How to Support Your Teen on their Career
Journey
Amanda Fripp
Careers Adviser
”
Making Career Decisions
Aims
• How are career decisions made
• How to start the discussion around careers
and options
• Overview of options at age 16 and 18
Experiences
How come you're doing the job
you are doing?
Has your Career journey been like
this?
Or has it been more like this?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under
CC BY-NC-ND
There’s no such thing as a career
path, it is crazy paving and you
have to lay it yourself.”
Sir Dominic Cadbury.
How do we prepare young people
for jobs that don’t exist yet?
• Develop transferable skills
• Growth mindset
Career • Understand careers aren't linear
Management anymore
• No longer one job for life
Skills
• Develop resilience
• Digital skills important
Career Journey
Why can it be hard to make choices?
Worried, Lack of self
Un-informed
uncertain awareness
Students with Uncertain
Fear of failure SEND/ who are where choices
neurodiverse can lead
Who Influences Choices?
Teachers
Parents/Carers
Media/Social Media
Careers Advisers
Friends
Role Models
Who Influences Choices?
Teachers
Parents/Carers
Media/Social Media
1 in 4 students consider their parents to
Careers Advisers be their main influence on degree
subject choices (UCAS)
Friends
Role Models
So be aware….
• Is the information accurate?
• Any out of date information?
• Be aware of own stereotypes
• Mindful of the language you use
• Avoid telling them what they should or shouldn’t do
• Listen
• Encourage and stay positive
This can start from a young age….
Why is it important for parent/carer
involvement?
• Most influential
• You have more contact
• Drip feed into conversations
• They do actually listen to you
• You can support them to research courses,
careers
• Attend open days, careers fairs etc
• Help develop their self belief
How to start the discussions?
‘ What do you want to
do when you are
older?’
Guiding your teen in the decision-making
process
Self Awareness
Opportunities
Decision Making
Taking Action and
Coping with Transition
How else can you start the conversation?
Self Awareness
• What do you enjoy at the moment (in school/at home etc)
• What are you good at?
• What other strengths do you have?
• What do you like doing now?
• What is it about ………… that you enjoy?
• Is there anything that you are worried about when thinking about your
next step?
• Who is inspiring you at the moment?
Opportunity Awareness
• Do you know the local colleges and sixth forms?
• What do you know about the job(s) you are interested in?
• Have you heard talks in school about people doing different jobs? Did they
inspire you?
• If looking at a course/job- look at general factors -outdoors/ essay
writing/experiments/practical/creative?
• Is there a Careers Adviser in school/college you can talk through your ideas?
• Shall we check when the next open day is at ……….
Practical Activities
- Start discussion early
- Support research – look on websites
- Use your networks
- Attend virtual/real open events- speak to staff
- Do a drive/walk past of any new place (college/sixth form/work place)
- Support independent travel
- Visual tools- pictures, videos
- Plan A and Plan B
Change is ok!
It can even be a positive!
Plan A and Plan B is helpful
How can a young person gain experience of work?
- Virtual work experience (e.g. Forage, Speakers
for Schools, Springpod)
- Talks from people doing their job e.g. Speakers
for Schools
- Volunteering
- Part time job/Seasonal work
- Free Online courses e.g. Future Learn, Open
lean, Harvard, Alison
- Existing Networks- chat to the next door
neighbour!
Options at 16 and 18…
Options after
Year 11
Full-time Work Based
education learning
(college/sixth Apprenticeships/
form) Traineeship
Full Time Qualifications
A Levels
• Academic (A levels)
T Levels (New) • Sixth Forms
• Applied Courses BTECs
• Colleges
City and
Guilds • Small
• Practical/Vocational Courses Specialist
Cambridge
Technical Providers
(Amongst
others)
What can you study?
