Options with a foundation degree Introduction This factsheet will help you look at career and further study ideas. We recommend that you also view the Career Planning Action factsheet as this will help you consider what you would like to do.
Skills & Employability You will have gained many specific skills and improved your professional and subject knowledge during your course which will allow you to progress within your chosen career. You will also have gained many transferable skills from your time at University including Skills include:Analytical skills Communication skills ICT skills Interpersonal Skills Report writing Research Presentation skills Prioritisation Self-Management Team working skills
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Career ideas - the following ideas may require further training or qualifications. Related Careers n n n n n n
Alternative Career Ideas n n n
Skills and Employability Action Points Action points to help you recognise your skills and improve your employability n n
See the Employability factsheet Skills Assessment (Go to the ‘Careers and Employability’ pages on the website, select ‘Make yourself Employable’, ‘and ‘Skills Assessment’).
Education Manager / Officer Outreach Worker Community Development Worker Children’s services worker Family Support Worker Youth Worker
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Careers Adviser / Personal Adviser Project Manager Charity Worker Recruitment Consultant Community Education Officer Training & Development Manager Learning Mentor Teacher
Research your career ideas There are hundreds of different types of jobs and at least 40% of these are open to graduates of any subject. Conducting research to find out the entry requirements or what experience is needed for a job can help you decide if you can or still want to pursue a certain career path. Job Profiles. The best place to start researching a career is to view job profiles. These short factsheets usually include:n n
Typical work activities Salary
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Training Entry requirements
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Career Development Typical employers
The best place to start researching a career is to view job profiles. These short factsheets usually include:n n n n
Graduate Prospects - www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm TARGETjobs - www.targetjobs.co.uk National Careers Service - https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk The Jobs Crowd - www.thejobcrowd.com (Reviews of jobs by employees)
Employers and professional organisations You can often find out about jobs from employers themselves via their website. You can also find out about types of jobs from professional organisations own websites which will often include career and training information. See the ‘find job opportunities and work experience’ section for links to key employers and professional organisations.
Research your career ideas Action Points n n n n
Visit the suggested websites above Go to the Resource Centre in Hardy to access to resources, staff are also available here to answer your questions. BG Futures module on Blackboard: ‘Explore your options’ section Jobs+ Vacancies (http://bishopg.prospects.ac.uk/). Search for Employers via the Employers directory
Postgraduate / Further Study There are various levels and types of postgraduate study; find out more by going to: www.prospects.ac.uk/about_postgrad_study.htm
Postgraduate / further study subject ideas n
Counselling
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Social work
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Human Resources
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Teaching
Many students will have studied a foundation degree as a route to gaining an honours degree. The next step to gaining this degree is by taking a top-up degree. These one year courses will allow you to qualify with a BA or BSc honours degree. BGU courses BGU has designed their top-up degrees to offer a progression route from a Foundation Degree. You can apply for any of the below subjects, even if it is a different subject to your foundation degree. § BA (Hons) Applied Studies (Early Childhood) § BA (Hons) Applied Studies (Children and Youth Work) § BA (Hons) Applied Studies in Education § BA (Hons) Primary Teaching Studies with QTS If you wish to go onto teaching then the Primary Teaching Studies with QTS will qualify you to teach. If you take any of the other top up subjects, you will need to continue onto a Postgraduate teaching qualification such as PGCE or schools direct. To find out more about the courses offered by BGU, you should take a look at the University website www.bishopg.ac.uk or contact our admissions department admissions@bishopg.ac.uk / 01522 583658. Courses at other institutions Search for top-up courses at other institutions via the UCAS website - http://search.ucas.com/ The courses that say “1 year” are likely to be top-up courses, but you will need to contact each university/college to find out more. Application Help UCAS has a guide to help you complete your application, including what to include in your personal statement. www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate/filling-your-application There are various levels and types of postgraduate study; find out more by going to: www.prospects.ac.uk/about_postgrad_study.htm.
Advice and Information Go to the Resource Centre in the Hardy Building with your initial enquiries or email bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk. If you require advice with exploring your further study or career options you can book an appointment with a Careers Adviser. Please email bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk to request an appointment booking form. - of jobs by employees)
Find job opportunities and work experience Key Employers There are a number of key employers in this sector. The following links contain information about their organisation, the type of jobs available and information about jobs and work experience. Find out about careers, search for jobs Find out about teaching/schools support staff/ working with children/young people n www.nhscareers.nhs.uk Explore careers, find out about training, search for jobs n www.skillsforcare.org.uk Information on careers, training and jobs n www.skills4schools.org.uk Links and information about becoming and working as a Teaching Assistant Professional organisation n www.basw.co.uk British Association of Social Workers. Find out about careers and qualifications n www.cypnaw.co.uk Vacancies, latest developments, National News n www.nya.co.uk National Youth Agency n n
www.charity-commission.gov.uk www.education.gov.uk
Networking Using your contacts is one of the best ways to find out about job opportunities. You can build these up through work experience, volunteering, family and friends. You can join the Networking Club run via BG Futures. This club offers the opportunity to meet up with employers to find out about their job role and their organisation. You may also benefit from joining the professional networking site LinkedIn. This is an excellent way to make professional contacts, join discussion and networking groups. Action Points: n n
Join the Networking Club Join LinkedIn, guide to using LinkedIn (factsheet) http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/linkedin.
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Researching Employers (factsheet) Job Sector (factsheets) These include: Public Services| Charity Sector | Available via The Resource Centre or Blackboard. Jobs+ Vacancies Board http://bishopg.prospects.ac.uk
Other options Start your own business You may consider starting your own business or becoming self-employed. View the Self-employment (factsheet) https://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/self_employment
Gap year A gap year can be in the UK or overseas. You can do this to earn money to fund further study, gain work or life experience and to help you decide what you would like to do. View the factsheets ‘Working Overseas’ and ‘Vacation work and gap year job hunting’ for further information - https://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/working_overseas and https://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/vacation_and_gap_year_job_hunting BG Futures: Careers, Employability and Enterprise Operates in accordance with the University Diversity and Equality Policies. If you require this document in an alternative format, for example in large print, please email us at bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk