Careers Advice!!

Why picking the right degree is a must!!

2013-12-03T06:14:00.001-08:00

Please take some time to read this very interesting article from the guardian.

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/nov/26/writing-a-business-studies-personal-statement

Its detailing how the competition for top ranking business universities like Warwick and LSE want more then grades and acknowledgement of extra curricular activities. Students now need to apply this knowledge and understand how these activities have shaped them. Most importantly what have them learned from them!!

Please see quote below from the article.

"Critically reflective essay writing skills are also important for a business studies student, says Corvi, so if you studied an essay based subject like English, history or economics, do mention your knowledge in this area.
The University of Warwick wants to see that students are able to formulate a rational argument and write it to length. Corvi says: "Some of our strong applicants are missing this skill."

Extract from the article above.

Universites want you to really have a passion for the subject that you are going to study!! It says in the article that there are more students applying then places available so they need to choose people who understand what they have learned not just from acadmic achievements but non acadmic too.

Universities want you to have your own voice and most important be fully responsible for your own study and time. Remember your degree is an independent learning experince.

Please see the video below made for you about "Choosing the right degree". Before you make any decisions think carefully about some the the things I talk about here.

Wishing you all the best for those of you who are choosing and thinking about your degree options.

All the best

Soma

Is a lack of motivation stopping young people getting their dream job??

2013-06-17T02:05:00.002-07:00

The definition for motivation as cited by a online dictionary.

"The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way" or

"The general desire or willingness of someone to do something"

Motivation is a concept that we all need to keep on going its a means to ends. The media have criticised the number of NEETs in the UK for being unemployed. One of the many things that could be missing from the teenage mind set could be a lack of motivation. This lack of motivation could not only be affecting their job hunt but also affecting their future careers.

My experience of working with teenagers as shown me a few different things. If a young person really enjoys their course they will work hard and a sense of will power shows. They need to be interested in what they learn and not distracted. When this notion comes into play the teenagers I have worked with continue with their course and do well. However there are still some students out there who are on the wrong course for them. I remember some of the Art students I worked with who enjoyed some aspect of the course mainly the practical side but not the written side. So why the lack of motivation if you truly love a subject you should have motivation right? In theory this may not always work as we can't like or be motivated by everything. However what I have seen is many teenagers want a easy solution to the acadmic areas of their work. Sometimes this can't always be a solution because well if you want to pass an exam you have to study.

If we put this motivation into play with those job hunting. Can a lack of motivation stop young people finding a job? Maybe especially if its not there dream job. Remember most teenagers are dreamers they think getting their dream job is easy but this isn't always the case as we all have to start somewhere. The thought of applying to Burger King or Primark isn't always appealing to a young person and why would it be its properly not their dream job but what if they realised that having a job rather then being unempolyed would benefit them in the long run.

There are lots of reasons why young people are unemployed motivation is perhaps only one of the many factors. Other factors may include lack of qualifications, problems at home, childcare or perhaps getting invloved in youth related crime too early. Also another factor to consider is the benefit system can having benefits sometimes prevent people from actually getting a job.

The government have recently said they want more young people to start their own businesses and schemes such as the start up loans company could be a good platform for this. This is a great idea but what happens if a person as a young person starts a business and then they are unable to keep it going? Please see site http://www.startuploans.co.uk/ for further info.

At the end of the day motivation is a key factor in helping us find a job but it isn't the only factor out there. The reality for most young people is they can get a job and through time they can go further up the employment spectrum if they continue to work hard and seek qualifications in something they ultimately enjoy. Its just the realisation that sometimes it takes a while to get there that may hither this.

Degree or not to be?

2013-05-15T02:10:00.004-07:00

If you are currently thinking about going to university you may want to think what is the drive behind you doing your degree. Sometimes people who decide to do a degree pick a subject which they think will be "easy" and are surprised by how much reading,research and independent study in general is required. If you really want to do a degree make sure its for the right reasons and you choose a course you actually enjoy. In some cases if you realise the degree you picked isn't for you in the first few months you can change your subject. Some people altogether quit and realise that the degree itself just isn't their cup of tea and then pursue a more vocational route. It isn't important if you have a degree but it is important that you love doing what you are going pursue.

Some decisions to think about before you decide to think about picking your degree:

Whose decision is it to do the degree? - Make sure that if you want to do a degree it's because you chose to do one. If your family are putting pressure on you to pursue a degree be honest about this. There a number of courses that may suit you more if don't want to go down an academic route such as an apprenticeship or internship etc.Also don't copy your friends chances are all your friends are unlikely to go to same university as you so don't do a degree just to follow the crowd this won't help you in the long run.

Pick a subject you actually like? - Some degrees may help you pursue a particular career such as a Medical or teaching degree. However many degrees such as English, History, Politics etc can open up many doors for you. Pick a subject because you want to and don't feel influenced by anyone to follow a particular career. If you don't enjoy your chosen subject this will make you time at university more difficult. Also if you actually study something you like you will want to know more and a true passion should come shining through :)!!

