Plotr Issue 2: EMPLOYABILITY & ADVENTURE

Discover Your Future

The Inbetweeners answer the BIG careers questions

the big story

The Inbetweeners answer the BIG careers questions They’ve survived school, painful Star Wars moments and mucking around in tents. Now the Inbetweeners give you serious TV careers advice. Yes, really.

When Inbetweeners actors Simon Bird and Joe Thomas met doing comedy in university, they had a dilemma:

CAN WE FA CE WORKIN GT MATES FOR THE NEXT T OGETHER AS RILLION YEA RS?

The answer was ‘yes’, so that’s okay. Simon and Joe hooked up with Blake Harrison and James Buckley and created The Inbetweeners, a guide on how not to do things, ever.

The Inbetweeners gave us life lessons on all kinds of things, and their words of wisdom serve as a useful guide for the wrong way to follow study and employment advice too:

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KEEP a positive mental approach to exams

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Don’t try to be funny on your CV or in an interview

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TALK ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN A JOB INTERVIEW

What’s the point? Seriously, I mean, what’s the point in being alive?

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FOCUS ON YOUR POSITIVE POINTS

I’m the worst human being in the world.

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LEARn the industry lingo

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Be honest and open with your co-workers

You really are one of the most digusting humans I’ve ever met.

I’m starting to doubt if “Legislatures” is even a word!

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BE interesting and interested

I mean... is this a word?

What we up to Friday night?

It doesn’t look right.

Same as every Friday night, nothing.

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So that was the Inbetweeners showing us how to follow good advice badly.

BAFTA Guru Inspiring minds in film, TV and games… that’s what our friends BAFTA do via the BAFTA Guru website. Where else can you find major famous names like Daniel Radcliffe, Miranda Hart, Caroline Flack and Benedict Cumberbatch giving advice on how they made it in the industry? You’ll get careers tips from all kinds of showbiz masters, from TV producers to fight scene choreographers. Be warned – once you start watching the videos, you might never stop!

The good news is that it’s a different story for the lads behind the Inbetweeners! See the video below to hear genuinely wise words from Simon, Blake, Joe and James as they talk about how they went from school skits to TV catchphrases. It’s great advice if you’re an actor… and if you’re not, Plotr will show you how to apply their advice to your own life!

WATCH THE VIDEO: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=V7wcKSk8t1U How can the Inbetweeners’ career tips help if you don’t want to be funny or famous for a living?

• Research and network with people who enjoy the same hobbies and skills as you – Shared activities can help you hone your skills and also help you meet people who can help you go places careers-wise.

• Put yourself forward – If you don’t take a risk and start climbing the mountain, you’ll never see the view from the top!

• Try to make sure any good work you do is seen by other people – Once they see how great your stuff/ work/attitude is, they can help you progress. It’s as true in your work experience or first job as it is in a TV comedy career.

Want a career in TV or film? Come and visit the Film, TV, Music and Theatre world on Plotr. You’ll find loads of different film and TV careers ideas with advice on exactly how to get started, whether your dream is to become an actor or stay behind the lens as a camera operator. Think your abilities and interests might head in a different direction? Play the Plotr Game to see which careers might suit you!

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CAREER SPARKS

From going nowhere to Cambridge Uni: Turning it around Mentor Ali Niaz tells his story‌

Ali Niaz, 25, grew up surrounded by bad influences in South London and ended up doing time aged 20. While serving his time he got an A-level in business studies. On his release he won a scholarship to Cambridge to study sustainable business.

Ali is now a professional life coach and runs the youth development organisation Aspire to Be Great as well as his own business Giftrapt – where he writes and performs personalised rap songs for special occasions.

In 2013 Ali was hired by the youth charity Regenerate as a consultant, to help set up its Enterprise Coaching Collective which mentors young people and their business ideas.

It’s all about making a change…

“It’s all about you making the changes – if and when you want to”

What was your experience of school like?

“None of my teachers encouraged me in anything at school and I don’t blame them – I was playing truant and causing a lot of trouble. My passion was music and I was naturally entrepreneurial, so I did quite like business studies!”

Why did you take up an education in prison?

“I had recently got involved with the youth charity Regenerate and went to Kenya to help build an orphanage. The other people on the trip were successful businessmen – some near my own age – and talking with them really opened my mind and inspired me.

“This, combined with seeing the extreme poverty there, made me want to sort my life out. I didn’t want to be living a negative lifestyle when these people had nothing.”

What did you study and how did you stay motivated?

“I enrolled in lots of courses and got an A-level in business studies with the Open University. When I started to volunteer for Regenerate, I also got introduced to my mentor.”

How did having a mentor help you?

“My mentor sponsored me to run Aspire to Be Great and encouraged me to apply for a scholarship to study sustainable business at Cambridge, which I did – and got accepted. He also asked me to write a rap song for his daughter’s wedding, which gave me the idea for my Giftrapt business offering personalised raps (you can check out some examples here).”

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What advice would you give to a young person in trouble with the law?

Helpful Resources Regenerate Regenerate works with young people and families to help transform lives.

Regenerate’s Mentoring & Coaching Collective aims to guide young people in a personal quest for growth.

“It’s all about you making the changes – if and when you want to. Sit down and reflect on what you are about to get into and how your actions affect the people that care about you.

“Look at the other options out there. You can’t buy a house with cash that was made on the streets – you need to have a legitimate salary going into your bank account to get a mortgage!”

How can young people find inspiration?

Beyond Youth

“As a teenager, I aspired to be a rapper. Everybody wants to be the ‘famous guy’, the celebrity – but we can’t have millions of rappers. What about the people behind the scenes? Someone has to be the director, the businessperson, the accountant.

Beyond Youth believe in a Chance 2 Change. They work with all kinds of young people - including young offenders – helping them to prepare for adult life.

“We need to glamorise the heart surgeon or the nurse who saves lives. You need to be aware of all the roles that make this world go round and not just look for instant, easy success.”

Think you’d make a great entrepreneur? Find out more on Plotr. Then again, maybe Ali’s story has inspired you to check out charities and voluntary work…

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CAREER SPARKS

10 young people who can add ‘world record-breaker’ to their CV Every day, young people lead the way for others to follow.

Could there be a world record-breaker in you?

YOUNGEST PERSON TO WIN A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Human rights activist Malala Yousafzai, 17, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her struggles for young people’s rights, including the right to education. In the poor countries of the world, 60% of the population is under 25 years of age. It’s essential that children go to school and not be financially exploited. Even though she was only 17, Malala had already spent several years fighting for the right of girls to education. In October 2012, she boarded her school bus in the Pakistani district of Swat. A gunman asked for her by name then pointed a gun at her and fired three shots. Thankfully, she survived. In spite of her terrible ordeal she heroically continues to fight for young people’s education rights.

Find out what it takes to become to be a humanitarian worker

YOUNGEST PERSON TO WIN AN OSCAR Actor Tatum O’Neal won an Oscar at just ten years old for her supporting actress performance in ‘Paper Moon’ (1973). It’s amazing to see someone so young recognised for her achievements.

Find out what it takes to be an actor

YOUNGEST GIRL TO CLIMB EVEREST A 13 year old Indian tribal schoolgirl and mountain climber became the youngest girl to climb Mount Everest in April 2014. And she didn’t just climb it, she conquered it from the more difficult Tibetan side because Nepal won’t let anyone under 16 attempt the climb. Malavath Poorna told the BBC she felt “great” after the climb and wants to be a role model for tribal young people.

Find out what it takes to be a mountaineering instructor

YOUNGEST PERSON TO TREK TO THE SOUTH POLE Explorer Lewis Clarke has no problem with the cold – he admits to wearing shorts in winter! In December 2013 at the age of 16 he became the youngest person ever to trek to the South Pole. He had to ski about eight hours a day and pull his own supplies behind him on a sledge. He said in advance his goal was to enter the record books, and he achieved it!

