7 Ways Parents Can Help Their Teens to Make Best Career Choices

by GT Scholars Guide to Apprenticeships Parents What's new?

A big portion of a person’s life is spent doing a job based on their initial career choice. That’s why it is important to assist your child in exploring potential career paths for the future. Parents play a key role in helping their teens determine what they want to do for work. They can also help their teens gain an understanding of making the right career choices. By supporting and guiding them, parents can help their teens make smart decisions about their future careers. Here are seven effective ways parents can accomplish this.

1. Consider Yourself A Facilitator

Consider yourself a facilitator rather than a decision-maker when helping your teen figure out what they want to do for work. While it’s natural to want to impart wisdom, focus on empowering your child to take ownership of their decisions. Rather than trying to steer your teen towards what you think is the best path, encourage open conversation. Instead of dictating choices, practise active listening and initiate collaborative brainstorming sessions with your child. This supportive and non-judgmental environment will allow your teen to express their goals and areas of interest.

As a parent, your role is to support your teen and provide them with career guidance, not career decisions. Your child will need resources and encouragement as they figure out their potential career path. Give your teen access to your own wealth of knowledge, while respecting their independence and individuality.

Encourage your child to independently explore different options, try new experiences, as well as learn from their successes and setbacks. This can help a young person who isn’t sure of the career path they wish to take. Independence and self-reliance play a part in helping a teen with the confidence and skills needed to make informed decisions. Self-reliance will also empower them to make fulfilling career choices that are in line with their passions and goals.

2. Start Your Teen’s Career Journey Early

Try to read about all possible opportunities available, so you can present them to your child as suggestions. You can do this while still letting them be the ones making their own decisions. Remember that we all lead by example and that our children absorb all our attitudes and expectations that we have for them. It is advisable to avoid imposing your career preferences on your child. Rather, as you observe their skills, abilities, dreams and passions, you can suggest and guide them to potential career paths that can align with them.

As you guide your teen and advise them on their potential career choice, avoid forcing your goals upon them. Instead of telling them what job they should have in the future, help them discover their interests, strengths and values. Allowing them to explore different options they might enjoy can increase their independence and curiosity. Avoid driving them toward a specific career path by constantly labelling them. Encouraging their unique interests can nurture a sense of freedom to pursue their passions.

It is helpful to begin this journey of helping your teen explore careers early on. Take the time to research and familiarise yourself with the opportunities available in various fields. Doing this will equip you with the tools to present a wide range of options to your child as suggestions. This will then allow them to explore and make informed decisions. Remember, the process should empower your teen to take ownership of their career path.

3. Encourage Your Child To Get Some Work Experience

Encouraging your child to receive work experience is a great step in helping them make an informed career choice. Gaining experience gives a greater understanding of different professions, helping teens understand the day-to-day realities of different jobs. You can encourage your child to look for part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer opportunities in fields they’re interested in.

Whether it’s shadowing a professional or assisting with projects, these experiences offer firsthand knowledge that can shape their career choices. Another great way to gain experience is to volunteer at local organisations. By engaging in different work environments, your teen can discover their interests, strengths, and preferences. These opportunities can ultimately guide them towards a fulfilling career path.

Work experience allows teens to develop needed skills that are highly valued in the professional world. Each job opportunity brings occasions for growth and learning, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management. With each role, encourage your child to reflect on their experiences. Your child can identify the skills they’ve gained and the areas they excel in. This not only boosts their confidence but also provides valuable information for future career planning.

Not only does work experience enhance your child’s CV, but it also boosts their university applications. This helps set them apart from their peers. It also helps your teen identify their capabilities and skills. Your teen’s consideration for university admissions, scholarships, and future employment opportunities will ultimately increase. As a parent, you get to empower your child to take charge of their academic and professional development. You can help your child become proactive by assisting them in making the right career choice.

4. Support Your Child’s Decisions

Supporting your child’s decisions as they explore the right career choice for them is key to their growth and confidence. One way parents can do this is to actively listen to their teens’ interests and goals. Encourage open conversations with your teen about their passions and any concerns regarding potential career choices. By showing interest and respect for their thoughts, you create a supportive environment where your child can explore different options.

Another important way to support your child’s decisions is by providing them with access to resources and information. Help them research different careers, educational paths, and job markets. By empowering them with knowledge, parents enable their teens to make informed decisions about their future. Help your teen understand that careers are very flexible. This means that your teen doesn’t have to stick to one career path for the rest of their life.

Parents can also encourage their teens to pursue their interests and passions wholeheartedly. Providing opportunities for hands-on experience allows teens to explore their interests and develop valuable skills. Creating a sense of self-discovery and independence will help your child build confidence in their abilities. This will ultimately grow their informed decision-making for their future career goals.

5. Take Your Child To As Many Career Events As Possible

According to this article, the more young people are educated and informed about their careers, the better they are prepared for it. Taking your child to career events can help them make informed career choices. Exposing them to different industries, professions and job roles can inspire your child to pursue a new industry. You and your teen can attend career fairs, industry conferences or networking events together. Allowing your teen to explore different career paths and interact with professionals from various fields can open them up to new careers.

Joining your child to these events shows your support and commitment to their future. It also opens up opportunities for meaningful conversations about their interests, personal goals and concerns regarding their potential career choice. Your support can encourage them to think about their options and ask questions. It will also help them realise that they are in the discovery phase and do not need to decide on a career immediately.

Attending career events together as parent and child builds a sense of shared discovery and excitement. It allows the two of you to bond over shared interests and learn from each other’s perspectives. You can use these opportunities to discuss your own career journey, share career advice and provide guidance based on your experiences. When you participate in these events as a team, you empower your teen to make knowledgeable decisions. You also strengthen your relationship as you explore together and support them through their career learning.

6. Involve Guidance Counsellors

Involving guidance counsellors in your teen’s career choice journey can greatly enhance their decision-making process. These professionals possess knowledge about various career paths, educational opportunities and industry trends. Parents can ensure that their teens receive personalised support and guidance by working closely with guidance counsellors.

Guidance counsellors can offer great resources such as career assessments and aptitude tests. They can also offer tools like personality assessments to help teens gain clarity about their interests and strengths. Guidance counsellors can give guidance on which educational routes to take. They can suggest university subjects to study, vocational training programmes or alternative paths, based on your teen’s goals and academic performance. Counsellors can also connect scholars with industry professionals, alumni networks and internship opportunities. All of this will allow your teen to gain real-world experience and a glimpse into their potential field.