Research your subject- If you haven't ever studied the subject you have decided to do as degree do as much research into this area as possible. For example subjects like Law,Linguistics etc may be something you haven't ever had any first hand experience of in school. One of the best ways to find out is to go to a taster class, most universities offer these during the summer holidays. This is a great way of also seeing what the subject involves and if you think if its for you. Another way to research is to actually speak to students studying the subject you want to do or someone who is a graduate and working in a related field.

Is the degree format right for me? - University education is described as independent learning and unless you have been to a further education college you may not grab to this concept straight away. When at university you won't have a lecturer reminding you that work needs to be handed in or an exam is coming up. The key word here is motivation and this also leads back to enjoying your degree if the enthusiasm isn't there for that subject you many not study at all!! Not only does independent study require motivation it also requires discipline. So if you feel this amount of freedom and independence isn't for you and someone pushing you motivates you instead a degree may not be right for you.

Lastly have you thought about what you are going to do after your degree? Not everyone thinks this one through. I am not saying if you study English you have to be a writer or journalist but if you pick a subject also look into how many doors it can open to you? Having a broad subject like English or Psychology etc can make it possible to work areas in Human Resources,Teaching, Marketing and much more. If you know what you are doing after you degree you won't be left in limbo. The ideal time to think about this is after your second year of your degree. If you already have a plan in focus that's great but remember sometimes when we study and grow our perceptions of things also change so this may also happen with your future career and job aspirations.

Some tips on thinking about what you don't like! When thinking about your future career

2013-05-14T01:02:00.003-07:00

If you are thinking about what future career to pursue you may always be asked what subjects do you like? What are good at? What interests you etc? Such questions are a great way of scoping out what you like which is great but what about the things you don't like!! If you know that love science and what to doing something linked within this field great but if you find reading and analysing huge amounts of texts for subjects like English and History you know that critical analysis isn't for you.

Things to consider when thinking about what you don't enjoy or like:

- What is it about a particular subject you don't like?
- Do you prefer practical subjects or subjects where you read text and evaluate it?
- What kind of environments don't see yourself in working i.e office, school, hospital etc and why?
- What jobs or careers would you not consider looking into?
Lastly
- What would be your worst nightmare job or have you had experience of a job you really disliked and why did you not enjoy it?

These suggestions may seem a bit strange but what you need to consider is if you know what you definitely don't want to do it allows you to focus on the positive things you do want to pursue.

For example I had a student who I advised. When I asked him where he saw himself working in a few years time he said he wanted to work in a leisure centre. This student clearly stated they had no interest in working in a office they felt this environment would not suit their personality. They wanted to pursue a career in sports and fitness industry and have a job which he classed as "practical".

So by thinking about what you don't like or enjoy it really makes your future career ideas that much clearer. So you can channel into what you do like more and what makes you tick and you think about how you can get there with more clarity! Remember if you only think about only one career path this isn't right either. Sometimes a future career or job could change so always think about a few different types of industries and job types. Once you have spoken to someone like a careers adviser etc you can then look at whether these ideas are achievable and take it from there!! Good luck.

The Bad interview experience what can I do next??

2013-03-15T05:23:00.001-07:00

The title for this blog may not be very positive but at some point a bad interview may of happened to some of us! I want to explore ways in which you can think about how to spin that negative experience into a positive interview for the next time.

Let's look at some of the three things you could do before you go to your next interview:

Positivity-If one interview doesn't go according to plan don't worry remember to remain positive in your on-going job hunt and interview process. If your positive attitude and enthusiasm shines through in a interview this will demonstrate to the potential employer that you really want the job!!

Interview practise - If interviews make you nervous then practising answers could help you. You can't always tell what a potential interview could bring but if you have a good grasp of the job specification and have looked through it, this can give you a fair idea of what they could ask you. So making a list of potential questions linked to the job specification and then practising the questions either out loud or with someone can then help you assess how much you are actually answering the question.Getting feedback from someone else could help see where you may be going wrong. For example: what kind of skills and experience would you bring to this role? Think about all the skills you have communication, team work, time management etc.Then give a specific example of how your experience could benefit you in this future job role. Stick to what is being asked and try not to elaborate too much.

Preparation- If you go anywhere for a job interview you need to make sure you have researched the organisation or establishment before hand. This shows you have an genuine interest in your potential employer. Make sure you think about your research and look through your job specification so that you can then make a list of questions you could can ask at the end of the interview. For example how does your company support staff with training? This type of question shows the employer you are willing to learn and go further in your job role and you are enthusiastic about working with them etc.

Aimee Bateman a renowned employment expert give me her input on the bad interview experience its really positive advice.

"It is essential in these situations to remain 'present'. Don't focus on the past moments, or the future (what they be thinking or what they will say when you have left the room). Stay present and focus on the moment you are in.

Also remember that jobs and companies are only ever as good as the people. So even if the job description and company looked perfect, it wouldn't have been so perfect if your colleagues were so negative."

