School Students and Parents
16 – 18 years
Choosing the right course is key and takes considerable research. There are over 100 Universities to choose from in the UK alone and over 50,000 undergraduate courses. Remember that choosing a subject that you are really interested in is essential to enjoying your study at university. In addition, there are a range of considerations. Do I want to be in a city? Do I want to be on a campus? What extracurricular activities can I continue with? Is accommodation important to me in my first year and should this be catered? Are league tables important and do I want a Russell Group University? What career could my degree lead to?
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
Where to start and be truly authentic? You are allowed 4,000 characters (including spaces) and 47 lines to impress the admissions tutor that you are a great candidate for their course. In four or five paragraphs you will highlight your reason for studying the course at the University of your choice, demonstrate your intellectual curiosity for Higher Education and persuade the University of your personal skills and qualities so that you can contribute to the degree and University.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
What are the options for studying in the USA, Canada or Europe? How and when should you start and what preparation is needed. For the USA you will need to prepare to take SAT or ACT tests so when is the best time and in what subjects? Programmes of study can be very different, and the US offers liberal arts programmes that can suit students who are undecided about a choice of subject, keeping their options open for longer. For Canada and Europe, A ‘level results are taken into consideration.
Costs for UK Nationals are considerable (although we don’t yet know what European fees will look like after March 2019) and whilst there are some scholarships available these are very competitive. Will you be able to work in your country of study whilst a student and could you stay on once graduated?
If you want to study for a vocational course such as medicine, dentistry or law, will you qualify to practice in the UK or need to do a conversion course on return?
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
University isn’t for everyone. If you have a keen interest in following a specific profession, getting work experience in a sector, or have a company in mind there are many opportunities at 18 to apply for Higher Level Apprenticeships. But where to start and when should you think about applying? What about keeping my options open and applying for a degree course as well as applying for an apprenticeship?
In addition, some sectors have collaborated with education providers to offer the Degree Apprenticeship, where you apply for a job with the company and they will sponsor you to study for your degree on a part time basis. Usually this means the course is longer (4 years rather than 3) and it is a very different experience to going to University fulltime.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
The CV you write will very much depend on your age and experience and who you are writing it for.
For school aged students this can be more generic and likely to be chronological listing education, experiences and extracurricular. It is essential though, rather than producing just a list, to reflect on the skills and qualities you can offer the employer.
Even at this early stage think carefully about the employer, their values and competencies and reflect these in your CV.
Use of technology plays an increasingly large part in recruitment and selection and very much more so for formal work experience schemes, internships and graduate applications. Thinking carefully and presenting your skills and qualities that suit the role will lead to authenticity and confidence in your application. Again, research carefully the employer competencies.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
There is no such thing as an informal chat. Even if you are meeting a friend, parent or colleague this is the time to step up and be professional in your approach.
Interviews will come in many forms. How do you impress over the telephone? How can you prepare for a webcam interview and the increasing use of AI to screen candidates? These differing formats have become increasingly relevant in formal work experience schemes, internships and graduate applications.
When you make it through the screening process to the face to face meeting how can you be prepared enough to enjoy your interview and make this a two-way process? Would you like to discuss key tips or book a mock interview?
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation, including mock interview practice.
The application will vary from role to role. It could be you need a CV or fill in the company application form. For some more formal programmes in the early stages, often you will be required to go through an online application process, including use of psychometrics or gaming apps, as part of the selection process for interview.
Be prepared with a relevant CV and don’t underestimate the amount of time these applications can take. Also, look out for timing. It might be that your application should be submitted in the autumn term for a job the following summer.
All experience on your CV or application and reflecting your skills and qualities is useful. This could be from formal work experience schemes, local jobs, Saturday work, coaching sports teams or volunteering, so apply for a range of opportunities. All will give you relevant and valuable experience to add to your CV.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
At any stage of your education or career you may want to add and develop skills beyond the job or curriculum on offer to you. These opportunities are widely available with lots of free online courses globally (e.g. moocs) to choose from. So, whether you are a school student interested in developing digital skills, or a new graduate wanting to find out more about coding, or an undergraduate with an interest in marketing, consider what is available and, importantly, it will help you stand out from the crowd.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
14 – 16 years
A Levels will be a big step up from previous study and this is an opportunity to choose subjects you are interested in and will enjoy. It is important to consider what is right and just some of the questions you will ask yourself could include:
- What careers could my subjects lead to?
