by E. Gavi and Ibukun Olajide | Oct. 2021
''The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the economy, education and the opportunities open to students. Research has shown that school and college leaders recognise that careers guidance has become more important than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department urges senior leaders to back their careers team, especially their Careers Leader, and to invest in personal guidance provided by a qualified careers adviser. This will allow the continued delivery of high-quality, progressive careers programmes that support all students to acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to fulfil their potential. This statutory guidance explains the support we have put in place to help schools and colleges achieve this.''
Department of Education (Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers 2021, p7)
Education has already switched from conventional to online, careers are no longer following the conventional university-to-job template, at least not in this new world that is emerging. Many of us then, and youth now, have an abstract view of what they want to do after conventional education ends. So, today I am reaching out to ALL Career Advisers, on behalf of my young family and many other families up and down the country, to appeal to you, to encourage you, to consider then acknowledge the critical role that you play and will play in our child(ren)’s lives. Perhaps you already realise that by helping your students determine and make intentional academic and extra-curricular choices, you are preparing and equipping them for tomorrow’s profession. That by applying lateral thinking you could access a wide range of resources, partnerships even, with established and pioneering local organisations to help you develop and/or enhance the competencies that you require to deliver this unique service to your students, and by extension their parents.
You have the ear of your school headteachers and governors. Organisations like https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/, https://www.shawtrust.org.uk/, https://www.ixionholdings.com/ to name but a few, are already partnering with the Department of Works and Pensions and alternative social enterprises such as business incubators in an attempt steer our youth in career paths that are tied to their passions, and/or coach our youth towards self-employment. Have your educational establishments considered placing business and life coaches on your roster of external professional consultants for supporting you, the students and their families? Do you feel confident enough to propose such initiative to your school board?
Career advice can range anywhere from:
1. What am I going to do with my degree?
2. Where do I search for graduate jobs?
3. What sectors can/should I explore?
4. How do I build a network of contacts?
5. Can I audition or barter my skills to secure paid employment?
6. Are paid internships and volunteering still an option?
7. Do graduate schemes still exist in the workplace?
8. What about post-graduate studies?
9. If I decide to take a gap year, what do I fill it with?
10. What about developing entrepreneurial skills for self-employment?
Reports published by the Department of Education and Gatsby on this very subject clearly set out benchmarks for elevating career advice in academic institutions and recommendations for achieving this*. But if this seems like an insurmountable feat Power in Clarity Coaching is already poised to bridge the gap and take on the challenge of having these talks with you, your 6th-formers and university graduates. Their unique skill set will help you identify various routes that you can explore with your student body.
Book a clarity call with us and begin/continue to build on your arsenal of actionable guidance.
Photo Credits: Photo by Polina Tankilevitch