Remember your interviewers should also come across as being professional and being interested in what you have to say otherwise you wouldn't be sitting in the interview room in the first place. Think about if you did accept the job role how the atmosphere of the work place would be? Can you see you self working there? Most people have a sense of if they got the job when they leave the interview room. If it's something you really want, go for it but if your instincts tell you the environment isn't for you don't feel pressure to accept etc. Remember remain positive and you may go to a number of interviews but persevere and you will get something that will suit you!! Good luck.

New graduate empolyee make sure you know your employment rights!!

2013-02-21T03:21:00.000-08:00

If you are a recent graduate who is looking for work or have been recently been employed make sure you know what your employment rights are!! You may start in a junior position but everyone is given a job contract this includes basic rights like pay,annual leave and sick leave , number of working hours etc . If you feel terms of your work contract aren't being met bring this up with your manager first and then your company's human resources if necessary. Please see link below about employment rights

https://www.gov.uk/employment-status/employee

If you feel you are being overworked, or feel you are being treated unfairly by any superiors don't jump in at the deep end straight away. Firstly note down anything that feels inappropriate to you look over it a few days later and perhaps discuss it someone who is outside your work environment who may give you a more impartial view on the situation. If your work or people at work are really making you feel unhappy its best you talk to someone as soon as possible. Being stressed at work can sometimes effect your mood socially. At the end of the day we all have to work but make sure you are able to separate between the two in a healthy manner and don't let things get on top of you.

See links from gov.uk webiste

https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights

https://www.gov.uk/workplace-bullying-and-harassment

Also have a look at the general website if you are interested in any further info regarding your workers rights.

https://www.gov.uk/browse/working

What kind of graduate do you want to be?

2012-12-09T06:22:00.002-08:00

This may seem like a strange title to you but if you are currently doing your degree or finished your degree have you got a ultimate goal or know what you would like to do? If not maybe start to think about this now. Just looking at some of things I have observed about people who have graduated please see some examples of what could happen. Everyone is different so I am not generalising but hopefully it will give you guys a clearer picture of what you exactly want as a graduate so you know where you are going and where you want to be. I am also writing this post with the firm belief that what ever job you enter into you should be happy. Yes we all need money but if you don't like what you do, even if this doesn't affect you at the beginning it may affect your future. Long term affects of being unhappy at work could result in stress, high blood pressure and general bad health please see these articles to verify this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1366367/Unemployed-people-happier-jobs-hate.html
http://positivesharing.com/2007/11/top-10-signs-youre-unhappy-at-work/

There are many graduates and university students in the uk but what type do you want to be? What I talk about here doesn't cover everyone as that would be impossible but hopefully it helps encourage your dreams in this current period of high graduate unemployment. Not all dreams can come true but if you have passion in what do you do should work at your best.

1. The unemployed graduate- If you are a graduate who is unemployed there may be many reasons for this. You want a career specifically catered to the degree you have studied i.e Sociology,Geography etc. There may not be many jobs linked into those subjects and a lack or no experience could be another factor. If a potential employer sees little or no experience they won't call you for a potential interview. I am not trying to shatter your self-confidence but its the plain honest truth. Another reason why some graduates are unemployed and remain so is sometimes they have no idea how to start their job search. Where can they go for advice? Did they know where to go for guidance whilst at uni for many the answer to this would probably be no or they didn't have time to go and use the university careers service.

2. The Graduate with work experience but not a great degree- This type of graduate is someone who may have a retail job that helped support them whilst at university. They have built on their skills as a worker team player, communication etc. However unfortunately they didn't achieve the grade they wanted in their degree and this may result in them working in retail indefinitely. Or doing a job that doesn't match what they wanted to do.

3. The Graduate who had the great degree but no experience - This graduate could be a perfect student they may of gone to LSE or Queen Mary but a lack of no experience is limiting their progression into the workforce. This may seem a bit far fetched as in some cases the university you go to can sometimes help employment prospects but not always.

4. The graduate who seems to have it all but why aren't you happy!!- This graduate is someone who may of done a sandwich course got a job through their placement and then discovered that its not what they ever really wanted. This can sometimes be a big reality check for many Finance and Law students who realise that much hard slog is required and its not all fun and games. They work to pay off their student loans but don't actually love what they do. The saying of money doesn't make you happy could be true here.

5. The graduate scheme graduate - This graduate is trained up has a great degree and given a golden ticket of opportunity. Graduate schemes are great but make sure its something you really want to do. Talk to others who have done one. One danger of this type of graduate is they are likely to stay in that same company. Its not always the case but it can happen.

7. The graduate who has a job they hate- This type of graduate is someone who is smart and prospectively very employable but in a job they dislike. One of the things I have noticed about this type of graduate they may go from job to job because they need the money. Its a means to end and they end up working for various different places. From telesales marketing to retail to anything in between that. Many of these jobs give on the job training and give you that monetary asset you need but it doesn't always give you job satisfaction. If you are bored at work and disinterested in some cases this will impact on your personal life.

