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  1. Home
  2. Skills 4 Worcestershire
  3. Are you a young person looking for your future career?
  4. 10 Ways to explore careers
In this section
  • Your options after leaving school
  • Applications, CVs, covering letters and job interviews
  • UCAS and personal statements
  • Looked after children and care leavers
  • Career guidance for those with SEND, SEMH, and EHCP
  • Not in employment, education or training
  • Choices career magazines and booklets
  • Explore job sectors
  • 10 Ways to explore careers
  • Work experience

10 Ways to explore careers

These 10 ways to explore careers will help you consider all of your options in detail.

1. Explore different job roles and the job market

Exploring different job roles and the local job market will provide you with a clear understanding of the types of roles available in different industry sectors and also what the job market looks like in your local area

  • for a comprehensive list of the types of job roles available visit our Job Sectors section
  • if you already know what industry you are interested in but would like to hear more about the job role, visit  iCould and explore videos of people already in those job roles sharing their experiences or visit How2Become to discover how to work in different sectors
  • are interested in working for the NHS
  • no idea what you want to do? This UCAS careers quiz can support you by matching you to jobs most suited to your interests and personality traits
  • find out more about the employment market across Worcestershire

Further links to explore job roles and the job market

  • Videos featuring real people talking about their careers
  • Information about over 350 job roles within the NHS
  • Lesson plans and articles
  • Quiz to find jobs that are suited to you
  • Worcestershire labour market Information
  • Labour market lesson plan and resources
  • More labour market information

2. Find out about different courses and pathways

There are many different pathways available to students in order for them to enter the job market. Whether you know exactly what job you want to do and how to get there, or whether you aren’t sure just yet, the below information will help you to expand your knowledge on the courses and learning pathways available to you 

  • search all of the opportunities after you leave school available across Worcestershire
  • find out more about apprenticeships, search local vacancies or apply? or call the team on 0300 666 3 666
  • if you are set on doing an apprenticeship but would like support with application writing, or additional resources
  • find out if university is the right option for you and compare university courses
  • don’t want to go to university? To find out about the alternative options and pathways, visit Not Going to Uni

Further links to explore different pathways

  • Skills 4 Worcestershire
  • Information about apprenticeships
  • Amazing Apprenticeships
  • University exploration and course search
  • Compare universities
  • Information about university alternatives
  • Advice on how to work in certain sectors
  • Leading university information

3. Have a debate

Certain industries still have stereotypes attached to them, debating these career myths (online or face-to-face) can be an interesting way to develop your knowledge of different job roles.

Some common stereotypical phrases include:

  • Bricklaying is a man’s job
  • Caring jobs (nurse, teacher, vet etc.) are for females
  • Only rich people go to university
  • Apprenticeships aren’t for academics
  • You need all A’s in your A Levels to go to University
  • Creative Industries don’t make any money

Why not follow this up by researching the industry further and writing down your thoughts and findings?

4. Watch educational videos and documentaries

Educational videos and documentaries can provide insight into the world of work through other people’s experiences and expand your knowledge. You might even be drawn to an industry you hadn’t previously considered!

  • How it Works
  • 100 Great Discoveries
  • Stacey Dooley 9-5
  • The Story of Electricity
  • Stephen Hawking’s
  • Planet Earth)
  • TED Talks on the Hospitality Industry
  • The Caterer
  • Creative Industries
  • TED Talks on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Can’t see a documentary that represents the field you are interested in? why not carry out your own research and see what you can find.

5. Play an educational game

Research and learning can be fun! Playing an educational game can help to broaden your knowledge without you even realising.

  • Microsoft Minecraft
  • Educational Games for Young Adults

6. Discover and build upon your skills and strengths

Building upon skills and strengths you already have and developing them further is a useful way of ensuring you stand out in the world of work and have the employability appeal employers are looking for.

  • if you would like to develop your skills, knowledge and confidence, visit Barclays Life Skills
  • find out more about the skills employers are really looking for

Further links and resources for building upon skills and strength

  • Life skills lesson plans and resources
  • Lesson plan and worksheet 
      Use CVDTWINKLHELPS code for free access
  • A range of skills-based activities and information
  • Take this personality quiz
  • Skills employers want
  • Skills for tomorrow

7. Complete career activities

Writing things down is a great way to explore careers and ensure the information you gather stays with you. It is also useful to have information to refer to when you are looking at writing a CV, applying for an apprenticeship or course.

