Will your child end up working in a field that relates to their studies? You would hope so; given the time it has taken them, and you, to filter through choices and career paths, through GCSEs, A Levels and universities, to their first job and more.

However, this does not appear to be the case judging by a recent survey.

The Independent published an article last month, based on a survey of 2,000 graduates carried out by the New College of the Humanities, which claimed that only half of all UK graduates are working in a field that relates to their degree after leaving university.

As well as this startling statistic, 96% say they had switched careers by the time they reached the age of 24.

The current economic climate means that graduates struggle more than ever to find work after university, with almost one in five graduates from some UK universities still unemployed six months after finishing their degrees. It now appears that, even those that do find work, may be outside of their imagined career path. More still decide to work for themselves.

The survey quoted by The Independent shows a distinct preference amongst many graduates to start their own business. One in three cited financial reasons for switching jobs, while one in 10 said they had done so for their own business start-up.

With more planning and thought to career paths, some graduates would not find themselves in this position. We use our knowledge of the jobs market, career paths and the motivations and strengths of our client to enable us to guide them to a fulfilling role within an industry that not only suits them, but is a viable option.

Using an independent careers advice service, such as Career Analysts, means that your child benefits from their experience, objective viewpoint and knowledge of the current job markets.

With Careers Analysts, as well as our years of experience, you and your child also benefit from our cutting edge psychometrics and advice from fully-qualified Occupational Psychologists.

Our Occupational Psychologists are trained to have an understanding both of personalities and careers, matching the aptitudes, personality and qualifications of the individual to the career paths and roles that will suit their very individual, personal circumstances.

We conduct an in-depth psychometric analysis of aptitudes, personality, and occupational interests to quantify individual preferences, traits and strengths and weaknesses. We set these against the backdrop of their personal, practical circumstances to ensure that the advice we give is targeted specifically your child’s requirements, opportunities and aspirations. We then follow this with a one-on-one personal consultation with a fully qualified Occupational Psychologist to identify how that student can get the most from their results.

This in depth analysis will enable you and your child to fully realise what motivates them, what are the best subjects and careers to pursue, and, very importantly, if there is a job waiting for them when they graduate!

Read the full Independent article here

News from the Telegraph this month suggests that teachers are being pushed into suggesting young people follow a path to university instead of more vocational routes.

Pressure on teachers to push teenagers towards A-levels and university is to satisfy official league tables, according to research by the Sutton Trust charity. The study shows that almost two thirds of teachers “rarely or never” give pupils the option of learning a trade as an alternative to a higher education course.

This is despite claims from parents that a large increase in the number of school leavers going on to university has “devalued the degree in the jobs market”.

How can you ensure that your child is getting the right careers advice? With pressure on teachers and schools to fulfil careers advice obligations but with reduced budgets, and a limited knowledge, will your child fulfil their true potential?

Parents themselves admit their limited knowledge, and the study suggested that parents were largely in the dark about the alternatives open to their children at the age of 18.

So, where can you go to find careers advice that offers a truly objective view, tailored to your child’s motivations and strengths?

An independent career service, such as Career Analysts, can help your child decide what they want to do, what will fulfil them, and the best route to that dream role.

Our independent careers advice service helps you and your child pinpoint motivations much better than standard career information  – we measure factors individually using psychometric questionnaires and one-on-one consultations with skilled careers advisors, culminating in a series of suggestions that can be eliminated until a few practical and suitable career options remain.

The aim of our programme is to identify your child’s real potential, unearth their skill sets and sieve through their options for further education, university and their future career. We provide a completely objective, professional careers counselling service utilising careful assessment followed by objective, professional careers advice which they can trust as unbiased. It can give your child a real boost to self-confidence reassuring them in their ability to achieve their education and career goals, aligned with their interests, personality and abilities.

At Careers Analysts, we have worked with thousands of young people, from GCSE and A Levels Choices to those nerve wracking first interviews after university. We know that each person is different, with varying aptitudes, skills, weaknesses and ambition. The key to a happy and fulfilling career is motivation and happiness, and one size does not fit all.

