Teenagers and career choices
Discussion
Was chatting to someone yesterday about careers options. When's the best time to decide upon a career? I was thinking after a year of GCSE studies because you start to know what you're good at and what subjects you dislike, and haven't committed to specific A-levels which would restrict your degree subject and thus limiting your career options. I mean, if you chose history, english and art, you'd find it tricky to become a doctor. Presumably you'd have to do a foundation year at uni after convincing the university that despite taking those A-levels you really do want to get into medicine?
Personally I knew what I wanted to do from the age of 10 and suceeded, this made it eaasier for me re: what exams etc I needed.
I would say aim for practical subjects, english, science, maths poss a language as a starter at A levels if still undecided by then as they will open doors for most careers.
But really I think careers should be seriously thought about at GCSE level (at least have 3 possibilities)
I would say aim for practical subjects, english, science, maths poss a language as a starter at A levels if still undecided by then as they will open doors for most careers.
But really I think careers should be seriously thought about at GCSE level (at least have 3 possibilities)
koolchris99 said:
i dont think there is enough advice to young people about what jobs are actually out there.
This i agree with, 100%. I wish i'd been shown more of what "the big wide world" was like and where i could have myself got to if i'd gone by particular routes. I know that if i'd have had any real idea then i wouldn't be stuck in a job that i despise, going nowhere fast, not knowing what the hell to do about it.
At about 14 we got the "what do you want to be when you grow up" day at school but i don't think 90% of kids have any clue of what is going to hit them when the leave. I really think there ought to be more time in the last couple of years of school dedicated to showing pupils what they can do with certain skills, qualifications and talents and where they could end up if they don't knuckle down and aim for something that will make them happy.
It can be difficult to choose, my advice would be keep your options open and do stuff you enjoy. Also if you know what you want to be then make sure your interests matches up with it - no point in making a decision based on what you "think" the job will be like, when in reality it could be very different.
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Most people go to uni not knowing what they want to do. The lucky ones do a general degree which allows them to go somewhere they want to end up, the unlucky ones either wished they had done a specific degree, or did do a specific degree in a subject they no longer want to go into. Personally I wish I had done engineering, all the jobs I want seem to require it! Out of my friends at uni, one is doing another degree, one failed his degree, one is off into the Navy which didnt require a degree, one is going to get a job directly related to his degree, 3 dont know what they want to do, and I might have ended up getting as close to engineering as possible with a Management degree.
My advice would be to do general A levels; science, maths and a social science. These will get you into pretty much any course at any uni and if you want to change courses or change unis when you work out what you want to do it should be easy.
Keep your old love letters; Throw away your old bank statements.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.[/i]
Most people go to uni not knowing what they want to do. The lucky ones do a general degree which allows them to go somewhere they want to end up, the unlucky ones either wished they had done a specific degree, or did do a specific degree in a subject they no longer want to go into. Personally I wish I had done engineering, all the jobs I want seem to require it! Out of my friends at uni, one is doing another degree, one failed his degree, one is off into the Navy which didnt require a degree, one is going to get a job directly related to his degree, 3 dont know what they want to do, and I might have ended up getting as close to engineering as possible with a Management degree.
My advice would be to do general A levels; science, maths and a social science. These will get you into pretty much any course at any uni and if you want to change courses or change unis when you work out what you want to do it should be easy.
I think as a young-un you only know of about max 30 jobs that are out there..
And all of them have a vocational course attached really. So it pushes too many people into vocational degrees which you are then stuck with going down a specific route.
my advice to anyone these days is unless you are dead set, 110% that you want to partake in a certain profession, do something generic at a top 10 uni and grow up.
And all of them have a vocational course attached really. So it pushes too many people into vocational degrees which you are then stuck with going down a specific route.
my advice to anyone these days is unless you are dead set, 110% that you want to partake in a certain profession, do something generic at a top 10 uni and grow up.
I'm in that very situation now. Just finished my first year at college doing my A-levels but I'm still not sure what career I want to persue. I know I want to do 'something' in engineering but don't know what that something is.
As I know I wanted to do engineering I chose A-levels that applied to it (physics and maths) and then two which I enjoyed and thought would be quite useful (geography and business).
I've found the main problem is the lack of specific information. What specific jobs there are in mechanical engineering for example. It doesn't help that everyones just expected to go to university and if you don't your not going to get anywhere in life. I'd much prefer to do an apprentiship as I find I learn better in practical situations than in a classroom.
However my career choice has changed quite abit in the last few years (police, architect, motorsport engineer, RAF). Until you have some kind of experience I don't think you can make your mind up.
As I know I wanted to do engineering I chose A-levels that applied to it (physics and maths) and then two which I enjoyed and thought would be quite useful (geography and business).
I've found the main problem is the lack of specific information. What specific jobs there are in mechanical engineering for example. It doesn't help that everyones just expected to go to university and if you don't your not going to get anywhere in life. I'd much prefer to do an apprentiship as I find I learn better in practical situations than in a classroom.
However my career choice has changed quite abit in the last few years (police, architect, motorsport engineer, RAF). Until you have some kind of experience I don't think you can make your mind up.
I get to see hundreds (maybe thousands) of CV's every year. I've made an observation that most people jump from sector to sector in their 20s and early 30s, but by their early-mid 30s they tend to have a career that they're comfortable with. As such, unless young people are 100% certain of a career they're after then my advice is stick to what you enjoy and see what develops with time - and don't worry too much.
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