CAREERS NEWSLETTER
2017-‐18
ISSUE 4 – Friday 17 November 2017 Welcome to Issue 4! Since our last edition, the new Careers Centre has been officially opened and the current edition of The Wheatleyan has been compiled. There will have been half a dozen circulars by the time w e reach the Christmas Break. Thank you for your kind comments about Mrs Mair’s redesign for this newsletter and encouragement with relating our #18Before18 message to each year group.
Emma Rosen Inspires Our U6th
We were delighted to welcome Emma Rosen to Bablake for an U6th Enrichment talk. Emma’s story is a compelling one – after gaining very good A levels, completing her university education successfully and starting a sought after graduate job, she found herself unfulfilled and felt, while she had the skills to make a success of her job, something was missing. At that point she decided to test 25 careers before her 25th birthday. Her talk d ocumented many of those tasters and she explained some of her exciting plans for the future. After reading about her journey, I spoke to Emma in the Spring when I was looking to revamp Bablake’s Careers programme, as I could see parallels with 18 year olds leaving school education with the skills and grades, but, understandably, often little awareness of what a profession actually entailed. Emma told our students to picture their ideal job and working environment, and consider portfolio careers. Everyone was receptive to her ideas, with Mollie O’Sullivan commenting: ‘Emma’s talk was very good. She showed how each job has so many aspects and, naturally, is often a lot different from our initial impression. Her advice to ‘try before you buy’ made excellent sense, and the ’18 Before 18’ idea will help Bablake students make decisions.” Emma was, in turn, impressed with the questions from our students, both in the formal session and individual discussion after her talk. To read more about Emma’s journey, see www.25before25.com. She is also interviewed in the December edition of ‘Cosmopolitan’. www.18before18.com looks to help solve the type of crisis Emma found after her formal education.
18 Tasks Before 2018 The Autumn term is always lively for the Careers Department. We have the following 18 tasks (and more) on our planner before the end of term! 1 Plan 2018 Careers Convention: Thurs February 1st 6pm – 8.30/ 9pm. 2 Proofread 2016/17 Wheatleyan. 3 Appoint 2017/18 Wheatleyan editors and team of reporters. 4 Update Careers website. 5 Publish a series of blogs. 6 Develop the ‘18 Tips’ series. 7 Plan Spring Careers Forum sessions. th 8 Interview all 5 Year pupils. th 9 Launch 5 Year CV Challenge. 10 #BablakePupilsEverywhere features. 11 Canvass parents for support. 12 Plan 3 careers newsletters. 13 Prompt L6th plans beyond Bablake. 14 Attend ‘The Skills Show’ (NEC). 15 Host 3 Thursday Careers Sessions. 16 Lead a session on social media platforms at CDI Annual Conference. 17 Offer usual 1 to 1 support. 18 Tweet daily from @bablakecareers.
Don’t forget to collect a free #18Before18 planner from Careers -‐ designed by The Jade Studio & Mollie O’Sullivan.
LATEST NEWS
CAREERS FORUM (4) – Working as a Producer in the West End – Hannah Elsy
Former school captain Hannah Elsy p resented an excellent view of life in the theatre, explaining first how her love of drama h ad been nurtured in Bablake, and then how she had developed that passion since leaving our Sixth Form. She has been producing a musical, ‘The Quenton Denton Show’, and gave a frank account of the many highs and n atural lows connected to her career path so far. She has exciting plans for the show, including the production of a cast album. Her advice was b oth pertinent and inspiring; it was interesting to hear about her progress. Hannah is determined to ensure drama and theatre will play a major part in her future career path. She has exciting p lans, which may even include options abroad, perhaps New York, within the next 5 to 10 years. When asked what advice she would give to her 16 year old self, she said she would have taken a more specific route, certainly after A level, linked to her love for the theatre. The Careers Forum was an excellent chance to quiz Hannah about her experiences and take advice from an expert in their field. It was therefore d isappointing to report that more students had not taken advantage of this opportunity. We very much look forward to an increased attendance for the future Forum sessions this term.
PHOTOGRAPHS
UPPER SIXTH EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION PRESENTATION EVENING Many congratulations to over 30 U6th students who presented their EPQ research this week. Seeing the students answer questions from peers, parents, staff and supervisors with such authority, enthusiasm, academic clarity and poise was a very proud moment for all, but especially Mrs Rees who now oversees the programme. Many of the year group spent their summer researching projects that attain a Gold CREST award and enjoying meaningful work experience p lacements. When challenged, they p rove their excellence and are clearly ahead of the rest! With this purpose, they will achieve impressive A level target grades and enjoy exciting p ost 18 opportunities.
@BablakeCareers
LATEST NEWS
IGNORING MORRISSEY’S ADVICE TO STAY IN BED!
IN THE POST Taster Days/ Courses
I am long past hanging on the words of Morrissey. An iconic musical figure in the 80s via his band The Smiths, his solo career has been somewhat blighted by concerns over a possible racist attitude. The ubiquity over half term of his latest single, an earworm in truth, only compounded my disregard, as he urges us to ‘spend the day in bed… and stop watching the news, as it only contrives to frighten you’. Not the approach I would be promoting at Bablake! Energetic, active, informed, politically aware students are exactly what employers want instead.