The term Graduate is only a term the main point I am trying to make through these examples is the frustration many people feel when they graduate. University is an exciting time for many people it can empower you and help build on you social skills and so much more. I am not saying your career will ultimately be that way too. Everyone works for different reasons but at the end of the day isn't it better for you to come home at the end of the day with a smile on your face because you truly love what you do. Rather then keep on looking at your watch counting the number of hours you have left till the day ends.

The good side of Apprenticeships

2012-10-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

Apprenticeships have come under much criticism. I have talked about apprenticeships in previous posts before please see post dated "Thusrday 8th March 2012". However there are also many of advantages of doing a well established apprenticeship with a good employer who can give an individual those much needed skills to help prepare them for the workforce. Please see the article below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/aug/27/apprentices-vocational-education

This article is observing how other parts of Europe are actually untlising the apprenticeship for the greater good and training a greater workforce. Certain parts of Europe like Switzerland which I have mentioned in another post about work based learning dated "14th July 2011" and is also mentioned in this article see how the apprenticeship is beneficial to people who need to build on their work skill set. Experience for young people is seen as an essential competent for the educational route in Switzerland.

There are always good and points to any scheme but apprenticeships when they work well give the individual something worthwhile to built their future around. It is interesting to see how not only the government but the media themselves are seeing the good side of apprenticeships.

Labour's plans for graduates and teaching.

2012-10-10T03:59:00.002-07:00

The Labour party think that graduates should be encouraged to take on teaching please see article below as to why.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19820364

This follows on from my recent blog post about teaching dated 29th September 2012. Teaching as a career or a potential career could help boost and fill in some of the missing gaps from the UK's secondary school teaching sector.

Schemes like teach first which is mentioned in the above article build vital skills for graduates who lack work experience. Some the of skills taught in these schemes such as leadership management can be carried away to other types of careers and more senior positions. All in all if you are a graduate or 2nd or 3rd year university student this post may be worth looking at if especially if are considering teaching. Please let me know your thoughts.

Could teaching as a profession be a good solution for many unempolyed gradutes?

2012-09-29T07:23:00.004-07:00

Graduate unemployment is still a rising issue but could many graduates benefit from training as a teacher. Teaching provides steady employment and gives graduates an opportunity to sometimes utilize their degree subject. For example many maths and science degree graduates could benefit from a career in teaching if they still can't obtain steady employment in their actual line of work. There is also a need a great need for both these subject teachers. In fact the government are seeking top graduates to fill some the these gaps within the teaching spectrum.

Teaching may not be a profession for everyone but if you want to experience a taste of teaching before applying to the many teaching programmes available why not try applying teaching assistant posts. When I browsed the guardian education jobs sector there were many teaching assistant vacancies. A job like this could help a potential student teacher. As it would be a good benchmark for some of you, as some courses require you to have experience of working with students in schools.Have a look at some of the articles below which are positive about getting graduates into teaching.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jun/19/maths-teacher-training

http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/subjects-age-groups/teach-maths/funding-pay-benefits.aspx?sc_lang=en-GB

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/teaching-agency/how-teaching-became-top-choice-for-graduates-7657843.html

Extra funding for Vocational Education.

2012-08-30T22:49:00.002-07:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/12/response-vocational-education

Please see this article about the government making vocational education a priority. It makes for quite a interesting read. As in my previous posts I have mentioned the need for trying to decrease unemployment amongst the 16-24 category and this is becoming more apparent.

If you want to find out more about the governments plans for young people visit the link below which is also featured in the article.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/youth-contract

This contract was established in April this year and features some of the key features of decreasing unemployment amongst those aged 18-24.

Time will tell how effective this contract will be and once reviewed we will see if there are any changes in youth employment. If you are currently working with young people looking for work I am sure you are keeping positive for them. If incentives like this prove to successful maybe this could prove beneficial to not only our current labour market but also to the young people themselves.

Hopeful Graduates

2012-08-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/aug/22/graduates-principles-tough-jobs-market

Please take time to read this article about graduate employment!! At a time where unemployment is high graduates should be hopeful and look at other avenues.

It also figures some good news about the state of economy from Labout market statistics stating that unemployment has decreased which gives some reassurance for anyone looking for a job at the moment.

Clearing for university

2012-08-24T01:48:00.003-07:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/aug/21/quarter-of-students-still-to-gain-a-university-place

Please take time to look at the above article on clearing. The article states that 52,023 students are still waiting to hear about confirmed university places.

If you look at the figures at the bottom the article it gives a good break-down of students who have been accepted into university, found a place through clearing ,those still waiting for a decision and those who have withdrawn their application. The overall figure of those who have secured a place is fairly high but number of students still waiting is higher then those who have obtained a place through clearing. This wait for some students may be longer then expected as some universities don't start their terms till October.

If you are someone who is going through the clearing process best of luck and please be patient and hope you get onto a course you will find enjoyable and it impact well on your future happy clearing!!

