World of Work Q & A

This week a group of students from Years 10 and 12 took part in an interactive Careers workshop. Organised by our external careers advisers, Learning to Work, a panel of volunteers who work across a diverse range of industries shared their real-life experiences with our students.

Ethan spoke about the many roles available within the British Army. Surprising many of the students and staff, he explained that his role comes under the HR and Finance section and that there are another 6 categories of careers available to choose from including Logistics and Support, Engineering, Intligence and Communications, Medical, Music and finally Combat. Hearing that the British Army is not just about fighting tackled some of the groups preconceptions about the organisation, and showed that it could be a credible career path.

Richard then spoke about the fact that the role in his company didn't even exist when he left school, and that it's ok not to know exactly what career you want to follow, as jobs evolve all the time. Feeling reassured, the students were encouraged to ask the panel questions about their current roles and their route to securing the job.

It was a fantastic opportunity to hear about roles we don't automatically think about. Who would know, for example, that a hotel chain employs people to look at their sustainability? Laura works for IHG, the large hotel chain which includes Holiday Inn, and explained that part of her role is to look for ways to reduce water, increase recycling and reduce the company's carbon footprint.

The students finished the workshop by breaking out into small groups and speaking with the volunteers. The overarching themes which came out time and time again were that 'people employ people'. While qualifications are important, so too are softer skills like attitude and body language. The students were encouraged to be curious about a range of different careers and to pursue something that they are interested in.

Yasmin from Learning to Work said, "It is vital to bring the world of work into schools. Allowing young people to network with those already in established careers is a way to break down barriers and highlight the range of opportunities to choose from."