Plotr issue 5: ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT ROUTES

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Discover Your Future

the big story

8 You’d be surprised how many fun, exciting and well-paid jobs don’t require a degree. Today, Plotr unveils eight of our faves to show you that you don’t have to go to university to have a successful career.

1 SoLICITOR

2 Zookeeper

Yes, it’s true. You don’t need a degree to become a solicitor, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. You’ll need to find a job in the legal profession and complete the membership or fellowship route of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). It’s tough but you can make it all the way to a solicitor role, no uni required.

Love animals? There are loads of apprenticeships working with animals that you can use to get into the industry. If you want to take care of lovely and exotic creatures, you can head straight into animal work and get yourself some experience.

See more: Solicitor

See more: Zookeeper

HOT TIP Find out more about what this job’s really like with our Q&A with a zookeeper.

3 PR OFFICER

4 Entrepreneur

It’s one of the most glamorous jobs around and you don’t need a degree (although it does help). If you don’t fancy the uni route, you can also start work as a publicity assistant or administrator in a public relations office and work your way up from there.

You’ll need lots of drive and to be quick to react but you can make it.

Can’t find the job you want? Create it. It’s not uncommon for brilliant, smart people to skip the university stage and start a business straight away.

Richard Branson (Virgin) and Bill Gates (Microsoft) are just two (outrageously) successful examples. As casino owner Phillip Ruffin says: “You get the most experience from the business of life.”

See more: PR Officer

See more: Entrepreneur

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5 Web developer

6 Accountant

Everyone knows computers are the future, so becoming a web developer seems like a smart move.

It’s also easier than you think. There are loads of resources online to help you learn all the different types of code. If you want to learn an exciting and lucrative skill for free, a career as a web developer might be perfect for you.

Good with numbers? If you want an important (and nicely paid) job working with business finances, you can train as an accountant – without building up any university debt. You will need good English and maths grades (obvs) for starters and from there you’ll need to get qualified. But you can earn your qualifications while working, whenever you’re ready. How exciting.

See more: Web developer

See more: Accountant

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8 Journalist

Air traffic controller

With one of the highest paying jobs you don’t need a degree for, air traffic controllers don’t need a uni education. To become a fully-qualified air traffic controller, you’ll need to get yourself a licence by doing an approved training course but when you do you can earn £50,000 a year and beyond. Not bad, right?

See more: Air traffic controller

How does interviewing your favourite actress or footballer sound? Journalists like Fearne Cotton (pictured) meet all kinds of interesting people and get paid to do it. There are no set qualifications – experience is more important. If you want to upgrade your skills, journalism has lots of courses that will allow you to do so, depending on how much you want to learn (and spend).

See more: Journalist

If you liked this, check out these 10 highest paying jobs you don’t need a degree for to find even more degree-free lucrative ideas. Or head to Plotr now and check out hundreds of career options for more inspiration.

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CAREER SPARKS

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO EMPLOYMENT There’s more than one way to boost your skills and bag your first job after school… this is the 21st century, after all!

1

What is… a vocational qualification?

With a vocational qualification, you can still learn the way you would in an academic degree or A-level (with writing and homework and potentially tests, if you weren’t sick of them already) but you’ll also get skilled up in a way that will help you get a job in a specific role (like engineer, say) or job sector (like IT).

Vocational qualifications can be: • “Earn while you learn” apprenticeships • Vocational courses (often offered at further education colleges) that train you in a specific job (like accounting or plumbing) • Vocational “job” subjects like IT, social care, engineering etc.

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What is… a traineeship?

Maybe you like the idea of an apprenticeship but you’re not ready to take one on, yet? That’s fine. As a trainee you can improve your maths and English skills while getting work experience too!

It won’t cost you anything to do a traineeship, and most of them pay travel and meal costs.

Who can do a traineeship?

• Anyone who is 16-18 and qualified below level 3 • Anyone who is 19-23 and qualified below level 2 • Anyone who is 16-25 with learning difficulties.

Find out more about traineeships.

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What is… a SPONSORED DEGREE?

Want to study for a degree without paying a penny in tuition fees? You can find lots of employer-sponsored programmes out there. They all combine academic study with on-the-job learning. Sponsored degree timings vary, but as an example you could expect to spend four days a week working on the job and one day studying on campus at a university. You’ll end up with a debt-free degree (while earning a salary) plus you’ll come away with experience and contacts to help you onto a permanent job when the programme ends.

