Working out the working life they’d like
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Talking makes it easier
Only a lucky few of us know from a young age the type of work we want to do when we grow up. Most of us need time to figure it out, and plenty of us stumble into our jobs and careers without too much thought.
That’s why it’s good to have conversations about jobs and careers with your child early – and to have them regularly, on an ongoing basis. This will hopefully make big decision times about education, training, and careers more manageable as you and your child will be used to having these types of conversations.
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Options to suit everyone
There’s a range of training and education pathways available to young people today, offering a better set of options than ever before. Enabling everyone to make choices that suit their preferred way of learning and the career they have in mind.
Take some time to look at all the possible pathways with your child, to inform their decision-making process. Some of the options after GCSEs include apprenticeships, T-levels and A-levels, which can all lead on to higher technical courses, traineeships and degrees, for example.
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You don’t need to make every decision right now
It’s important to remember that your child doesn’t need to make every decision about their future working life immediately. They can achieve their goal in lots of different ways and a step-by-step approach works well.
Their interests and aspirations could also change, which may involve a change of pathway. Changing pathways is always possible. A teacher or careers adviser can help you work this through.
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Supporting your conversations
As a parent you can feel under pressure to know everything about the training and education options available. So, it’s good to know there are lots of people and resources available to support your conversations.
You can use Talking Futures to fill in the gaps and speak with career guidance people at school or college. Remember exploring the options together with your child is just as valuable as providing answers for them straightaway and can engage them more.
Where to?
Delivered by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Benchmarks for Good
Career Guidance
Gatsby created the Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance for all schools and colleges in England. Now we want to strengthen the support for parents, carers and guardians.
Working with
employers
As a result of Gatsby’s work in schools, 3.3 million young people now have regular opportunities to meet, talk with or hear from employers – up 70% in two years.
Our founder
and team
Gatsby was established by businessman and donor Lord Sainsbury and has a dedicated team focused on education policy.
Working
together
In collaboration with schools and colleges, the government and other education bodies, we’re helping parents to help their children find the right pathway for them.