Explore careers related to sports, tourism and leisure

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YOUNGEST SAILOR TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY In 2007, 14 year old British schoolboy and sailor Mike Perham became the youngest person to successfully sail across the Atlantic all on his own. It took him over six weeks. He sailed with dolphins and sharks while battling huge waves and massive winds. He celebrated Christmas Day on his own by setting off an emergency flare in the middle of the ocean, and said of the experience, “sometimes you feel a bit lonely”. But at least he got front seat at his own light show… and got to put ‘world record-breaker’ on his CV! Find out what it takes to become a sailor

YOUNGEST PERSON EVER TO DEVELOP AN APP In 2013, seven year old Zora Ball became officially the youngest person to ever develop a mobile app.

Her mobile video game was unveiled at the FATE Bootstrap Expo. Some grumpy old people thought her older brother might be responsible so they gave her a bit of a cheeky test to see if she was fibbing… but she reconfigured the app in front of the olds successfully and proved herself to be a total programming wizard. Take that, olds.

Find out what it takes to be a mobile app developer

YOUNGEST PERSON TO PLAY IN THE WORLD CUP Photo: Mer cury

Press & Med ia

YOUNGEST PERSON TO CREATE NUCLEAR FUSION Jamie Edwards from Preston is just 13 and he describes himself as an ‘amateur nuclear scientist’.

He’s earned the title – after all, he only went and built a nuclear reactor in his school science lab!

He spent a year building it then won his world record when he successfully smashed some atoms together to make helium, in a feat known as making ‘a star in a jar’ (because it’s the same reaction that produces the sun’s energy). He’s gone on to win a $100,000 scholarship and have his nuclear security work funded by the US Government. Which is good, because Jamie and his friend George Baker originally contacted physicists for the $2,000 funding needed but got nowhere until their school stumped up the cash. It must have been a blow at first, not getting any funding, but cash and support from the US Government makes it all better!

Norman Whiteside from Northern Ireland got his football feet on and played in the actual World Cup at the age of 17 in 1982. That’s amazing. But let’s also give a cheer to Souleymane Mamam from Togo, who got to play in a World Cup qualifying match at the incredibly impressive age of 13 in 2001.

A football career has a sell-by date because your body won’t stay in peak condition forever – if you’re going into football professionally, never think you’re too young. Just go for it.

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YOUNGEST PERSON TO WRITE A BESTSELLER It’s not a happy story but it is an inspiring one.

Author Mattie Stepanek was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Before his death in 2004 at the age of 13 he became known worldwide as a peace advocate and motivational speaker, and published five best-selling books of poetry. He published his first bestseller at the age of six.

Like many notable young people, including 19 year old cancer sufferer Stephen Sutton who raised almost £5 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust, Mattie Stepanek turned his disease into a means to make the world a better place.

YOUNGEST PERSON TO WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL In 1936, USA Olympian Marjorie Gestring became the youngest person ever to win an Olympic gold medal, to the amazement of the sports world.

She won it in the 3-metre springboard diving competition. She was 13 years old.

Want to put ‘world record breaker on your CV? • Want to set a world record for a brand new achievement? Think about your skills and interests and set yourself a goal.

• You don’t have to go it alone – getting a group together to achieve a world record could also work (e.g. most people to have a pillow fight in Trafalgar Square).

• Trying to set a new world record could be a great charity venture. It could get you coverage in the local news and also benefit the charity of your choice.

CV benefits: You’re disciplined enough to achieve what you set out to do, you’re a proactive person and ready to think outside the box. You’re ambitious and ready to show community spirit and ‘give back’.

Hop on over to the Guinness World Records website and see if there are any existing records you can break.

You could end up doing something that’s a great conversation piece or has helped to make the world a better place. For more careers advice that thinks outside the box, visit Plotr.

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CAREER SPARKS

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apprenticeships to make people go ‘wow’ From zookeeping to PR and animation… there are SO many awesome apprenticeships out there. Here’s our top 21 to make your friends green with envy…!

The range of apprenticeships via the National Apprenticeship Service is expanding every day, with new apprenticehsips being posted on the Plotr jobs finder all the time. If you don’t find what you’re looking for right away, keep checking back! Meanwhile, these 21 cherry-picked apprenticeships are guaranteed to take you on the journey of a lifetime…

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Live events apprentice

Cabin crew apprentice

Love going to gigs and music festivals? On the ‘live events and promotion’ apprenticeship you’ll learn everything about putting on great events like Glastonbury. Your work could involve event promotion (getting the word out), helping to set up and stage the event, or working with the bookings department (selling tickets).

Want a career at 30,000 feet? On this apprenticeship, you’ll learn how to prepare the inside of an aircraft for a flight and use your super friendly personality to greet customers. Air cabin crew make sure passengers are safe and comfortable during the flight. It’s your job to provide customer service in the narrow spaces of an aeroplane, using all of your finesse and skill.

WHAT’S NEXT?

WHAT’S NEXT?

How to become an events manager Live events and promotion apprenticeships

How to become a flight attendant Flight attendant apprenticeships

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If a scandal hit the supermarket you worked for, or a superstar publicly slammed your business, could YOU help smooth out the crisis? Public relations officers (known as PRs) manage the media coverage of people and companies to show their best side. PR apprenticeships vary depending on your employer, but you’ll probably work as a PR assistant or a junior account executive. You’ll learn how to create public relations campaigns, organise events, write effectively and use social media to achieve your PR goals.

Firefighters protect people in the community from fire and rescue people that need help. As an apprentice firefighter, you’ll learn all of the different ways to put out a fire – including gas, powder, water and foam. More importantly, you’ll learn how to prevent fires and advise others on the subject.

PR apprentice

Firefighter apprentice

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a firefighter Emergency fire service apprenticeships

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a PR officer PR apprenticeships

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Want to work with our furry friends? Then this apprenticeship is perfect for you! Animal apprentices get to work in many settings and with lots of different animals. You could be grooming dogs, looking after animals in a pet shop, assisting the breeding of pedigree animals or training guide dogs.

Want to use your amazing science skills to help take care of the planet? On an environmental conservation apprenticeship you’ll have the choice of four routes: environmental conservation, access and recreation, rivers, coasts, waterways and flood risk management, or dry stone-walling. You’ll learn about conservation, leading volunteers and reporting on the environment – and you’ll get to work on projects ranging from local issues (like community recycling) to national ones (like global warming).

Animal care apprentice

WHAT’S NEXT? Animals Career World Animal care apprenticeships

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Environment apprentice

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become an environmental health officer Environmental conservation apprenticeships

Horticulture apprentice Could you work your magic on someone’s garden?

Gardeners grow and look after plant life in green spaces ranging from someone’s back yard to Buckingham Palace! Apprenticeships in horticulture landscaping can cover the planning, creation and maintenance of designed landscapes – both urban and rural depending on your employer.

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a gardener Horticulture apprenticeships

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Veterinary nurse apprentice Want to help injured animals? Veterinary assistants help with everything from feeding time to assisting the veterinary surgeon with operations.

Veterinary nurse apprentices carry out diagnostic tests and medical treatments as well as minor surgical procedures under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon. As an apprentice you’ll work with domestic animals such as cats, dogs and rabbits… but you could be working with horses and farm animals too!

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a veterinary assistant Animal careers world

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Florist apprentice You may not realise it, but there’s a lot more to floristry then wrapping tissue and bows around bunches of roses! The best florists must have an in-depth knowledge of all things plant-related, as well as being creative, sociable, good with their hands and hard-working. The Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Floristry gives options to specialise further into a specific area of becoming a florist, or you can even continue into higher education and complete an HNC/D or foundation degree in floristry. Need to start earning right away?

Show a high-end florist some real talent and starting salaries can be up to £25,000 a year.

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a florist Agriculture and horticulture apprenticeships

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Want to work in TV or radio? As an animator apprentice you’ll bring cartoon and CGI characters to life on screen. It’s a varied job – you could be working on animated films or cartoons for TV, or creating the latest graphics for a top computer game as a video game animator instead!

On this apprenticeship you’ll learn a range of skills, including how to design signs, prepare different types of surfaces, cut out and build plastics into letters and logos, use digital technologies and install signs at the end of the process.

Animation apprentice

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become an animator Creative and digital media apprenticeships

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Signmaker apprentice

Your physical activities could involve machining, joining, engraving, etching, hand decorating, spraypainting and screen-printing. Once you’ve finished your apprenticeship you could become a signmaker, sign installer, quality technician or manufacturing technician.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Activity leader apprentice

How to become an engraver Signmaking apprenticeships

Got bags of energy and a passion for the outdoors?