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What is… an apprenticeship?

Okay, so what can you do if you’ve passed your GCSEs (or the equivalent)? Do you want a paid job while you study for a recognised qualification at the same time? If so, an apprenticeship could be the answer!

Which apprenticeship you do really depends on your qualifications. You can do an intermediate apprenticeship, and that lets you learn towards level 2. Then you can do an advanced apprenticeship, which lets you learn towards level 3. Finally, you can do a higher apprenticeship which lets you learn towards level 4 or higher.

Find out more about apprenticeships and then visit the National Apprenticeship Service employer profile on Plotr. They’ll help you discover all kinds of apprenticeships across the UK.

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What is… distance learning?

Imagine your teacher and classroom are so far away that you’re actually learning online! You might be doing your course with a uni, college or some other learning provider. With distance learning, you get your lessons and reading materials sent to you or delivered online. You’ll still get tuition, but it’s all supplied online (or through a phone call). Sometimes your distance learning course might also include attending a week or so at a summer school.

If you’ve already got a job and want to upgrade your skills in the evenings, or you can’t attend a college or uni physically for any reason, distance learning can be a good option. Lots of UK undergrad students study with the Open University, but there are many distance learning options out there.

See more info on sponsored degrees on Plotr.

Whether you’re post-GCSEs or you’ve finished your A-levels, visit Plotr and you’ll find all kinds of support about the next steps available to you.

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CAREER SPARKS

Steph Godderidge – My amazing career journey Steph Godderidge wanted to get into teaching and design.

Now she’s Programme Manager of Climate and Us, an online information hub on climate change, run together with the Met Office and the University of Exeter. Here’s her remarkable career... so far.

IN THE BEGINNING

TROUBLE

I’d always wanted to be a teacher. I studied English and modern history at university, and had a job as a French assistant while doing my MA (master’s degree). Unfortunately this is when I realised I really hated teaching! I had to do a major rethink of what I wanted to do…

I was made redundant two years later. I decided the next logical step was to try going it alone – I had made a lot of contacts in the industry, who were very supportive; I ended up providing design services to a few of the printers who used to be my suppliers too (TOP TIP – having good relationships really does pay off!) but I realised I wasn’t really cut out for life as a freelancer. I needed more structure, and I found enquiring about new business quite hard.

I started working as an executive PA. I did this for two years – having languages, and being well-spoken with good writing skills really worked in my favour.

After this, a job as a publications executive opened up where I was working, and I was lucky enough to be taken in on trust – even though I had no experience in dealing with agencies or anything like that! I had been interested in design for a long time and had always been involved in creative things, so this was a good fit for me. I studied graphic design at night school and before I knew it I was designing all the corporate literature (leaflets and posters) for the company.

EDF ENERGY We only have one world.

That’s why we need to treat it with respect. But unless we look at alternative ways of producing energy we’re in danger of damaging it. That’s why EDF Energy is exploring every route possible.

EDF Energy have lots of entry-level routes into engineering and are actively working to provide employment opportunities for all kinds of different young people. Explore their career world to discover your path and help make energy better.

EDF Energy Careers World EDF Energy Employer Profile

When the opportunity came up to work at EDF Energy full-time, I gladly gave up ‘being my own boss’ for the security of working for a reputable company with good benefits.

A NEW HOPE One of my friends was working with EDF Energy at the time and recommended it as a great place to work. Being French, I was very familiar with EDF, the parent company. An opportunity came up to work there for six months setting up an image library – something I had done before. Speaking fluent French was definitely an advantage as they were also looking for someone to work with colleagues in Paris. My language skills meant that once I was thrown in at the deep end when I had to host a team who came to our power station for a photoshoot for the annual report.

I still remember that trip – it was my birthday, and I spent it in a Chinese restaurant in Retford with two people I’d never met before! They were great though, and I’ve continued to work with them over the years… and we even became good friends! Six months later, a job opened up in the brand team, which I applied for. The rest is history!

NOW I’ve been at EDF for nine years now. I worked in the brand team for five years, first as an executive then a manager, and then, thanks to both my knowledge of the brand and the contacts I’d built across both EDF Energy and EDF, I was offered a secondment (similar to a placement) as the UK brand manager for our London 2012 partnership. When this ended – having shown I could successfully manage and deliver a project – I started working in the sustainability team to launch – and run – Climate & Us, an online information hub on climate change, run in collaboration with the Met Office and the University of Exeter.