Contact us today

Find out more about the study here

Between the ages of 15 and 18, and beyond, teenagers and young people have many important decisions to make in regards to their education and future careers. The choices they make now will have long-term effects on their personal happiness and financial success

Guiding your child through the process of deciding on their future career or educational path is always tricky. You want the very best for them, but they must take responsibility for the process.

So how can you guarantee that you can get them sound advice? You might just be too close to them to be unbiased or fully aware of the jobs market or possibilities in further education. This is where an independent careers advice service will help.

Career Analysts provide an objective service that includes a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s interests, personality and abilities.

We use a combination of career tests, profiling and a face-to-face consultation with a fully-trained occupational psychologist. Once the process is complete, we will be able to help with A-level choices and give accurate university and career advice based on the individual’s specific situation.

We also have objective and up-to-date considerations of the current job market and the university process. With this information, and the objective advice we can provide, your child will have the best start to begin to pull together their career path and aim for their dream role.

However, our Occupational Psychologist consultations with teenagers and young people always take place in the absence of parents or guardians.

Although we understand that, as parents and guardians you know your child best and have an unquestionable interest in their career and future decisions, we believe it is important that the young person can feel free to speak about aspirations and concerns, and indeed about parental pressures and beliefs.

You have the best interests of your children at heart, but you can be too close to be able to give unbiased advice regarding their careers and education choices. Your child may not be willing to trust your recommendations and advice and can even dismiss appropriate suggestions believing that parents have an overly inflated (or the opposite) opinion of their potential, or that they are not qualified to judge and give career advice.

We also understand that parents and guardians have a legitimate desire to hear the recommendations that we give, and the child may not summarise all the options to your satisfaction! They are, however, always spelled out in the final written report. However the presence of a parent or guardian can extend the length of the consultation considerably.

For this reason we always offer a session extension for parents and guardians who do want to hear the outcome of their child’s consultation and to talk with the Consultant on the spot. This gives you the opportunity to share your views with the consultant without impacting on the focused time given to your child.

Our truly objective and professional careers advice creates buy-in and the confidence to act. A holistic view of the young person’s skills, circumstances and opportunities, leading to suitable and fulfilling recommendations, gives them the motivation they need to succeed.

To find out more, contact us today

An interesting article in the Telegraph recently focused on youth unemployment statistics, and the role of business in helping young people get the roles and first steps they deserve.

Nearly one in four of 16-24 year-olds is unemployed, but who is at fault? Blame often gets put on schools and parents, but what about the role of business?

Business are often looking for experience before they hire, but for young people on the very first rung of their career, whether they have spent time in further education or not, this can be very difficult to get hold of. Could businesses not loosen their requirements, hire through skills and motivations rather than a list of roles and think to the future rather than corporate check boxes?

To support your child and young person while they look for their first ‘proper’ job, you need to be prepared for these sorts of hurdles – lack of experience is just one barrier to getting a job, as the majority of young people in the UK would agree!

Other barriers include competition for jobs, especially from older people with more experience, a lack of life experience, and also a lack of awareness about industry sectors, types of jobs and entry points. Young people also do not necessarily have the knack for presenting themselves, which comes from experience.

So how can you help your child?

You can use your own experience to:

• Help them with their CV
• Use role play or work through any potential tricky questions that might come up at interviews
• Research their preferred industry
• Make contact with likely routes into work or just work experience to get them started
• Encourage them to use their own skills – presentation through a unique website or social media presence can help you get noticed!

Need more help?

Careers Analysts have a dedicated programme for young people, helping them find their true motivations, likes and dislikes and key skills in the confusing world of work. With our unique combination of psychometric tests, consultation with experienced Occupational Psychologists, aptitude testing and vocational guidance sessions, our programmes are tailor-made for needs of your child. We understand the job market, how it works, and how your child can get a dream career that will truly fulfill them.

To find out more, contact us today

Every child is different, and some may choose to go straight into work after leaving school. Although this may save you the hassle of deciding about A Level choices and University courses, there is still a lot to think about!