Involving guidance counsellors in the process of exploring careers opens your child to a collaborative approach to decision-making. Parents, teens, and counsellors can work together as a team to brainstorm ideas, address concerns and develop a plan for achieving career goals. Taking advantage of the knowledge and support of guidance counsellors can empower your child on their journey toward a fulfilling career.

7. Promote Academic Excellence

Education is important and everyone should constantly be in a learning state because we can never stop growing. This is why you should emphasise the importance of education to your teen. You can do this while also acknowledging that academic success looks different for everyone. This can be achieved by balancing a mix of your teen’s academics and other helpful pursuits. A combination of academic learning with personal and professional growth can lead to good career choices.

Promoting academic excellence is a good way for parents to support their teens in making the best career choices. Encouraging a strong academic foundation gives your child the knowledge and qualifications they need to pursue their desired career paths. You can never go wrong by motivating your teen to aim for academic success and reach their career aspirations. Challenge your child to set higher goals that you know they have the potential to reach. Also, you can provide them with learning resources and promote a positive attitude towards education.

Academic achievement opens doors to a wide range of opportunities. It also grows valuable qualities such as discipline, critical thinking and perseverance, which are needed for success in any career path. When parents show their children the importance of education, they nurture teens who become lifelong learners. Because of this, your teens can be adaptable and resilient in the face of challenges. Growing their hunger for knowledge can equip teens with the tools needed to do well in a competitive job market.

Check Out Our Career Insights Programme

Knowing the importance of picking the right career is not enough. Understanding how to identify the right career is key. GT Scholars offers a programme perfect for this, which answers questions such as how to choose the right career path for yourself. The career insights programme grants teens aged 14-16 an idea of careers suited to their abilities and personality. Another added bonus is that the programme is free for teens. To learn more about this programme and to find out how to register, click here.

How to Choose a Career That’s Right for You

by Maddalena Onyehara Guide to Apprenticeships Young people

Knowing how to choose a career can be challenging for many young people. They need to discover what their talents and passions are and also learn about the different career paths available to them.

Choosing the right career is also one of the toughest decisions that we have to make in our lives. The career we choose has a significant impact on our quality of life.

This decision is even more challenging for young people because they have to decide what they want to do at an early age and with little experience about how the job market works and about what they might be good at

Luckily, there are several criteria and methods that you can use to help you choose the right career. We’ll be discussing this in more detail in this article.

Increase Your Self-awareness

When learning about how to choose a career that’s right for you, it’s a good idea to work on increasing your self-awareness skills. Self-awareness means paying attention to your own behaviour, how you think and how you feel.

Being more self-aware helps you to understand your strengths and weaknesses better. A strong self-awareness leads to making better decisions because you’ll have a clear sense of self. Only you will be able to determine what you may or may not enjoy.

Even though you’re likely to change and grow as a person, there are definitely certain personality traits that are always going to be stable in your life. Knowing these “building blocks” can help you exclude taking certain paths that you probably won’t enjoy when you’re thinking about how to choose a career.

It’s important to understand what these traits are so that it’s easier to decide the right career path for you. For example, if you’re someone who’s introverted and prefers to spend time on your own, going for a career path that involves a lot of public speaking and relationship-building might not be the right choice for you.

A great way to increase your self-awareness is through journaling. You can journal about anything like when you’re going through a difficult time, or when you’ve had an argument with someone, or when you’re happy about something and so on.

Journal and reread your journal from time to time to understand more about yourself. You will notice what has and hasn’t changed in you. All of these will help you to pick the right career for you.

Consider Your Passion

What are you passionate about? And what are your hobbies? We spend most of our time at work, so it’s important that you try to choose a career that represents what you enjoy and what you’re passionate about.

You might be thinking, “I don’t know what my passion is”. Ask yourself these questions: what do you do when you’re not studying or maybe even working? What type of books, Netflix series, YouTube videos, or podcasts do you like listening to? Which activities do you enjoy so much that you would do them for free?

Something else to think about is your energy levels when you do an activity that you like. What is something that excites you, as opposed to something that drains you?

Consider Your Skills

When you are on your way to finding a job, you’ll hear a lot about hard and soft skills.

A hard skill is a skill that you gain through practice. An example of this is computer programming. A soft skill instead is a skill that is more attached to your individuality. An example of soft skills is teamwork, which is how well you collaborate with other people.

You can master a hard skill through perseverance and repetition. You can also learn certain soft skills. However, they are more challenging to grasp because these are skills that you learn by exposing yourself to real-world experience.

At a young age, it’s difficult to assess your hard and soft skills because you still need to develop them. However, you still have some degree of knowledge on which skills you enjoy and are good at when you choose your career.

Some example questions that can guide you to analyse your hard and soft skills can be:

Are you good with numbers?
Are you able to learn foreign languages pretty quickly?
Are you good at writing or designing?

For soft skills:

Do you play a type of sport that requires team collaboration?
Are you good at managing your time?
How good are you at organising stuff?

Your grades can also help to assess your hard and soft skills. Even though grades are a flawed methodology to examine one’s capability to choose the right career, from your grades, you can gain insight on which career path you should consider.

Think About Your Desired Lifestyle

Part of learning about how to choose a career that’s right for you is to consider the lifestyle you want for your future. Your lifestyle will depend a lot on the type of career path you choose.

You’ll need to ask yourself questions like do you want to choose a career that requires you to travel internationally? Or would you prefer to stay closer to your family and friends? Do you like spending your time outdoors?

With the recent Coronavirus pandemic, there is an ongoing debate on whether companies should force employees to return to the office or not. Still, remote working has become popular because it can save companies a lot of money by avoiding renting office spaces.

Some employees prefer to work from home five days a week and not have to commute. They might be more family-oriented and choosing to work from home makes childcare more manageable and flexible for them.

Others prefer working from the office whereas some employees would like to go to the office only a few days per week. Then, not all jobs are doable from home because some career paths will require you to be present on site.

It is therefore important to consider what you want your life to be like and pursue career opportunities that allow you to build that life.

You may need to compromise at times

Some jobs are in higher demand than others and some pay better than others. Knowing how to choose a career that’s right for you isn’t always straightforward. There may be something you’ll need to compromise.

Some university degrees, on average, also allow you to make more money than others. These degrees are, for example, medicine, dentistry, computer science, engineering, etc.

If you’d like to know more about the highest paying degrees in the UK, read our blog!

