My advice to parents this National Careers Week

National Careers Week is with us once again and here at Chase Terrace Academy and in our local community, we’ll be celebrating the diversity of jobs, further and higher education, training and careers opportunities that are right here on our doorstep in Staffordshire.

But let’s be honest – just the variety on offer can overwhelming for young people feeling the pressure about making the decisions for their future.? Some don’t know where to start. Others worry about competing with others and how they’re meant to make decisions when they can’t see into the future about what jobs there will be. And as parents you can feel under pressure to try and help them, but are fully aware that things have probably changed since you were in their position.

I completely get it.? It can be a really stressful! The world of work, and how to get there has certainly changed, and that’s why getting fully qualified, impartial, up to date and professional careers advice and support is so important. That’s where Careers Advisors and credible online sources come in – and not the often wonky advice and opinions you get from so many social media sites that young people are plugged into.

We are so pleased to have recently won a ‘Beacon Award’ for our work, not just with our pupils but helping our communities and businesses too – because it’s all about helping people realise that there are brilliant opportunities in Staffordshire, including a lot of opportunities in the creative industries.? You really don’t need to go down south to find those and a wide range of careers and sectors when you engage with careers experts. There are a wide range of local Post-16 opportunities available. These include A levels, apprenticeships, T Levels, BTEC’s, traineeships internships and work experience. There is something for all preferred learning styles and learning environments which can often mix learning and practical work-based skills together.

And then there’s professional online sources of advice.? Staffordshire Jobs and Careers is for everyone of all ages, whether you want to get into work, continue their career or swop to something completely different.? In one place you can find out more about growth industries, browse jobs, find out about different paths and even browse over 10,000 live job and training vacancies. It really takes the stress out of it.

So, my advice?? Avoid the proliferation of random opinions and wonky- careers advice.? Use professional sources of information, and get excited about careers in Staffordshire!

It's all in one place at Staffordshire Jobs and Careers.

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