Career Analysts provides a ‘Stright to Work’ programme for teenagers considering this option. For teenagers from 15 to 19, we work with your child to help them choose a career that they can move into straight away. Your teen may have decided that further academic education is not for them, or perhaps practical circumstances demand immediate earnings. There are many examples of very successful, happy and fulfilled people who left school early and started on their career path immediately. Richard Branson, Simon Cowell, Julie Birchill, Alan Sugar and Guy Ritchie, for example, all left school early but still managed to fulfil their potential. Hopefully there are a few examples in this Guardian article that can inspire your child to work just as hard!If your child has been asking any of the questions below, they would almost certainly benefit from our Straight to Work programme, with careers advice.

Questions to consider:

1. Do I really want to go to university or college?
2. If I don’t go will it harm my opportunities later in life?
3. Will experience count for more than qualifications in the long term?
4. Is an NVQ or practical course more suited to me?
5. Would I rather go straight to work?
6. Should I take a gap year? If so, what should I do?
7. Should I do some voluntary work until I find a proper job?

Whether your teenager has specific education and career ambitions, or is still trying to decide on a particular path, there are many things to think about. And, if they start to have problems along their chosen path, the impact on their wellbeing, course and career can be huge.

It can seem like too big a task to try and tackle, but we have put together some useful questions to help you and your child work through any issues.

1. Am I studying the right subjects? – Depending on the situation, there could be numerous A-level choices that would be suitable, but some will be more likely to lead to success.
2. Have I made the right choices for my future? – This could be in regards to choosing A-level options, courses at university or a career.
3. What do I do if my exam results weren’t as good as I had hoped? – This doesn’t mean all is lost; it might just be time to consider a different strategy.
4. Am I totally happy with my course? If not, is it too late to change? – It’s common for people to change their minds about their university or A-level choices. In many cases, adjustments can be made.
5. Am I studying in the best environment? – Everyone learns in different ways and certain environments are better suited for specific careers. Reliable university advice can help you to determine where to go for the best education for your chosen field.
6. Should I take a gap year? If so, what should I do? – Gap years can help a person to establish their own identity and get valuable life experience. However, they could also delay completing a degree.
7. Should I do volunteer work in my holidays? – Contributing to your community can look great on university applications, as well as your CV. It may also provide you with skills and experience that will put you ahead of the competition.
8. How do I choose a university or college? – Getting unbiased university advice can help you determine which establishments offer the best education in a particular subject. You may also want to consider the network that you will be able to build at a particular institution.
9. Which degree or college course should I apply for? – It can be difficult to know how to choose a degree course. The decision should be based on your interests, personality, aptitudes and career ambitions.
10. Is an NVQ or practical course more appropriate? – Depending on your career choice, these could be better options.

If any of these questions seem familiar, and you and your child are struggling with answers, it may be time to contact Career Analysts.

It is perhaps harder these days than ever before for young people to live up to what is expected of them – although they have matured into young adults, it can still be very difficult to see a realistic career path. And with many having student loans to repay it is essential that they get on the right track as soon as they complete their education.

We have a programme tailored for young people of college and university age – 18 to 21, and very recent graduates. If your child needs help with mapping out initial career choices, we can help them achieve success and personal satisfaction.

The aim of the Careers Advice programme is to identify their real potential, unearth vital extra skills they didn’t know they had, sieve through the options leaving only those that are suitable and realistic, and help them make a decision about where to aim for. Career Analysts provides a completely objective, professional careers counselling service utilising careful assessment followed by objective, professional careers advice which they can trust as unbiased.

For more information about our programmes for young people visit our website 

We look to schools to provide the best for our children, in education and careers advice. However with the changes to the careers advice infrastructure and more and more evidence pointing to a dissatisfactory careers system, can you afford to rely on schools to help your child make decisions that will direct the path of their future?

A recent survey found that a staggering 93% of young people felt that they were not getting all the careers advice and support they need from the schools system. This is incredibly worrying when you consider that, between the ages of 15 and 18, teenagers have so many important decisions to make in regards to their education and future careers. The choices they make now have long-term effects on their personal happiness and financial success.

