Career Advice - Kent Area

[blowinginthewind]

Hi

My son is curently in 6th form with a view to hopefully going to Uni BUT he has no idea what he wants to do and to be quite honest we are not quite sure whether he is academic enough to muster a good grade to warrant the fees/expenses for the following three years only to get (maybe) what would be a mediocre degree at the end of it ..

I know, I know - but please don't blast me - what I would really like to do is to try to focus his mind now to work out what areas/subjects that he really enjoys and likes and those things that is not quite so good at... and if that means giving up the University/further education route - so be it etc...

I don't believe that he has ever really been given the opportunity to talk about his likes/dislikes with regard to subjects or a career or even given the tools to try to focus his thinking ... and unfortuntely no "passion" other than computer games has risen to the surface (yet!!!)

He is totally ambiguous about what he wants to do (which I guess is normal at his age).

Unfortunately, we live in a rural location and part-time/Saturday jobs are non-existant and, therefore, he has no real/job skills at present. The opportunities for Summer jobs/weekend jobs are limited as we also happen to live in area where there are several Universities and to get a 16/17 year old to "shine" over the 1st year Uni students is tough......

The job market overall is pretty dire everywhere - even for those with qualifications, motivation and more.... but I am wondering whether he would benefit from an indepth discussion with a Career Mentor..

I am thinking along the lines of those tests that you take which work out what you are good at and those things that you are not so bright at .. or an interview with an indepdent Careers Officer etc ...

Does anyone know where I go to try and get him some information to focus on his strengths and try to work out the best way forward for this future ???

Sorry this missive is so long - but he is a POB (Precious Only Born) - and I want him to succeed in what I believe is going to be an even tougher world out there...

Thank You

Firstly - going to uni at 18 is not his only chance. If he does not know what he wants to do them he should wait until he does. This might be 1 more year or it might be 5. In the meantime he could try applying for management training schemes with big organisations. Some firms do apprenticeships. There are further education courses in computer games design if that is what floats his boat! You can do a Bsc in computer games design at the university of Salford!

How about this here. No idea what they offer but it come up when googling careers guidance!

Sam100 - thank you

We both took the "test" and mine said I should work in Art and Design - something I have been doing for most of my working life.

My son then took the test and it mentioned that he should focus on areas such as Journalist/Film/Solictor/Town Planner etc etc etc - all things that he had casually mentioned before choosing his "A" level subject - so it looks like we may be heading in the right direction

So thank you again - and in the words of Doris Day " Que Sera Sera "