Your options on leaving school or college
You have finished year 11 – so what is next? You are now faced with important choices that will shape your future, so you need to think about your options carefully. The more information you have, the better the decision you will make for you and the future.
What are the options?
- Continuing your general education at school or college
- Taking a vocational course – training for a specific job or area of work
- Starting a work-based training course (e.g. a Modern Apprenticeship)
- Finding a job (with or without training)
- Self-employment
- Voluntary work
Which option will be the best match for the kind of things you are good at and the activities you enjoy? If you already have an idea of the type of work you are interested in, you will need to think about how your interests and abilities relate to this area of work. Research the opportunities available on the internet – what are your prospects? Where could each option take you? If possible, arrange some relevant work experience or voluntary work. This will show you are interested and could give you an advantage of others applying for the job.
Making these choices can seem a daunting prospect, but getting some good careers advice will make the process a lot easier. Speak to your careers advisor at school, subject teachers, family, friends, or local careers office. If you know people who are studying /doing the job you are interested in, then ask them what it is like and get advice on getting started.