Outdoor sports instructors and activity leaders work in a field they’re passionate about – like canoeing or climbing – and show other people how to do it.

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WHAT’S NEXT? How to become an outdoor sports instructor Sport and Fitness Career World Activity leader apprenticeships

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Fashion and textiles apprentice Could you create the perfect outfit? Dressmakers make clothing that is designed specifically for one person. They make “tailor-made” dresses, blouses, trousers and skirts, and more. Fashion and Textiles Apprenticeships cover the fashion and textiles supply chain from the processing of raw materials to product manufacture, to wholesale and trading activities and after-sales servicing of products.

Apprentices get to specialise in one of five areas: apparel, textiles, footwear, leather goods and saddlery.

Beauty therapist apprentice Love making people look and feel good? Beauty therapists take their customers from glum to glam using the latest beauty products and techniques. As an apprentice you’ll assist senior therapists and learn a range of skills and techniques – such as how to improve facial skin conditions, wax body hair, spray tan, shape and colour brows, perform hand and foot treatments, and apply make-up.

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a beauty therapist Beauty therapy apprenticeships

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a dressmaker Fashion and Beauty careers world Fashion and textiles apprenticeships

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Could you light up centre stage? In this apprenticeship you’ll train as a lighting technician assistant – liaising with the lighting director, designer, floor manager, producer and sound technician.

Could you design the next iPod? Design engineers create new products and improve existing ones.

Design apprentices work for either a design firm or a non-design business that still uses designers (e.g. a textile manufacturer). You’ll assist a designer or design team and build specialist skills.

Live theatre lighting apprentice

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become an audio-visual technician Live theatre apprenticeships

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Music business apprentice The music business is labelled as a hard industry to break into, so getting onto an apprenticeship is a great way to firmly wedge your foot in the door!

Just don’t expect to be sitting around listening to your favourite tunes all day – you’ll be learning all there is to know about the business of making music. Depending on where you go, there are different types of Music Business Apprenticeship available, and you could find yourself choosing between: A&R (that’s ‘artists and repertoire’ or talent spotting), music publishing assistants, radio pluggers, marketing executives or assistant publicists. There’s a Live Events and Promotion Apprenticeship too, where you’ll play a hands-on role putting on live events and shows – so if you’re a gig lover and great event organiser this could be just the ticket (sorry).

Product design apprentice

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a design engineer Product design apprenticeships

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Zookeeper apprentice Love animals? From zookeeping to breeding pedigree dogs, there are tonnes of different apprenticeships that involve working with animals.

Depending on the work your employer offers, you’ll get the chance to specialise and develop great skills.

Some apprenticeships you could investigate include: animal groomer, pet shop assistant, animal care assistant and dog handler.

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a zookeeper Animal care apprenticeships

WHAT’S NEXT? Universal Music careers world Music business apprenticeships

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Playworker apprentice Yes, playing with kids can be an actual job! As an intermediate level apprentice you’ll train towards becoming a Playworker. Playworkers work in children’s play centres where they supervise and play with children, helping them to learn and develop new skills and improve their understanding of the world around them.

WHAT’S NEXT? How to become a Playworker Playwork apprenticeships

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Costume and props designer apprentice Lights, camera… action! Could you create props and costumes and work behind the scenes in the exciting worlds of TV, theatre, film and musicals? As well as making and altering costumes as an apprentice costume designer, you’ll research places and historical periods to make sure the costumes are accurate. You’ll attend meetings with the art director, producer and set designer and have a say in the creative “vision” of the production. Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship you can go on to do a foundation degree or HNC/D in Costume Construction or Theatre Arts too – the world is your stage!

WHAT’S NEXT?

‘Binary wizard’ apprentice If you want to explore new horizons, you don’t have to dive in deep oceans or explore forgotten lands… why not get into IT instead? An apprenticeship will give you a sound footing in an incredibly exciting and ever-changing digital world, and it could be the perfect way to learn the key skills and experience you need to become a top IT professional. There are lots of IT apprenticeships to choose from, so whether you want to start out as a software tester, help to create the next social media platform as a program coder or discover the ghost in the machine as a sysadmin expert, there’ll be an apprenticeship to help you on the way to building the skills you need… whatever your academic level.

WHAT’S NEXT? Capgemini IT apprenticeships (see their employer profile – and they’ll help you study for a degree, too) CGI IT apprenticeships (see their employer profile) Agilsys Arch IT apprenticeships (see their employer profile) Just IT apprenticeships (see their employer profile)

How to become a costume designer Royal Opera House career and apprenticeship opportunities

National Apprenticeship Service The National Apprenticeship Service has loads of info on applying for the apprenticeships that will work best for you. See their useful links below: National Apprenticeship Service profile Latest jobs Pictures and videos

See all our tips and advice on apprenticeships on Plotr, plus hear from young people who have actually done it. They can tell you what it’s like and also give you the best tips!

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Get paid to escape!

7 Great jobs involving travel...

Love visiting new countries? Or never been further than France? Check out Plotr’s favourite seven jobs that let you earn AND travel!

Travel rep

Hotel manager

Yes, a job that actually has ‘travel’ in its title! As a travel rep (representative) you’ll spend a ‘season’ living in a holiday resort. This could be a ski, beach, diving or safari resort. You’ll know your holiday resort inside out, and you’ll make sure visitors who have booked their holiday with your company have an unforgettable experience so they come back next year. A typical day includes welcoming guests at the airport, checking everything’s okay with their hotel, giving local area advice, and organising and promoting activities.

As a trainee or assistant hotel manager, you could be helping to run a holiday resort, a B&B in the mountains or a luxury spa by the beach. Part of your job will be to make sure the hotel is clean and tidy, and that guests have everything they need to enjoy their stay. You’ll need to be a quick thinker, a good problem solver and have great organisational skills.

WHAT’S IT WORTH? You’ll start on a salary of around £12,000 a year and after you gain experience, this can go up to £16,000 or more. On top of this, travel reps get free accommodation and insurance, and sometimes earn commission, for example by selling tours and arranging car hire.

INTERESTED? Find out everything you need to get you your first job as a travel rep or international tour guide

Pilot Imagine flying a jumbo jet with the Sahara desert or the Atlantic Ocean stretched out beneath you – and being the one in charge! Pilots are the most senior members of the crew on board a plane. It’s a pilot’s job to safely fly passengers (and cargo) to and from destinations all around the world. This is an exciting and challenging job. It requires a very specific skill set that can take years of intensive training to obtain, so you need to have plenty of stamina and determination.

WHAT’S IT WORTH? Starting off as a co-pilot (first officer) you will earn between £21,000 and £43,000 a year, depending on experience. Captains can earn between £55,000 and £80,000 a year and captains with lots of experience (e.g. 20 years or more) can earn up to £100,000 a year.

WHAT’S IT WORTH? It depends what kind of hotel you’re at (and where in the world) but typical salaries are around £19,000 for a trainee or assistant hotel manager. If you enjoy the job, more senior managers of small hotels or deputy managers of larger ones can earn from £20,000 to around £35,000. General managers can earn £60,000 or more.

INTERESTED? Find out more about becoming a hotel manager

Press officer Lots of big companies have press officers, and many press office roles at international brands involve travelling. It will be your job to fly to different locations to represent your company there. When choosing which companies to target, make sure you pick ones with a high profile in the international media. It’s an even better sign if the company moves around a lot. Why? Because they’ll need your PR presence internationally, so there’ll be travel opportunities in it for you!

WHAT’S IT WORTH? Starting out, you can expect to earn around £16,000 per year as a press officer. If you go on to run your own (successful) business or work your way up to become an accounts director at a big company you could make £80,000 per year or more.

INTERESTED? Find out what it means to be a press officer

INTERESTED? Find more information about becoming a co-pilot

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English teacher

Flight attendant

Did you know you already speak one of the most widely-used languages in the world – and lots of foreign people want to learn how to do the same?