  • if you would like to work through activities and resources that will help to develop your career knowledge and skills, visit Skills and career activities for young adults
  • for advice, support and tips on completing a CV- including a CV template visit this CV Builder or guidance How to write a CV
  • for advice and guidance on writing a personal statement
  • have an interview coming up or want to prepare for a future interview? Why not practice beforehand and pick up some useful interview hints, tips and techniques.

8. Take a free online course or lesson

There are a wide range of online courses that can support you in developing your skills and knowledge of the world of work and help you to enhance your employability appeal.

Interested in a career in business, construction or marketing? Why not try these 30-minute apprenticeships?

  • 30 Minute Apprenticeship in Business
  • 30 Minute Apprenticeship in Construction
  • 30 Minute Apprenticeship in Marketing

Free online courses to develop your skills and knowledge are also available for the following industry sectors:

  • Cyber Security 
  • Banking and Finance
  • Creativity and Entrepreneurship
  • Games Development
  • Marketing
  • Health
  • Humanities
  • Engineering
  • Lifestyle
  • Language
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)
  • Geographic’s

To find a free online course for an industry that is not listed above, visit MOOC. 

You can also maximise your chance of feeling confident and comfortable in an interview by taking a free online course in interview success


Further links to free online courses

  • Strengths and Skills (Lesson)
  • Staying Positive (Lesson)
  • Finding your Cyber Security Career Path (Free online course)
  • Career Skills for Investment Banking and Finance (Free online course)
  • Creativity and Entrepreneurship (Free online course)
  • Resilience, the art of coping with disasters (Free online course)
  • Prepare for career success at Uni (Free online course)
  • Building your career in tomorrow’s workplace (Free online course)
  • How to start your career in games development (Free online course)
  • How to succeed in interviews (Free online course)
  • Variety of FREE online courses (Alison)
  • Coursera (Online courses)
  • Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
  • Edx (2500+ Online Courses)
  • kadenze (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Design, Music, and Math)
  • National Geographic

9. Develop your maths and english skills

Are you aged 16-24 and interested in working towards an English or Maths qualification? 

Worcestershire County Council’s Adult & Community Learning team invite you to join their “Classroom In Your Own Home”

Why not use additional time you may currently have available to prepare your next career step? Their friendly, local, highly qualified and experienced team of tutors would love to support you to develop your skills. 

They offer a blended solution for your learning which is able to respond to the current situation by bringing together the benefits of online learning and the advantages achieved by also meeting with your tutor in person, as and when this is possible. 

Their classes offer collaborative, real-time learning with a tutor and peers - an online classroom experience in your own home, not just an online learning opportunity.

To find out more, email the team at englishandmaths@worcestershire.gov.uk

10. Browse Careers websites

Browsing careers website can help you to find information and advice on a whole range of industries and topics, especially if you are not sure what you want to do in your future career or what pathway you should take to get there.

The websites listed below all provide a range of useful and generic careers related information

  • Skills 4 Worcestershire
  • Worcestershire Apprenticeships
  • Careers & Enterprise Company
  • Careerpilot
  • Start Profile
  • Bridge U
  • Springpod
  • National Careers Service
  • BBC Bitesize
  • My Career Springboard
  • Careers Box
  • Success at School
  • Gov: Apprenticeships
  • Gov: Careers helpline
  • All About School Leavers
  • Tees Valley Resources
  • Talentino (SEND)

Useful online learning websites

Here are also some general free online learning sites

  • MOOC (Online courses for anyone)
  • Minecraft (Educational games and activities)
  • TES (Resources & lesson plans)
  • Twinkl (Online lessons & activities)
      Use CVDTWINKLHELPS code for free access
  • BBC Bitesize
  • Seneca (Online interactive lessons)
  • Future Learn (Free online courses)
  • TED (Video lessons)

Contact Us

Contact the team of qualified advisors now to start your journey.

  • Phone: 0300 666 3 666
  • Email: careersworcs@worcestershire.gov.uk

Please note this is a free phone number and the service is available for Worcestershire residents.

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