Questions like

• ‘What should I study for A-levels?’
• ‘Where should I apply for university?’
• ‘Which career am I best suited for?‘

Are very difficult for a young person to answer – they might not have considered what career they want to pursue or have an idea of their strengths and motivations. They might lack the self-confidence to make a choice or feel pressure to make a certain decision.

Schools should be providing an important part, talking to pupils and providing the right information – but what can you do if they are not?

Independent career services, such as Career Analysts, can help.

At Careers Analysts, we have worked with thousands of young people, from GCSE and A Levels Choices to those nerve wracking first interviews after university. We know that each person is different, with varying aptitudes, skills, weaknesses and ambition. The key to a happy and fulfilling career is motivation and happiness, and one size does not fit all.

Our independent careers advice service helps you and your child pinpoint motivations much better than standard career information  – we measure factors individually using psychometric questionnaires and one-on-one consultations with skilled careers advisors, culminating in a series of suggestions that can be eliminated until a few practical and suitable career options remain.

The aim of our programme is to identify your child’s real potential, unearth their skill sets and sieve through their options for further education, university and their future career. We provide a completely objective, professional careers counselling service utilising careful assessment followed by objective, professional careers advice which they can trust as unbiased. It can give your child a real boost to self-confidence reassuring them in their ability to achieve their education and career goals, aligned with their interests, personality and abilities.

Find out more on our website

At any age, there’s a lot you can do as a parent to support your child’s career path. Whether it is just talking to them about their likes and dislikes, or goals, or helping them find independent career advice, you can guide them to a worthwhile journey through further education, apprenticeships, university and more.

As your child grows up and moves through school, there are a lot of decisions to be made, and it’s worth thinking about your career discussions long term. It will be a lot more stressful to suddenly bring up the conversation just before A Level or University choices, so make sure it’s something that you and your child talk about often.

• Talk about what jobs they would like, and their interests. Discover their motivations with them, how they learn and interact with people.

• Make sure you listen, but don’t judge. This is their life, not yours, so make sure you are open to their ideas and not fixed on what you think is right for them.

• Remember that we change as we get older, and nothing in their career plan should be fixed at this point. We need to experience things to shape our personalities, and we also need to make mistakes. Just be there as a guiding, supportive hand and friendly ear.

• Research is important, so help your child – talk about various options, educational paths and training, find ways they can talk to others about their jobs, and develop their skills where you can.

• Be open – everything is a possibility, and remember that the jobs they are aiming for may not have even been invented yet! The world is moving quickly, and you shut down options your child might miss out.

• Use advice from others – whether it is from the school or an independent career advisor like Careers Analysts. We have the tools, knowledge and experience to help your child work out their motivations and explore job options

To find out more about our Careers Programme for Teenagers and Young People, have a look at our website or contact us.

It’s not something you would ask yourself very often, as a parent, but it has becoming increasingly important as young people and teenagers struggle for careers advice.

New research by the Association of Colleges and The Skills Show shows 70% of young people turn to parents and 57% to teachers for careers guidance, but the advice they are given is often out of date.

As a result, nearly half of 14-16-year-olds said they did not feel well-informed about the jobs market.

Young people are missing out on careers opportunities because they do not get access to informed careers advice. Since the funding changes in schools regarding careers advice, teachers and parent have had to take the lead in exploring options, but they do not always have the full picture.

This has led to increasing numbers of young people having a knowledge gap between the careers they want, and the availability and skills they need to achieve their dream.

By using an independent careers consultancy you can help your child by giving them access to up to date careers advice, tailored for their motivations, skills and personality. Our accredited, passionate careers advisors work hard with thousands of young people and teenagers to find their dream career.

The aim of the Careers Advice programme is to identify their real potential, unearth vital extra skills they didn’t know they had, sieve through the options leaving only those that are suitable and realistic, and help them make a decision about where to aim for. Career Analysts provides a completely objective, professional careers counselling service utilising careful assessment followed by objective, professional careers advice which they can trust as unbiased. It can give a real boost to self-confidence reassuring them in their ability to achieve their career goals, now aligned with their interests, personality and abilities.

If you and your child are struggling with A Level options, University choices or finding that first job, you would almost certainly benefit from our Careers Advice programme.

To find out more, visit our website