But, what if you’re not interested in any of those? Should you try to get into this field just because of the money? If you’re that type of person who doesn’t enjoy career options that fall on this list of highest-paying jobs, you might want to consider finding a good compromise between what you like and what the job market can offer to you.

A clear example of this is: are you someone who likes to draw? The job market can offer careers in graphic design and digital design. Another ongoing problem is that some jobs have become (or are on their way to becoming) obsolete due to technological advances.

For example, pursuing a career in a travel agency can be a risky choice because people can find all possible information with a simple Google search.

Addressing this issue can feel challenging because it depends on your situation, your background, and what you are looking for in a career. But it is possible, with research and gaining practical experience in the fields you’re interested in! The important thing is knowing what you’re willing to compromise in a career and what you’re not.

Qualifications Needed Vs Willingness To Study

Specific career paths will need you to have either a degree or some sort of certification to prove your competency. How much time do you want to spend studying before getting into your desired career path? Years or months?

Whatever route you decide to take, you’ll need to get some education to improve your chances of getting employed. This can take both time and money.

Depending on your situation, you might not have the finances to afford formal education. You could then consider doing online courses in your area of interest.

Nowadays, there are many pathways that you can take to get more educated: university, boot camps and online classes or in-person workshops.

Universities also offer distance learning, as well as part-time degrees. For example, the UK Government has a list of free boot camps to address the UK’s skills shortage, and you can attend them at the comfort of your home.

When you’re thinking of how to choose a career path that’s right for you, you’ll need to assess how much time (and money) you would like to spend educating yourself to get into a particular career or field of work.

Seek Mentorship

A mentor is someone who can give you valuable insights into a specific field. They serve as a bridge between the mentee and the job market. They can also help you understand what you need to get into a particular career path. They’ll give you practical advice, motivation and reassurance.

A mentor can fast-track your career by guiding you towards doing things that are relevant to choosing the right career for you. They help you to feel more motivated to make solid decisions.

You may be wondering: how do you find a mentor? A mentor is often someone you already know and admire within your circle. If you cannot find anyone, maybe it’s a sign that you’ll need to expand your network. Try to attend your local youth community, social club or a volunteering event. Also, leverage your social media.

We’re passionate about providing mentorship to young people, which is why we offer mentoring as part of our 1:1 online programmes! You can get in touch with us if you’d like to know more!

In Conclusion

In this article, we discussed a range of things to think about when it comes to choosing a career that’s right for you. We have seen that the earlier you start considering your skills and passions, and start gaining practical experience, mentorship and expanding your network, the more likely you are to find a career that you enjoy!

If you’d like the opportunity to explore careers in various industries including Technology, Medicine, Finance, Engineering and many more! And if you’d like to meet professionals from a range of universities and corporate organisations such as PWC, University of Oxford, BT, JP Morgan, EY, BRIT Insurance and Blackrock bank, you can attend our online Careers Summit by registering here!

How to Write Your First CV: 12 Key Tips for Young People

by GT Scholars CV Template Young people

A curriculum vitae is Latin for “course of life”, often shortened as CV. It may also be referred to as a résumé, French for “summary”. It’s a documented overview of someone’s work/achievements and is used to apply for jobs.

Why is this important
For any career path, a CV or resume will be required in order to show your skills, accomplishments, and knowledge. It is usually requested at the application stage for an advertised job vacancy. However, it could be sent prospectively to a particular company even if there is no job advert.

Building your CV
Throughout your academic and career life, there will be many opportunities for you to add new things to your CV. In order to have a CV that stands out from the crowd, you should try to:

Get involved in various activities at school (outside of the classroom!)
Participate in extracurricular activities
Build your skills, particularly in teamwork and leadership
Understand your strengths and qualities
Get work experience or Volunteering experience
Work towards various accomplishments that you can feel proud of

If you do these things, your CV will be very easy to write, you will have a lot of things to say and your CV will stand out from the crowd. The quality of your CV will largely depend on the activities that you have been involved in and the skills you have developed and demonstrated. It will also depend on the thought process you put into writing and creating your CV.

Key Considerations when writing a CV
Creating your first CV can feel overwhelming. However, writing a CV is not that hard to do if you have the right guidance. In this blog, we’ll be looking at some of the key things you should put into consideration when writing your first CV.

1. Take time to understand the role & Position Yourself for the role
Look at the job description & person specification. What do you think the company is looking for? When you looked at the job description, which keywords did you notice? How can you demonstrate that you meet these criteria and that you can do the job? How can you write your CV so that it demonstrates what is most useful for the role? Are there other skills and behaviours you have that are relevant to the job you’re applying for?

2. Name & Contact details
It’s extremely important that you include your name and contact details (Email and phone number) within the CV. You will be amazed at how many people apply for jobs but forget to include their name at the top of the CV or forget to include a phone number or email that they can be reached on. When creating an email, make sure you use an email address that looks professional and appropriate, e.g. firstname.lastname@gmail.com.

3. Personal Statement:
This short paragraph at the beginning of your CV. It describes who you are and what you believe in. It can signal your main strengths, highlight your values and mention any awards you have won. This section should be a 3 or 4-sentence introduction to you as a candidate before someone has met you. It should show the qualities that make you a good fit for the role that you want. Don’t be generic but be distinctive. It should give an overview of your qualities and highlight some of your strengths as a candidate.

4. Education
State your most recent education first, such as professional qualifications. Then, move backwards including fewer details as you go. Depending on the stage of education you are at you may wish to include your grades or modules.

5. Previous work, volunteering or employment experience
Take the recruiter on a journey that tells a story and provides examples of your interest. It is okay to include volunteering experience if this is the only experience you have. Always start with the most recent work experience and then work backwards. When you write about your work experience, you need to consider two key areas: your responsibilities and your achievements whilst in that role.

6. Extracurricular activities
You should try to include hobbies and interests within your CV – where possible, these hobbies and interests should show that you are committed to developing and improving yourself e.g. chess, swim team or football team. If possible, try to include any hobbies that can be seen as relevant to the job e.g. if you’re going for a marketing job and you have a fashion blog or YouTube channel, or if you’re going for an engineering role and you restore bikes in your spare time.

7. Accomplishments, Awards or Achievements
You should include any special awards that you have received, additional certificates, or accomplishments that make you stand out. This might include being voted to be president of your student council, being selected to be a Prefect at your school, or being the team captain in your netball team. Again, you can explain your responsibilities and the key achievements within your role.

