Career Development

There's many ways into a career:

Higher Education
Further Education
Apprenticeships/Traineeships
Internships
Employment

There are many different pathways and entry requirements in all industries and job roles. To figure out which path is best for you, you'll need to have an idea of your future career goals.

Choosing a career:

A good place to start if you aren't certain about a career path is to identify your interests, strengths and skills – visit our Personal Development page for help with this.

Take a career matching quiz to match your interests to careers: Pearson.com

If you're stuck for job ideas and knowing where your skills might best be served, it's worth taking the time to come up with a career development plan. See how to here: Prospects.ac.uk

See what degrees or careers your chosen subjects could lead to: TheUniGuide.co.uk

Jobs of the Future

The world of work is changing as technology advances. It is important to keep learning and developing new skills to ensure you are prepared for the jobs that will exist in the future.

A curriculum vitae (CV) is commonly used when apply for job/apprenticeships. it allows you to summarises your skills, strengths, qualifications and experience to potential employers

Quick Tips

Do:

Always type it up on a computer
Keep it to one or two sides of paper
Check your grammar – capital letters and full stops
Make sure the layout is clear, use headings, bullet points and bold to separate information
Always send your CV with a covering letter/email
Make sure your contact details are accurate
Don’t forget to include any voluntary or part-time work
Keep it positive – sell yourself
Include a sensible email address which includes your name
Tailor your CV and covering letter to each position you apply for – it’s ok to have more than one version
Update it regularly

Don't:

Give false information
Include personal information that isn’t relevant
Mention anything negative

Example CV

Jane Doe
Wakefield
Tel: 01924 111222
Mobile: 077788 899 922
Email: jane.doe@emailaddress.com

Personal Profile

I am an energetic and enthusiastic person who enjoys a challenge and achieving personal goals. My present career aim is to work within IT because I enjoy working with computers. I have strong ICT skills and find the work interesting and satisfying. The opportunity to learn new skills and work with new technologies is particularly attractive to me. I am a good team player and can work on my own initiative as well as within a group. I have excellent communication skills, am keen, hardworking and reliable.

Skills & Achievements

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award
First Aid Certificate
Competent with Word, Excel, Power Point, websites and the internet Well organised and able to prioritise tasks
Able to provide a high standard of customer service

Education

The Grange Tree School, Wakefield (Sept 2015 – June 2020)
Maths - 5
English Language - 5
English Literature - 4
Science - 4
ICT - 6
Geography - 4
Media - 5
PE - 5

Employment

Morrisons, Leeds (June 2020 – present)
Duties include serving customers, using the till, taking payments, bagging goods and keeping the work area clean and tidy

Interests

During my spare time I enjoy participating in a wide range of sporting activities such as tennis, jogging, swimming and horse riding. I am a member of the local youth club where I organise weekly activities for young people.

References

Available upon request

An interview is an opportunity for potential employers to find out more about you and if you're a good fit for their company but also for you to find out if it's the right opportunity for you.

Preparation:

Research the organisation
Read any information they send you. Investigate their web site.
Check the details of the job carefully
Identify the personal qualities and skills the job requires. Think of examples when you've matched their requirements.
Plan your journey
Allow some extra time just in case there is a delay.
Dress appropriately
Most employers look for someone who is smart, neat and tidy.

During Interview:

Body Language
Sit up straight. Relaxed posture. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Try not to fiddle or cross your arms. Smile!
Listen to questions carefully
Ask the interviewer to repeat any question you do not understand. Answer questions clearly and fully. Say more than just “yes” and “no”. Pause if you need time to think.
Honesty
Don’t over-exaggerate your skills or undersell yourself, be truthful.
Don’t criticise a previous employer
It may give the impression that you will be a ‘disloyal’ worker

Leaving Education

You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

stay in full-time education, for example at a college or 6th form
start an apprenticeship
start a training course
spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

Hours

If you’re under 18, you cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. To find out more visit Gov.uk

Pay

The current minimum wage for anyone under 18 or on an apprenticeship is £4.81 an hour.

Rates change every April 1st. For 2023, this pay should increase to £5.28 an hour.

For information on the National Minimum Wage for young people and apprentices click Gov.uk