Hymers
College
HE & Careers News ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWSLETTER & PREVIOUS VERSIONS CAN BE FOUND ON HYMERSCOLLEGE.CO.UK/CAREERS & SCHOOGLE: careers/he-and-careers-news/2022-november
NOVEMBER 2022
Practice Interview Evening 2022 The annual Practice Interview Evening for Year 13 students took place on Wednesday 9 November. Interviewing via Zoom has become the norm since Covid-19 made it a necessity but, for the first time since 2019, we did have 10 interviewers who joined us in person here at Hymers. A further 31 interviewers joined us via Zoom as we
completed over 70 interviews for 36 students. Many of the students were put through their paces in preparation for Oxbridge applications, while a smaller number were preparing for apprenticeship applications. As ever, feedback from the interviewers was positive. One took to social media to write: “had a great Zoom call with a student from Hymers - they
Competition opportunities
still churn out some good ‘uns... What a credit to the school.... Very interesting to see how the next generation of IT specialists are going to develop. If last night is anything to go by, it will be in safe hands…” I am grateful to the interviewers who gave up a large part of their evening to support this event. M McTEARE | Head of Careers
The PA Raspberry Pi Competition 2023 The Alexa Young Innovator Challenge Two separate STEM related competitions have caught my eye recently. The first asks students to use engineering and coding skills and a Raspberry Pi microcomputer (as well as their ingenuity) to come up with inspiring solutions to global challenges. This year’s theme is accelerating energy transition. 8 to 18-year-olds are being challenged to design the solutions that will bring us into the future while supporting us in the present. Interested students will need to enter the competition through the school and should get in touch with Mr McTeare in the first instance. The second is aimed at students aged 13 - 18 and asks them to explore artificial intelligence as they learn to use the MIT App Inventor website to create and code a ‘Skill for Good’ for Alexa, with the purpose of helping young people address the societal issues that matter most to them, from climate change to homelessness and gender equality. Again, interested students should contact Mr McTeare, though they can also enter this competition independently: Find out more
Careerdays opportunities Vet | Dentistry | Law | Business | Computer Science | Psychology | Architect | Performing Arts | Medicine | Midwifery | Career Choices Day
At the time of writing, the work experience programme is about to be launched to Year 11 students (Year 12 & 13 students can see the Careers team independently if they are looking for work experience). We hope that, in 2023, we will be able to offer the same opportunities to our students that were available pre-Covid. That said, the landscape has changed somewhat and it may be that students will find virtual work experience of value initially. One organisation offering virtual work experience is careerdays.co.uk. Their taster days take place on various Saturdays throughout the year and cover a range of careers. These opportunities are probably best suited to students in Years 10 - 12. There is a charge for these days and we would be interested to hear feedback from any students taking part with a view to making future recommendations.
Of course, there are other providers of virtual work experience. Springpod offer a wide range of opportunities that are available for free. Their website also provides information about careers, university courses and apprenticeships. It is worth a visit if you are looking for further guidance: Springpod.com.
If you are looking for ways to earn as you learn, it my be worth checking out MyPocketSkill
It is a way of earning extra pocket money through tutoring, babysitting, dog-walking or a range of other options.
Investin are another organisation that offer premium (paid for) work experience opportunities, both virtual and in-person. There are packages available for senior school students of all ages: https://investin.org. Reviews are favourable, but you would be encouraged to do your own research.
For students interested in Finance & Investment, there is an organisation called Amplify that offers training for school pupils. Students interested in this field, and the possibility of receiving further immersive education, should contact Mr McTeare in the first instance. amplifytrading.com
The website provides connections (if you don’t already have any of your own). You could cash in on a talent that you have or add to your CV while making some money.
Parental approval will be needed for under-18s. Link here
YEAR 11 NEWS
MyCareerChoices - The best way to find a career A powerful but easy-to-use programme that aligns the abilities and interest of students ages 14-16 with potential career paths, and identifies the A Level, T Level, BTEC and IB subject choices needed to reach them. → Year 11 students received careers interviews with trained independent experts from MyFutureChoice. These interviews took place in the first half of the autumn term via Zoom. The interviews are designed to offer unbiased support to the students as the plan for their education post-GCSE and beyond. Students are reminded that they can log in to their MyFutureChoice accounts at any time to find further support and advice with regards to choosing A Levels (or equivalent) and to see how their questionnaire responses have matched them up to possible career options. → Our Careers Advisers, Ms Needle and Mrs Taylor, are currently in the process of carrying out follow-up discussions with Year 11 students to help further guide the students through this transitional period. YEAR 12 NEWS → Year 12 students can approach any member of the Careers team if they are looking for work experience or advice with regards to apprenticeships or university courses. The process of applying to university - and advice regarding this - will be unveiled in the Lent term but, in the meantime, there are opportunities for work experience and to acquire other key skills that will help to build a CV and/ or personal statement.
YEAR 13 NEWS → Year 13 students who are planning a gap year that would include travel and taking part in a charitable project can apply for a scholarship from the Bulkeley-Evans Fund. Full details can be found at www.gap-year-the-bulkeley-evans.co.uk → If you are considering a gap year closer to home, there may be an opportunity to earn money as a mentor through Yipiyap. They are always on the lookout for high achieving students who can support other learners in schools in Maths, English or Science. Details at www.yipiyap.co.uk/ become-a-yipiyap
Interested in Chartered Accountancy? If you are interested in a career in accountancy, the ICAEW has a great website offering support and advice. The route into the profession is highly flexible and you can consider training straight from school, from university or though an apprenticeship scheme. More details here
The Scholarship Hub is a great way to search for scholarships that maybe available to support you financially through university. It also has some very digestible articles on degree apprenticeships, student finance and managing your money (among others). Well worth a look (it could save you money)! More details here
Thinking of studying abroad post A Level? (or looking for a summer programme)? The Burnett Global Education website provides a hub for information and links to various international universities and ‘summer programs’. You could spend 2 weeks studying Business & Economics or Computer Science (among others) in Geneva. If that doesn’t appeal, there is a Fashion Experience course at the Istituto Marangoni in Miami! There are also links to a range of courses offered at Oxford, Cambridge
and Yale Universities such as Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Engineering & Technology, Medicine and Experimental Psychology, Medicine & Disease, Philosophy, Literature & Modern History, Mathematics, Law, Politics & Economics, and Architecture & Design to name a few! Most of these courses are available to students from Year 9 or above. Full details here
General Careers websites... For careers related to specific degrees go to: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_with_your_subject.htm What do Graduates Do? - Information on graduate careers Reliable and trusted information via some key websites: Careers Research & National Careers Website UCAS Careers Information By Sector • By Subject
Contacts... Head of HE & Careers: Mr M McTeare | mmcteare@hymers.org Careers & Work Experience: careersdept@hymers.org Mrs L Needle | lneedle@hymers.org & Mrs S Taylor | staylor@hymers.org Director of Years 12 & 13: Mr C Gaynor-Smith | clgaynor-smith@hymers.org