8. Strengths and Qualities
What are your strengths and best qualities? What are the biggest, relevant achievements you would want people to know about you? Have you demonstrated the best qualities and strengths that you have to offer? Have you reviewed the objectives of the role you are applying for? Does your CV give examples of what you are most proud of?

9. Be Concise
Is your CV concise or does it just repeat the same information in a slightly different way? Are your sentences too long and have you waffled? Write objectively and be specific. Is it factual instead of opinion-based? Your CV should be 1-2 pages in length. No more than 2 pages. In some industries, there is an expectation that you should stick to just 1 page so do your research on this. Search online to find out the expected CV length for your target industry and your country.

10. Cover letter
Some companies will ask you for a cover letter in addition to your CV. If you’ve been asked to write one, then take time to make this stand out. A cover letter is your opportunity to personalise, tell more stories that show the value you can add and expand on what is on your CV. Break it down into three paragraphs and do not exceed 1 page.

– Explain why you’re interested in the job.
– Describe why you’re the right person and what value you can bring.
– Share a bit more about yourself in general.

11. Check for Errors
Look through your CV before submitting it. Check for any errors. It can also be useful to check your CV for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.

12. Ask for Constructive feedback
Finally, before you submit your CV, always ask one or two people to critique your CV and provide constructive feedback. Look for mentors or professionals who have some experience with CVs. This is extremely important as they might be able to spot improvements that you have yet to see.

You will likely be updating your CV every few months or years, as you apply for new jobs and you gain more work experience.

It is useful to update it at least once a year as you review your career path because you will learn new skills or qualifications along the way.

You may even choose to have different CVs for different roles that you are interested in, as they should be targeted to your chosen field.
As mentioned, always remember to ask for feedback from a mentor to help you review your CV before you submit it, as this will help you write a CV that stands out from the crowd.

All the best!

How to Design Your Career Pathway: 7 Tips to Help You Get Started

by GT Scholars Young people

Designing a career pathway means planning a path for your career. Regardless of the career you have chosen, you will need to think about how you’re going to get there. This applies to all careers from Law to IT and from Sciences to the Arts.

QUOTE: If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else. – Yogi Berra.

This means doing your research, thinking ahead, and planning a course of action for how you will arrive at your desired career. It involves determining the education and training that you will need to enter your chosen career and also thinking about the additional things that you can do to set yourself up for success within that career.

When you design your career pathway, you will most likely need to think about the skills required to enter the career, the subjects that you’ll need to take at GCSE and the A-level or Post-16 courses, as well as the best university that you can attend or the apprenticeship that you join that will support you within this career.

In this section, we’ll go into more detail about the things you should put into consideration when designing your career pathway.

1. Find out the skills & qualities needed
It’s important that you do your research and have a good understanding of your chosen career before embarking on this and designing your career pathway. Choosing a career, especially as a teenager, can feel quite daunting but it doesn’t have to be so hard. To get started with designing your career pathway, you’ll need to do some further research on the skills and qualities required to succeed in this career. You can find out the key skills and qualities by doing desk research online, looking at job descriptions, and asking people who work within this field. Knowing the top 5-10 skills needed in this career will help you stay focused and it will help you to continue developing those skills in your day-to-day life. Once you know these skills, you can start thinking about how you’ll develop these skills – this might be through extra-curricular activities, through your hobbies, through starting an online blog or even starting a small business. You will find that there are lots of creative ways to build these skills, no matter what these skills are.

2. Learn about the field, industry & employers
Now that you know the skills required, you’ll need to find out more about the industry or sector that you’ll be working in. This will give you an awareness of any opportunities or challenges within the industry, including an idea of the employment prospects for the future. You’ll also get an idea of the possible employers that you can work with and the expected salary. Researching the industry will help you widen your knowledge of this career and you may even stumble upon opportunities that you hadn’t realised existed. The more research you do, the more you’ll discover a wide range of employers and employment opportunities that will become useful when you’re ready to apply for jobs and look for work experience.

3. Search for work experience or work shadowing opportunities
Work shadowing is a great way for you to get a taste of a particular role you’ve been considering. It allows you to find out the day-to-day business of a specific job by ‘shadowing’ a person who is actively doing the job. Having work experience on your CV shows that you’ve taken the initiative to learn more about the career. To find relevant work experience, you can ask your network, you can ask /search on social media or you can contact companies directly for openings for relevant opportunities.

4. Think about how you can continually build your network
Opportunities, including work experience and skill-building opportunities, can often be found through building your network with different people. At all levels of networking, some of these people are or will become genuine friends and this is one of the great advantages of networking. The aim of networking is to build connections with people around you. There are three key levels of networks that you need to think about.

a. Personal networks: These are the people that you normally connect with in your day-to-day life but are outside of your school/work. This includes your family and friends but can also be extended to people in the same after-school activities as you, people from your fitness class, religious service or the charity you volunteer for. It may be a tennis club, air cadets, a dance group, or a camp you attend during the summer holidays.

b. Professional network: These are the people in your immediate environment with whom you work or study. At school, this would be your classmates and teachers. At work, these will be your colleagues and bosses. They may not be your friends and you may not have much in common with them but you can make a genuine connection and they may be able to support you in your career – right now or in the future.

c. Strategic network: These are people who are outside of your immediate environment and you have purposefully connected with them through a specific type of member’s club, institution, or an association for people who have the same career interests as you. They may be ahead of you in your career or they may be on the same level or they may be at an earlier stage. If they are at a more advanced stage, they may be able to provide you with mentorship and support for your career; they can also recommend you for jobs or new opportunities within your field. Over time, you will also be in a position where you can support others within this group. This is strategic networking.
The most important thing with networking is recognising that you are not an island. Don’t be afraid to speak to people about your passions, interests, and your planned career path.

5. Learn about the qualifications, courses and subjects needed for this career
Designing a career pathway will mean looking into which courses and subjects you need for this career. Most careers have a standard minimum expectation when it comes to qualifications. So there will be many questions to ask such as: Do you require a degree for this career? If you don’t require a degree, what are the steps that are usually needed to enter this career? Are there apprenticeships or fast-track programmes for this career? Are there any specific learning schools or courses, e.g. in London for Performing arts (Brit School), Fashion (London College of Fashion)? Are there special exams you must take and professional courses or certificates needed to work in this career? Where are the best places to study if you choose this career? Are you required to complete special training or courses? Are there any particular scholarships that you can apply for or international work opportunities for this career?

