HELP IS AT HAND
There is a large range of resources in the Careers section of the Library. We also have an attached Careers Adviser, Helen Johnson, who is in school every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. She has drop-in sessions at lunchtimes and also attends most parents' evenings.
Where: Careers Library, in the Library
When: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday lunchtime or ask for an interview

DROP-IN SESSIONS OUTSIDE SCHOOL
Where: Broseley Library
When: Every Monday 5 - 7pm

Where: Broseley Youth Club (The Birch Meadow Centre)
When: First Monday of every month 7 - 9pm

HOW TO SORT OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO AND HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING IT
If you don't know what to do - perfect. You may not know what you want to do yet, but you probably know what you don't want to do. Instead of thinking specifically about jobs, maybe think more in terms of what kind of job environment you would like to work in, what subjects and hobbies you enjoy and the field you are interested in. For example, you may prefer a small business or you may want to work in the media or scientific fields.
The first step to finding the kind of jobs you might enjoy is to know yourself - your likes, your strengths and the challenges you'd like. We are not suggesting you have a long, extended philosophical debate with yourself. However, you do have to think about what you want at this stage of your life. Maybe 'interview' yourself. Question what you have to offer in terms of your skills, interests, values and motivations. Find out what you want and look for a job that matches, rather than finding the job, then trying to get the qualifications for it. Also, don't just think about the job you would like to be doing but also the kind of organisation, if you will be working with like-minded people and if you would be involved in manual work. To help give you ideas about work you want, go to: http://www.jobsite.co.uk/

HELP AND GUIDANCE FROM SCHOOL

Year 7:
3 weeks: You will focus on equal opportunities and challenging sex stereotypes in various careers.

Year 8:
3 weeks: You will look at careers, families and other aspects of adulthood. As well as developing an awareness of the jobs different people do and what those jobs entail, you will engage in activities which develop your self-awareness and your decision making skills. You will consider and reflect on your own progress, and achievements as well as your future goals and wishes.

Year 9:
11 weeks: Self awareness and the development of personal career plans. Using careers information effectively (using careers software e.g. Microdoors, CLCI index, Signposts, Careers Service leaflets, and so on).
Discussions with Careers Adviser. Equal opportunities. Knowledge of how industry works (involvement of local employers, simulation games). Vocational and training routes and opportunities. Option choices.

Year 10:
6-8 weeks: Action planning and developing thoughts about career paths. Look at careers information, formulate ideas (using Kudos and careers library materials). Look at the local employment picture, Consider post-16 routes and options. Preparation for work experience will begin; parents will receive a consent form in January and students will choose and arrange their own work experience. There will be group work with the Careers Adviser.

Year 11:
8-10 weeks: You will do work experience for the first two weeks of the Autumn term and follow this up when back in school. Personal career plans will be developed, looking at application forms and CVs. We arrange mock interviews with local employers. You will look further at post-16 choices. You will also have individual career interviews with the Careers Adviser.

DECISIONS: CHOOSING OPTIONS FOR YEAR 10 & 11

We don't want to scare you, but you may want to sit down when we tell you this. The options you choose in Year 9 will affect your future. For some this will be: what A-Levels you do, what degree you do, your future career and the rest of your life. Sorry, we had to be the ones to break it to you, but better to hear it now, rather than decide to do art, drama and textiles, because your best mate Emma is and then discover that you may not actually be able to be a geologist or acupuncturist or whatever else you have inklings for.

Decisions are difficult, so make sure you have all the information you need and that you talk though any concerns or questions you have. The difficulties you have in thinking about your future are not a bad thing; this is a great opportunity for you to take some control of your education and to choose the subjects that you enjoy. You also have to keep in mind that you are not alone, everyone else in your year is having to make the same decisions. For more information visit Connexions at http://www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfm?pid=20&catalogueContentID=13 Connexions has a that will help you make your choice and you can also talk to an advisor between 8am and 2am everyday! Also visit http://www.connexions-direct.com/whichwaynow/ for further advice.

WORK EXPERIENCE: YEAR 11
Think of work experience as a kind of 'try before you buy' offer. It's helpful if you can get work experience in an area you are interested in and might want to do as a job. It might put you off completely or it may make you realise more than ever that it is exactly what you want to do. Both outcomes are good because they'll make you realise whether you are doing the right thing or not. If you are not sure what you want to do, then try splitting your work experience in two and doing one week at one place and one week at another. Visit: http://www.shropshire-ebp.co.uk/index.asp for a list of available work experience placements in Shropshire. The Connexions website has good advice, http://www.connexionsdirect.com/ Or visit: http://www.work-experience.org/ for some top tips, and Directgov is a great website, go to http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/Years10And11/DG_10013569

Work experience is not just about the two weeks you do at the start of year 11. You can gain valuable work experience through holiday jobs, part-time and voluntary work while you are at school or in the 6th form.

Voluntary Work
We have one question for you: if every job in the world was paid the same wage, what would you want to do? Often when you think about this, you think of jobs that would make you happy rather than make you rich. One of the most rewarding things you can do is work for absolutely nothing, not a penny. Doing voluntary work is hugely rewarding, not to mention the fact that it looks good on your CV.

The Best Part-time & Holiday Jobs
There seems to only be three main jobs people have at school: one, a paper round, two, working in a cafe and three, babysitting. Well here's a secret for you, there are other jobs. I know crazy isn't it? You could be spending summer days working with horses, appearing as extras in films or writing prize winning poetry! Think outside the box.

USEFUL WEBSITES

Interactive help and advice
Unless you are planning on becoming a bull fighter, you wouldn't think it would make much difference whether you like red 'not much' or 'a lot'. You'd be wrong, according to 'Fast Tomato' anyway. If you've ever wanted someone to give you the answers to what you should do then this website is just the thing. It won't give you the answer to why it has such a strange name but it will look at your interests, skills and goals and make suggestions about subjects and careers you could be interested in. Check it out at http://www.fasttomato.com

Find a job and let them find you
'Monster' allows you to upload your CV or build one online. Once it's posted employers can view it and you can then apply for jobs with a few clicks. You can also search for current jobs or be sent jobs that will interest you. http://www.monster.co.uk/

Everything you could ever want to know about anything
http://www.connexions-direct.com

Useful Leaflets
http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u

Holiday jobs
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/Workandcareers/Gettingyourfirstjob

Part-time jobs
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions

Volunteering
http://do-it.org.uk/

Employment rights
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/Workandcareers/Yourrightsandresponsibilitiesatwork

National minimum wage
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Pay

Year 9 - choosing your options
http://www.futures-careers.co.uk/thirteen.aspx

Post GCSE options
http://www.futures-careers.co.uk/sixteen.aspx