It may seem a little early to be thinking about what career you want to do when you leave school but it’s never too early to plan your career!
You probably remember talking about this in Primary School when your teachers asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Your parents will have no doubt asked this question when you were even younger, and they’ll remind you when you’re older.
Why think about careers in Y7 and Y8? Planning for the future and how to get there can often help you focus on what you need to gain from Education to secure that dream job you’ve always wanted. The sooner you start the more you’ll be ready to make decisions in the future about your learning and career plans. Some careers require you to study certain subjects at GCSE and A levels, you may even need to go to University. Some careers require more practical and vocational experience that you can gain through a College course or Apprenticeship and even University.
The career you choose will affect
- Your lifestyle and income
- Your outlook on life
- The friends you make
In Y10 and 11 and sometimes Y9 you’ll get the chance to choose what GCSEs you want to study. You’ll get to choose some subjects but there are some subjects you have to take known as core subjects.
- English (either single English GCSE, or English Language and English Literature)
- Math’s
- Science (either core science, double science or triple science which covers physics, biology and chemistry)
Some schools may set additional core subjects which you have to take but these three subjects are considered vital in all schools and the world of work. You will need to achieve a Grade 4 Pass in English and Math’s but you can retake them to achieve this grade if you need to.
Throughout your time in school you’ll meet with a lot of people who can help like your teachers and learning mentors. One of the most important people you’ll meet throughout your school life is your CareersInc careers adviser. They’ll help you along the way by offering support in a number of ways. Careers and Life lessons will also help you get ready to make these decisions.
To get you started and thinking about careers ask yourself these three questions when thinking about any subject or course you want to take:
1) Do you enjoy it?
2) Do you think you can do well in it?
3) Do you think it will help you with making future life and work choices in a direction you want to go in?