6. Join some associations or membership groups for this career
As part of your strategic networking, it’s important that you network beyond your immediate group and this is where memberships and associations come in useful. Most careers will usually have at least one membership group or organisation connected to it. You can sign up to their newsletter, join their mailing list, follow their social media handles, join their Facebook or LinkedIn group, receive monthly publications, and attend networking events. Many membership groups will provide cheap or free membership to students as they are keen to see young people enter and succeed in their industry. By signing up to be a member, you’ll stay aware of the opportunities in this industry including work opportunities, scholarships, sponsorships, and awards that you can apply for. This is another thing that you can add to your CV, especially if you choose to take an active role within the association.

7. Keep a record of your progress
It is worth documenting your hobbies and activities so that you can remember what you have learned or achieved over the years. This can be via an online blog or an offline journal that can serve as a portfolio of your talents and interests. In some careers, such as Art or Architecture, it is expected that you keep a portfolio of your achievements so far. Even if you are not in these fields, you can keep a record of your certificates and recommendations. This will help you with writing your CV, personal statement or cover letter. It will also help you stay positive and remind you of all that you have achieved so far. Remember that there is more to life than your career – this is just one part of your life. However, it will be a big part of your life and it is important that you are able to feel proud of yourself and proud of what you’ve achieved so far, no matter what stage you are.

The career pathway that you design for yourself will keep changing over time – and it won’t be set in stone. This is because over time, as you grow more confident in your abilities and you learn more about this career, you’ll be able to refine your ideas and you’ll discover new things about your industry or field. You may even start to specialise and find a ‘niche’ that you enjoy and can be successful in.

Most people will change careers at least once in their lives, so it’s important that you find something that you can enjoy but also design a pathway that gives you some flexibility to explore other careers if you choose to make a change in the future.

Is University Still Worth It?

by GT Scholars Young people

With there being so many available options for young people after school, many parents and young people are wondering if going to university is still worth it.

Well, like many other things, university has its pros and cons that also depend on your goals and career aspirations. Here are a few reasons why university may be worth it to you and some information on alternative options for young people after school.

Benefits of going to university
There are many considerable benefits of going to university that you should think about. After all, there is a reason that going to university remains the most popular choice for young people after school.

Going from school to a full-time career can be a little daunting for young people. University offers a learning environment that can support young people while also giving them a chance to be more independent and take control of their learning. You will learn professional skills and knowledge that is important for your career, but you will also learn many important life skills such as managing your time effectively and formulating your own opinions.
A university degree will open up many career opportunities for you after you graduate. Many career fields, especially those that are highly-skilled, will require a university degree, while other career fields will allow you to move easily from an entry-level position to a higher level if you have a degree qualification.
A university degree increases your chances of getting a better salary once you start working. Entry-level employees with degrees often earn more than those with none.
If you go to a well-established university, it increases your chances of securing opportunities such as working abroad. Many universities also offer exchange programmes that will allow you to study abroad for a semester or two.
University life offers you the chance to experience many new things, meet people from all around the world, and take part in extracurricular activities that will develop existing and new interests from sports to music to politics.

Alternatives to University
Not everyone can go to university, unfortunately, or at least not straight from school. This could be due to financial limitations, not getting the required grades, or universities simply not having enough space to accommodate every young person after school.

Thankfully, there are many alternatives to going to university and even alternative pathways to getting into a university or getting a degree. Some of these alternatives are within the higher education system while others offer completely different opportunities.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeship programmes are a fantastic and credible alternative to going to university. These programmes can be joined after you complete your GCSEs or after you complete your A-Levels. The best part about apprenticeships is the fact that you will be able to build your career experience and even earn an income while you are learning. This on-the-job experience can be vital for your career path, especially in practical career fields. In fact, if you complete a degree apprenticeship which means you will attain a degree, your work experience can actually set you apart from university graduates. The only difference is the fact that getting a degree through an apprenticeship will take you a little longer compared to university. However, it is certainly much more cost-effective.
Online Learning
The internet is a powerful and effective learning tool where you can build new skills and learn important topics through a range of online courses and programmes. These courses can also be used to attain a degree from credible online and distance learning institutions which will cost you a lot less compared to studying at a full-time university. These online courses can also be done in your own time and from the comfort of your own home, which gives you the opportunity to work while you study part-time. There are also many free online courses offered by reputable organisations and learning institutions that can help you build useful practical skills from digital marketing to photography.
Entrepreneurship
If you have a business idea, product or service that you can’t wait to share with the world, then why not think about starting a business? Entrepreneurship is a bold alternative to university, but it can be just as rewarding if not even more rewarding for you. In the age of technology and opportunity, starting a business has also become a lot easier – you literally can start a business from the comfort of your own home. Being an entrepreneur can also be a part-time option when you first begin, giving you the opportunity to build useful skills or get a job before you become a full-time business owner. Entrepreneurship does take a lot of hard work, determination and resilience, but if you can set your mind to it, it is definitely both possible and profitable.

So, is university still worth it? Well, simply put, the answer lies with you! It depends on your career goals, aspirations and future plans. What’s actually more important to note is that university is not the only option for you after school, and there are a wealth of alternative options for you to choose from.

GT Scholars is a not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity. We run after-school and weekend programmes that help young people achieve their academic and career aspirations. Our programmes include tutoring, mentoring and enrichment sessions for young people aged 11-18. Contact us if you would like to know more about any of our programmes and courses.

Top 10 Jobs Of The Future

by GT Scholars CV Template Young people

When choosing your career path, there is often the dilemma of making sure you’re making the right choice. This does not have to be a dilemma if you take your time to understand yourself and do your research.

When doing your research, it will be good to start with careers that fall in line with your subject choices and strengths. You can then start considering which careers are more financially stable or what you will need to get a job in that career field. There can be many other questions and factors that you can include in your decision-making.

One thing to note when doing your research is the fact that there is no correct or set list of the best careers out there. These lists will always vary and change according to trends and data. They may also not apply to your strengths or what you want to achieve, so it’s best to use them as a guideline instead of a rule book.

To help you out, we’ve listed 10 jobs that current trends and data are favouring, which might help you out when choosing a career.

