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Slide 2 Lifeskills Higher Education & Career: Advice & Strategies for personal development and achieving your goals Slide 3 School Leaver Stats University Route (512,000+ 18 year olds placed by UCAS, 2014) UCAS reports 30% of English and 27% of Welsh 18 year olds entered into high er education in 2014 up from the previous year (512,414 18 year olds in total) 59% of 19 year olds gained a Level 3 (A/L) qualification (2013) Apprenticeships 5.9% of 18 year olds were in apprenticeships by end of 2013 (National Audit Office) Employment - 6.8% were in employment without training (2013) The number of 18 year olds in higher education has increased year on year. Though apprenticeships have stayed much the same Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 4 This Sessions Topics Higher Education choosing a course and personal development Vocational qualifications, training other routes Planning a Gap Year Careers preparing for work Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 5 Higher Education Many students are not sure of what they want to study or what career they should go into at the age of 17! Quite a few subjects on offer at universities may not be what students have studied before e.g. Computer Science, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Media and Journalism, Marketing As a result few research the courses thoroughly before they enter them on the application form Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 6 Higher Education In the UK most universities have specialist courses with a common first year for say engineering may end up with a further specialism at the end e.g. Electronic Engineering; unlike liberal arts in America Each university teaches the same course very differently e.g. Computing its important to read the course content! Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 7 Choosing a course Know your strengths and personality/traits before you choose a course How do you know what to study? Take a suitable psychometric test with feedback such as Standard or Advanced Explorer, Morrisby (Futurewise) Speak to a careers advisor and others with experience in the field Go to the National Careers Service website and research career routesNational Careers Service Speak to Teachers, Parents and Advisors and create a skills profile (see next slide) Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 8 Choosing a course Check the Complete University Guide, UCAS and check listing by subject to look into entry requirements for coursesComplete University GuideUCAS Read course details on websites and contact Admissions and Departments at Universities to get more information Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 9 Know Yourself Better Skills Analysis What are skills? They are not traits! Transferable (functional) skills are the most basic unit of your career they are what you take with you to the work you choose The following are types of transferable skills: Make a table of your skills Data Skills Using intuition Coordinating/Innovating Design, use artistic ability, originality Visualize Organise, classify Work with numbers, compute Problem solve Analyse, break down Imagine Plan Program Research Compile, keep records People Skills Mentoring Negotiating Instructing Supervising Speaking Empathy, warmth Advise Teach/tutor, train Lead, be a pioneer Serve, care for Amuse, entertain Communicate well Play an instrument Skills with Things Control, get things done Repair Manufacture, make Construct Finish, restore Set up/assemble Operate Dexterity, Nimble fingers Shape, Model, Sculpt Manipulate Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 10 Traits Now consider your Traits checklist examples are: I am accurate with how I analyse information or data Accurate I am achievement orientated with tasks Achievement orientated I can be adaptable with situations and people Adaptable I can be assertive in situations Assertive I can be authoritative in a team Authoritative I can keep my calm Calm I am cautious in decision making Cautious I can be creative in designing Creative I am diligent at applying myself to my work Diligent I am dynamic and like to move from task to task Dynamic I am innovative in my problem solving Innovative I can be perceptive about people and situations Perceptive I am very practical in organising tasks Practical I work quickly with numbers and data Works quickly I am rational in decision making Rational I am realistic in my planning of tasks and timing Realistic I am resourceful at solving problems and issues Resourceful I am very self reliant in how I work Self reliant I am versatile with working with different types of environment Versatile Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 11 Skills supported by Traits Start looking at your skills which are then supported by traits and you begin to see why certain skills will be suitable for certain fields of work and further study Examples: - Data skills: analyses, break down; Trait : Accurate with analysis and detail : Can be accurate at breaking down information and analysing : good skill for a mathematician or scientist - People skill: Mentoring, teaching advise: Trait: Perceptive and adaptable with people and situations good skills for a teacher, advisor, trainer - Skill with things: Dexterity, nimble fingers; Traits: Creative and achievement based maybe good at art/design/ music Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 12 Choosing a course It is useful to know ahead of further study whether a certain field of study suits you as a person with particular skills or traits But in choosing a career, you need consider if you enjoy what you go on to study as people dont always want to do what they are good at! Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 13 Choosing Options So you know what you are good at doing and what you enjoy. What next? Higher Education at a University or College full time or part time leading to a degree Online Learning /Distance Courses : where a degree or other qualification can be achieved by material sent, studied and assessed online helps study whilst working but takes longer as part time Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 14 Other routes.. So you know what you are good at doing and what you enjoy. What next? Apprenticeships on the job learning and working towards qualification or position. There are several levels of this from 16+ years up to degree apprenticeships which are a new offering allowing work based qualifications that go towards earning a degree. UCAS has some details on this. Employers and institutions work together to create courses that fit around work training.UCAS More information on Degree Apprenticeships can be found HereHere Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 15 University Education If you have decided on the University route and have chosen your course, consider what skills and experience you will gain from this period and how you can maximise your learning and development towards later career or self employment Employers value qualifications and evidence shows that graduates do earn a premium when first starting a job Not all graduate courses are valued in this way by employers so choosing a course should involve a thorough evaluation of benefits of the expense of the course against future earnings potential Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 16 Top