For example…
A levels Applied/Practical More Practical
elements
Biology
Business Carpentry
Sociology
Computing Hairdressing
Politics
Forensic Science Welding
English
Health and Social Care Animal Care
History
Engineering Beauty therapy
Psychology
Childcare Brickwork
Business Studies
Creative Media Production Motor Mechanics
Computer Science
Sport Marine Engineering
Geography
Animal Management Floristry
Geology
Computer Science Performing Arts
NEW: T Levels (equivalent to 3 A Levels)
• www.tlevels.gov.uk/
Full Time courses for no or low
qualifications
• Foundation Learning – no qualifications required
(includes SEND courses and some taster courses)
• Level 1 courses – need GCSE grade 1-3
• Level 2 courses – need GCSE grade 3s
Work Based Routes …..
Apprenticeships
• For anyone age 16 +
• Full time job with training &
qualifications
• Paid a salary
• Will need to attend a job interview and
interview with training provider
• Levels range from Level 2 up to degree Government
level ‘Find An
Apprenticeship’
• About 4 days working in a job and 1 website
day a week theory/college based
Traineeships (age 16 – 24 or 25 with EHCP)
• Work Experience alongside a course
• Can last from 6 weeks to 1 year
• Help with English and maths (if you need it)
• May gain a vocational level 1 qualification
• Unpaid (but may get travel expenses)
• Offered at colleges and smaller providers (e.g SWRAC,
Rockley Watersports Academy)
• Gain experience and skills to lead onto further
work/apprenticeship/college
Supported Internships
• For young people with learning difficulties and/or
disabilities aged 16- 24 years old (must hold an
EHCP)
• Structured programme based mainly in workplace
• Helps you learn the skills needed for employment
• Lasts up to a year
• Unpaid
Options After Age 18
• Higher Education (university, distant learning, local colleges)
• Higher/Degree Apprenticeship
• Apprenticeship
• College Course
• Job
• Traineeship/Supported Internship
• Gap Year (work/volunteer abroad/in this country
University - UCAS - www.ucas.com
DEGREES
• Single honours
• Combined honours
• Degrees with work
placement
• Vocational Degrees
• Degrees with study
abroad year
• Degree with foundation
years
Local Higher Education Providers
Higher and Degree Apprenticeship
-For those with A Levels or Level 3 qualification
-Like a normal apprenticeship but will complete higher or degree
level qualifications (Level 4 and above)
- Available in lots of different jobs
- For example…
- Nursing Degree Apprenticeship
- Solicitor Degree Apprenticeship
- Engineering Higher/Degree Apprenticeship
- Business/Accounting/IT
- Police Degree Apprenticeship
Where to get more help?
• Careers Adviser in school (ask head of year/tutor/Careers Lead)
• Advice and Guidance Teams in local colleges
• School/Sixth form websites/Careers Lead
• College Websites
• UCAS website (for university)
• Find An Apprenticeship Gov website
• Flying Start – Southern Universities Network (sunoutreach.org)
• Local Youth advice services (Number 18, Bournemouth Council Youth)
• National Careers Service – web chat /telephone line
Flying Start (SUN Outreach)
www.sunoutreach.org/flying-start
Researching Careers
Careers Pilot - https://careerpilot.org.uk/
TIMELINE
Year 7 Keep an open mind, be open to trying out subjects
Year 8-9 Choose GCSE Options to start them in year 10
Year 10 Start GCSEs, possibly work experience, exploring progression
Year 11 Applications to college/sixth form/apprenticeship (from Autumn term)
Year 12 Start sixth form/college/apprenticeship (gain work experience)
Year 13 Apply to University/Apprenticeships /Gap Year Options (from Autumn
Term) UCAS deadline – 15th Jan (15th Oct for Oxbridge/Dentistry/Vet/
Medicine)
What’s the result of great careers
information, advice and guidance?
• Raising aspirations
• Raising attainment
• Gain confidence
• Develop self awareness
• Better behaviour
• Positive mental health
Ansbury Guidance is a Registered Charity www.ansbury.co.uk Connect with us f in