Software, Systems & Programme Developers
In a world dominated by technology, software, systems and programme developers are sought after for their high-level skills in developing programmes and software design. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, this career is projected to have a 24% growth by 2026. Along with a fast-paced and exciting job life, this career can offer you the chance to work in a wide range of industries including designing software for large retailers and manufacturers for their systems, building the latest hit games and apps, or working on creating new software for tech companies. Software, systems and programme developers create solutions in almost every sector imaginable. To be a developer, you will need to have high levels of data structure skills and an understanding of artificial intelligence to keep up with the constant change in technology and data.

Accountants
Accountants play an integral role in the planning, balancing and management of all company finances and the auditing of financial reports. Accountants are highly skilled in offering these financial services as well as other services such as taxation, creating accounting systems, putting budgets in place, and cost management for both companies and individuals. Due to increased globalisation and internationally traded services, the professional and business services sector, which includes accountants, is expected to grow. According to CoursesOnline, the accounting industry has a predicted growth rate of 10% by 2026.

Computer and Information Systems Managers
Again, since the world is dominated by technology, careers in the technology sector will continue to be in high demand for a long time. Computer and information systems managers are responsible for the maintenance, support, design and modifications that ensure that networks, software and other virtual environment infrastructures are operative and are up to date. They are also in charge of delegating tasks to developers and providing training to staff. These careers will also definitely be in high demand in order to provide high cybersecurity protection for valuable data.

Management Consultants and Business Analysts
Management consultants and business analysts tend to be in demand because of their ability to help organisations solve problems, improve efficiency and manage change. They do this by bringing together the problem-solving and communication skills that are essential to identifying business needs. These careers also help businesses minimise risks when it comes to making big changes that could have a negative or positive effect on the company, and since change is unavoidable, these roles are particularly valued.

Engineers
Engineering is a highly skilled and technical industry that transcends different working disciplines. In the UK, the engineering industry is seen as one of the best in the world, so it is continually being invested in by both the private and public sectors. This means that there are great opportunities for those who want to be part of such a cutting-edge discipline. Engineering involves turning research ideas into technical plans, the use of computer-aided design/modelling programmes, doing surveys of systems and equipment to assess that they are working properly, and overseeing maintenance programmes and quality control.

Web Designers
Another career field in the technology sector, web designers are also expected to grow in demand. One thing that does separate web designers from other tech careers is the amount of creative skill needed. Web designers create the main features of a website, such as the layout, colours, and other specifics of a website. They can also be involved in developing branding and marketing plans. Companies and individuals with their own businesses are always looking for good web designers for their websites and blogs, etc. Another plus about this career is the amount of flexibility and you can work as a freelance agent or work directly for a creative agency.

Medical and Nursing Practitioners
Due to increased opportunities from medical research and advancement, social trends and an ageing population, there is a 15% projected increase in nursing & medical jobs by 2026, according to CoursesOnline. Everyone needs to be healthy and medical care is one of the fundamental human rights. Doctors, surgeons, nurses and all medical practitioners will remain in demand as they are a necessity and play an important role in society. Technological innovations within this sector are also expected to change these careers but also keep them in high demand.

Teachers and Learning Professionals
No matter how advanced technology gets, teachers and other learning professionals play a vital role in the development of young people and the education of the population. These careers require excellent communication skills and a passion for developing young minds. They also require creating good working relationships with parents, school governors and other stakeholders.

Motivational Speakers
With an increasing focus on personal development and mindfulness, motivational speakers are in high demand for businesses, universities, schools, and individuals. Motivational speakers help to inspire continuous growth in the minds of their audiences with the hopes of helping them to stay motivated and be more self-aware. They have to have a lot of confidence and need to be able to use their knowledge and experience to inspire change.

Entrepreneurs
According to the Financial Times, nearly 660,000 start-ups and companies were established in the UK in 2016. This is set to continue to grow as more government-sponsored initiatives are introduced to encourage people to set up businesses. Entrepreneurs invest in themselves and in their ideas and are able to turn their ideas into profitable businesses. They are also able to create jobs and can even address other needs in society through social entrepreneurship.

If you’re not sure what career path is right for you, GT Scholars holds an annual Careers Day where you can find out first-hand from young professionals in various fields on how they found their career and reached their aspirations. Visit our website to keep a lookout for the next Careers Day or for our other impactful enrichment days and programmes.

The Differences Between Internships, Learnerships and Work Experience

by GT Scholars Guide to Apprenticeships Young people

Before delving into what makes internships, learnerships and work experience different, it is good to know that all three do provide a platform for you to learn and gain some exposure in whatever field you choose to pursue.

Like all things, however, there are aspects to each of these that make them different, and it is always beneficial to know what route to take when pursuing either an internship, learnership or work experience.

Internships
One of the key points to note regarding internships is that every internship has a set period in which an organisation will allocate to the fulfilment of that internship. Some internships will run for a period of 1 month, sometimes 3-6 months or even a year. An internship can be paid or unpaid, with some internships also providing the option of a full- or part-time internship.

An unpaid internship often has some students questioning the fact that they will not be receiving any form of pay or minimum wage for the hours they put in. This issue is all dependent on the type of organisation or company you are working for and the type of internship you are doing. To find out more about the applicability of minimum wage and who qualifies for this, you can go to the Government website and read up on the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.

Most internships are taken up by students and graduates in the hopes of attaining a level of experience and skill-building. Internships provide a structured working experience and exposure that is aligned with your particular field of study. The main focus of an internship is to give you a feel of a full-time working environment and what a particular role is like, while simultaneously facilitating the enhancement of both your personal and career development.

If you are looking to find some internships and do not know where to start, the government graduate talent pool is quite useful. GT Scholars is also a good starting point if you are feeling a little lost and not sure what career path you would want to take, and need some guidance and assistance with gaining confidence in your skills and personal development.

Learnerships
Learnerships are slightly different from internships, and they are a popular approach being used by companies in order to develop individual skills and gain real work experience. A learnership is essentially a structured training programme that has both practical and theoretical elements that allow those undertaking it to obtain a national qualification without having a formal education from a tertiary institution.

This simply means that those doing learnerships are able to gain the exposure of working that an intern would without having the qualification of a graduate. Learnerships tend to target students or individuals who have their GCSE as their highest qualification. The learnership is an avenue that allows them to obtain a national qualification while simultaneously working. Simply put, a learnership is a work-based learning programme, and yes, most learnerships are paid.

Unlike an internship, which involves an agreement between an employer or company and the intern, a learnership contract involves an employer, you, the learner, and a training provider. The practical aspect of a learnership is facilitated by your employer through the provision of training, mentoring and guidance for the time that you will be taking on the learnership. The training provider facilitates the theoretical aspect of a learnership. This is the same as having a typical classroom session in which you are taught specific things in order to apply them to your role in that learnership.