Discover loads more inspiring stories on Plotr, and if you’re ready for work, head straight to thousands of UK apprenticeships, school leaver programmes and traineeships!

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CAREER SPARKS

MYTHBUSTING: APPRENTICESHIPS Considering an apprenticeship?

Here are 5 things you need to know.

MYTH 1: MYTH 2: Apprenticeships aren’t for Apprenticeships are only top students available for ‘physical’ jobs Apprenticeships and university are seen as equally valuable routes into employment by employers they are just another way in. It isn’t about ability.

Choosing an apprenticeship shows employers you would prefer to get started in the world of work, rather than stay in education – that’s all.

It’s not just about employers. Everyone learns differently too. If you feel as though you learn better by doing, rather than in a classroom or lecture hall, an apprenticeship might be more up your street. It’s all down to you and how you tick.

Things have moved on since your parents’ day. There are now over 250 different kinds of apprenticeship, and they’re available for over 1,400 different kinds of job – not bad, right? AND there’s up to 25,000 apprenticeship vacancies available online at any one time on the National Apprenticeship Service website.

You can be an apprentice in PR, firefighting, fashion, and music – everything from engineering to business administration. The options are (almost) limitless.

Have a look at these 20 cool apprenticeships to see if anything tickles your fancy.

Check out the story of Hoda, the TfL apprentice. She withdrew her uni application to study biomedical sciences and did a TfL apprenticeship instead.

You can also read about YEUK Youth Ambassador Alexa-Jane, who did a degree but now wishes she’d done an apprenticeship.

MYTH 3: Uni students have better chances of bagging a job Employers love apprentices. With an apprenticeship, alongside the experience and money, you’ll get the chance to show your hunger, show your ability and prove that you’re a good person to have around.

The current rate at which top employers keep on apprentices and school leavers is around 91% (more than 9 out of every 10 apprentices gets an invite to stick around). Gotta like those odds.

MYTH 4: Apprentices don’t earn as much as uni grads It’s true that university graduates usually start out on a higher wage. It’s also true that apprentices are paid at least the national minimum wage (but often get paid more) and start earning much earlier than grads. As an apprentice you’d start earning the minute you started an apprenticeship programme and that gets higher while uni students are still sitting in class. Don’t forget that once you’ve finished your apprenticeship, you’ll be experienced AND qualified, and then your salary can really take off too.

Check national minimum wages here.

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MYTH 5: Choosing an apprenticeship means not getting a qualification Part of being an apprentice is getting yourself a qualification i.e. earning and learning. That’s the best part of an apprenticeship – you get both. The type of qualification you’ll earn changes with each apprenticeship but there’s no chance of you finishing empty-handed.

An intermediate apprenticeship qualification is the same as 5 GCSE passes. An advanced apprenticeship is like having two A-levels. With a higher apprenticeship, you could head on to a national vocational qualification (NVQ) level 4 and above, or a foundation degree!

Depending on the scheme you go for, you could end up with a Functional Skills qualification, a technical certificate like a BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) or a Higher National Diploma (HND) too.

If you want to go to university later, you can. There’s no expiration date on uni and flexible programmes like distance learning can allow you to study for additional qualifications while you’re still working, if you want to. It’s all up to you.

Read next: “Should I do an apprenticeship?” Five apprentices give their advice!

Discover loads more career advice on Plotr, and if you’re ready for work, head straight to thousands of UK apprenticeships, school leaver programmes and traineeships!

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THE BIG STORY

GIVE IT A CATCHY NAME:

APP ADVICE FROM SOME OF THE UK’S YOUNGEST EXPERTS Think you’ve got what it takes to make the next Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja or WhatsApp? If you can find the right formula of quirky, useful or fun, you could have something special on your hands.

We asked four winning teams from Apps For Good 2015 what advice they have for fellow developers. Here’s what some of the UK’s youngest app developers had to say about their experiences making apps and getting them off the ground…

Caitlyn, Meghan and Katie (Chore Attack) “Don’t spend too long on idea generation. Just pick an idea and go with it. Don’t keep changing as it can really slow the process down.

“Also, don’t worry about the pitch. Once we had done it we didn’t know what we were worried about before! Just make sure you have practiced and had some feedback beforehand.”