Government's plans to help boast Youth Empolyment

2012-08-21T02:04:00.001-07:00

"The Education and Skills Act 2008 increased the minimum age at which young people in England can leave learning. This requires them to continue in education or training to the age of 17 from 2013 and to 18 from 2015. Young people will be able to choose whether to stay in full-time education, undertake work-based learning such as an Apprenticeship, or part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours per week." (Poltics.co.uk website)

This quote above demonstrates some the changes the government want to make in order to decrease the current unemployment situation amongst youngsters today but will increasing the age help or hinder our current unemployment situation for those aged 16-24? I have spoken about the subject of youth unemployment before in posts. If you haven't read these please see posts dated Sunday 20th November 2011 and Friday 24th February.

What ever your thoughts about this subject we all know someone who falls with this age category and know someone who is struggling to find or seek steady employment. The government thinks rising the age will help reduce the number of NEET's in the UK. Which means those who are not in education and training. I am sure that this will help some young people stay on and obtain more qualifications. However will it alter the situation of unemployment among the youth today?

Take a look at what Nick Clegg has to say about the increase of age in education and training.

Sitting at home with nothing to do when you're so young can knock the stuffing out of you for years. It is a tragedy for the young people involved - a ticking time bomb for the economy and our society as a whole. This problem isn't new, but in the current economic climate we urgently need to step up efforts to ensure some of our most troubled teenagers have the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed."

This quote came from Clegg after the government decided to put in some extra funding to help 16 and 17 olds who are currently NEETs. What's interesting for me as an adviser about what he says here is how he assumes some of these teenagers are troubled. Yes this could true to some extent as I have worked with many NEETs and yes some of them are troubled. However has Mr Nick Clegg spend time with some of these teenagers to see what they are really like and understand why we have NEEts in the first place? In some cases young people see the unemployment system as a cool thing so they don't have to work. I am not generalising here as many of them want to work but if they know they can claim JS9 for up to 6 months from 16 and still not have to be in education and training where is the real motivation to find work really.

The government have all these great plans, rising the school age, extra funding for NEETs, apprenticeships, welfare to work etc. All unique and they all have pros and cons but shouldn't they be looking at why all this has happened in the first place. Yes they should be thinking about solutions definitely but if they don't go back to the root of the problem youth unemployment how can they actually help these young people. Yes the recession may have contributed to the high unemployment figures we have in the UK, not just amongst young people but amongst everyone.However its not the only reason for our high unemployment rates.

How about the fact that a large number people within the UK have poor levels of basic numeracy of literacy. There is a large number of young people who are in FE colleges who are doing level 2 courses who don't have a c or above in English or maths. These are essential subjects and some this effects how well they do on the level 2 courses. Many get stuck in a zone where they can't even pass their level 2 courses. Wouldn't it wiser to let them retake their gcse english and maths and in addition do a course they are interested in? This is also affecting employment rates because employers want to hire competent people who have the essential basic skills required to do work effectively.

http://www.skillsforlifenetwork.com/half-all-young-people-cities

Please see the above link about the number of people without gcse maths and English. The skills for life website also says this will impact young peoples future. So yes the government have all these incentives but I think they also need to look at how they can support those who aren't academic the average students who don't always get a A in Maths. What happens to them? If we have the best of the best what about everyone else. Stricter rules need to put in place so that we have better literacy and numeracy levels. Which ever way you look at this I think this is a factor that effects employment.

The Future of Further education(FE) students!!

2012-08-08T02:50:00.004-07:00

Currently Further education in the UK is going through many changes. One of the main changes that has happened this year is lack of funding that FE sector has and this has affected many of courses being run within individual colleges. It has also affected the number of staff, colleges are able to employ and many in the FE sector have faced job cuts and have been at risk of being made redundant .

Working within a few different FE colleges in different areas of London including Havering, Kensington and Chelsea and Newham it has been interesting to see how the mentality of 16-19 years olds in theses colleges differ from those in school sixth forms. Young people in colleges doing Alevels seemed to have a more relaxed attitude towards applying to university and some of them didn't have a proper university plan in place. The contrast for these in school sixth forms is teachers take it as a responsibility to help prepare their Alevel students for the university journey and go through the UCAS process with them at length.

Further education colleges have a vast array of different courses which range from Alevels to vocational and work based learning courses. For example hairdressing, catering, travel and tourism, business etc. Some students who aren't able to get on to Alevels do a level 2 courses which is a 1 year course and after which do a level 3 course a two year course which is equivalent to 2 Alevels. The pattern I saw emerging with many of these students is alot of these students needed a college place and some of them were not actually interested or driven by the subject they picked so what happens then. This applied mainly to subjects like Business,Sports, and Hospitality. Were perhaps the career route seemed more open then subjects Beauty, Catering and Fashion. So why are students sometimes on these courses where there is no future aspirations for them in that field and what can be done about this. Is the need to fill college spaces greater then the aspirations of a young person and how will this affect their future?