- Will I get the best grades in these subjects?
- What higher education courses could they lead to?
- What courses will not be available to me?
Vocational degrees, such as medicine, engineering, architecture will be looking for specific subjects. What happens if you don’t have one of these A ‘level subjects? How could you still pursue this career and what are the alternative options?
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype.
In addition, we offer an online Psychometric Profile looking at aptitude, interest, personality and career to help inform choice of subject. This involves taking the profile online at home with follow up report, online resources and a one-hour feedback meeting.
Studying A Levels isn’t the right option for every 16-year-old for lots of reasons. Some schools will not offer the subject you want. Some students love their area of study but find it difficult getting through exams and revision at the end of two years of study. Others are very practical in their approach and may want a hands on or vocational field of study.
Some schools, and most sixth form colleges offer a range of alternative subjects and modular ways of study, and if taken at the equivalent level to A level are accepted by universities as qualifying subjects.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
If you are looking for a different place to study there will be a lot of factors to be taken in to consideration. Most importantly, do they offer the subjects you are looking for? Colleges are very different to schools, though for both you will require the motivation to step up to a higher level of study. One major difference is joining and integrating into an existing sixth form at a school or joining a sixth form college where everyone will new. Similarly the size of college to school can be very different, both in terms of student numbers, and range of courses on offer.
For some students going in to an apprenticeship is the better option and there will be many opportunities with local employers.
Post 16 options include education in school or college, apprenticeship or traineeship or part time education or training, combined with employment.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
The application can vary from role to role. It could be you need a CV or fill in the company application for. For some more formal programmes in the early stages, often you will be required to go through an online application process, including use of psychometrics or gaming apps, as part of the selection process for interview.
Be prepared with a relevant CV and don’t underestimate the amount of time these applications can take. Also, look out for timing. It might be that your application should be submitted in the Autumn term for a job the following summer.
All experience on your CV or application and reflecting your skills and qualities is useful. This could be from formal work experience schemes, local jobs, Saturday work, coaching sports teams or volunteering, so apply for a range of opportunities. All will give you relevant and valuable experience to add to your CV.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
The CV you write will very much depend on your stage of study or employment, and who you are writing it for.
For school aged students this can be more generic and likely to be chronological listing education, experiences and extracurricular activities. It is essential though, rather than producing just a list, to reflect on the skills and qualities you can offer the employer.
Even at this early stage think carefully about the employer, their values and competencies and reflect these in your CV.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
Parents
In the UK we have one centralised application process for university applications and your son or daughter will apply this way, usually via their school or college. Each will have their own timeline. Some university applications will have an early deadline in October, for others it is early January.
Many parents are interested to understand the process, particularly if this is their first experience with an application at home, or if they themselves studied outside of the UK system. Then understanding timelines, deadlines and what a personal statement will involve can be reassuring.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
We also offer local parent meetings for small groups on this topic (maximum 7)
Once your son or daughter has chosen the universities they are applying to, many parents will accompany them on a University visit. Booking early is essential, making sure you prioritise if there is a clash (as many happen on the same day) and in helping organise the schedule to get the most out of the day.
Sometimes it is not possible to get to every open day, so what resources can be found online, or visit days are available and how do these differ?
When offers are made then a post offer invitation is sent out. All of these will help your son or daughter decide which university and which course is the right one for them.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
We also offer local parent meetings for small groups on this topic (maximum 7)
Authenticity. Helping applicants be the best that they can be and understand their skills and qualities.
Individuals will all have access to differing opportunities from the rugby, football, hockey, netball, swim team, to the chess player, to those involved with charities or mentoring in their community. Others have responsibility for family, or babysitting, or working in the local coffee shop or newspaper round.
Each opportunity reflects skills and qualities employers are looking for. Hard work, resilience, teamwork, good communication and people skills, reliability…………. the list goes on and helps build awareness of employability skills.
Please book here if you would like a career guidance conversation about this topic which will be by telephone or Skype. Any further support will be agreed at the end of this consultation.
We also offers locally parent meetings for small groups on this topic (maximum 7)