Dylan, Oliver, Jashvanth and Tyler (Party Spot)

Ross, George & Christopher (Pocket Money Pig)

Dylan: “The best advice I could give is something I learned from my teacher early on in the process of making PartySpot; focus on only one thing, and make sure your app does it really well. Try to focus your app on one specific issue rather than trying to make an app that does many things, as the chances are that it won’t do a lot of those things very well.

This makes it easier to identify a target audience, which helps you develop your corporate identity and find the core features and themes you want to run throughout your app.”

“Give it a catchy name, make it practical and simple and easy to use.”

Ollie: “To anyone thinking of making an app I would say focus on the issue. The best apps solve problems that most people face, so people need them. If you can produce an app that solves a problem then focus on the solution, don’t get carried away with anything that isn’t the solution.”

“You need a good ‘brand’ and pitch to get your ideas noticed.”

Josie Baldwin, Emily Bowes, Katie Griffiths, Alex Hill (I’m Okay) “Find something you’re passionate about, something that needs to change. It has to be something you’ll pursue and stick with. Remember to keep it simple – too many features will be hard to develop to a high quality and will overload a user. Know your user and what they need and include solely that. Just get started and keep going with it.”

Tyler: “Just stay calm during the pitch, and come up with a decent idea.”

Jashvanth: “Block out anyone who hates or dismisses your idea. Just keep going. Don’t listen to anyone except your team and yourself. The best advice I received was to push further.”

Think you’d like to get involved in app developing? We have expert advice from the whizz kids at Apps for Good. Like tech but app developing isn’t your thing? We have lots of alternative careers in our Software, Games and Internet Career World.

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CAREER SPARKS

Interserve sustainability assistant Emily Downs, 23, discovered that if you’re passionate about saving the world, there’s more than one way to do it!

Back at school, Emily wanted to save the world, one animal at a time. After a year of post-uni unemployment knocked her confidence, her dream job turned out to be something you may not have heard of. It begins with an ‘s’ …

It’s surprising, it’s super, it’s sustainability!

Hi, Emily! What do you do?

I started at an entry (beginner) level as the group sustainability assistant at Interserve PLC. I’m really enjoying learning so much and developing as a person in my job. I often tell people my job involves saving the world. They don’t always know how to respond to that!

“One person can make a huge difference!”

So you’re actually helping to save the planet?

the crime scene investigations and toxicology lectures to the geographical field trips and pollution studies.

Definitely! I absolutely love that I’m able to help a company like Interserve become more sustainable and reduce its impact on the environment. It’s rewarding to know I’m able to make a difference to the world we live in and to ensure it’s around for future generations.

I needed to find the balance, and that was sustainability. The diversity of sustainability pulled me in – the need to use skills to create solutions to environmental problems but also in order to grow sustainably.

Did you always want to work in sustainability?

At school I was fascinated by sciences. I also loved geography, learning about how the earth has evolved over time, biodiversity and sustainable development. I also had a passion for history, learning about mistakes made and working out how to live better in the future.

I grew up watching David Attenborough and wanted to work with animals. Unfortunately, work experience at a veterinary surgery put me off.

What’s more, I don’t live in a tropical climate so I couldn’t save turtles!

What happened after you decided working with animals wasn’t for you?

I researched university courses that could suit my love of biology and geography and decided on environmental forensics. I enjoyed everything from

Was it a smooth ride from Uni to your first job?

I earned a BSc (hons) degree at uni and learnt some really important life skills, like living away from home, cooking for myself, managing my money so it would last and meeting new people.

But I struggled to find a job. I was unemployed for a year and a half after university. Applying for jobs became a full-time occupation. It was disheartening to spend days completing a job application, only to get a rejection or never hear from the company.

My confidence soon plummeted and doubts about myself crept in.

“I often tell people my job involves saving the world”

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I got a temporary Christmas job in retail, just for something to do and earn some money. A stroke of luck appeared after Christmas when I was shown the advert for the sustainability assistant at Interserve.

I sent off my CV and cover letter, feeling a tiny glimmer of hope. I was so excited and nervous in the interview that I babbled the whole way through it.

Sitting on the train home, I kicked myself for being so nervous, but it all worked out because I WAS OFFERED THE JOB!

Interserve

When I got the news, I burst into tears of happiness on a crowded bus, not caring what anyone else thought of me.

