When I Grow Up I Want To Be... Wait, What Exactly??

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Career. That’s a scary word, isn’t it? Well, it doesn’t have to be. Hardly anyone knows what they want to be when they grow up (SPOILER: that doesn’t change when you actually are grown up). And that’s ok. But, seeing as it’s National Careers Week, we’ve put together some info and resources to spark ideas and help point you in the right direction.

Where To Start?

Talk to family, teachers, friends, even your friends’ parents to get their perspective. Just speaking to them about their work journey and ambitions might give you an idea or lead to a foot in the door. You could even ask to shadow them in their workplace for a day to get a feel for the real thing.

There are also some great online resources. The National Careers Service offer support for young people aged 11-19 via text and email, a free advice line and web chat. Milkround has advice for school and uni leavers and expansive job listings. And, if you’re in Northern Ireland, you can check out a similar service, NiDirect.

Into Quizzes?

Then you’ll love this! The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a series of questions that tell you everything you need to know about… YOU! From what motivates you to what kind of work best suits your personality, interests and aspirations, this is a great way to gain some personal insight before you even head out into the world of work. 

Or Just Wanna Get Stuck In?

A great way to see if you’ll like a specific field of work is to just try it out. You can do it through volunteering, internships or work experience. A good place to start for work experience and internships is the Prospects site, which has a lot of practical advice and job listings. For voluntary work, Do-it lists volunteering opportunities in your area by postcode, interest and organisation.

There’s also Action Day coming up on 6 April – a day when you can get together with like-minded people in your area and make positive change. Who knows what you’ll discover about yourself or your future aspirations. 

Not Into Uni?

No problem! While uni is a great way into lots of different professions, it’s not for everyone. If you fancy working and learning at the same time, maybe an apprenticeship is for you. There’s info about how to become an apprentice and what you can expect from this route on the Government, GetMyFirstJob and UCAS sites. There’s also some varied and exciting job listings over at Not Going To Uni. 

What Can We Offer?

As well as our Opportunity Hub, which lists all sorts of jobs and placements across the UK, we’re partnered with EY, who have got a lot of exciting apprenticeship opportunities. Build up your skills at the EY Business Academy, learn digital skills while studying for a BSc, or take on an apprenticeship specialising in tax advisor accountancy. Their programmes take place across the UK and most start from this summer, so don't miss out!

On top of this, we’ll be launching our new series, Job Dreams, soon! You’ll get first-hand advice from industry professionals from all walks of life, giving you the inside info to help you make more informed decisions about your future. 

Go Get 'Em!

Make sure to check out what careers events are going on in your school or college during the week – you never know what opportunities might come up. But whatever you want to do or even *think* you might want to do, the only way to really know is to give it a go, whether that’s by asking, reading about it or just getting stuck in.

Don’t listen to the voice in your head that says you can’t do it or aren’t good enough. Instead, tell yourself, “I CAN DO IT”. Now, go follow those dreams!