This week is National Careers Week! It’s a one week celebration of career guidance, thinking ahead and providing resources for young people to find a direction and develop ideas of how to achieve their career goals.
“career – an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.”
– Oxford Languages
For many children and young people thinking about their future is not just excitement about opportunities. In fact over a third of children between 10 and 17 report their future job as their biggest worry about the future.
Especially for those whose schooling has been disrupted or tricky the word “career” can bring with it all sorts of worries and confusion so, in honour of National Careers Week, here is an attempt at unpicking and simplifying what a career is, and how anyone can find one that fits them:
Where do I start?
Finding a career that fits you can be daunting. Luckily there are plenty of resources available to get you started! Skills and job quizzes can be a good way to start.
National Careers Service
BBC BiteSize – What’s your perfect job?
UCAS Careers Quiz
Prospects
Additionally, visits and internships can provide a really good insight into areas of work you may like!
When you have an idea what you might want to do, there are many different ways to build skills and get a foot in the door:
To get an apprenticeship you have to be 16.
Apprenticeships are very practical and are focused on on-the-job training. Many apprenticeships work towards a qualification starting at Level 2 (equivalent to GCSEs) and going up to Level 6&7 (equivalent to a uni degree).
Common apprenticeships, starting at Level 2 include:
- Adult and Child Care
- Animal Care
- Beauty
- Construction
- Retail
- Aviation
Level 6 apprenticeships can include qualifications such as:
- Civil Engineer
- Nuclear Scientist
- Digital Marketing
- Paramedic
- Project Manager
Apprenticeships are paid and give you an option to get hands-on experience.
College Courses are a great further education option that can enable you to specialise in a field you’re interested in.
A common misconception is, that you NEED GCSEs to even get admitted to college, but that is not true! Some colleges offer entry-level courses, accept alternative qualifications or have different entry requirements entirely.
Colleges offer a variety of courses with some practical elements, but college courses are not paid.
Going to college can be daunting, but many colleges have great resources available online. Most of the Wiltshire Colleges even have 3D spaces on their website that give you a chance to have a look around the premises before you visit or make a choice:
This one is Lackham, as an example, but you can access the other colleges through the same website:
https://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/our-campuses/lackham-campus/
Universities courses can get you a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree as well as some diplomas. They’re a good way to get started on a more academic career path. They’re a good option to think about when you’re 18 or older.
Most degrees are more theoretical and focus on you gaining knowledge and academic skills.
Many university courses have specific requirements for the level of qualification you need to get in, but there are many ways to get those qualifications! A-Levels, apprenticeships, college courses and other options all get you a qualification unis will accept!
University courses can be expensive and are also not paid.
CPD or Continuing Professional Development is a way to build your skills, when you’re already working.
Online courses, seminars and lots and lots of other things can help you become more confident and competent in your career of choice and may help you move up the ranks!
Every little counts, so if you can get a qualification, skill or certificate out of it, it may be worthwhile giving it a shot!
You can do any of these on their own, combine them, do them at any point in your career to build your skills further or never do any of them at all!
What if I “missed my chance”?
With so many options and people in your ear going “What’s next?” or “What do you want to be when you’re older?” it can be easy to feel intimidated, pressured or like you’re falling behind.
But there’s no need!
GCSEs don’t have an age limit, changing your mind is perfectly fine and a few years back an 81 year old got a uni degree she’d just never gotten round to!
Career paths are not a straight line. They’re barely even any sort of line!
And even if none of the things I have said apply to you or feel right, people find new ways to make a living every day and there are endless options to find your place in the world and build a career!