As I have mentioned in my previous blogs unempolyment is high in the UK especially for those who are aged 16-25. If the economy is suffering then this age group should have a clearer vision of where they want to be. I am not just talking about being advised my careers advisers but people they are inspired by teachers, parents etc. One of the colleges I worked in had a really good careers team who did progression interviews with the young people a few months before they left the college. This allowed them to see if students would stay at the college or go else where. If they had other plans they could sometimes discuss with them if they already had a college or university place etc. This in theory allows colleges to help prevent the numbers current Neets emerging. This also gives young people some of the structure they need if they want to survive in this current economic climate.

A good website to look at if you are interested into looking at the current changes of Further Education sector is www.http://www.fenews.co.uk/. This website gives a comprehensive overview of what the government is doing within this sector.

So what is the future for FE students only time will tell. The FE sector for me personally is becoming more vocationally based espeically for young people which leads me to think that those who who will contuine to seek FE in the future will want to do more vocational careers only and those who want to go university will go onto do Alevels. A divide not only in the form of learning for students but a major divide in the social spectrum of this country too.

Free education vs lack of work experience is it a curse in disguise

2012-05-04T04:25:00.004-07:00

I have been lucky enough to work in many contrasting areas of London within different schools and colleges etc. This has allowed me to observe many different types of clients who have had many aspirations for their future. Most recently I myself have started a role which is a non careers adviser post. This has been quite a eye opener. Its made me realize something quite interesting though. Could that free education that students are entitled to after 16 up till their 19 be curse to some young people out there. I am not generalizing but just alone this week I have worked with two young people who said to me when I asked why they choose the course they doing say to me

'It was something to do, I had to choose something'

I am not blaming anyone here but what really concerns me is this isn't the first time I have met young people who have said similar things to me in my previous jobs. This free education they get is a blessing and many of them see of it as that. However it seems that many are not given a real chance to think about what they want to do after their gcses etc finish. In addition to this some people may require specialist help to identity where they want to go and how they can get there. Everyone has a right to plan for their future instead ending up on course just for the sake of it.

Many are not happy with the course they do but the option of getting a job is also bleak because they may not have adequate work experience either!!! I may sound like I am having a go at the system but as someone who is an adviser I am thinking about the number people who aren't given a fair opportunity to explore their future and as a result end up in a course that they don't enjoy.

I am not advocating that careers advice is so wonderful everyone must have it. My point is that many of these young people are very capable and intelligent. A major factor missing from many of them is a lack of motivation because they are not always doing something they truly love That passion to succeed is being killed by a lack of motivation and a lack of interest.

From my observations many sixth form students are actually better off. The structure of school is still quite prominent there and students are encouraged to talk to staff who have specialized knowledge and can apply to ucas, jobs etc. It would be interesting to observe how many students from FE colleges are given the same level of support. Yes colleges are more relaxed and many lecturers don't feel it's their responsibility to handle this etc. However with such a bad market for youth employment shouldn't more FE staff be encouraged to at least help these young people think about their futures. Because if people are encouraged I see may young people adding value to youth unemployment and increasing employment rates.

I am not saying free education is a bad thing it is something which many people are grateful for but in time where education and lack of employment ring together the need for choosing a suitable post 16 route for young people is more important then ever. Just having a qualification for someone with a structure in place i.e they know their next route whether it be university a job etc is great. However many don't know their destination and if we as a nation want to support people we need do help them realise their ambitions.

University and Empolyablity!!

2012-04-26T11:37:00.002-07:00

When I saw this article on guardian my first thought wasn't surprise but concern!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/apr/16/students-criticise-universities-careers-advice

Many of my posts have been about employability linking to graduates this is an issue that isn't going away. Yes there is a world wide recession but as this article states when universities themselves are almost failing to give sufficient careers advice and empolyablity training to students what can be done.

Surely in a time where the economy is doing poorly you would think the government would help universities invest not only in careers advisers but people who actually could actually help them gain jobs and learn about those vital empolyablity skills I spoke about before.

I think this article is particularly interesting because it comes from the perspective of the students not being happy with the empolyablity advice their universities give them. As mentioned before the white paper reforms hope to tackle this very soon. As this is an area that really needs to be looked at.

Empolyablity is a hot issue for graduates and if you are graduate at the moment always keep thinking about ways of building on those key empoluablity skills. This could be doing an internship,shadowing and getting a part-time job. Please refer to my previous post dated Tuesday 6th December as this features my article about empolyablity. For for indepth advice and information about empolyablity skills.

Career cake TV

2012-04-26T11:15:00.004-07:00

Please check this website out its a really good website. There are many different videos on here with tips to help anyone who is currently job hunting. Really good advice and its very professional. Aimee Bateman is a recruitment consultant herself so the tips she gives are very useful and there are also a range of videos from other professionals too!! http://careercake.tv/

If you want to contact her yourself you can also email her for any tips and advice as I have done this myself and felt her advice was very helpful.

What's your USP(unique Selling point)

2012-04-04T07:31:00.004-07:00

This may not seem like an obvious one but I really think in a time where the digital era is thriving and as employment is sinking you as graduates need to think about what makes you unique. Or as the lovely abbreviation goes your USP(unique selling point). It may sound gimmicky but when you go to an interview or put your CV online its not just you competing out there!! What skills, experience and talents do you have that make you unique.This is a marketing term but thought it would be cool to think about how you as graduates can market your individuality as well. You have to make your self more innovative and one of ways to do is to think a little bit out of the box sometimes.

