Careers info & advice

[carleyhealey2228]

hello

I have just come accross this site and noticed that last year a few parents were loosing their local connexions services and was wondering what to do.

I used to work in a school as a careers advisor before my hours were reduced, therefore making it difficult to see the students who wanted and needed help and advice. I believe that schools etc should realise the advantages of good careers iag (information, advice and guidance) After all, current employers are saying that young people don't have the right skills when it comes to applying for jobs.

Meeting parents in the above role, taught me that you would like as much iag as you can to help your child(ren) progress through FE etc.

So this lead me to look into the idea of setting up a blog to help with all of the above and also looking into the idea of going self employed, helping parents, students etc with queries around careers etc.

I was just wondering if you as parents were offered this in your local area, would you buy into it and find it useful?

[PrettyInDecadence]

I used to be a careers advisor for the LA and took voluntary redundancy this March. I've briefly thought about what you're considering but, in my area, I can't see if it would be viable as so many people are losing jobs and are pretty skint. However I believe that if you were to set it up not just for students but as a service for all ages it would be more successful.

What I'm trying to say is that I think many parents would find it useful and it would be a great service to have. However I'm not sure if it would be viable as a business as many people just don't have the disposable income to invest in it.

[carleyhealey2228]

Sorry to hear that you had to take vol redundancy, it's a shame it's happening especially in time of need.

My plan was to set it up for all ages, as there's a real need I believe and yes we have the National Careers Service, but I feel they don't have the 'local' knowledge, which is sometimes needed.

I'm still in the early stages of planning and gaining market research, so I will see what feedback I get.

[mindgone]

I was desperately looking for something like this last year, when my DS was making his A level choices. I really wanted to know which options would be open to him with different combinations of subjects. There are so many courses and careers out there, and so few that my DS has ever heard of! I would have loved, and would have paid for some one to one help and advice. He has now decided on a course and career path based on a talk at an open day! The more he looks into it the more he feels it's right for him though, and he happens to be doing and enjoying the ideal subjects for it, so maybe it is right for him. Careers advice seems to be so patchy and hit and miss, at least what we have come across so far. Good luck with your venture, it sounds really great! Please let us know where to find you too.