We’ve seen pirates on the Thames, two World Wars, expansion across the globe and today we’re one of the top 20 employers across the UK. Interserve is now a worldwide construction and support services company and we’ve pledged to recruit 500 apprentices by 2020 as part of our ‘SustainAbilities’ plan.

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently?

Our people are passionate, inquisitive and like a challenge. If that sounds like you, find out more, on our employer page!

Interserve Employer Profile Facilities Management Careers World

I wish I’d done more volunteering and work experience during school and university. This is where I’ve developed my most useful and important skills, like communication, improving my confidence and knowledge.

Any work experience counts. It could be a Saturday supermarket job that gets you talking to customers, helping out in an office environment learning simple but valuable admin skills, or volunteering at a local youth club or animal home. Experience gives you something else to put on your CV and talk about at interviews other than your education and shows you are determined.

Also, talk to people – you never know when they may become useful in the future!

Think you’d enjoy helping a company look at the way it affects the environment? You could make a difference as a sustainability consultant! See more career ideas at the Environment and Agriculture industry zone.

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GET UP STAND UP

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GOOD REASONS TO DO A GAP YEAR (AND 1 BAD ONE) When people ask you why you’d want to do a gap year, here are seven ways to reply (and one reply to steer clear of)…

1

“Check out my cool, shiny CV” Doing a gap year means you’ll probably be working or volunteering at some point. Maybe you’ll be doing odd jobs to pay your way around Australia, or perhaps you’ll be volunteering abroad to help people or animals? Either way, you’ll notch up great work experience and employability skills for your CV. This’ll help you get your foot in the door of the world of work, and also help with nabbing part-time jobs to pay your way through college. A full CV is a winwin, whatever you choose to do next in life!

HOT TIP Remember, ALL experience is useful.

Organising an adventure in Australia or doing volunteering in India? Think about what skills you’ve learned and displayed. Employers will be very interested.

2

“I can work on my language skills” Extra languages on your CV show how adaptable, confident and ready to learn you are, which employers will LOVE to see (and since so many big UK employers are also international, those languages could make you look twice as valuable in job interviews). If you’re planning on studying abroad (which can happen with all kinds of courses nowadays, including business degrees) you may need to learn a new language… so you can think of travelling in your gap year as useful research!

3

“Now’s the time to go on an adventure I’ll never forget” You can have adventures at any point in your life, but it really is easier when you don’t have adult responsibilities (we could give you a list but it would only depress you). The gap between learning and work is truly a perfect time to boost your experience and skills… while having an amazing adventure at the same time! Make sure the timing’s right for you, but there’s a lot to be said for choosing a gap year as the perfect time to have a very big adventure.

4

“A gap year gives me time to figure things out” What comes next – job or degree? If you go for a job straight after education, what kind of job should it be? And if you choose further learning, then what subject, course and location would suit you best?

You’ve been rushing to do your exams up until now, and taking time out to absorb life’s lessons can be really useful in deciding what goals you really want to achieve next. Reflection and research can help you prepare for the next stage of your life.

5

“A year of independence, travel and caring will help to mature my outlook”

It’s a big world out there. Seeing how the world lives outside the UK will give you a completely different perspective on your own life. Caring for people, animals or the environment through volunteering abroad is both tough and incredibly rewarding.

Putting yourself in a situation where you only have yourself to rely on can help you mature really quickly, too. Whether you plunge into your first fulltime job or live with other students for the first time, your extra bit of life experience will help to make it a smoother ride for everyone! Go you!

6

“I’ll find it easier to adapt to new situations”

On a gap year, you’ll need to fit into a new society, a new group of friends, and maybe even a new country or culture. It makes sense to do this before college. After all, college or uni is a situation where you’ll need to be prepared to mix with new people for at least a year – and more likely three years. Your gap year experience means you’ll already be a pro when it comes to adapting to new situations! It’ll be a big plus when dealing with “first week at work” job nerves, too.

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Raleigh International Raleigh International is a sustainable development charity. We challenge and empower young people and communities to deliver grassroots sustainable development, working in collaboration with volunteers, communities and local partner organisations.

