connexions-cd.org.uk
Careers Library Guide
Contents: Introduction Setting up Content Recommended resources Free resources Useful websites CEG software Maintenance Promotion Additional support and advice
0800 9755111
2 3 4 6 8 9 9 10 11 11
connexions-cd.org.uk
Introduction The aim of your careers library should be to enable users easy access to information that meets their needs and help them make informed choices about their future. Please note that for ease of use we have used the terms careers library and careers co-ordinator throughout this guide, however you may use different terminology. In addition, we also refer to both schools and colleges as school throughout. Whether you are setting up a new careers library or aiming to improve an existing one, there will be certain criteria you may want to consider. •• You will need to assess existing resources in order to draw up action plans for developing your careers library. •• You should carefully consider the careers information needs of students and staff. •• You should consider sources of funding for improvements, as this will have an impact on the developments you plan.
Benefits of a good careers library •• Students are able to access a wide range of careers information to help them make informed choices about their future. •• Parents are made aware of the support provided by the school regarding their child’s learning and work options, thereby raising the profile of the school. •• Can help form strong links with subject teachers to encourage them to signpost to the careers library. •• A good careers library may assist the school in reaching the standards required for the Investor in Careers (IiC) award. •• It will help reach some of the criteria required by Ofsted. This guide will help you when setting up your careers library and in considering the content and structure. It also highlights useful resources including software, websites and free resources.
Page 2
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Setting up Location The following points for the location of the careers library are recommended, but not necessarily essential: •• it should be near the careers co-ordinator’s room •• it should be near an interview room facility/private area •• it can be a dedicated room or a designated area within the main library of the school •• you may also want an additional area within the sixth form (if you have one) to include a smaller section of appropriate resources.
Access Ensuring good access to the library is essential if students, staff and parents are to make full use of the resources available. •• Students should be made aware of the careers library opening times and when other support is available, e.g. from the careers co-ordinator and/or Connexions Personal Adviser (PA). •• Resources should be accessible to all students, regardless of their ability. •• If there are times when staff support is not available you may want to consider user guides for students. •• It is a good idea to ensure the careers library is accessible on parents evenings so they are aware of the support available to their child.
Paper-based or ICT? You may be considering whether or not to have a paper-based or ICT-based careers library. It is worth having a mixture of both as individuals may have different requirements. In addition, having paper-based resources will become a back up should there be problems with the Internet for instance. However, many organisations now only offer their resources as downloadable PDFs, so you need to bear this in mind with regards to printing costs. The important thing is that your careers library meets the needs of the users.
Page 3
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Content As a general guide, all resources should: •• be up-to-date and the latest available •• be no more than three years old as careers resources usually provide information on progression routes and salaries which frequently change. (There are a few exceptions to this. For instance, CV books, as the information and advice contained within them does not change a great deal.) •• be no more than one year old if it is course information •• be impartial, e.g. display all local post-16 and 18 learning and work provision •• be easily accessible to users •• be at a suitable language level for all students •• reflect equal opportunities •• be clean/tidy and not defaced.
Software •• All careers software should be loaded and working efficiently, including Internet access. •• Guides to using software, the Internet and other resources should be available.
Sections As a guide, resources should be available under the following topics: •• Making choices •• Job search (including writing CVs and interview advice) •• Occupational •• Further Education •• Higher Education •• Training options (e.g. Apprenticeships) •• Gap year/volunteering.
Page 4
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Classification The Connexions Resource Classification Index (CRCI) is the classification system commonly used to classify careers resources. This classification is helpful because it groups job families together and broadens someone’s research to consider alternatives. The occupational sections of a careers library classified using CRCI are as follows: a
Administration, Business and Office Work
b
Building and Construction
c
Catering and Hospitality
d
Computers and IT
e
Design, Arts and Crafts
f
Education and Training
g
Engineering
h
Environment, Animals and Plants
i
Financial Services
j
Healthcare
k
Languages, Information and Culture
l
Legal and Political Services
m
Leisure, Sport and Tourism
n
Manufacturing and Production
o
Marketing and Advertising
p
Media, Print and Publishing
q
Performing Arts
r
Personal and Other Services (Including Hair and Beauty)
s
Retail Sales and Customer Services
t
Science, Mathematics and Statistics
u
Security and Armed Forces
v
Social Work and Counselling Services
w
Transport and Logistics
All resources should be clearly labelled and sections well-defined. User guides, for instance for software and CRCI, should be readily available. Page 5
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Recommended resources Please note that many of these are costed but those that are free are indicated.
Making choices •• Choosing your GCSEs and other post-14 options (published by Trotman Publishing). •• Choosing your 14-19 Diploma (published by Trotman Publishing). •• Choosing your A levels and other post-16 options (published by Trotman Publishing). •• Jobs and careers after A levels (published by Trotman Publishing). The following resources can also be included in this section: •• Which Way Now (published by DCSF) – free •• It’s Your Choice (published by DCSF) – free •• Choices at 16 (published by Careers South West Ltd) – free •• Your Way Forward (published by Careers South West Ltd) – free.
Job search The Winning Series is a set of books specifically aimed at young people and includes the following titles: •• Winning CVs for first-time job hunters (published by Trotman Publishing) •• Winning interviews for first-time job hunters (published by Trotman Publishing) •• Winning interview answers for first-time job hunters (published by Trotman Publishing).
Occupational For occupational books you could prioritise which titles would be more appropriate for the young people at your school, i.e. the careers they are more likely to ask about. The following series of books include a wide range of occupational areas. They offer impartial advice, include pros and cons of various jobs, and contain case studies. •• Careers Uncovered (published by Trotman Publishing). •• Real Life Guides (published by Trotman Publishing). •• Working Ins (published by VT Lifeskills). We also recommend a generic careers book, such as Careers 2010 (published by Trotman Publishing) or Jobfile 2010/2011 (published by VT Lifeskills).
