St Mary’s Grammar School Belfast

1. St Mary’s Grammar School Belfast Year 13 Careers

2. What happens during Year 13? • AS Levels • Balancing study and life.. • Building the personal profile • Career classes Jan - May • Work Shadowing (January) • Guest Speakers in school • Career/university events • Career/university research

3. Building the personal profile… • QUB Peer Education for Medicine • Millennium Volunteers • Project Zambia • Primary School links • Student Council • Local youth clubs • Local community centres • Young At Art…

4. UK Skills Survey August 2013 The most important factors employers look for: • Attitudes to work (71%) • General Aptitudes (57%) • Literacy and Numeracy (50%) Employers report that not enough young people have solid work experience (55%) or have sufficiently developed personal qualities such as self-management (54%)

5. “One in four young people (21.1%) here can’t get a job because of the impact of the economic downturn on Northern Ireland” Belfast Telegraph, May 2013 Unemployment rate is 7.5% Young are people hit the hardest More Public Service cuts on the way The economic situation

6. Young people have been particularly affected by the downturn Increase in Youth Unemployment Since beginning of downturn Unemployment Rates in Northern Ireland (March 2012)

7. But…

9. The economic benefits of a degree • Knowledge economy requires skilled workers • Higher earning power (Average £200,000 more over the course of working life, which increases to £340,000 if you have a degree in certain areas) • Over 30% of jobs in N.I. require a 3rd level qualification (by 2020 this should be more than 50%) • 40% of all graduate jobs advertised are for graduates of any discipline • The current downturn does not mean a drop in demand for higher level skills • Transferable skills combined with a degree help transitions in employment BUT…

10. Areas likely to encourage growth Tourism & Hospitality Care for elderly Enviro-tech Management / leadership Advanced engineering Software & Computing Food science Electronic Engineering Financial Services Core support; skills

11. Degree subjects and average salaries

12. Why is work experience so important? • Vital for applying to anything competitive at university or in employment • An essential part of the UCAS process – universities do not look kindly at inappropriate placements • You can experience the real world of work • You can apply knowledge gained in school subjects in a work environment

13. Develop new skills (employability) • Meet new people, broaden horizons • See if you like this career area • Learn from the “professionals” at work! • Help define career goals • Prepares for future interviews • Looks good on your CV • Builds contacts

14. How does the scheme work? • You complete an initial work shadowing survey • You find an employer to match your career interest • You submit the details of your employer to your Form Teacher before Christmas (date TBC) • Part-time places of work WILL NOT SUBSTITUTE for a placement • Paper work needs completed WELL in advance ST4 Forms to be submitted to Form Teachers ASAP

15. How Do I decide where to go? • Think about your existing career ideas • Which one would be your first choice? • What do you need to know about? • Speak to a Careers Teacher (Mr. Moyes, Mr McGettigan, Mr Tully or Miss Moore) • If very confused book a careers interview with Miss Moore

16. How do I find an employer? Find employers who can provide your experience • Use family and friend contacts • Use the yellow pages or http://www.yell.com and make a list • Telephone and/or email any employers on your list • Prepare what you would like to say to employers • Complete all necessary paper work You will need to explain the following to an employer: • You are a Year 13 student at St Mary’s CB Grammar School undertaking a work experience programme • You are very interested in a career in ……. • You believe that this employer would be very interesting and beneficial to you • You require a week of experience from Mon 27th Jan until Friday 31st Jan 2014

17. You MUST contact the employer in advance to organise your week • You plan your journey • The school sends the employer indemnity and assessment forms • You prepare during Form Period & in career classes for your placement • You will complete a Log while on placement • Your employer will complete an Assessment Form about you

18. Advertising Construction Computing Design Health Centres Hospitals Journalism/Media Performing Arts Psychology/Counselling Sciences Sports (very popular) Difficult areas to find experience in:

19. There is NO work experience as: • A Pilot • A Fireman • A Paramedic (Ambulance Service) • A Soldier • Anything considered physically dangerous

20. Medicine/Dentistry Veterinary Science Pharmacy Nursing Allied Health Professions Social Work Law Accountancy/Finance Sports Science/Sports Studies Teaching Journalism/Media The competitive areas at university

21. Art Therapists Audiologists Clinical Psychologists Dieticians Nutritionists Occupational Therapists Optician Optometrist Orthoptists Physiotherapists Podiatrists Prosthetists Psychologists Psychotherapists Radiographers Speech & Language Therapists Allied Health Professions

22. Primary Teaching • At least 1 full week’s work experience in a school • A commitment to, & knowledge of, educational issues • The strong desire to work with children • An understanding of a teacher’s role • Three ‘A’ Grades at AS and A2

23. Work Experience will be as valuable as the effort and commitment you give to it. • ST4 Forms to be handed to Form Teachers ASAP • Work Shadowing Survey…

24. Careers Induction Form • Consider WHY you are at St Mary’s • Choose at least 1 post-18 Option • Consider university locations • Work Shadowing CAREER • Work Shadowing TYPE OF EMPLOYER • State what you intend to do (this will be followed up on!)