Raleigh International

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“I could earn some money”

Going to university can be pretty expensive. If you can use your gap year to save up a bit of money, that could give you a bit of a head start for college or uni. If you head into work after your gap year, that money you’ve saved could really help with your sense of indepedence. Getting a flat with your friends, or buying clothes, or saving up for group holidays? These are some of the perks of getting a job, and earning money in your gap year can help make that a reality while you’re waiting for the first pay cheques to come in!

And now, here’s one BAD reason to take a gap year:

Restless Development Half the world is under 25. That’s 3 billion people. We are Restless Development, the youth-led development agency. Apply now for International Citizen Service to help fight global poverty and start building a strong foundation for future job applications. ICS is open to 18-25 year olds, with limited places available for Leaders aged 23+.

“Everyone else is doing it” Really? Great, but what about you? Put yourself first, because this is your time, your decision and your life! Take some time to figure out what’s right for you, whether it’s applying for a degree at uni, taking on an apprenticeship or saving turtles during a year abroad.

Make what happens next your choice, because you’re worth it.

Restless Development

Explore the Plotr opportunity finder for gap year ideas! With your taste for adventure, you could also explore the Tourism & Leisure Career World. Or if saving the planet is your thing, check out our top tips for bagging your first environmental job.

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CAREER SPARKS

What in the world is‌ HR?

Looking for a challenging and rewarding career? Brace yourself for the exciting world of HR.

What in the world is HR?

What’s in it for me?

HR stands for ‘human resources’ and it’s the part of a business that manages their people. Think about companies like Topshop or Google, and imagine how many employees they’ve got. All those employees in a big company need to know what’s expected of them, and they need to be supported to work at their very best! That’s where HR comes in.

A lot of HR professionals say they find the variety of their working day hugely satisfying. Not only can you work in any sector from gaming to catering, you’ll be working with absolutely everyone in the company. Everyone from top managers to employee focus groups are part of your job on a daily basis - on an incredibly wide variety of activities, so it’s really sociable. It’s great if you like to work with people.

What do HR people do every day?

It’s up to HR professionals to help the people in a company work at their best. They hire, train and develop employees. They also look at how the employees in a company get rewarded for their hard work. They deal with legal issues, help to shape a company or organisation’s culture, and focus on what keeps workers in a company productive and engaged.

What jobs are there in HR? There are too many to name! You can be a generalist, which means you’ll dip your toe in all the different elements of HR. Or you can specialise in areas like recruitment, learning and development, employee relations or rewards. Basically, recruitment deals with hiring new employees; Learning and development help the company’s employees learn new skills; employee relations makes sure everyone who works for a company is happy and rewards makes sure everyone working at a company is motivated. It’s up to you – take your pick.

Also, you’ll get a real satisfaction from making an actual, positive difference to the way the company is run. Not many people can say that about their working day.

What don’t I know about HR? Every day is different! HR is constantly evolving, so it’s not just about having a good understanding of business. Your creativity and flexibility will also be recognised, because you’ll need them to spot how employees at different stages in their working lives are managed, developed and rewarded. After all, does an apprentice want the same type of rewards, training and support as a manager up in the boardroom? Of course not!

How do I get a job in HR? Think HR sounds like the right place for you? Well there are steps you can take to put yourself in a great position to bag a job in our ‘How to get a job in HR’ guide. Check it out for awesome tips on landing your new dream job.

HOT TIP See our What are the different roles in HR guide for more details on each area.

Visit the HR Career World and learn lots more about this exciting industry.

Can’t wait to find out more about HR? Explore HR Career World for career roles in this exciting industry. You can also check out our guide to the different roles in HR.

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CAREER SPARKS

From underdog to top of the league

A knee injury shattered Global Freestyle founder Danny McGhee’s football dream… so he found another one

Danny McGhee dreamt of being a professional footballer – and was on his way, until a serious knee injury shattered his dreams. Determined to stay involved in the sport, he moved to the States to become a football coach, but couldn’t find a job when he returned to the UK. “Being unemployed made me feel completely worthless,” says Danny. “I was applying for anything but not even getting responses, which left me feeling really unhappy and unsure about my future.”

Danny decided to take matters into his own hands and set up his own business teaching children freestyle football tricks he’d learned while in America. After getting his business idea together he went to The Prince’s Trust, applied for one of its loans from the Enterprise programme and got oneto-one mentoring to help develop his business plan.