Page 6
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Further Education You should include signposting information to your local area wide prospectus and/or up-to-date paper-based prospectuses showing the full range of local provision. Info should also be available on finance for study (e.g. EMA).
Higher Education Useful resources include: •• Heap 2010: university degree course offers – the essential guide to winning your place at university (published by Trotman Publishing) •• The Big Guide (published by UCAS) •• How to Complete Your UCAS Application (published by Trotman Publishing) •• Guide to Student Money 2010 (DT Guide) (published by Trotman Publishing). For up-to-date information on all HE provision, students should be signposted to the UCAS website which also links to Student Finance England for details on finance for study and how to apply.
Other resources For information on Apprenticeships and the National Apprenticeship Service go to www.lsc.gov.uk/campaignresources. However, Barker Brooks Media Ltd also produces ‘The Apprenticeship Guide’ (www.barkerbrooks.co.uk). •• The Gap Year Guidebook (published by Trotman Publishing) includes a wide range of information on what to think about when considering a gap year. This is just a selection of some of the resources available, however there may be more that are better suited to your needs. For information on these please refer to the Careers Information Handbook 2008/09 (published by Trotman Publishing).
Page 7
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Free resources Which Way Now?
It’s Your Choice
•• Provides information for pupils in year 9 to assist with their subject choices and qualifications in Key Stage 4. •• Available to download from www.teachernet.gov.uk
•• Provides information for students in years 10 and 11 about the options available to them post-16. •• Available to download from www.teachernet.gov.uk
Careers South West Ltd publications Choices at 16
Your Way Forward – options at 18+
•• Aimed at year 11 students. •• Complements “It’s Your Choice”. •• Contains information on occupations and the local labour market.
•• Aimed at students in years 12 and 13. •• Has information on HE, including different qualifications, finance and application procedures. •• Also contains information on employment and taking a gap year.
Finally, keep checking the practitioners’ section of www.connexions-cd.org.uk for other resources such as the “How to” leaflets.
Page 8
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Useful websites There are too many websites to list here, however the following act as a good starting point: •• www.connexions-cd.org.uk • CV Builder – www.connexions-cd.org.uk/cvbuilder.asp • Job World – www.connexions-cd.org.uk/worktraining_worktrends.asp • Making Connexions – www.making-connexions.com •• www.connexions-direct.com (including Jobs4U) •• www.ucas.ac.uk for HE information (including courses and student finance) •• Area wide prospectus’: • Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – www.cornwall.futures4me.co.uk • Plymouth – www.findacourse4me.co.uk • Devon and Torbay – www.options4me.co.uk •• www.direct.gov.uk for all the public services information (there is a dedicated section aimed at young people) •• www.sscalliance.org.uk (for information on sector skills councils, which includes labour market information).
CEG software •• Careerscape – for more information, including demo discs, go to www.cascaid.co.uk •• Exodus – for more information go to www.careerseurope.co.uk •• JED – for more information, including demo discs, go to www.careersoft.co.uk •• Kudos – for more information, including demo discs, go to www.cascaid.co.uk •• Launchpad – for more information, including demo discs, go to www.cascaid.co.uk •• Pathfinder HE – for more information, including demo discs, go to www.vtlifeskills.co.uk Ensure that CDs are loaded and/or web-based products are signposted to. There are other software programmes available which may be more suited to your needs. For information on these please refer to the Careers Information Handbook 2008/09 (published by Trotman Publishing).
Page 9
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Maintenance Regular housekeeping is essential in order to maintain a high standard of provision to meet the changing needs of students, staff and parents. Regular checks should be carried out to ensure standards remain consistent. A little daily and weekly maintenance is often all that is required to ensure the library remains a well-organised, effective resource for students and staff. It should look welcoming and attractive, not bleak and uncared for. •• Ensure the careers library is tidy and free from potential health and safety hazards. •• Magazine files should be clearly labelled. •• Newspapers, magazines and leaflets on open display should be kept tidy and removed as new ones arrive. When new resources arrive, either free items or books you have ordered, it is important to: •• date stamp the new resource •• code the new resource using the CRCI system (if appropriate) and remove any information it replaces •• discard any irrelevant material.
In-house support Identify any students who may want to become library monitors. They can help with day to day tasks and can also promote the careers library to fellow students. Ensure your ICT department helps you to keep systems working efficiently, including careers guidance software. Remember, software licences cover network access at one postal address. Work with your Connexions PA to ensure the careers library is kept up-to-date with relevant materials.
Page 10
0800 9755111
connexions-cd.org.uk
Promotion So now you have the perfect careers library, how do you promote it? The following media can be used to promote your newly created/revamped careers library: •• plasma screens •• newsletters •• notice boards •• VLEs •• assemblies/inductions •• school website •• peers (library monitors) •• signposting from other areas of the school.
Additional support and advice We hope you have found this guide useful. If you need more help or advice on your careers library or feel you would benefit from a visit please email InformationRequests@careerssw.org
This Connexions service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This Connexions service is committed to improving its products and services. If you have any comments or complaints please contact the Head of Quality, Contracts and Adult Services at Careers South West Ltd, Tamar Business Park, Pennygillam Industrial Estate, Launceston, PL15 7ED. This publication can be made available in large print, Braille, audio CD or in languages other than English. Please contact Careers South West Ltd on 01566 777672.
® Careers South West
quality standard for information advice and guidance services approved by the matrix Accreditation Body
This Connexions service is managed by Careers South West Ltd. Our purpose is to engage all of our customers in learning and work. Information correct at time of writing. Published June 2010.
0800 9755111
CxCLG 06.10