5TH YEAR UPDATE
1 FAST TOMATO All pupils should have completed the initial questionnaire – see/ email MGAW, if not. Please consider the summary, explore the links suggested and bear this advice in mind when choosing Post 16 Options. I can discuss the findings with your son/ daughter in their forthcoming Careers Review, but I would s tress a computer programme does not always ‘get it right’. Don’t necessarily be totally alarmed if a dream career path does not feature on your report, yet you are certain this is where you want to head.
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2 R EVIEW On Friday 24 November, all pupils will c omplete a short form about their interests and strengths; each pupil will then be offered a 15-‐ 20 minute initial 1-‐1 discussion, before the end of this term, to talk about future plans. Students may always email with enquiries or to arrange a follow up meeting. Dropping in is perfectly fine, although it is harder to guarantee someone else may not already be doing this. I can book appointments around duties, meetings, school events or society commitments. st
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3 CV CHALLENGE On Friday 1 December, I will talk to the 5 year about writing a professional CV and Covering Letter. There will be a CV th Challenge set and all applications should be returned by 4pm Friday 15 December. CVs will then be ‘marked’ and returned just after the Mock Exams in January. This is an invaluable exercise, as while a traditional CV may not quite have the same power as 10/20 years ago, presenting your best side on paper and ‘marketing your own brand’ are important skills to develop. Basic errors will be eliminated via this exercise. 4 DIARY DATES Please note the dates of future Careers Forum sessions, our Careers Convention etc. Be c urious! Don’t be afraid of exploring new opportunities. NB If there are aspirations for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science or any form of engineering, then please research carefully any suitable entry requirements, when choosing A level options. For most pupils, choosing subjects you will enjoy and, if available at GCSE, are good at it, is almost always the best option. The Prospects (www.prospects.ac.uk) website is excellent a t suggesting post university routes for most subjects.
APPRENTICESHIPS
There are excellent opportunities at 16, 18 and beyond for apprenticeship study. Advice for this route is best approached via individual discussion with us, as the range of opportunities is both engaging and bewildering. For most, the Post 18 route is very viable, especially if you are worried about narrowing options at 16.
Essential for L6th Medics -‐ University Hospitals th Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust – 24 Annual Careers Seminar. Collect consent forms from MGAW (Careers Centre). Further info via: www.mededcoventry.com/medicalinsight/. th Be aware that the Headstart (L6th) and Inspire (5 Girls) deadlines are approaching. Further info via: www.etrust.org.uk/headstart/whatisheadstart and www.etrust.org.uk/inspirecourse. InvestIN Taster days: https://investineducation.co.uk/ has more information for those looking at investment banking, journalism, law, engineering, medicine etc. (Cost: c£130. Would suspect the investment banking and journalism ones are the best value, as we have seen other options for law, medicine etc.)
Apprenticeships • •
JP Morgan: info about apprenticeships offered -‐ https://careers.jpmorgan.com/careers/programs. Dyson: www.dysoninstitute.com/
NB Each company has its own way of advertising these opportunities. Deadlines for apprenticeships/ work experience vary! Ask direct, if you cannot find the deadlines or info you need.
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Gap Year Options General • www.gapyear.com • http://www.yearoutgroup.org/ Specific Companies • www.frontier.ac.uk • https://gapforce.org
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‘The Beginner’s Guide to a Careers in Law 2018’ -‐ www.lawcareers.net. (Free copies) University prospectuses are available in the Careers Centre for browsing.
Disclaimer! Information posted here or on our Twitter feed usually reflects what we have received notice of. These will never be the only options available, nor are they our sole recommendations!
@BablakeCareers
IN YOUR DIARY
CAREERS FORUM…
…ALSO ARRANGED
Thursday 23 November 1pm (Careers Centre)
30 November: Lauren James (Author and Scientist).
Former pupil Dr Catherine Russell will explain where her interest in Geology has taken her.
7 December: Professor David Higgins – Birmingham City University (A Career in Property – More Than Bricks and M ortar).
Suiting 3rds and above.
Enyi Ogbuneke’s session on Social Enterprise has been rearranged for the New Year to offer our students greater insight into his ‘Love For The Streets’ social enterprise.
Please let us know Career areas you would like to discover more about, as we look to plan our Spring programme.
Email mgw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk to book a place. Bring your own lunch. Squash and biscuits will be provided!
Please take advantage of these sessions to: • Confirm careers interests. • Expand your ideas. • Extend your curiosity.
ESSENTIAL DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
BABLAKE CAREERS CONVENTION – Thursday 1 February (6pm -‐ 8.30pm) ‘What Next? What Career Live?’ (NEC) – Friday 2/ Saturday 3 March (Free) www.whatcareerlive.co.uk/birmingham/who-‐will-‐be-‐there ‘Study Abroad’ Fair – Wednesday 14 March (Bablake): registration (5th year) & Life Choices (L6th). (Part of ‘International Education’ week.)
ISSUE 5 – Possible Content
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Review of our latest blog posts. Careers Forum report. ‘Bablake Pupils Everywhere’ summary. More information about our Careers Convention. In the Post ‘The Skills Show’ report.
SCHOOL INFO
Mr Mark Woodward
Twitter @bablakecareers FB www.facebook.com/bablakecareers Website www.2morrow-‐2day.com LinkedIn www.linkedin/markwoodward Blog http://bablakecareers.tumblr.com/ Spotify http://www.spotify.com/18before18