WALES HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING YOUR FUTURE APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINEESHIPS FURTHER EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT 2015-2016
INTRODUCTION It is crucial that you make contact with your allocated Guidance Counsellor before the summer holidays in order to discuss what your intentions are once you have completed your studies at Wales High School. You should explore the UCAS website (www.ucas.com) and to consider your options as well as researching about other courses, apprenticeships, jobs you might wish to apply for during your Upper Sixth year. Research the necessary skills and qualifications required for your chosen career as the summer holidays could be the time to add to these. WHERE TO FIND SUPPORT Careers Service in School Mrs Greenfield is a Youth Support Worker based part-time in Wales High School. Please make an appointment to see her via Mrs Brown, Head of Careers, Education and Guidance. Rotherham Careers Service Please click the link to get access to the websites that are listed below: http://www.rotherhamcareers.com Nationalcareersservice.direct.co.uk Dedicated to helping you get the advice you need for future skills, careers, work and life choices. They can help you develop your career with specially designed tools to help you move on in your career, or get you on the job ladder. careerbox.co.uk a series of online short films about various careers ranging from Creative and Media to Retail. You get a good idea about what the job is like from people involved in that kind of work. Cascaid (the new name for Kudos) An impartial online careers guidance and information program that helps you plan your future and make informed decisions. icould.com Here you can watch people telling their personal career stories in their own words. The storytellers provide first-hand accounts of what it s like to work in a wide variety of jobs and sectors, and share their real-life routes to their current roles
plotr.co.uk Careers advice that's useful, inspiring and tailored to YOU. Play the free careers advice Game, explore detailed career profile hubs - then take next steps. ucasprogress.com Search, explore and compare courses at schools, academies, colleges and work-based learning providers for post 16 education. thestudentroom.co.uk Forum and wiki where students share academic and social knowledge and experiences. Includes study help, choosing a university, careers, and life. bestcourse4me.com Shows the link between what you study, what you earn and the jobs you can get. Gov.uk/jobsearch The place to find government services and information including careers information, job hunting advice and applying for a job. National Apprenticeship Service Find out information about apprenticeships plus search and apply for vacancies. The majority of employers use this website to advertise apprenticeships. apprenticeships.org.uk Find apprenticeships and traineeships. be-together.co.uk Inspirational and educational work experience placements. Inspiring and valuable opportunities for developing knowledge and skills vital for entering the 21st century work place. New horizons within the world of work, locally, nationally and internationally. passportfolio.com Find out more about yourself, show what you have achieved, and take control of your future! You can record your skills, interests and achievements, build a CV, personal statement and action plan, explore your options and search for local courses all in one place. youthi.org.uk UK Youth is a leading national charity. We support young people through a range of innovative programmes to gain life-skills that build confidence, resilience and make them more employable. What we do enables young people to develop the tools they need for life, work and a better future.