“Danny decided to take matters into his own hands and set up his own business teaching children freestyle football tricks he’d learned while in America” Since then, Danny’s Global Freestyle has really kicked off (sorry!). It is the number one freestyle football agency in England. Danny has performed at Old Trafford (Manchester United’s world-famous stadium) in front of 80,000 supporters, flown to Dubai and worked with giant companies like Coca Cola and British Gas. He’s even been on TV.

The Prince’s Trust is a youth charity that helps change young lives. If you’re aged 1330, unemployed, struggled at school, have been in trouble with the law, or have been in care, the Prince’s Trust can support you in all kinds of ways. We’ve helped more than 750,000 young people since 1976, and support 100 more each working day!

WATCH DANNY MCGHEE’S VIDEO FOR MORE...

It’s not the Champion’s League but Danny looks like a winner to us.

Prince’s Trust Employer Profile

Want to start your own business? Take a look at our Entrepreneur role and Business Career World on Plotr for advice on getting started. Take a look at our magnificent Sport and Fitness Career World too if you would like an active career.

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GET UP STAND UP

HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND NETWORK WITH PEOPLE It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.

A wise man once said: you can achieve anything with the help of your friends. Well, if you’re just heading out into the world of work for the first time, either after school or university, making friends might just help you get that job you’ve been looking for. Here’s how…

Educators

Careers fairs

At your school, college or university there should be a careers adviser or perhaps a careers centre with helpful people. You can also talk to teachers and lecturers. Introduce yourself to these guys as soon as you can. They’ve already got a network of people that can help you out with contacts and possibly even opportunities, depending on what you would like to do after you’ve finished your education.

They’re very nice and useful – often they’ll help you long after you’ve left. They should be your first port of call.

Keep your eyes peeled for careers fairs near you and rock up in your smartest gear. Talk to everyone you can. The people at these events usually have loads of opportunities for you and even if they are not what you’re looking for, they can lead to something you are looking for.

We’ve asked one some interesting questions in our Ask A Careers Advisor Anything section on page 28.

Take a look.

Recruit your friends If you’re looking for a new job, let all your friends know. You’ve probably got a Facebook and Twitter account, maybe even a LinkedIn account – use them and get the word out. Your friends might have a vacancy where they work that they can put you forward for. Or they might encounter someone through work who could use your skills. At the very least, they might treat you to a Nando’s if they can’t help.

HOT TIP Want more help with careers fairs? See our seven careers fair tips on Plotr.

Parents Yes, don’t forget your parents. They might be a bit boring and make you do chores but they do have perks too. Mainly, they know loads of other adults and those adults might have jobs, or know where a vacancy might be had. Maybe you can exchange the favour for washing the car or teaching them who Taylor Swift is?

PLOTR Discover loads more networking and interview advice on Plotr. Whether you’re a school leaver looking for help or a grad looking for advice for your first job, we’ve got something to help you.

Local area Explore your local area and meet the people around you. Check out local stores and businesses and see if they need any help. They may well have a project that you can sink your teeth into, like sorting files or helping out during a busy season. They might not have anything straight away so if they don’t, let them know you’re available. Who knows what might turn up?

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(YOU)TH VOICE

Volunteering: Why it’s a win-win-win We ask some young get-up-and-go types (including Youth Ambassadors from our friends YEUK) to tell us what volunteering did for them AND their CV‌

Everyone always says how volunteering can help with your career, so who better to ask than people who have already done it? Here’s what our mini-survey said: “For me, it’s been quite a crash course in discovering all the numerous opportunities for young people and just the excitement of doing something that isn’t the usual. My studies had played an important role in my life, but volunteering allowed me to see the wider world (literally in some respects!) and build friendships with people who would never have been part of my networks otherwise.”

Jack Welch, YEUK Ambassador

“There are so many wonderful and brilliant things about volunteering. It isn’t just good for your CV, it’s good for you. My personal experience of volunteering steered me in a different career direction to anything I’d even considered before and I’ve stayed close to the charity/not-for-profit side ever since. It’s a great way to get a taste of the world of work, gain some experience and make a positive contribution to the world all at the same time.

Win-win-win.”