Work Experience
A work experience programme, sometimes known as a work placement, differs from an internship or learnership as this role has less extensive training or requirements than the previous two. It is more of an observatory learning role. Student work experience can be gained in several ways, with the most common work experience programmes being work placements, volunteer programmes, careers events, and insight days set by certain employers for school-leavers.

Work placements can be arranged by your school, or you can take the initiative yourself, and this runs over a short period of a week in a certain organisation or location in order to give you a first-hand look at what working at a particular organisation can be like.

Careers events are usually organised by either schools or organisations in order to meet employers who will give insight into what their organisations are about and what opportunities they offer to students and school-leavers. Some organisations will have a careers day or an after-school career programme in which students can participate.

Volunteering is an open-ended field, and there are always opportunities to apply yourself to and serve in your community. You can go look at the Volunteer Matters website to get you started and help you with both your career and personal development.

Other working avenues to get yourself involved in are extracurricular activities such as after-school academic, social or entrepreneur programmes or clubs and applying for competitions that focus on the working world. Applying for student leadership roles in school and after-school clubs is also a good way to develop your working experience and personal skills.

Whether you decide to go for an internship, learnership or work experience, all three provide a platform for you to develop yourself both personally and professionally. Being prepared for them is just as important as applying for them. One of the best ways to prepare for them is to invest in your personal development, and these are your skills, confidence and all-around performance in and outside of school.

Choosing the right opportunity is easier when you understand your strengths and goals. If you want guidance with career exploration, skill-building and personal development, GT Scholars offers programmes designed to support young people at every stage. Contact us to learn more and get started today!

Why Apprenticeships Need to Be Promoted as an Alternative to University

by GT Scholars 40 Top Apprenticeships Young people

One of the main questions asked by recruiters worldwide is whether a job applicant has the relevant experience for the role applied for. Knowledge can be one of the crucial deciding factors in any job placement. Although many companies still require that employees undergo internal training, they would still like to know whether the candidate has had some experience in the field and whether they are familiar with the job requirements and responsibilities associated with the position they are applying for. This is where an apprenticeship becomes a valuable asset for gaining entry into your career of choice.

An Apprenticeship is a great way to provide young career enthusiasts with the opportunity to gain knowledge in the field even before their career has started. This will enable them to confidently apply for jobs, knowing they have some relevant experience that will count in their favour.

Apprenticeships allow young people to gain practical experience and put their theoretical expertise to the test. In the United Kingdom, apprenticeships are entitled to the minimum wage rate for their age, allowing working-class students to set aside their financial worries whilst gaining a degree.

Internships enable students to gain practical knowledge of something they are learning in their academic world. A company will provide them with an opening in a department where they can start learning more about a particular career. Experience for post-school careers is then gained, making applying for jobs in the future much more accessible.

Young people considering an apprenticeship can benefit in many ways:

Getting to know your abilities & skills:

Identifying your strengths and discussing them with your tutor or mentor is one thing. Putting these strengths into practice and developing them is something completely different. During an internship, you will work closely with experienced people who have been in the industry for some time. Use this time to observe and learn from them. You need to use your time to grow professionally as well as personally.

An apprenticeship serves as a window into the working world where one will have to make decisions, take responsibility for them, and face the consequences that result from them. You will get to know yourself and how you operate under pressure. You will understand how the things you have learnt in the classroom are tested in real life. On-the-job training will provide real-life situations to test your abilities and skills.

Gaining Confidence:

Being allowed to work in a professional environment with professional people is an excellent recipe for self–confidence. Your assigned supervisors will contribute a great deal to your internship experience. They know you are there to learn and gain knowledge without the pressure and responsibilities of an employee in a new job where you need to prove yourself. You will be allowed to be yourself without too much pressure.

Each company works differently, but most have performance-based feedback sessions for apprentices or internship employees. This is how most companies evaluate their employees and make them feel important and appreciated. You will have regular feedback sessions on a weekly/monthly basis to see how you are performing and coping in your department. This, in turn, helps you to mould your professional confidence.

Networking Skills:

Networking and acquiring new connections within the business world are vital for future growth in any industry you want to excel in. Meeting new people and gaining industry-specific insight is valuable for building up your knowledge. Ultimately, it boils down to that old saying, “Knowledge is power”.

Apprenticeships allow you the opportunity to gain knowledge in your professional field. One of the other significant advantages is that you will also receive a reference letter once your apprenticeship is completed. The reference letter will be an added advantage for your curriculum vitae. During an internship, you will most likely move between departments so that you can get a better understanding of the company as a whole. Each department works together to deliver the final product or service. Therefore, employers must move you around during your time at the company. It also allows you to meet people in different ranks and chains of command.

Future Job Potential:

Starting your career at a young age can potentially give you a head start, especially considering that your job would be on hold if you were only attending university and not working simultaneously. Apprenticeships allow you to have a head start in the future job market, especially when you come from a lower-income household.

Gaining Industry-Specific Knowledge:

Practical experience is crucial. There is only so much the textbooks can teach you. On-the-job training will give you insight into things you would never learn in a classroom. You can work with experienced staff members who you can learn from. You can then practise these skills within a professional environment and put yourself to the test. If you are studying for a university degree on the side, you can still obtain your degree while gaining experience simultaneously.

Over the last decade, apprenticeships have quickly become a popular new way of climbing the corporate ladder. It is also much quicker than the traditional study route and applying for jobs afterwards. A mentor can guide you step by step on applying for these positions and help you decide which positions are the best and worth applying for.

The GT Scholars Programme is a not-for-profit social enterprise that offers various programmes and workshops to provide young people between the ages of 11 to 16 with the necessary skills to set them on a successful career path, improve grades and enrich their mentoring experiences.

Our GT Scholars Awards Programme offers one-to-one mentoring sessions and free access to our enrichment or skill-building events. Our mentors provide young people with ongoing coaching to equip them with the strategies and tools they need to achieve their personal goals. This helps our scholars discover their strengths and develop their resilience, and it helps build confidence in their abilities. Sign up here and look out for our enrichment days and skill-building workshops.