CURRICULUM VITAE (CV) Please find below an example of how to construct a CV. Further examples can be found on the internet by searching for blank cv templates. Always check your CV carefully for spelling and grammar errors. It is important that you make a good first impression. In addition to the categories displayed on the above sample, you must always include a section titled REFEREES and this usually comes at the end of your CV and can be displayed as follows: REFEREES: Miss H Ludlam Miss C Adams Assistant Headteacher/Sixth Form Director of Upper Sixth Wales High School Wales High School Storth Lane Storth Lane Kiveton Kiveton Sheffield S25 5DJ Sheffield S25 5DJ Tel: 01909 771291 Tel: 01909 771291 e: hl@waleshigh.com e: ca@waleshigh.com
APPRENTICESHIPS/JOBS HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION: Remember to speak with your Guidance Counsellors regularly throughout your application process and ask them to check your completed applications before sending. If spelling and grammar are not your strong points your Counsellor will be able to spot any mistakes. Before you get started, print of a copy of anything that might help such as: your curriculum vitae (CV) any practice application forms you have completed personal statement achievement portfolio copies of certificates If you choose the right words it can make a real difference to your application. Your application is a sales document like a short advert about you. Employers will be impressed if your application seems carefully considered, and like you ve made the effort to understand what s required of you and that you have thought why you are applying for the job. PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW: Interviews require much research and planning. Generally, you should do the following when preparing for interview. anticipate potential questions and prepare answers accordingly; consider how you'll explain problematic aspects of your CV, such as leaving an employer; contact your references, alerting them that you'll be interviewing and that they may receive a call; fully understand the role that you're applying for by revisiting the job description, identifying what skills, interests and experiences the employer is looking for; prepare questions to ask the interviewer; read the organisation's website, social media profiles and key literature (e.g. business plan, financial reports and corporate social responsibility strategy), ensuring that you're prepared to share your views and ideas; research the news, trends, competitors, history and opportunities of the organisation and its job sector; review your CV and application form. Choose your outfit the night before, getting plenty of sleep. Plan your journey, aiming to arrive ten minutes early. Completing a 'dry run', if possible, also combats nerves. On the day, eat a good, healthy breakfast and avoid too much caffeine.
WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE TO YOUR INTERVIEW: a bottle of water; an A-Z street map, or at least the postcode of the organisation so that you can search Google Maps on your mobile phone; details of the person that you must ask for upon arrival; exam certificates, examples of your work, and any further evidence of your past successes; money; pen and notepad; photo ID (e.g. passport or driving licence); the job description and person specification; your CV, letter of application and interview invitation; your mobile phone. HOW TO MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION answer questions clearly and concisely; ask relevant, thought-provoking questions at appropriate moments, as this can show that you're genuinely interested in the role and really listening to the interviewer; avoid talking about any personal problems; be as enthusiastic as possible; be well-mannered with any staff that you meet before the interview; display positive body language, speaking clearly, smiling frequently and retaining eye-contact; don't badmouth any previous employers; give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after; highlight your best attributes, experiences and achievements, based around the skills that you've identified as important to the organisation, and evidencing them with practical examples; inform your interviewer(s) that you're available to answer any follow-up questions; let your personality shine; relax and sit naturally, but without slouching in your chair or leaning on the desk; show your hands, as this is a sign of honesty; wear smart business attire with comfortable, polished shoes.
IDEAS FOR CONTROLLING YOUR NERVES being aware of the interview's structure, and the fact that they often begin with easier questions such as 'tell us about your time at university'; exercising before your interview, as this burns off negative energy and creates feelings of wellbeing; pausing before answering a difficult question to give yourself thinking time, or asking for clarification if, at first, you're unsure what the question means; putting everything into perspective, reminding yourself that the worst thing that can happen is you not getting the job; taking a toilet break before the interview; taking deep breaths and not speaking too quickly; taking notes with you, writing down cues to highlight examples that you want to draw upon; thinking about positive and happy experiences before the interview starts, and visualising yourself in complete control during the interview. PRACTICE INTERVIEWS ask for advice and feedback after unsuccessful interviews; practise and monitor your skills by treating interview-like scenarios such as discussions with your tutor as genuine interviews; record yourself in a mock interview, playing it back to check how you did; review the different types of possible questions, writing down your responses, taking notes and creating flash cards; script and practise answers to anticipated questions with someone that you trust. PHONE INTERVIEWS You should prepare for a phone interview just as you would for a regular interview and generally should: direct the interviewer to your web portfolio or LinkedIn profile if possible, to demonstrate your work in practice; find a quiet place for the interview where you'll be undisturbed; fully charge your mobile before the interview, and turn call waiting off; get your main messages across quickly, by writing down your key attributes and having these at hand during the call; have a glass of water available; have a pen and notepad within reach; have internet access; keep your CV, application and job description in clear view; not interrupt the interviewer; not smoke, chew gum or eat; smile, as this projects a positive image and changes your tone of voice; speak slowly and clearly; take time to collect your thoughts, and give relatively short answers.