Employment and Training
Applying for Jobs and Training Opportunities
The current job market is extremely competitive.There are a great many people applying for jobs and your application needs to stand out from the crowd.The most important aspect of applying is the ability to show a prospective employer that you have the right personality, skills and experience for a particular job. Look closely at the job description when you are preparing or updating your C.V. and completing an application form. This will outline the kind of work involved, the role that you will have to play in the organisation and the responsibilities needed. The job description should also list the qualifications, skills and work experience required.
Although employers are interested in your academic qualifications they are also very interested in your personal qualities and your general skills. Think about the skills you are learning in your subjects at college as well as those you have learnt from your work experience and outside interests. Often these complement each other and show the person reading the application that you are a well rounded person who has a lot to offer as an employee. If you are struggling to find evidence of your strengths and achievements you should consider participating more in extra-curricular activities both in and out of college to widen your experience and develop your skills.
Your application needs to be carefully prepared so that when prospective employers read it, they regard you as a very strong applicant for the job. Remember to adapt your C.V. to the job for which you are applying as not all jobs require the same skills.
To apply for a job you will usually have to fill out an application form, often using the employer’s standard form. You should include a C.V., usually about a page long which gives an indication of your career aims and a summary of your experience and qualifications and you should also write a covering letter to accompany your application.
Go to the VLE for the support pack on Applying for Jobs
Useful resources
This section is designed to help you find out what kind of job or training will suit you best. It pays to start researching information and preparing your C.V. as early as you can. It is also important to gain relevant work experience to develop your employability skills. There are numerous sources of information, including the internet and local and national newspapers. In school, students can use several Careers software programmes such as Careerscape, Higher Ideas and Job Explorer Database as a starting point.
The following websites are very useful:
www.careersa-z.co.uk
This website links to occupational websites and articles about jobs.
www.insidecareers.co.uk
Although primarily for graduates, the aim of this website is to provide students with practical, high quality, structured career information that is both impartial and independent.
www.help4teens.co.uk
This site offers independent, unbiased information, advice and guidance on higher education, work based learning including apprenticeships, and employment opportunities. It includes the prospectus of Further Education Colleges for your area and has a wealth of information on vocational courses and careers.
www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/jobs
Registering on this website makes applying for jobs and training much easier. You can find information, receive the latest job/training opportunities in your email and keep track of all the applications you have made.
www.worktrain.gov.uk
This website has a database of job opportunities.
www.raf.mod.uk/careers
If you would like to pursue a career in the Royal Air Force check out this website.
www.armyjobs.mod.uk
This is the website you need to use to find out about jobs in the Army.
Apprenticeships
www.apprenticeships.org.uk/wanttobecomeanapprentice/faqs
Apprentices learn on the job, developing knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money at the same time. There are about 200 Apprenticeships suitable for hundreds of different jobs. Apprenticeships are open to all age groups above 16 years old. They can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. Apprentices receive a structured programme of training, working towards nationally recognised qualifications. They earn a wage, and work with experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Most of the training takes place with the employer and the rest is usually at a local college or a specialist training organisation. There is a great deal of competition for places with employers, so applicants need to show that they are committed, and aware of their responsibilities to both themselves and the company who employ them. It is important to be able to work well independently as well as in a team and be able to use your initiative.
There are three levels of Apprenticeship : Intermediate, Advanced and Higher.
