Looking for work
Tuesday 11 August 2009
If you're looking for a job at the moment, read our tips on how to find work. If you're looking to get more qualifications, there’s a new online prospectus that can help you find courses near you.
What to do?
Deciding whether to go into further education or get a job is a big decision. It’s one that could change your life, which is why you need to really think about what you want to do.
My job
If you think that getting a job is what you want, then here are some tips to help you stand out from the rest.
Plan ahead
You don’t have to know what you want to do in the future right now, but it’s always good to plan ahead.
Take a look at your interests, both in and out of school, and do some research on jobs in those areas. You can visit Jobs4u for full specifications on different roles.
Job searching
It’s all about looking in the right place.
There are loads of websites advertising jobs, and many are updated as soon as something becomes available. You could also try newspapers and magazines, especially those that specifically cover an industry that interests you.
Agency help
Employment and recruitment agencies are there to help you find a job. Most agencies specialise in a certain industry, so you might have to do research on which one is best for you.
Cool CV
Writing a CV that’s good enough for an employer’s eyes can be quite difficult.
Always use active and positive words and make sure you fill in time gaps! If you leave a significant amount of time empty then an employer will wonder what you’ve been up to. Here’s how to make your CV a slick one.
Top interview
Woohoo you got an interview! The most important thing to do now is research. Find out about the company and what they do. Always have a few questions to ask them as well – something work related of course. Remember, relax.
Course options
If you decide to stay in education then make sure you know all your options. Everyone knows what GCSEs and A Levels are – but there's so much more out there.
Apprenticeships
Earning a living doesn't have to get in the way of your studies - an Apprenticeship lets you do both, and you’ll gain enough skills to get you noticed by potential employers.
Completing an Apprenticeship requires commitment though – some courses can last up to five years.
Diploma
A Diploma is perfect if you want to get some hands-on experience but don’t want to leave school or college yet. As well as theoretical study in the classroom, you’ll also get to go out to the workplace and gain some valuable skills.
At the moment, there are only 10 subjects available. Whilst you get to choose one specific subject, you’ll still have to study a little bit of English, maths and ICT.
NVQ
A National Vocational Qualification gives you the opportunity to learn practical skills that will help you do your job – whether you’re still studying at college, or have a part or full-time job.
There are only two grading schemes though – you’ll either be ‘competent’ or ‘not yet competent’, and unfortunately, there’s nothing in between.
Prospectus help
A new online prospectus search is now available for 14-19 year olds who need help on deciding what to do in the future.
The search tool helps you find your local prospectus which has details of every course that's available in your area. If you’ve got an idea of what you’d like to study, then all you have to do is type in the subject, school or college you’re interested in, or a key word, and the prospectus will load up all your options. It saves you from having to browse through lots of brochures from different colleges and sixth forms.
Depending on the area you live in, you might able to apply for courses through the site too.