There’s no shortage of people wanting to learn English, from Kabul to Kerala to Kathmandu and many other places that don’t begin with the letter ‘K’. Learn how to teach English professionally and you can pretty much find work anywhere that doesn’t have English as its national language. What’s more, British teachers are in even greater demand than other English-speakers (like Americans or Australians) because many foreign people would prefer to learn English with a British accent.

Forget the old-fashioned “trolley dolly” image – today’s flight attendants are more highly trained than ever before. As well as serving food and drink and keeping their passengers happy, flight attendants are responsible for the on-board safety of the flight, plus relaying messages from the pilot. Lots of different vocational courses are available to help get you started. It’s also worth knowing that many big airlines pay to train their staff from scratch.

WHAT’S IT WORTH? Salaries vary according to where you’re teaching.

There’s a huge demand for TEFL teachers in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, where salaries are up to £2,000 a month. In Saudi Arabia, an experienced teacher can earn as much as £2,600 a month.

INTERESTED? See more about what it means to be a teacher and explore the Plotr schools, colleges and uni world for more info

WHAT’S IT WORTH? As cabin crew, you’ll start on £12,000-14,000 a year.

With experience, this is likely to rise to between £15,000 and £21,000 a year. Senior crew can earn up to £25,000 a year. Overtime and flight allowances can boost your earnings further.

INTERESTED? Find out more about becoming a flight attendant

Mountaineering instructor There are lots of mountains in the world, and lots of people keen to climb them! Mountaineering instructors are fully-qualified guides who take groups of people on mountain treks and expeditions.

They make sure the people in their care enjoy the experience and, most importantly, stay safe. It’s the perfect role if you’re fit, love being outdoors and enjoy socialising.

WHAT’S IT WORTH? Starting salaries are around £12,000 a year. With experience, you can earn around £18,000 a year while senior instructors can earn £25,000 a year or more. With some jobs, accommodation and food are provided too.

INTERESTED? Find out more about being a mountaineering instructor here

Want more ideas? Don’t forget to check out Plotr’s Tourism and Leisure and Getting Around career worlds!

See lots more careers as well as useful tips on working overseas, volunteering abroad and more.

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GET UP, STAND UP

7 types of volunteer

– which one are you?

Boost your confidence and skills, meet new people, give back to the community, plus it’s GOLD for your CV! Which of our seven volunteering types best suits you?

Having ‘volunteering’ on your CV shows you are motivated, experienced and able to work with anyone. It can really help you stand out from the crowd when you start applying for your first proper job. Oh, and as well as giving you extra confidence and new skills, it also means helping others.

HOT TIP You can volunteer from the age of 14+ in the UK, so long as it’s for a non-profit organisation and they have an insurance policy to cover you. Volunteers usually start at 16+.

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Lights! Music! (Volunteer) action! If you’re a creative type who loves art and culture, there are all kinds of ways to give back to the community (and make your CV a Van Gogh-worthy masterpiece).

Do you long to travel and see the world, experiencing other cultures? That wanderlust can be combined with your desire to help others through travel volunteering. You can try it as part of your gap year, or during your summer holidays… programmes tend to be flexible and can last anything from one week to six months or more.

The Creative

You can volunteer backstage at theatres, or crew on music festivals. You can give your time to museums and galleries, helping to keep them a resource that anyone can enjoy. You can share your skills at art workshops to provide social support and therapy for all kinds of people. From the homeless and elderly to those with learning disabilities, everyone needs (and deserves) access to the benefits that creativity can bring.

GET INVOLVED Do-it vInspired

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The Carer Perhaps it’s children, the homeless, or old people you want to reach out to? Right here in the UK, so many people are facing terrible daily challenges. You can help, and the UK will be a better place if you do.

If you have a caring nature, there are many ways you can make a difference, even if what you have to offer is mainly your time and enthusiasm rather than specific skills. There’s bound to be a local volunteer group that needs extra helping hands in your area.

From giving a few hours each week or month at hot soup kitchens for the homeless to becoming a Leukaemia CARE student ambassador, there’s a lot of variety in how you can help care for others.

The Adventurer

It’s usually not a cheap option – there’s often initial payment involved (for travel and expenses) so it’s something to save up for. Any free opportunities you find are more likely to involve set skills, like photography or teaching, but it’s worth scouting around.

GET INVOLVED Raleigh International Restless Development International Citizen Service

HOT TIP Dig deeper! Research your dream travel volunteer project to check it really is ethical, popular and genuinely useful to the community it’s intended to help. See what other ex-volunteers have said about it! And always place your health and safety first if you go abroad. You can be adventurous without taking unnecessary risks.

GET INVOLVED vInspired St John Ambulance Cadets

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Do you think you’d make a great team activity leader? Are you driven, full of ideas, and willing to step up and take charge (in a good way that helps others, not the Darth Vader way… )? There are lots of ways to volunteer so you can show leadership qualities and experience on your CV. This could involve sports coaching, teaching, mentoring or perhaps becoming a youth club leader.

How can you combine canoeing with caring? Or skiing with social justice? If you love physical activity, you can make a difference through fundraising, sports coaching, summer opportunities and becoming an active champion for a wide variety of organisations.

The Leader

GET INVOLVED vInspired YEUK Youth Ambassadors Team v

The Sportster

GET INVOLVED vInspired Volunteer Now Duke of Edinburgh’s award

HOT TIP

HOT TIP Many volunteer organisations like YEUK give lots of responsibility to their Youth Ambassadors, so search online for ‘volunteer youth ambassador’ and you’ll find all kinds of opportunities!

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The Wallflower Feel a bit shy in social situations? What you need is a change of scenery and a new challenge.

Volunteering means you throw yourself into something completely new and different, to put a spring in your step and either boost or restore your confidence. You’ll feel great knowing you’ve helped others, and those smiles will make it all seem worth it. Plus you’ll get to meet new people in a safe environment and discover a whole bunch of skills you never knew you had.

GET INVOLVED

Get involved in sports volunteering now and you could end up a sporting coach or sports team leader over time.

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The Animal Lover People need help, and so do animals! There are all kinds of disadvantaged creatures out there who need humans to intervene, from the cute and fluffy to the creepy and decidedly crawly. Your focus could be on rehoming animals, prevention of animal cruelty or species protection. Your activities could include anything from dog walking and cat socialising to home visits, fund raising or staffing gift shops. Or perhaps swaddling baby bats and feeding them with tiny pipettes. Your desire to help animals could take you from UK animal rescue centres to rainforest jungles. It’s your call.

GET INVOLVED RSPCA Blue Cross

Do-it Duke of Edinburgh’s award

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Step up to Serve: #iwill

Do-it

The Step Up to Serve charity is the brains behind #iwill, a huge campaign to boost volunteering. In fact, the aim is to double the number of young people volunteering in the UK! If you’re aged 10-20, taking part could help you develop vital career skills and create a habit for life!

Do-it is a really useful resource with over 100,000 volunteering opportunities available, and 40,000+ organisations looking for volunteers to get involved. Wherever you live in the UK, you’re bound to find an exciting opportunity near you!

Do-it

“I wanted to find out for myself, so I joined my local youth council at 11. My experience was so positive it got me hooked!”

Rhammel Afflick, 19-year-old Step Up to Serve volunteer #iwill campaign Step Up to Serve

National Citizen Service NCS (National Citizen Service) is open to all 16 and 17 year olds across England. It’s a unique three week full-time programme, plus 30 hours committed to a community project, focused around fun and discovery that benefits both you and your local area.

You build skills for work and life, while taking on new challenges and adventures, learning new skills, making new friends and contributing to your community.

National Citizen Service profile Pictures and videos

TEAM LONDON Team London are looking for willing volunteers to join their Team London Young Ambassadors programme as borough volunteers. The initiative wants to get more young people involved in social action, in school and in their local community, and they need lovely people like you to help them do it.

Team London Could you be a Team London Young Ambassador?

VINSPIRED vInspired is an independent British charity dedicated to helping young people volunteer in their local communities. They offer access to thousands of opportunities for 14-25 year olds to get involved in their communities and earn awards for their work! vInspired profile

Want to boost your skills, broaden your horizons and help others? You can find loads of volunteering tips and opportunities on Plotr. Alternatively, you can explore a whole range of charity and voluntary-based careers.

