There are many different options when you reach school leaving age, stay at school? go to college? Leave and get employment or an apprenticeship.
Whatever you choose to do a good starting point would be a Connexions Personal Advisor. Connexions advisors can help with careers, further education options, help with filling in application forms.
If you have a disability most Connexions centres have specialsts dealing with Learning Difficulties and disabilities who can give you advice.
For your local connexions centre contact www.connexionswakefield.co.uk
Courses and Qualifications
If you decide to continue gaining qualifications there are several ways in which you can get these.
Vocational Courses
These courses help you do a specific job. Vocational courses cover occupations such as – catering, tourism, hairdressing, building trades, mechanics and many many more. These qualifications are normally done part time whilst working or doing an apprenticeship. Most vocational courses lead to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
Work related courses
These courses help you develop skills and knowledge around future careers such as health and social care, business, art, leisure and many more subjects. The qualifications you can gain from these courses are BTEC’s, OCR Nationals and Diplomas and A Levels.
General Courses
These are courses that continue on from school in subjects such as English, Maths, Science etc At AS/A level there are also other subjects you can study which will help in future careers. This option generally leads onto higher education.
Looking for Employment
There are several places you can look for a job
- Local Newspapers
- Connexions Centre
- Job Centre Plus
- Shop Windows
Other things you can do
- Ask Family/Friends
- Call into businesses and ask about any vacancies
- Sending a CV to companies
CV’s and Letters of Application
A CV (curriculum Vitae) is up to date information about yourself and your employment experience/history. A CV should be kept short and ideally typed up. If you need any help in doing a CV speak to your local connexions centre.
A company may ask for a letter of application when applying for a job some points to note when doing a letter are:
- Ensure your name and address are on the letter
- Ensure it is clear as to what job your applying for
- Include a couple of lines about why your interested in the job
- Include dates when you are available for interview
Useful Websites for Job-search
General job-search websites:
Youth Direct
Universal Jobmatch
Indeed
Monster Jobs
Total Jobs
Fish4Jobs
Wakefield Express (Jobs Today)
http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/jobs/
Jobmanji
CV Library
Good websites for young people:
National Apprenticeships Service
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/About-Us/National-Apprenticeship-Service.aspx
Inspire & Educate Ltd (Traineeships & Apprenticeships)
Get My First Job
http://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/
Not Going to Uni
http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/jobs
Jobs for Students
The Big Choice
http://www.thebigchoice.com/School_College_Leavers
School Leaver Jobs
http://www.schoolleaverjobs.co.uk/
Information sourced from www.youthfax.org
Wakefield First – Apprenticeship Vacancies