Think different
Monday 18 January 2010
When you’re thinking about your future and your career why not think differently? All you need is a plan…
When I grow up...
Do you have an idea of what you’d like to be when “you grow up”? Most people like to dream about what they could do given half the chance. Your dream could become reality; all you need to do is think big!
It’s all in the mind
The first step towards making your goals come true is to really believe in yourself. If you think big then others will too and suddenly everything becomes possible. The opportunity of an interesting and rewarding career and the chance to lead the lifestyle that you choose is always within your grasp – believe.
You can!
Did you know that you’re guaranteed all the help you need to make the learning, life and work choices that are right for you? Whether you want more help from school and college, an online chat with an adviser, help from your parents or advice from a local employer, it’s your choice.
A good place to start is icould.com, a website set up to get you started thinking about your career. icould is the place where you can get ideas about where you could go, how you could get there, what you could do, why it would be worth it and who you could be.
The possibilities
The career possibilities are endless – you can be anything you want to be!
To help you get started why not think about what you really like doing and what you’re really good at? Do you love animals? Perhaps you’d like to be a vet? Or perhaps professions such as accountancy or architecture attract you? There are also many growing professions you may not even have heard of.
The best way to get first hand information is to ask people who are already working in the field about what inspired them to do what they do and what is needed to succeed.
Guiding Lights is an initiative launched by the Department for Children, Schools and Families that aims to inspire you to consider careers you might not have thought of. For more info join the Guiding Lights FB group.
Abbi Collins is a Stunt Co-ordinator, Stunt Performer, Horse Master and self confessed “adrenalin junkie". However becoming a stunt coordinator requires a lot of on-the-job training. Watch this video and find out how she made her career choices.
Open the doors
By 2015 young people will stay in education or training until they are 18. This will mean that there will be plenty of opportunities to learn in the way that best suits you, at school, college or in a job with accredited training. So, remember that if you make a choice you have plenty of time to change your mind and try out various different routes.
Sometimes starting out on one path may lead to something completely different that you had never even considered. The most important thing is to make a start and open those doors of opportunity!
Watch the interview with Ryan Wheal who didn't quite get the grades he needed to be a pilot, but became an Intelligence Analyst for the RAF instead, providing information needed to make operations successful and to save lives.
Start now
These days there are more education and training opportunities open to you than ever before – take a advantage of these to help you decide the work that will make you happy.
- Check out the pages of icould.com for lots more ideas.
- You could also call, text, email or chat online to advisers at Connexions-Direct.
- Horsesmouth.co.uk is a social network that has been set up to share stories and give advice.
- Join Guiding Lights group on Facebook and link up two groups of people - inspirational role models from a variety of industries, areas and backgrounds and young people making the same kind of decisions.