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the big story

What subjects did your favourite supervillains study?

We’re overrun with highly educated supervillains!

Can our science superheroes compete?

Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory:

“You know, it’s amazing how many super villains have advanced degrees. Graduate schools should do a better job of screening those people out” Is Sheldon right? Are educated supervillains outweighing our educated superheroes? Are we in trouble? Will Ra’s al Ghul’s next test-tube superplague spell our DOOOOOOOooooommm? We need to test this frankly disturbing theory using a proper scientific method, results and conclusion.

Results: Supervillains Doctor Doom Real name: Victor von Doom Science special moves: Maths, engineering, physics Further education: Flunked university degree, leaving on the grounds of being evil. The “Doctor” title is unearned Invention: Power armour Diversity & inclusivity: Latverian citizen who undertook further education in a language other than his native tongue

Latverian immigrant Victor von Doom escaped bad times to be offered a scholarship by the State University in Hegeman, New York. He studied multiple sciences at college level but was expelled for anti-social behaviour before being able to graduate with a degree.

A self-starter, he educated himself to graduate level and beyond in most sciences.

He wasn’t that rigorous a scientist, to be fair - a flaw in his calculations totally messed up Reed

SCORE

4/10 Richards’ interdimensional class project and created the Fantastic Four. He couldn’t even build his own Doctor Doom armour without the assistance of some Tibetan monks.

A better manipulator and despot than he ever was a scientist, at least he kept his hand in by plaguing the FF with shrink rays and other assorted inventions.

He does magic on the side but really it’s all about the science... and the hatred, the deep, unending, malicious hatred.

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Doctor Octopus Real name: Otto Octavius Science special moves: Atomic physics Further education: University degree, Ph.D

E SCOR

8/10

Invention: Wibbly-wobbly mechanical arms Diversity & inclusivity: Difficult family circumstances

Otto Octavius’ factory worker father was very cruel to him. To distance himself from his dad he threw himself into school, earning top marks. His father’s death in an industrial accident then pushed him into studying physical science.

A brilliant and respected physicist, inventor and lecturer, Doc Ock was the youngest person EVER to serve on the National Board of Nuclear Science.

He devised mechanical arms to help him research atomic physics. That’s a bit of a clue as to where it all started going wrong.

Green Goblin Real name: Norman Osborn Science special moves: Electrical engineering, chemistry

SCORE

6/10

Further education: Multiple university degrees, possible post-degree qualifications (unconfirmed) Invention: Power hoverboard, strength formulae Diversity & inclusivity: Born with silver spoon in mouth (thanks to industrialist CEO father)

Norman attended Empire State University with a science scholarship and received degrees in chemistry and electrical engineering. He founded OsCorp with his old science prof (who was then turned over to the police for embezzlement) and worked on a strength-enhancing formula.

It was all going well, for a while, except for the dubious ethics of testing his strength formula on employees... Unfortunately, the death of his wife and his decision to test the formula on himself resulted in him using his highly transferrable skills to career transition from businessman to SuperGoblin.

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Ra’s al Ghul Real name: As above Science special moves: Medicine

RE SCO

0 1 / 6

Further education: Apprenticeship and on-the-job learning Invention: Mega-diseases, e.g. “The Clench” Diversity & inclusivity: Ex-nomad, now city and underground lair-based

He’s one of the bad guys constantly on Batman’s tail! Over 600 years old, he started life as a nomad but after developing an early interest in science he pursued life as a researcher in the city, later becoming a physician.

He cottoned onto the germ theory of disease hundreds of years before anyone else and got revenge on the prince who killed his wife Sora by infecting him with

a deadly virus by means of a gift of contaminated fabrics. Later, his huge self-built international organisation The Demon created a deadly virus known as Ebola Gulf A, a.k.a. “The Clench”.

What’s really nice about Ra’s al Ghul is he went the work experience and self-learning route, probably doing an apprenticeship at some point. Not all supervillains take the uni route to science infamy.

Doctor DEATH Real name: Unknown

Invention: Looooves his bio-weaponry

Science special moves: Biochemistry

Diversity & inclusivity: Living with chronic respiratory problems

Further education: University degree, Ph.D

This is Batman’s first ever supervillain nemesis! We have to use some reverse engineering to determine Doctor Death’s actual qualifications. We know he developed a lethal chemical agent from pollen extract and used the resulting poison in some kind of Gotham City extortion racket.

Nowadays, he produces and sells bio-weapons on the black market and tends to wear a lab coat and oxygen mask at all times.

SCO RE

7/10

From his name, we get he’s a Ph.D. He most probably took maths and all sciences at A-level, then followed up with degree specialisations in chemistry and biology and a further doctorate in biochemistry.

Probably.

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Results: Superheroes BEAST Real name: Henry Philip “Hank” McCoy Science special moves: Biochemistry, genetics Further education: All the degrees, ever

SCORE

9/10

Invention: He’s more for crafting sonnets and plays Diversity & inclusivity: Blue He’s a medical doctor, lectures in science and mathematics at the Xavier Institute and still has time to be a world authority on biochemistry and genetics. He’s done all the degrees and read all the books and he’s blue.

He also left the X-Men briefly to become a professional wrestler, so he’s basically the best at everything, ever.

Batman Real name: Bruce Wayne Science special moves: Forensic science, engineering

E SCOR

4/10

Further education: Shrouded in mystery Invention: Lots of cool kit, all named “Bat-something” Diversity & inclusivity: Orphan. Unsupported by the state care system

He’s a total mystery, Batman. He’s made some great Batmobile upgrades and batarangs. Everyone says how fantastic he is at forensic investigation, so he’s learned that somewhere. Basically, aside from running the Wayne Foundation he’s used his

massive fortune to go around the world building his physical and mental skills to their peak.

But... where did he study? Why are there no traces of him in any college or university records? A mystery.

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Professor X Real name: Charles Xavier Science special moves: Genetics, psychology Further education: Ph.D.s in genetics, biophysics, psychology, anthropology. M.D. in psychiatry

SCORE

9/10

Invention: ’Cerebro’ helmet to focus and increase telepathy Diversity & inclusivity: Has only the intermittent use of his legs (depending on storyline)

Athletic Charlie X loved studying as much as sport and ended up getting about a million doctorates in Harvard University and Oxford University (Pembroke College). He was appointed Adjunct Professor at Columbia University.

It’s amazing he had any time to found a mutant academy and form the X-Men superteam at all.

He’s like Martin Luther King and Einstein but with telepathic powers.

IRON man Real name: Anthony Edward Stark Science special moves: Electrical engineering Further education: M.Sc in electrical engineering, M.Sc in physics

E SCOR

5/10 Young Tony Stark studied electronics engineering at MIT at the incredibly young age of 15, and then he got some M.Scs in electrical engineering and physics.

Invention: Awesome power suit, also lots of weapons which he used to sell to foreign lands. Invented a brand new energy source. Twice.

Diversity & inclusivity: So, so, so incredibly rich

A bit surprisingly, he didn’t go on to do a Ph.D. As a boy genius you’d figure he’d have nailed all this by age 20 and moved on, but he got a little side-tracked with inheriting Stark Industries and doing some superhero, military and playboy stuff.

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Mister Fantastic Real name: Reed Richards Science special moves: Maths, physics, mechanics

SCORE

8/10

Further education: Multiple science degrees by age 20, x2 Ph.D.s Invention: Wearable technology (FF uniforms made of ‘unstable molecules’) Diversity & inclusivity: Born with unusually high intelligence; marked as different from the start Reed Richards was yet another of those scientific child prodigies who so often turn to a life of superjustice (or super-crime). At the age of 14 he enrolled in college, and as a 19 year old teenager he began design on a hyperspace-capable starship. By the age of 20 he’d got several science degrees under his belt from universities like the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology, the California Institute of Technology, Columbia, Harvard and Empire State University.

Because this clearly wasn’t enough to be getting on with, he also got Ph.D.s in physics and electrical engineering from Harvard and became a military scientist by the age of 22. After that he kind of retired from academia and focused on the superheroing.

