
- Address
your application to the right person, and always adhere to the application
deadline.
- It’s
a good idea to follow up your application with a phone call to ensure it
was received.
- If
you are invited for interview, try to be as knowledgeable as you can about
your potential employer. This will make a great impression at interview.
Create your CV online at https://www.cvbuilder-advice-resources.co.uk/ This site also contains useful information on looking for work and how to handle job interviews.
