Ways you can research your career options during a lockdown
The lockdown has given us time to think about ourselves and review what’s important to us.
It’s changed the way we work and how we interact with people. Lockdown has certainly helped me to develop new skills and ways of working from home.
So, what about you?
Well - our students at The Manchester College have been engaging in learning remotely since we closed, but they’ve also had the opportunity to continue engaging with our Careers & Welfare team to help them explore their options. We’ve continued to deliver 1-1 personal careers guidance as well as help students who are unsure about their next steps to find the right path for them.
This is still an important time and careers research is still important as you work to figure out what path you want to take, what options are available to you in the new work climate we are finding ourselves in and what support there is access to help you on your way.
Here are some ways you can continue your research:
1. Careers websites
There are lots of websites online you can use to research job profiles. These profiles tell you all about the job – what skills and qualifications you need, how to find the jobs and information around starting salaries and working conditions.
Prospects not only has around 500 job profiles, but they also have some useful tools, such as What can I do with my Degree, information on Apprenticeships and how to find them, career matching tools such as their Career Planner and Job Match. These are all tools to help you identify your future career.
Our students can also access Start, which is a free online careers tool offering career match tools and job profiles. Students can complete a series of learning modules which are designed to equip them with the necessary skills to make informed career decisions.
The National Careers Service has over 800 job profiles, as well as Skills assessment tools and an independent careers service for adults.
2. Virtual events
Since universities closed, they have been assessing how they can continue to connect with students who are considering university. They’ve also been looking at how they can support students who have applied and are now weighing up their options in the present climate. Universities now offer virtual tours and webinars on a whole host of topics, designed to help you explore your options and see whether university is the right choice for you. They are there to answer your questions and help you take the next step with them. Check their websites for more information on what events they are running.
The UK University & Apprenticeship fair is free to register (registrations now closed). The fair is on Wednesday 17th June and this is your opportunity to attend a big fair to explore your options and speak with ambassadors from universities all over the UK.
3. Social Media
Everyone is online these days – employers, universities, colleges, careers services. There is plenty of help out there if you have any questions; don’t be afraid to get in touch. Developing your social media skills and building a network is a great way to work on developing employability skills. Try connecting with people you know, classmates and your college or school. From there you will start to see your network build. You can follow people and companies on Twitter and Linked In to get up-to-date news on what is going on in your preferred industry.
4. Your Careers & Welfare Team
Current and prospective students can contact us via email at careers&welfare@tmc.ac.uk to get expert advice from one of our many professional qualified and Careers Advisers. They are there to help answer any questions you may have about our courses, funding for courses, your career and the options open to you – and if there is anything we can’t answer, we’ll put you in contact with the people who can!
I hope this blog post has been helpful to get you thinking about your career, your next steps, and how to access support and do your research. Continue to follow us on Twitter @CareersTMC for daily updates on how we’re supporting our students and useful hints and links for further careers exploration!
Keep safe,
Wendy