Unusually humble about his academic prowess for a superperson, Reed Richards does not refer to himself as ‘Doctor Fantastic’. But he could if he wanted to. Unlike that lying flunker Doctor Doom.

The Incredible Hulk Real name: Bruce Banner Science special moves: Physics Further education: Not sure. Probably got a Ph.D in nuclear physics Invention: Gamma bomb (that turns you mean and green)

E SCOR

6/10 Like Batman, Doctor Bruce Banner’s education is shrouded in mystery. This self-assured doctor is a doctor, natch, and he is a physicist. From this we can determine he’s done at least one Ph.D. and it was probably in physics.

Diversity & inclusivity: Green (or grey, depending on storyline). Anger management issues.

Why isn’t there more information? Is it because noone out there really cares about the man behind the fury?

HULK SMASH.

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Ant-Man Real name: Henry Pym Science special moves: Quantum physics, robotics, cybernetics Further education: Ph.D in biochemistry

SCORE

2/10

Invention: ‘Pym particles’ that make you tiny or big Diversity & inclusivity: N/A

Officially a scientific genius, Henry Pym scored himself a Ph.D but also held his own in the fields of quantum physics, cybernetics, artificial intelligence and entomology (ant stuff).

The main problem is he kind of created Ultron, one of the most epic supervillains the world has ever known. What were you even thinking of, Doctor Pym? Seriously, own goal.

Apart from that he has the unimpressive power of growing very tiny or very large thanks to his Pym particles.

So that’s good. Sort of.

Go home, Doctor Pym, go home.

CONCLUSION We’re safe... for the moment. The highest-scoring supervillain in terms of academic qualifications is Doctor Octopus, but Professor X and the Beast score higher. The superheroes have got our backs (except for Doctor Pym, a.k.a Ant-Man, who should be given some cookies and milk and sent to bed).

But evil never sleeps… so the more superheroes try on the mortarboard, the more we can ensure that science is in safe hands!

When it comes to preparing academically for their future, every single one of our featured superheroes – and even villains – is a winner. Even Ant-Man. However, as Batman villain Ra’s al Ghul shows, there are lots of different routes into a science career, from apprenticeships to placements, graduate programmes and more. Find out more about science careers at the Your Life world on Plotr.

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YOU(TH) VOICE

GCSEs, A-levels or a degree – EDF Energy has careers for all EDF Energy has opportunities for young people from school leavers to uni leavers. YEUK Youth Ambassador Jack Welch finds out more…

With over 15,000 employees across the UK, EDF Energy is a well-known energy company providing electricity to nearly 4 million residential customers. EDF is also one of the outstanding employers working across communities to provide early career (first part of working life) opportunities for candidates, whether they have just GCSEs or a degree to their name.

Joanne Norman, EDF Energy’s Early Careers Recruitment Specialist, reveals more about early career opportunities and the right way to be a successful candidate to YEUK Youth Ambassador Jack Welch.

With a large shortfall of students taking STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects – which could affect UK industry in general – what can EDF Energy offer people who want to jump straight into work after their GCSEs? We have an Engineering Apprenticeship scheme based at our nuclear power stations around the UK and a Smart Metering Apprenticeship scheme.

EDF Energy also sponsors Access to Apprenticeship courses (in Bridgwater in Somerset and Lancaster and Morecambe in Lancashire) for people who have not met 5 A*-C grades at GCSE level. The course gives candidates an opportunity to apply for an EDF Energy apprenticeship once they have completed it, as well as helping them gain employability skills such as team work and verbal communication, and knowledge around engineering.

EDF Energy is the largest low-carbon generator of electricity in the UK, from its fleet of nuclear power stations. If you’re passionate about the environment, our Sustainability Graduate scheme is available and graduates may also be able to experience working in the Renewable Energy department.

HOT TIP What’s the difference between a graduate and industrial placement at EDF Energy?

Graduate Scheme – This is a permanent post with rotational opportunities across the business Industrial Placement – This is for students taking a gap year who are interested in experiencing the energy industry.

What options are available for A-Level students and graduates?

We have a Business Apprenticeship programme for A-Level students. For graduates, we have a number of Engineering & Science and Commercial graduate schemes, including Finance, Human Resources and Project Management.

There’s even a post A-Level Technical Foundation Training scheme, which gives candidates the opportunity to study for an undergraduate degree whilst working.”

“It’s a supportive environment, with great training and development”

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Have you got any CV and interview tips? What does it take to be the right person for an early careers role at EDF Energy?

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 profile Jobs

We look for people with knowledge of the energy industry, who are able to give a clear explanation of their motivation for working with EDF Energy.

People who are pro-active and seek out challenges stand out from the crowd. Strong communication skills and effective team working are very important to us.

What things should be avoided?

Candidates should avoid being unprepared and unenthusiastic. Knowledge of the industry is important and having a positive approach makes an impact.

Why is EDF Energy a good opportunity for young people?

It’s a supportive environment, with great training and development, and opportunities to work across the business in different roles. It’s a chance to work for a company who stands on the side of the customer and is leading decarbonisation of the UK energy sector.

About the author A University of Winchester graduate, YEUK Youth Ambassador Jack Welch has worked across a number of diverse organisations, taking on everything from project planning and social media to marketing and communications. A freelance volunteer for organisations like the Diana Award, he helped to develop projects for young people on vInspired’s Youth Advisory Board and also produced a report for the Department for Communities and Local Government on how young people in social housing can be engaged in their communities.

Follow him on Twitter via @MrJW18.

Find out more about becoming a Youth Ambassador for YEUK!

Check out all the opportunities that EDF Energy has to offer young people looking for work, and you can also visit Plotr’s Energy careers world for more inspiration.

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CAREER SPARKS

From philosophy to retail...

you’ll never guess what these graduates do at Asda!

People always say you can study one thing and end up doing something completely different. It’s true! Meet three grads that got experience at Asda and never looked back.

Asda isn’t just offering opportunities for graduates. They have a range of work opportunities for young people aged 14+, from work experience and work placements through to weekend flex positions. You can find out more on the Asda employer profile on Plotr.

What if you ARE looking for a graduate job, though? Whether you studied computer science or theology, the retail sector is bursting with jobs that brim with responsibility and great experiences. Discover why these graduates chose Asda.

Nicole: Buyer Got an eye for spotting great deals? After studying philosophy and theology at Durham University, Nicole went to work in the buying and trading department at Asda – and qualified as a buyer one year later. Nicole says, “There’s so much energy and enthusiasm and everybody is so supportive.”

WATCH THIs VIDEO FoR MORE...

“The job is so much fun, I have a better social life here than I did at university!”

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DARREN: IT PROJECT MANAGER

ASDA Asda have all kinds of opportunities for young people, from work experience for 14-16 year olds to work placements, weekend flex and graduate schemes. See their useful links below: Asda profile Latest jobs

Love computers? Computer science grad Darren oversees massive IT projects for Asda – including the IT for one of its biggest offices, known as the merchandising centre, which measures 90,000 square feet! “It’s about working hard, playing hard and reaping the benefits,” says Darren.

WATCH THIs VIDEO FoR MORE...

Pictures and videos What the team says Asda company history

EMMA: STORE MANAGER Would you like to manage a big team? Emma became a store manager at Asda after studying environmental health at university. Now, she manages a team of 50 people and says, “You’re responsible for a lot at a young age, but it’s brilliant – I love it.”

WATCH THIs VIDEO FoR MORE...

Think the world of retail could be worth shopping around in? You can find more retail, sales and customer services careers advice at Plotr.

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GET UP, STAND UP

Start an unforgettable adventure in 2015 with ICS!

By Wendy Morrissey (YEUK Youth Ambassador)

International Citizen Service (ICS) brings together 18-25 year olds to work on projects aimed at fighting poverty overseas and in the UK. You don’t need qualifications, skills or money – just the passion to make a difference!

There are many different organisations you could start an ICS placement with, and each has a unique approach to their work.

• You could be working on projects that raise awareness of HIV and AIDS as well as environmental issues with Progressio.

• You might be interested in using sport, games and community events to tackle issues facing young people in Southern Africa with Skillshare International.

• If you are over 24 and have experience of working with young people, perhaps you’d like to apply as a team leader in Asia?

