Sixth Form Careers
STEP 1. Complete a Self-Assessment - What are your strengths, skills, qualities, attributes.
How can you provide evidence of these?
STEP 2. Investigate the wide range of Learning and Job Opportunities - which job roles fit your interests and abilities. Check out the Job Profiles on www.prospects.ac.uk Will you need to go to university or could you consider an Apprenticeship.
STEP 3. Evaluate your OPTIONS - decide upon the action needed – attend university visits and taster days and Apprenticeship Fairs.
Step 4. Decide on your career goals
Carefully consider the information you have gathered – What are your career goals for the next two/five/ten years - this helps break down the planning of your careers strategy into manageable pieces.
Set SMART objectives:
Step 5. Develop and implement your career strategy
Once you know your goals, put your career strategy into action by developing a Career Action Plan. Remain flexible and open-minded. If you have a couple of choices, research and prepare for both. As you progress, your ideas might become more specific.
If you would like to discuss your options further and would like help to develop a Career Action Plan, why not book a careers interview email Mrs Beeton sbeeton@sphs.uk.com or drop into the Careers Office.
University? Apprenticeship?
With a wide range of post 18 options available, planning your progression from the sixth form is vital. Ensure you are well-informed about the opportunities available to you; regularly check out the range of websites on each of the pages listed below:
Building your CV
- Put together a CV that will show you in the best possible light, whether you are applying for work experience, a job or apprenticeships. www.prospects.ac.uk
- Find out about online ability and aptitude tests for school leaver programmes, including numerical and verbal reasoning tests: https://targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-interviews/44-online-ability-tests-for-school-leaver-programmes-and-apprenticeships
- Make sure your online application form stands out for the right reasons and helps you get the apprenticeship place you want: https://targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-interviews/42-top-tips-for-filling-in-school-leaver-programme-application-forms
- How To Write an Effective CV [A Practical Guide] TEDJob
Work Experience
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For a list of companies with named contacts for you to approach for work experience please email: ask@gloucestershire.go.uk
- Find out about the different ways you can gain the work experience you need to impress employers and get hired, whether or not you go to university first: https://targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/skills-and-experience/388-work-experience-for-school-students-what-you-need-and-how-to-get-it
- Make the most of your work experience by finding out what to wear, how to impress and what you should do once it is completed: https://targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/skills-and-experience/313849-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-work-experience-placement
Advice for your gap year
- Are you thinking of taking a gap year before starting university or an Apprenticeship? Plan ahead so you get what you want out of your time out: https://targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/gap-years/180-how-to-have-a-well-planned-gap-year
