Top Tips

For teachers

• Careers is not something that should only be considered at the end of a student’s education, it is vital that young people are introduced to the idea of careers as early possible. There are key times planned into most school calendars when careers education takes priority, for example during KS3 options and prior to the transition between KS4 and 5. Make sure these timetabled events are planned seamlessly into the curriculum, and that time is allocated to allow students to consider their options carefully.
• The information students have access to must be impartial not least because this is a statutory duty but because this will ensure your learners have the best chance to make decisions that are right for them.
• Careers education may traditionally consist of learning how to write a CVs and how to research jobs etc but we believe there is much more to it than just careers lessons. There are hundreds of innovative and exciting things schools can do to ensure students have the opportunity to develop the skills they will need in their future careers.
• The main aim of education is to ensure students become well rounded individuals and employees, employers / entrepreneurs of the future. Contextualising learning is vital not only to engage learners with the curriculum but to highlight to them at every opportunity how the skills and knowledge they are acquiring every day are relevant to the real world of work and real life. Take every opportunity you can to add a real life or work related context to lessons and really sell your subject.
• Get your students to create and continuously update a learning / careers profile with their goals and achievements. They should start this as early as possible in their education and keep an up to date record of their progression and skills development so that when it comes to writing CVs and applying for jobs they have lots of things to say about themselves.
• Interest your students in your lessons by debating what the future may hold for the subject and jobs that might disappear or come into existence with advancing technology.
• Be interested in your student’s aspirations and discuss their likes / dislikes, strengths and weaknesses at every opportunity so you can guide them better and they can better understand themselves when making choices.

For students

• Before you start to consider your future career you should do as much thinking as you can about yourself, your personality, your values, likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Write these things down and begin any careers search with this in mind. Can you turn your hobbies, interests and strengths into your dream career?
• Make sure you will definitely enjoy working in an industry or in a particular career by doing as much research as possible, try to find out what the day to day responsibilities will be for various job roles and what different environments will be like to work in. Try to see yourself working in a particular job or industry, would you be happy?
• Make a record of any careers or industry sectors you find out about that interest you and make notes of what skills, qualities and qualifications you might need.
• Compare your list of skills and qualities to the requirements of any jobs that interest you and make a plan of action that addresses any gaps. What qualifications do you need to choose, is there anything you can be doing in your spare time to gain experience / develop the skills you need? Make all of these things your goals and create a plan of action.
• At every opportunity write down your achievements, this can include anything you think is relevant or important. You should record traditional achievements like qualifications, awards, excellent grades, involvement in after school clubs and work experience but you should also include things that make you stand out from the crowd. How are you different to everyone else?
• Planning and keeping a record will help you when you come to write your CV and any personal statements for college or university. Make sure you keep your career record and action plan somewhere safe so that when it is time to write applications for any courses / jobs you have a bank of ideas and things to include that prove you are interested in your chosen career and are the perfect person for the job.