6 Misconceptions That Young People Need to Address Before Embarking on a Degree or an Apprenticeship

by Temi Kamson Guide to Apprenticeships Young people

University debt has now risen to £100 billion in the UK, and it’s set to keep rising. Many young people are now looking into alternatives to university. You can read more about apprenticeships as an alternative to university here. But what happens if you’re not sure which path to take?

There is no reason for anyone to throw themselves into an apprenticeship or go to university just for the sake of going! There are a lot of things to consider. In this blog, we’ll do our best to address some of the typical misconceptions of young people about apprenticeships.

1. If I do an apprenticeship, I’ll earn less than a graduate.

When you’re studying for a degree, you’ll need to pay for your course and most people do. This means taking up a student loan. During an apprenticeship, you get paid to work and gain your apprenticeship certification, and you won’t have a student loan to pay off. The reality is that your salary as an apprentice and even beyond your apprenticeship will always depend on the profession you’ve chosen, the type of apprenticeship you’ve chosen and the company you work with. The same applies to graduates. It will depend on the work experience you gained before and during your degree, your qualities and what you have to offer, the degree you studied, the university you attended and the profession you chose. There are so many variables that it’s almost impossible to say one is better.

2. An apprenticeship is more accessible than studying for a degree.

Again, this is not necessarily true. So many young people believe that doing an apprenticeship instead of a degree is an easy way out. There is a belief that an internship doesn’t require good grades and that it’s a safety net that will secure them a well-paid job after school and ensure that they are debt-free.

Many students mess around in their final year of school because they believe they need 5Cs for a suitable apprenticeship. They didn’t attend any revision sessions, hardly prepared for exams and did the bare minimum to get 5Cs at GCSE, and who could blame them? Why work so hard if you feel you have the safety net of an apprenticeship waiting for you? Instead of looking for the easy way out, you should probably take the time to decide on your ideal career and then choose the path that will take you in the right direction.

3. It’s easy to get an apprenticeship with a top company.

The reality is that the top apprenticeships and school/college leaver programmes are competitive. Just like graduate programmes, you’ll face a lot of competition. Top companies want top-quality candidates, so you’d better be prepared to have a brilliant CV and get good GCSEs and A-levels if you want a job with the highest-paying companies. Some of the more glamorous apprenticeships will pay £400 per week, but most will pay about £200 per week. You only need to look online at the apprenticeships to understand what is available.

4. Doing an apprenticeship means I’ll never have to study again.

Unfortunately, this is not true. Most apprenticeships will require some form of assessment or examination as part of the apprenticeship. And, of course, even after your apprenticeship, your career may still need you to take regular exams or build qualifications if you want to move up the career ladder. Instead of thinking about how to get out of exams, why not look for a way to get better at doing them?

5. Apprenticeships are for people who didn’t get good grades or don’t like studying.

Doing an apprenticeship or studying for a degree is something that requires a lot of thought. The decision shouldn’t be based purely on your grades. The real question should be – what are you passionate about? What would you like to do with your life? If the career you want requires a degree, you’ll need to get good grades and go to a top university. If the career you want doesn’t necessarily require a degree, e.g. Accounting, IT or Management, then you’ll need to get good grades and go and work for the best company you can find that will support you to achieve your career aspirations. Alternatively, if the career you want requires you to go to a specialist Art/Fashion/Music/Dance college, you’ll need to get good grades to get into the specialist college.

6. I’ve been predicted low grades. I probably won’t get good GCSEs, and I’ll have no choice but to do an apprenticeship.

Predictions at school are based on a range of factors. Even as a teacher, I remember being baffled by what the computer spurred out as the predicted grades for my students. The problem is that many students then rest on their laurels, believing there’s just no hope and they’re only as good as the prediction. My view on this is to work hard. Don’t give up because your predictions aren’t that great. I’ve met bright students who gave up on themselves at the most critical point in their lives, and I’ve always wondered what would happen if they put in just a little more effort to get better grades.

If you’re unsure about what you want to do, you should probably take some time to get work experience in a field you are interested in before embarking on an apprenticeship or signing up for a degree.

Do your research into universities and the types of degrees that you could study. Meet people currently on an apprenticeship and ask about their experience. You may also want to look into apprenticeship degrees, where you work full-time while gaining a degree through your employer and graduating debt-free! Remember that no matter which path you choose, you’ll probably still need to work hard and get good grades by the end of school.

Choosing a University Course? 5 Tips From a Recent Graduate to Help You Make the Right Choice

by Lawrence Williams Young people

So you’ve been working hard preparing for university, you’re pretty sure you’ll get the grades, and maybe you even know which university you’ll go to… but there’s a huge decision you need to make. Which university course will you study?

According to UCAS, there are 37,000 undergraduate courses at over 370 universities across the UK. Many factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding the course that is right for you. We’ve listed five things to consider when choosing your future degree course.

1. Choose something you are passionate about

This tip may seem obvious, but I can’t stress this enough. Remember that you’ll spend at least three years studying your chosen subject. If you aren’t passionate about your topic, you’ll likely find it harder to motivate yourself and won’t enjoy the experience. A mixture of passion for your issue and hard work will stand you in great stead for your time at university.

2. Look at the course content

It’s essential to research the specific details of your course. You may find that one university has modules in your subject that interest you far more than the modules in the same subject at another university. Be sure to look at the second and third-year modules, as well as the first year, as this will give a good indication of the direction of your course.

3. Check league tables & specialities

League tables can be a good indicator of any course’s quality. Several respected league tables are published every year. Also, note that different universities excel at other subjects, so make sure you research the reputation of your potential universities regarding your chosen topic. Read more about league tables and other tips about choosing a university in our blog here.

4. Think about your career direction

It may seem a little early to think about career decisions but keep in mind the paths your course opens up for you. It is an obvious point, but some professions need people with degrees in specific subjects, so if you know what you want to do later in life, you may want to tailor your qualifications to that profession. If you are not sure what you want to do in later life, don’t panic. A degree opens up many more paths than it closes, and you are not limited to working in a career directly related to your degree.

5. Look into degrees that offer something unique:

Many degrees in the UK offer unique opportunities, such as sandwich placements, where you spend a year working in a company, usually between your second and third years. Other degrees offer add-on credits so you can graduate with a double degree or a degree plus a language. Another popular choice is a degree with the opportunity to study abroad for a year. This can be an excellent opportunity to meet new travel the world, meet new people and complete your degree simultaneously.

We hope this gives you a good idea of how to start your search for a degree course. For more hints and tips on universities and careers, visit the GT Scholars blog at www.gtscholars.org/blog