Apprenticeships
They go back to the 12th Century & kick started the careers of the likes of Jamie Oliver (maybe not in the 12th Century…), but what are apprenticeships? How do you get an apprenticeships? Where can an apprenticeship lead to? So many questions, so little time…
- About apprenticeships – an overview about what apprenticeships are & how you get an apprenticeship
- Apprenticeships available – there’s over 200 different types & this section tells you all about the different types
CVs, covering letters & interviews
Although it’s becoming more common for job applications to be processed online, by far the most popular form of application remains the dreaded CV and covering letter. This is your first chance to sell yourself to an employer, so make the most of it. If you’re invited to attend an interview for a job you’ve applied for, then you’ve already managed to pass the first stage of finding a job. The next step is to impress them in person and the secret to that is careful preparation…
- Student CV - a must-read for all school & college leavers preparing a CV
- CV Dos and Don’ts - to do or not to do, that is the question
- Funny CVs – people who ignored the Dos & went with the Don’ts – learn from their mistakes!
- Succeed at a job interview – our top tips for turning interview into job
Degrees without the debt
Stop press. There’s no need to go out an buy a ‘how-to-survive-uni-without-the-debt’ book or work every waking hour of the day to fund university, we’ve found ways you can study a degree completely free and come out the other end without the need to get into debt (unless you’re a big spender!).
- Distance learning degrees – an insight into what distance learning is in the 21st Century & how you can get a degree 100% FREE!
- Employer funded study – some employers will sponsor you through a degree whilst you work for them!
- Student debt calculator – how much can university knock you back? Take the test!
- The Open University – a whole section dedicated to the OU & their debt-free degree offering
Finding & starting your first job
The UK is currently in one of the toughest job markets in recent memory. On the positive side of things, one survey said that one in five companies are planning to employ school leavers in the next few months – so the jobs are out there if you can find them and with research and planning that’s precisely what you can do. If you’re starting work for the first time, it’s important to know what’s expected of you in the job as well as your rights and what you’re entitled to.
- Finding job vacancies – a guide through the mazes of job websites, agencies and the rest!
- Starting your first job – the answers to all your little questions such as what to wear, contracts & pay
Gap years
There has been some suggestion in the past that the gap year should more accurately be known as the Gap Yah, as it’s only the well-at-heel who can afford to go waltzing off around the world, safe in the knowledge that they have Daddy’s credit card should anything go wrong. Happily, this stereotype is almost completely wrong and of 230,000 18-24 year-olds who take a gap year, only a small percentage come from a rich background. So what could you do if you decided you wanted to take a year off?
- What can I do on my gap year? – pretty self-explanatory…if I’m honest.
Is university the right path for me?
That is the question, and is probably the most important decision you’re faced with as you finish your GCSE’s, A-Levels, BTECs or whatever it is you’re doing at the mo, and let’s face it – you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t at least thinking (or thought) of it.
- Is university right for me? - an introduction to get you to start thinking about your options
- Why do people go to university? – reasons why people go to university
- Why do people chose not to go to university? – reasons why people don’t go to uni
- What does it actually mean to not go to university? – dispelling stereotypes
Skills & qualifications
There’s no two ways about, skills & qualifications will get you further in life. Don’t take my word for it, a recent report shows that in a few years’ time Britain will have FIVE MILLION fewer unskilled jobs. This means skills & qualifications are likely to become more important as time goes on.
- Increasing your skills – how to gain new skills to open doors to your future
- All qualifications explained – a guide to different levels & qualifications available
Step into the NHS
The NHS offers a huge range of exciting and challenging opportunities for people who are passionate about making a difference. With over 1.3 million employees and more than 350 different careers on offer, there is a job for you no matter what your interests, skills or qualifications.
- Step into the NHS – many jobs in the NHS don’t require a university qualification and many provide on the job training, as well as opportunities for further learning. Step into the NHS can help guide you through these career opportunities.
- NHS Apprenticeships – NHS apprenticeships provide routes into a variety of careers, including many in the NHS, and offer the opportunity to earn, learn and achieve nationally recognised qualifications at the same time.