• Or what about projects aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in starting up new businesses?

All placements last an average of 12 weeks and you could be going to Africa, South/Central America or Asia.

MY OWN ADVENTURE After wanting to get involved with a project like ICS for a few years, I have finally got the courage to apply and will be attending an assessment day for Restless Development in January. Restless Development are a youth led development agency and their mission is to place young people at the forefront of change and development.

Working on projects to educate young people and improve their prospects is something I am extremely passionate about so I’m very excited about the possibility of volunteering with ICS and will have my fingers firmly crossed over the coming weeks!

Sounds amazing, right?

Where do I start?

1

Visit the Volunteer ICS website and submit an application, ideally 4-6 months before you are able to go overseas

2

If your application is successful, you’ll receive a confirmation of what organisation you have been placed with.

They will email you directly and invite you for an assessment day

3

The selection day will be fun and interactive. You’ll get the chance to learn more about the organisation you have been placed with and meet other people interested in doing ICS.

4

Shortly after this, you’ll find out if you’ve been chosen to take part in an ICS program and what country you will be going to.

Challenge yourself – CHANGE

YOUR WORLD!

About the author Wendy Morrissey is a highly motivated and ambitious Psychology and Criminology graduate who loves travelling, festivals, social science, people, food and adventures. She has been involved in voluntary work since high school and has so far worked with young people and ex-offenders on mentoring programmes, assisted as a telephone volunteer for a late night listening service, as well as volunteering at festivals around the UK. Currently Wendy is a YEUK Ambassador and enjoys getting involved in ‘Youth Friendly Campaigns’, writing for the e-mag, attending events, helping contribute to policy recommendations on careers education and youth unemployment. Outside of volunteering Wendy works in Educational Recruitment and is passionate about developing a successful career within the education, training or charity sector.

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Restless Development Half the world is under 25. That’s 3 billion people. Restless Development offer jobs and info for young people – their strength comes from being led by young people, from the boardroom right through to the field. They have an ICS volunteering programme which is open to 18-25 year olds, enabling them to volunteer overseas.

Restless Development profile

Raleigh International Raleigh International is a sustainable development charity who challenges and empowers young people and communities to deliver grassroots sustainable development – especially when it comes to getting access to safe water and sanitation in rural communities. With the Raleigh ICS volunteer programme, you could go to India, Nicaragua or Tanzania.

Raleigh International profile Pictures and videos Jobs More about Raleigh ICS

International Citizen Service ICS is a UK government-funded development programme that brings together 18 to 25-yearolds from all backgrounds to fight poverty in overseas and UK communities. To volunteer overseas with ICS you don’t need cash, skills or qualifications – just the ambition to make a difference.

International Citizen Service website

Want to boost your skills, broaden your horizons and help others? You can find loads of volunteering tips and opportunities on Plotr. Alternatively, you can explore a whole range of charity and voluntary-based careers.

42

YOU(TH) VOICE

Dear parents: 4 reasons why getting a job now is a whole new world

By Alexa-Jane Moore (YEUK Youth Ambassador)

An open letter to parents from young people – because we’re braving the frontiers of a totally new UK employment landscape!

Dear Parent(s), Some of you may think that young people are ‘lazy,’ or aren’t ‘trying hard enough’ to get a job. Actually, many young people today have major concerns about their job prospects and are working really hard to get one, but the unemployment landscape just isn’t what it used to be.

Here are four reasons why comparing job hunting now to how it was in your day just doesn’t work:

1

The pre-requisites for even an entry level job seem to be so much higher

When I compare my experience to that of my dad, no longer can you stroll out of high school and walk into an entry level job. All too often, you’ll need a degree for that. My dad left high school about 35 years ago, with O-levels, and went straight into a junior assistant job with British Gas, by just sending in a CV. My brother has been applying and it seems that for an entry-level job he now needs GCSEs, competency-based question answers, work experience and an interview. This echoed my own experience when applying for graduate roles.

Today’s recruitment process is endless. You have to think: CV, company specific questions, psychometric tests, telephone interview, assessment centre (usually with a group task and presentation element), and finally an interview.

Phew, I’m tired just writing it!

My dad didn’t have to do any of that.

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2

Graduates are more likely to be employed than non-graduates of a similar age

This 2013 Office for National Statistics report pretty much sums it up.

In 2013 there were 12 million graduates in the UK. In April to June they were more likely to be employed than those who left education with qualifications of a lower standard. Non-graduates aged 21 to 30 have consistently higher unemployment rates than all other groups.

3

Catch 22: Employers want young people to have qualifications AND vast experience

In your day, young people were given a chance to work their way up in an organisation, gaining qualifications and experience along the way.

Now, if a young person studies, they’ll have the qualifications but not the experience that employers are looking for. Then again, if a young person tries to build experience straight from high school by applying for an entry level job then many employers will say the CV doesn’t show enough experience OR qualifications. This is a real catch 22!

4

There are fewer entry level jobs and graduate positions than jobs in general

The High Fliers 2014 report said graduate positions among the top 100 UK employers increased in 2014, which is positive. However, there was also an increase in graduate positions from 2012-13 and firms like Procter & Gamble were still reporting 160 applicants per junior job. It all goes to show there aren’t enough graduate and entry level jobs going round to meet young people’s needs.

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Dear parent(s), please take these points on-board the next time you find yourself tempted to tell a young person to ‘just get a job.’

Take a young person to an open day, to volunteering opportunities, or to apprenticeship fairs. They just want some support and guidance. It may take just a little push to find out what they want to do, but they have a wide range of skills to offer, if you just give them a chance.

We are really, really trying. But it’s a different world out there... cut us some slack!

Kind regards,

Young People of the UK.

About the author Alexa-Jane Moore is a 1:1 Education Mentor, teaching SEN pupils. She has a keen interest in issues affecting young people. These include: unemployment, careers guidance, mental health and voting. She has written about these issues for The Guardian and Targetjobs. She is currently studying towards a PG Cert in Coaching and Mentoring and a NVQ L4 Diploma in IAG. She is also the winner of YEUK’s ‘Youth Ambassador of the Year Award’.

She achieved this by organising an employer-student employability event, with funding bid for from O2 Think Big.

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TACTICAL INFO

Job hunting tips for young people with alternative style

By Roswell Ivory

I left university with a degree, debt and a decision: how to job hunt successfully while keeping my alternative style?

When I left university I wanted to get a job, but I was still an alternative student at heart and some jobs just don’t accommodate that. For those of you with tattoos, piercings or dyed hair, here are 7 ways to survive job hunting as an alternative young person!

1

Job hunting costume The fewer tattoos and piercings you have, the easier it is to find a job. It sucks but it’s true. Though some employers have become more relaxed about small tattoos, if you have bright blue hair, facial ink and lots of piercings, you may have to tone down your look for job hunting.

Decide how far you are willing to compromise.

Would you take out your piercings for the perfect job? How about dying your hair or wearing a wig?

Covering your tattoos? If you are willing to make some changes, your task will be easier. Think of it as your job hunting costume.

TIP: Tattoos are becoming far more acceptable in society today. A small one may not get you grief with potential employers, but large visible ones may. When it comes to piercings, UK offices see 2-3 stud earrings in each ear and possibly a discreet nose stud the upper limit.

3

The search begins…

What sort of job are you looking for? If you’re just after a few weeks of holiday work, try approaching places you have in mind. If you’re really not fussy about where you work, the local supermarket is a good bet. If you are looking for something more permanent, job agencies, the Job Centre and recruitment websites all advertise vacancies. If you go to visit a job agency, look smart/casual. You may be called for a discussion on the spot.

TIP for job hunting: You can start looking for jobs on Plotr. Also search online for “job websites + location” and you’ll find a range of places to search online offering vacancies in your area. The Government can help, too. You can use their Universal Jobmatch search tool.

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Listing hobbies on your CV: Avoid ‘but’ and turn potential negatives into positives When you know how far you are willing to compromise your look, have a read through your CV. Most CVs include a brief list of your hobbies and interests, particularly if you don’t have much work experience to put on there yet. “I love The Sex Pistols, tattoos and skateboarding” is probably not a good idea as it contains the words “sex”, “pistols” and “tattoos”! Put your interests into bullet points if there’s enough space and write “socialising” instead of clubbing as it sounds more work-friendly.

