Where to Look for Opportunities

… and how to apply

It’s a jungle out there…

University

• www.ucas• www.unistats• www.directgov/studentfinance • Open Day visits• Summer Schools• Sponsored degrees• Sandwich courses

Employment

• See local Reading Employers sheet• Word of mouth• www.schoolleaverjobs• www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk• www.jobcentreplus/jobs• Reading Chronicle, Newbury Weekly News, etc.• Oracle vacancy list/website• Council website• NHS website

Apprenticeships

• www.apprenticeships.org.uk• www.notgoingtouni• www.lostsocks (Chiltern Training)• www.wbtc• www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk• www.schoolleaversjobs www.raf/careers

Apprenticeships/College

• NCTS• Reading College• Bracknell & Wokingham College• College courses via college websites• Always ask what happens to their students

How and where to look…

Places to look…

• On-line… see useful websites sheet• In newspapers• Word of mouth – families, friends• Modern social media – Linked In, Facebook,

Twitter, etc. • Job Centre, Connexions/Adviza• Employment agencies• On spec – write to them• On spec – talk to them

The toolkit

• CV 1• CV 2• Covering letter• On-line applications• Interview skills• Positive attitude• Persistence/resilience

More resources…

• Work experience/work shadowing• Volunteering• Careers diagnostics• Your support team• Connexions/Adviza• Time (it’s a process)• The ‘shopping trip’

Questions to consider

• Do you know what you want to do?• What do you need for this? Are you willing to do it?

Is there another route?• Do you know the kind of thing you’d like to do?• … and what don’t you want to do?• What are you good at?• What motivates you?• How do you feel about this process?• What is the time frame?

More questions

• Do you know what kind of apprenticeships come up regularly…

• And what they could lead to?• Do you have a plan?• If not, come and see us at

Adviza/Connexions…• Until things fall into place, and then…

Life’s a Beach