A Grad who has done an Engineering degree for example but didn't obtain that dream job he wanted. May also have an interest in Djing. A USP could be demonstrated to a potential employer by him saying how he landed gigs to pay off his student debt. For example he used a contact he had to connect him to music clubs who be willing to take him on for a trial and then he landed some paid work. The selling point here could be seen as persistence and thinking about the people you know who could help etc. . This person's main ambition may still be that he wants to be an engineer so what could he do after that. If he can then look into internship to sample if its for him and then utilize the experience he had from his Djing work to demonstrate his lack of commitment to something different. This shows he did it so that he could achieve what he really wanted. This will demonstrate to a potential employer someone who is mature and willing to put in long hours so hard working etc. It also represents an individual who has faced certain challenges along the way but has kept at it!! Ultimately a problem solver and this could be another potential selling point.

The other example is an indication of not just one selling point every individual has more then one thing they can offer to a new employer. Its about you thinking about what you can do, so the skills you already have and using appropriate examples where you have communicated with others and been challenged etc. Communication skills are vital for any role you go into and if can demonstrate your strengths and keep on developing your unique self you should be able to obtain that one job you love. If you haven't you can still learn from even the worst of jobs patience is a virtue as they say so keep at it. You also need to know what is best for you. Not everyone is a office type person some people like managing and others want practical jobs it is always a good idea to research and understand what you want.

The future of higher education!!

2012-03-16T04:54:00.003-07:00

Please see article about the higher education payment changes and those who are protesting about this.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/mar/14/students-national-day-of-action-protest

Higher education is something which was once seen as something that would help someone gain better employment or obtain more money with the qualifications they obtain. However this view may be changing!! Higher education will be more expensive from this coming year. Not only will this affect future graduates but it will affect the country's economic growth. Especially if after this graduates are not able to obtain the jobs or careers they actually want.

Some of the young people I have spoken to don't actually want to go to university because they feel a three/four year course which could potentially put them in debt isn't worth the hassle! Does this mean higher education is trouble only time will tell. The number of overseas students studying here could fill in these financial gaps for universities but will it be enough.

Young people are aware that the economic market isn't great and that right now even getting a job is like gold dust. However the need for going to university is something that they are really questioning. They are a vast amount of opportunities for young people who don't want to go to university but it seems these are not put in focus. The obvious one is getting a job but you need vital work experience for this. If someone doesn't have this vital experience they then need to perhaps engage in voluntary work or obtain an internship!! Apprenticeships are also another thing that they could do. Also some people who have great business ideas could help our governments economy. Being self employed for a young person who has a great business vision could me a really good option.

Higher education will always be an essential asset to an individual there is so much you can learn from a degree. It really depends on the individual as I have said before the higher education route isn't always for everyone but it also doesn't mean you can't be a success without a degree either. Hard work is required whichever route you decide to take. As for the future of higher education it looks as though young people will still go university if its what they really want to do.

Apprenticeships - What is the future for such programmes??

2012-03-08T04:15:00.004-08:00

Please see article on the guardian about apprenticeships.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/feb/06/apprenticeships-under-scrutiny

This is a very interesting and somewhat controversial article about apprenticeships.Vocational education has always seemed to come under the radar for all the wrong reasons. The Government have put a lot of time and money into promoting apprenticeships.

'The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (Sase) stipulates that every apprentice should receive up to 280 hours of guided learning (time in education and training, away from their usual duties)'

The above quote from the guardian article outlines what Sase expects from each apprentice. Realistically this is a very long number of hours!! During a time of recession is it fair to put so much pressure on those who work for the National apprenticeships service to obtain the providers etc.

'Figures from the National Audit Office published last week suggest that while apprenticeships have grown by 140% in the last five years, the majority of jobs have gone to the over-25s, suggesting that a growing number of existing workers are being trained under the scheme'

Looking at a statistic like the one above how are apprenticeship schemes actually helping young people!! Going through the process of an apprenticeship requires a lot of will power and time. Many of the young people I worked with were not happy with how the initial application process worked and this was even before they had started on a scheme. The current system needs to be more friendly towards young people. There are many organizations that provide specific apprenticeships for young people however many of these small companies are not as advertised. Some young people only become aware of this if they actually go to a see a careers adviser or teacher and ask.

It really isn't enough for the government to just say we have ..... amount of apprenticeships come get them!! They need to help those who work in education to help advise young people about all of their options and then maybe the economic growth they are so seeking to gain will get there.

Internships- could become a part of future degrees.

2012-02-28T05:19:00.003-08:00

Please see article from guardian about internships.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/feb/28/students-10-week-summer-internships

The government are looking into ways of making Britain's graduates employable and having a internship as part of a young person's degree could help them get there. As I have said in my previous post on work based learning please see post dated 28th July 2011 the need for developing and gaining work experience is so vital these days!!! I really hope this potential idea follows through. It will hopefully give young graduates something to talk about in potential interviews and job application forms. It will also give them an idea of the type of work that they really want to do.As well as develop those essential empolyablity skills that potential employers are looking for.