Will Williams, Digital Content Executive

HOT TIP

Youth Employment UK YEUK (Youth Employment UK) is the leading campaigning and membership organisation dedicated to tackling youth unemployment in the UK. The YEUK Ambassadors are young volunteers working together all around the country to secure a better careers future for UK youth. They network together, support each other and do it for the sheer love of it. They’re working with MPs and local businesses to improve employment prospects for young people in the UK. YOU CAN JOIN THEM. Find out how to become a YEUK Youth Ambassador

You can find out a bit more about the volunteering pros that Will mentions in Volunteering – 6 reasons to get involved

“All of the volunteering that I’ve done over the past ten years has had A MAJOR IMPACT ON MY LIFE AND CAREER GOALS. Every single campaign I’ve been part of, event I’ve helped put together, conference I’ve attended, and speech I’ve given has inspired, motivated, and encouraged me to keep going. I’ve been given confidence, skills, friends, opportunities, and open doors through my involvement with the youth sector. It saved me when I was depressed, and gave me something to be passionate about and focus on during difficult times.”

Jenny Mullinder, YEUK Ambassador

There’s all kinds of charities and voluntary work out there to explore, so jump right in! Or if you’d rather dip your toe in, you can check out your volunteering personality type first…

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TACTICAL INFO

Ask a careers advisor anything Get your careers advice questions answered every month by a friendly careers advisor.

See this month’s crop of answers below!

Meet Susan Burke, this month’s advisEr! Susan, an ambassador for National Careers Week, says: “I love helping people. I am a qualified careers adviser, featured in the Telegraph and The Guardian. Think of me as a best friend but with a bit of tough love thrown in, helping you get to where you want to be by giving you frank, honest and uncomplicated advice.” www.susanburkecareers.co.uk

LEAVING SCHOOL WITH GCSES I left school last year with 8 GCSEs including maths, science and ICT. I want to get into IT and my parents think I should go to college and do A-levels but there are also lots of apprenticeships available.

What should I do?

Firstly, well done on your GCSEs. You have plenty of options and you really do need to evaluate them. A good way to do this is by using Plotr to explore your post-GCSE options, and also by speaking to a qualified careers adviser who can help you work out your best choices. Their job is NOT to tell you what to do – that’s for you to decide – but they will help you work out the pros and cons to all your options. You can speak to an adviser through the National Careers Service.

Even if you don’t speak to a careers adviser, your next step is to think about what you might want to do in life, which further learning programmes most appeal you – whether they’re A-levels or apprenticeships – then think about the pros and cons of each.

A-LEVEL CHOICES I’m looking at my A-level options and keep coming across NVQ courses at my local college – what’s the difference between these and A-levels?

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are workbased awards which are often geared towards a specific kind of career. A-levels tend to be academic and exam-based and NVQs will be more coursework orientated. The best way to work out what is right for you is to work out how you prefer to learn. If you’re unsure, I’d suggest you talk to a past teacher who knows you well. Ask for their opinion on the

best route. Also, if you have a certain career in mind, a careers adviser can help ensure you are choosing the RIGHT subjects.

CV HELP Should I include my age on my CV? I’m looking for phone operator or maybe receptionist work. Will employers be put off if they know I’m only 17?

I don’t think an employer will be put off by your age! My advice would be to include your age on your CV, as employers will be able to work out your approximate age from things like work history anyway. In your CV, concentrate on the transferrable skills you have (or work experience you may have gained) to help improve your overall chances of gaining employment in this area. If you’ve not managed to get work experience, this may be a good next step to help improve your CV. You never know, it could lead to a full-time job in the future!

CAREER CHANGE I’ve just started my first job in marketing but I helped out with the photography for my sister’s wedding and loved it. How would I get a job in photography instead?

It sounds like you had a great time at your sister’s wedding, so why not see if you can actually speak to the photographer again to see if they are prepared to have a chat with you? Find out more about the job role to make sure this is something you’d want to pursue further. For example, a photographer is likely to be self-employed, which means they need to actively network for jobs and no work means no money! It often means they’ll have other job roles as well as photographer, especially when starting out. It will be worth finding out what times photographers normally work. It’s not a normal 9-5 job. Your busiest times, for example, might be in the summer and at the weekends, particularly for weddings. You need to be fully aware of things like this in order to make an informed choice.

My advice would be work out other career ideas as well by playing the Plotr Game. From this, you can identify at least five ideas and then research those ideas further.

Got a question for us? It’s really easy – just email info@plotr.co.uk in complete confidence with your question (please put CAREERS ADVICE in the subject header). No question is too big or small.

What’s more, you will be really helping out other readers who are dying to know the same thing!

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