Career starters
11 - 15 years
Education and careers advice and support
Whether you know what you would like to do or are unsure, we’re here to provide careers advice and inspiration so you can better understand the education or training you might need to help you make that important next step to reach your FutureGoals.
What type of career suits you?
Better understand your personality and what makes you tick
Take the Buzz Quiz to find out, it only takes 5 minutes! There are 16 possible results and each links to an animal. From your result you will discover your strengths and can then explore local jobs and careers that may suit you.
Choose your education or training path
Not everyone is sure about what they want to do when they leave school or college. That’s ok, you’re not alone. It can be quite daunting understanding all your options and figuring out what’s the right path for you. To help you decide on the right career or training path for you, why not explore the options below?
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Traineeships
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A-Levels
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Vocational courses
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T-Levels
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Employment
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Starting your own business
Make the most of the careers support available
Click on one of the links below to start exploring your options.
Test your communication and planning skills. Develop your creative thinking and challenge yourself to think outside of the box.
Resources and activities focus on Key Stage 3 and 4 national curriculum content in three core subjects; Maths, English and Science.
We have worked closely with employers to create resources to inspire, inform and empower you to take those next steps, whatever they might be.
One-to-one support on local job or training opportunities with The Employment Hub.
Careers advice via live chat with National Careers Service for support in planning your next steps.
General advice about your personal situation via live chat with The Prince’s Trust.
Frequently asked questions
An apprenticeship is a combination of working and training. You will either attend college or a training provider for (normally) a day a week or on block release. The rest of your time will be spent at work. You can do an apprenticeship from entry level up to a degree.
What do all the different qualifications mean?
You can find a great breakdown of the different qualifications in our parent and carer resources section.
What is the difference between an A Level and a BTEC?
Working towards a BTEC will mean you learn through practical work as well as traditional study. Working towards an A Level will typically involve more written work and exams.
Find out more with our parent and carer resources.
You should always make the decision that is best for YOU. There are an increasing number of alternatives to university available so make sure you do your research!
What if I don’t know what I want to do?
If you are unsure of what you want to do, try our Buzz Quiz or speak to your school careers adviser.
How important is work experience?
Work experience is something that employers really value. Sometimes work experience can give you the edge you need over someone else when applying for jobs! All experience is really important, whether that’s a part-time job or volunteering. Visit our Virtual Work Experience resources for more information.
When should I start thinking about my career options?
It’s never too early to start thinking about your career options! The choices that you make at GCSE will not dictate your future, but they may start to shape it. Think about what your interests and hobbies are – this may help when considering paths to take.
Should I follow the same career journey as my friends?
Your friends may not have the same interests or goals as you. It is important that you think carefully about what you want to do and not worry about anyone else’s plans.
How do I figure out what my strengths and skills are?
Take our Buzz Quiz to find out what you are good at! You can also use our Next Steps Toolkit to help think about this.