NEET unempolyment rates

2012-02-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Please see this article http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/23/almost-1m-young-people-neets about how the unemployment rates for the number of young people is still raising.

This article points out how the government have invested alot of money in apprenticeships etc so that young people are given more job opportunities however if this is the case why is the unemployment rate for 16-24 increasing and not decreasing!! If people are not in employment shouldn't they be in appropriate employment schemes or have relavnant training etc. Youth employment is affecting not only school and colleges leavers it is also affecting graduates.

As I have mentioned before in previous blog posts there seems to be the same recurring issues coming up time and time again that are affecting the increase in these numbers. Many young people don't have adequate work experience to mention on their cvs or application forms. Which causes a problem for employers who are looking for that vital work experience. When I have spoken to students about how they can approach finding a job some of them haven't the first clue where to start and as a result some are still not in employment. If someone is not motivated or inspired to do something how will they actually get there. Family support networks and influences can sometimes help certain young people but if they aren't there where else can they get that vital and essential support ??.

Empolyablity skills and being taught how to be a worthy work candidate is so important. The importance of communication and team work skills are understood by young people but they are not necessarily shown how such skills can benefit them to an potential empolyer.. Having a degree is seen as an essential qualifaction but the education you learn from working in the real work teaches you a great deal more. If a young person isn't able to experience this how will they actually know. Voluntary work and internships are good place to start but tecnhnlogy is allowing many young people to bulid their own mini empires. From inventing ideas for social newtworks to designing phone apps. The skills and talents a young person may have are not being fed into the system. The postive energy needed to create and fuel these ambtions doesn't seem to emerging. I am not saying we should give any young person false hope as we do need to be realistc about what they can achieve and where they can work etc. However we need to support them especially at a time where the recession is affecting a great deal of people not only in the UK but also all over world. Without insipiring them with some encouragement and hope for future how will they provide that hope for future generations to come.

Vocational qualifactions taking a battering!!

2012-02-20T03:30:00.002-08:00

There are thousands of vocational qualifications which have served as alternatives to gcses but as the article below indicates they are being taken off the gcse league tables.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/31/vocational-qualifications-stripped-league-tables?intcmp=239

As an adviser I am pleasantly surprised but happy about this decision. The amount of young people I worked with who were not pushed into doing more gcses and lead to believe the equivalent courses would add to the applications utterly confused them!! What I mean by this is that some young people didn't understand that the value of the vocational qualification just wasn't the same as an alternative gcse course. However what would annoy me is that they were led to believe it was of the same value.

Please see link for levels on the direct gov website(link below) to understand why I have only included the levels up to gcse as this post is mainly focusing on this area.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained/DG_10039017

Employers are looking for GCSE Maths, and English generally. The equivalent of a course like a btec level 2 which is the same level as a gcse just doesn't have the same value to a potential employer. The skills learned from a gcse which is a standard academic qualification and a level 2 qualification which is vocational and practical just isn't the same!! I am surprised the govt have let it go on for as long as it did. I am not devaluing the btec courses the level 3 childcare is an essential part of training for someone who wants to go into childcare. Institutions like City and Islington have a broad range of level 3 courses which help prepare students for the working world as well as university. However young people are not always explained why English and maths gcse are essential part of them getting through anywhere. Whether this be university, workplace etc.

Most degree and Alevel course require you to have a English and maths gcse grade C and above. Anyone who has been through the current education system will know this.

National Apprenticeships week

2012-02-09T07:07:00.000-08:00

Apprenticeship week started on Monday but I don't think its too late to promote it on my blog!! Please have a look at the links below. As an adviser or young person I hope you find this post useful.

http://www.skillsactive.com/component/k2/item/4129/4129?_kk=apprenticeships%20week&_kt=d4dcc200-e742-4df3-95d3-57452e04f6d2&gclid=CK_Xo5KSka4CFcEntAodqn_KfQ - You can register on this website and find out more any industry areas you may be interested in.

http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Awards/Apprenticeship-Week-2012.aspx - This link can connect you directly to apprenticeships.org. The main company behind apprenticeships. You can register on this website and get email updates or apply for apprenticeships directly.

If you know anyone who is interested in an apprenticeship or vocational training linked to any of the careers listed on apprenticeships.org website pass it on. Apprenticeships are a great way of building skills for not just young people but anyone who wants to do something a little bit different. There are a variety of apprenticeships on offer all over the UK. The London apprenticeships company (http://www.londonapprenticeship.co.uk/). and http://www.neet2eet.com/training-and-apprenticeships are a few other websites that could provide useful for those looking into doing an apprenticeship.

If you would like to find out more info about apprenticsehips in a more visual way visit http://www.careersbox.co.uk/. There are some really good videos about what apprenticeships involve and alot of the videos feaure young people and their take on things.