Work to your advantage! Don’t write “I know I have a leopard-print Mohican BUT I’m really hardworking”. That sounds as if your hairstyle is a bad thing.

Instead, try: “I bring a sense of individuality and creativity to all I do.” (It says yes, you’re an individual, and that you’re creative too, which are both good things.)

TIP for CVs: If you’ve never written a CV before, there are some good websites around to give you guidelines.

You might want to give your CV a New Year detox, too.

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Style-friendly employers: The liberal list If you are unwilling to change anything about your look, your choices will be limited.

Supermarket shopworkers (e.g. Tesco and Sainsbury’s), construction workers, music/videogame shopworkers and most call centre operators are generally allowed to look the way they choose. Some hair and beauty salons are also quite liberal, but you will need training first and may need to do another course at college.

Tattoo artist apprenticeships and jobs in alternative shops are safe bets too, but they are usually hard to come by as they are in demand!

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Some employers may negotiate piercing numbers with you. Chefs and restaurant managers will NOT. (It’s a hygiene thing). If you are looking for a job where you will be working with food, you will have to remove ALL piercings and nail varnish. If you have hair longer than a few inches, you will also have to wear a hairnet. However, if you’re already passionate about becoming a chef, you probably know all that already and it shouldn’t matter a bit!

Job interviews are scary at the best of times, but if you are obviously a former Alternative Student, you may be scrutinised even further. Be prepared for questions and comments on your looks and interests, especially if you have very unusual interests. Think up answers beforehand and impress the interviewer with your ability to stay calm under pressure.

Now make me lasagne!

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Success Well done, you have the job! After celebrating in your usual refined manner *cough*, start work looking conservative so that you can see what other people are wearing. If the girl at the desk next to you has an eyebrow stud, you can probably get away with one too. If not, don’t tempt fate and be asked to remove something in your first week.

If you have worked there for several months and have a good relationship with your boss, it may be safe to show the very edge of a tattoo or put a stud back in. If you work on them slowly, you can show that it is possible to be alternative and smart for work at the same time!

The interrogation room

Here are some real-life interview questions that have been fired at me, and my more decorated friends: • “Would you be willing to dye your hair/take out your piercings/cover your tattoos if you are offered this job?” (You should already know the answer to this one!)

• “You say one of your interests is bellydancing.

Could you please tell me more about this?” (Why do you enjoy it? Have you won any awards etc?)

• “What does that tattoo mean?” (Honesty can sometimes be interesting here, unless it was a present from an ex. If in doubt, keep it brief. “It represents my ambition to achieve my goals” is a good answer!)

• “Your CV says that you would like to be a professional taxidermist, so why are you applying for a job in a supermarket?” (If you are applying for a job that has no relevance to your interests, make sure the interviewer hears a good reason for this!

E.g. “I’d love to improve my customer service skills and I think that working behind the till in a supermarket would really help me to achieve this”.)

Good luck!

About the author Roswell Ivory is a writer and model who has forged a career while retaining her alternative style.

Photographer: Charlotte Rutherford MUA/Hair: Sam Chapman Jewellery: Eclectic Eccentricity

Whatever your interests and lifestyle, Plotr can help you with your career pathways: See our careers advice, or play the Plotr Game to find out what kind of job would most suit you! (Professional tattoo artist, body piercer or hairdresser, perhaps? Or how about cool hunter, Youtuber or social media whizz? We’ve got it covered).

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YOU(TH) VOICE

THIS 6-step method will make you better at interviews forever!

An easy system that you can use to improve your performance in job interviews.

When at university, I wanted to do a summer internship to make myself more employable. I had done lots of things at university that these employers were keen to hear about, in telephone interviews and then assessment centres... but I needed a way to put these experiences across!

I had always used the S.T.A.R. method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), but expanded this to my own S.T.A.R.R.S. method as employers always asked me, “How would you do ‘X’ better next time?”

THE S.T.A.R.R.S. METHOD Situation Explain the situation you were in.

Aim to answer the questions ‘what/ where/when’ – for example, “In the third year of my business studies degree” or “When I was working as a retail assistant in a shop last summer.”

Task

T

S.T.A.R.R.S. provides you with the opportunity to ‘Reflect’ on your experience and ‘Strengthen’ it by thinking how you would do things better, next time.

The S.T.A.R.R.S. method is a succinct formula that you can adapt to any situation. It’s easy to follow and remember when you’re in a stressful situation like an interview. It covers all the points that employers are looking for and helped me secure numerous offers for summer internships.

What did you do, and what did the task or role involve? Explain your tasks and responsibilities briefly.

Action

A R

What did YOU do to meet the objective of/complete the task?

You might want to cover what you did and how you did it, including what skills you used.

Result What was the outcome?

Did you make a difference?

Can you quantify this?

Reflection

R

What did you do well?

What didn’t go as well as you’d hoped?

Strengthen

S

After reflection, what would you have done differently?

What could have been improved to achieve an even greater success?

About the author Alexa-Jane Moore is a 1:1 Education Mentor, teaching SEN pupils. She has a keen interest in issues affecting young people. These include: unemployment, careers guidance, mental health and voting. She has written about these issues for The Guardian and Targetjobs. She is currently studying towards a PG Cert in Coaching and Mentoring and a NVQ L4 Diploma in IAG. She is also the winner of YEUK’s ‘Youth Ambassador of the Year Award’. She achieved this by organising an employer-student employability event, with funding bid for from O2 Think Big.

It’s time to ‘star’ in the movie of your life! Head on over to Plotr for more careers advice.

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CAREER SPARKS

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 advisor!

Susan, an ambassador for National Careers Week, says: “I love helping people. I am a qualified careers advisor, 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

When we think about a gap year we tend to think of the full 12-month deal, but don’t forget you can do something worthwhile in just a few months, too. Your gap period doesn’t need to be a full 12 months unless you want it to be. It could even be a single month…

One point I will make is that if you intend to take that break before university and you want to study maths, you should know that many maths departments don’t recommend this.

You have been warned – if in doubt, ASK!

GRADUATE

CAREERS I want to get a job in retail. Can you work your way from the shop floor or do you need a degree? I want to be a fashion buyer for a high street store one day.

Well done on considering your career path. If you are interested in being a fashion buyer, make sure you read the ins and outs of this job on Plotr. You can see from the qualifications that you generally need to have a degree for this job.

That being said though, you may be able to start in a lower position and work your way up through your company as you gain experience, perhaps supplementing your day-to-day work with additional study.

There are several professional qualifications in management available with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), including: • Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply • Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement & Supply • Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement & Supply

GAP YeAR Is it a good idea to take a gap year or will employers look down on you?

If you intend to use your gap year watching daytime TV, then yes, an employer is going to have some doubts about you. However, you could decide to do something worthwhile with your gap month or gap year (like travelling or gaining news skills or qualities, for example). Personally, I think it is a good thing and is likely to be seen as a plus on your CV…

What do you think is the biggest obstacle for current graduates looking for a job?

Some people think your choice of degree can be an obstacle to landing a job as a graduate… Personally, I don’t have an issue what you study. You can study history of art, if you like, even if you don’t ever intend to work as an art auctioneer at Christie’s. The key is to build up your employability skills along the way. You can join clubs and societies, you can pick fascinating and relevant topics for your thesis, and you can gain work experience while studying.

EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE I’ve heard there are employers that will pay for you to train, get qualifications or even a degree – is this true? Do people do this and then just hop to another job once they’re qualified?

This is true and tends to be most common in areas where there is the highest demand for young people with certain types of skills. For example, employees with STEM (science, technology and maths) skills are currently very much in demand in the UK. Graduates and school leavers who have a STEM background and later want to pursue this further are more likely to have the opportunity of attracting a salary/benefits package to suit.

I don’t think employers need to be overly concerned about job-hopping. It’s their aim to attract capable, passionate recruits, and attractive salaries and benefits packages are one way to do that. Once someone’s working in a company it’s down to the employer to keep them – and down to the school leaver or graduate to demonstrate they’re a good fit.

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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