Classroom career guidance

We often think of careers guidance as something we have when we are about to leave education of one form or another.
Many people can need assistance with finding work or a course at any time of their lives. Maybe you are returning back to work after caring for children or a relative, maybe you have recently been made redundant or are looking for a change of direction.

Whilst the alumni group cannot provide you careers guidance, please feel free to post on here or in our Facebook group if you are looking for information. With a wide range of members, one of them may be able to give you pointers in a chosen field of work or pointers in a particularly profession. Maybe you want to know what it is like to be a pharmacist or what studying architecture involves. You may be looking for contacts in a certain industry. Looking for work experience or voluntary work why not tap into our network?
You can also check out Barclay’s Life Skills website www.barclayslifeskills.com It has information on CVs, job applications and interviews, getting work experience, and has a Wheel of Strength to help people find their strengths and make choices
Should you require specific careers advice, here is some information from a careers advisor:
The careers service is generally called the Careers Service. The branch that deals with over 19s (and over 18s who are claiming out of work benefits) is called the National Careers Service. They offer online and phone help, and also face to face help if you are out of work or at risk. Telephone 0800 100 900 to make contact and arrange a potential appointment.

If you are 16-18 and not in education, employment or training, local councils provide a careers guidance service (often delivered by Prospects, as is the National Careers Service). To see if this is available in your area, google Prospects plus your county, or visit your local council’s website or ring your local council.

Other useful careers resources

For very detailed careers information on different jobs and job sectors, and a questionnaire on interests, skills, values etc leading to some job suggestions, visit www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

For graduates or those thinking of doing a degree: www.prospects.ac.uk this has sections on what you can do with a particular degree subject, and a quiz on what careers would suit you, along with a lot of general careers information on different jobs and how to get internships, work experience, make applications, etc.

Careers help aimed at all the education levels (these contain videos, job information, career sectors, quizzes to help you see what job might suit you, etc)
www.plotr.co.uk
www.icould.com

For an in depth analysis of what you enjoy and are good at and suggestions of what jobs/degrees etc might suit you, visit www.centigradeonline.co.uk NOTE this is a service that you pay for.

What our members involved in recruitment say
Add in here advice from employers/recruiters – FB post

You may find other useful information in our mentoring section