ten subjects with the highest professional premium 2014 graduates Source: Complete University Guide 2015 Subject Professional job Non-professional job Difference Chemical Engineering 28,64116,11112,530 General Engineering 27,45215,71611,736 Physics & Astronomy 24,97614,80210,174 Mechanical Engineering 26,42016,9109,510 Economics 26,63017,2959,335 Social Work 24,00414,9279,077 Librarianship & Information Management 24,11615,2298,887 Electrical & Electronic Engineering 22,01413,3338,681 Physiotherapy 22,01413,3338,681 Geology 23,02914,6768,353 Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 17 Subjects with the lowest professional premium 2014 graduates Subject Professional job Non-professional jobDifference Celtic Studies18,49716,4842,013 Middle Eastern & African Studies 19,44116,9682,473 Music17,48415,0022,482 Drama, Dance & Cinematics 16,93214,3802,552 East & South Asian Studies 19,07516,1542,921 Communication & Media Studies 18,21215,1543,058 Linguistics18,93415,7313,203 Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation & Tourism 19,34115,9133,428 Italian19,63216,1033,529 Law19,69916,0433,656 Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 18 Strategies to increase your potential If you are going into Higher Education or apprenticeship training, you will want to make the most of the environment and opportunities you have to improve your future chances Learning can be powerful when combined with being fully immersed in the process and using self development and goal setting to overcome barriers to success What do you do well? List skills and areas of development and work on those areas you need to develop How do your maximise your potential with learning and development? Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 19 Setting Goals Coaching involves the use of goal setting to help coachees develop a plan to move from where they are to where they want to be. SMART goals is one method used by coaches to set up a plan for clients: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 20 Get into the Growth Mindset A study by world renowned Stanford University psychologist Dr Carol Dweck uncovered a revolutionary idea the power of mindsets Her work concluded that it is not just abilities that bring success but how we approach goals with a Fixed mindset or Growth mindset The study revealed that with the right mindset one can motivate oneself to raise grades and achieve goals that may otherwise may remain out of reach Specialist coaching can help with mental strategies towards learning and development. If you would like to find out more about this you can sign up for posts or book a free session at the Smarter Lives website. Smarter Lives Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 21 Personal Development As a student, look for all the development opportunities available to you. It is not just about academics but learning useful personal skills and developing experience for the future. Join clubs and societies try something youve never done before Put yourself forward for leadership roles within teams or societies Volunteer for causes or charities Create interest groups if you cannot find one for your interest and organise activities Do some fundraising for your college or a cause Get some work experience in holidays something in the line of what you study would be good but any work is good experience Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 22 Not Ready ? Gap Year There are several reasons students take a break between School and Higher Education Wanting some work experience to help towards getting into a course this can help with some competitive courses Want to apply for a course with results rather than predictions as the predicted grades may not be high enough Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 23 Gap Year Options.. Not yet ready for university and would like to earn and travel before full time study Want to explore other options before deciding whether to spend the time and money on a degree Not received the offers they want and wish to re apply with results to get into competitive courses or different universities Make a gap year count by researching work placements, internships, volunteering with travel and other opportunities and plan ahead. The best opportunities get filled up fast! Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 24 Gap Year & Placement Opportunities The following are useful sites for work experience opportunities and gap year internships: Prospects Student Ladder Rate My Placement internships Large Companies such as IBM have internship and placement schemes advertised on their websites look them up Use Your Contacts! Set up an account on LinkedIn for networking. Join interest groups for field you are interested in. Fill out your experience so recruiters can see your CV. Several companies now offer volunteering and foreign work and travel opportunities. A fee is usually involved to help set up the work and visas etc Register with recruitment agencies for internships and work most have online forms Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 25 Careers Where are you heading? There are many websites where information is available on different types of careers: Total Professions is an informative site with videos of people talking about their professions Total Professions Employment Self Employment Most new graduates or qualified trainees would not choose self employment straight away as they wish to build experience but some may do so for example: Artists, Performers, Musicians, Computer scientists and website designers who may work freelance Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 26 Your CV After completing further education or training, the biggest step is starting your career and for this you need a good CV! **Things to remember when creating your CV/Resume and applying for jobs** Google is your resume! Due to the explosion in the use of social media employers can find out a lot about an applicant by their media profiles be aware and keep it clean and interesting (some universities check media too) Use the power of networking professional sites such as LinkedIn to add interesting experience, other skills, voluntary work etc. Join interest groups on media and LinkedIn to be better informed Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 27 Job Applications and CV Create an interesting CV tailored to the job you are applying for. Update this regularly with feedback Use a good clear layout highlighting experience relevant to the job you are applying for Use interesting experiences or projects to support your statement of skills A profile statement about yourself, your qualifications and experience, skills, interests and dont forget to include positions of leadership Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 28 Example CVs Copyright Smarter Lives 2015 Slide 29 Wrap Up Develop a personal mission statement through university and your studies which can be updated constantly to keep your goals and vision clear Ask for advice and feedback when things do not go as you planned NEVER Give Up! For further inspirational advice and guidance visit my site Smarter Lives Coaching Where you can book a free first session for online/ one to one /group coaching or specific advice on educational strategies, business mentoring/coaching and personal development Thank you for watching! 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