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Paths to Professional Careers

‘I’ve always had a passion for languages and for travel. I felt that with my strong languages background, adding a finance dimension would enable me to become a well-rounded business leader.’

Carol HandaICAEW Chartered AccountantFinance Director, Operations L’Oréal

ICAEW. More than you’d imagine.

icaew.com/parents

ICAEW is delighted to partner withTARGETcareers for the third year running onPaths to Professional Careers – a Parent’sGuide. This guide has been developed tosupport parents of young people aged 15 to 18

who intend to sit their A levels, Scottish Highers orInternational Baccalaureate, so that you can help yourchildren make the best career choices.

We’re proud to be part of this year’s guide and wehope that it will help to inform you about all of thepossible routes your child can take to start theircareer. We understand that in the rapidly changingworld of work it can be difficult to stay atop of thevarious routes into careers, and to stay as informed aspossible on all of the options.

Careers in accountancy and business continue tobe a popular choice for students at school leaver andgraduate level, and it is no surprise that students areselecting these careers, given the range ofopportunities available to qualified charteredaccountants.

ICAEW is a world-leading professional membershiporganisation and we are committed to delivering ourqualification, the ACA, to aspiring charteredaccountants and business professionals all over theworld. We work with c.5,000 employers globally tosupport talented school leavers and graduates throughthe ACA qualification, which is a combination ofpractical work experience, exams, ethics andprofessional development.

Students can qualify as an ICAEW CharteredAccountant straight from school or after university.The employers we work with are actively recruitingfrom a range of degree subjects, and students cantrain for the ACA and become an ICAEW CharteredAccountant regardless of which degree they study.

We hope you are able to use this guide as a point ofreference for direction and guidance when it comes tosupporting your child’s career and study choices.

Head of marketing and student recruitment, ICAEW

Paths to Professional Careers – a Parent’s Guide 2018 | 1

Careers in accountancy – a foreword from ICAEW

Netball player and athletics coach Ellie understands the importance of teamwork. Now, as a Project Manager on one of our Higher Apprenticeship programmes, she's bringing her ability to keep things on track to managing large projects for

our organisation. Discover where your strengths and passions can take you on a Lloyds Banking Group Apprenticeship.

“WE FOLLOW A STRATEGY AND ALWAYS WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.”

ELLIE, HIGHER APPRENTICE

APPRENTICESHIPS WORTH DISCOVERING lloydsbankinggrouptalent.com

Netball player Athletics coach Leader Communicator

Your child’s careerHow to support your child’s journey ..........4

Career choices – taking the first steps ..........6

Helping your child choose the right career for them..............................................8

Work or university?Navigating the world of apprenticeships ....12

Which route is best financially? ................15

Is work or university the best fit for my child?................................................18

Testing the waters – how your child can gain experience ..........................22

Researching employers’ programmes – dig out the facts ......................................26

Researching degree courses – leave no stone unturned ..........................28

Degrees and employment prospects: top five myths ............................................31

Routes into careersHow to get into finance ............................36

How to get into business ..........................39

How to get into engineering ......................42

How to get into IT ....................................45

People profiles ..........................................49

Advertisers’ and contributors’ indexes ......56


icaew.com/parents

‘Completing the ACA will open so many doors. I’ve gained great leadership skills which have helped me to excel in the business. ’George Eaton,

Contents

4 | Paths to Professional Careers – a Parent’s Guide 2018

YOUR CHILD’S CAREER

‘Encourage your child to try outdifferent professions. There arelots of employers and not-for-profit organisations out there tohelp young people do that, for example through summerschools and work experience.’

Emily Archer, programme delivery manager, Pathways to Property – a career exploringprogramme for students

How to support your child’s journeyHelp your child get their bearings as they choose their career direction.

‘Always keep an open mind. Theworld of work is rapidly changingand there’s a range of routesavailable for your child to starttheir career journey – it’s allabout finding the right fit forthem and supporting theirchoices.’

Lynne Hamilton-Gow, head of marketing and student recruitment, ICAEW

‘Encourage your child to: take part in extracurricularactivities; talk to family and friends about their careers;explore possible apprenticeship schemes and educationalopportunities; attend open days and careers fairs; andturn to their school’s careers adviser or library.’

Helen Alkin, head of early careers recruitment, Marks & Spencer



‘I think the most important thing is to understand how yourchild learns best. For example, if they are an individual wholearns by doing rather thanbeing taught in a classroomenvironment, then anapprenticeship rather thanuniversity may well be the best option for them.’Emma Barbour, talent acquisition partner –early careers, UK Power Networks

‘Universities offer their studentsopportunities on top of theirdegree to give them acompetitive advantage. Whenyou and your child areresearching universities, askabout mentoring programmes,internships, scholarships,awards and international travelopportunities.’

Lynne Russell, communications manager,Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

‘Help your child identify what their key strengths are.Work experience is a great way to do this, as well asobtaining feedback from teachers, friends etc. Finding theperfect career can be challenging, so do as much researchas you can together and be supportive and realistic.

Tor Redman, early in career resourcing lead – BDO



S ome people know from an earlyage that they want to be a doctoror a journalist. But what if yourchild isn’t sure? You might find ithelpful to work through the

following pointers with them.

1. Explore their optionsMany careers are open to young peopleregardless of the subjects they’ve studied fortheir A levels, Scottish Highers orundergraduate degree. This is often (but notalways) the case in areas such as business,finance, law and the media. So it’s fine if yourchild doesn’t feel ready to decide yet, or wantsto change path later on.

However, some careers do require aparticular degree or vocational training path,and often specific subject choices for Alevels/Scottish Highers too. This tends to bethe case in areas such as science, medicine andengineering. So do start thinking aboutcareers now, so they can make subject choicesthat leave open doors to careers that mightappeal.

The TARGETcareers website has a handylist of degree subjects you need for differentcareers (see box on facing page for details). Ifyour child is feeling stressed about the need todrop subjects and narrow their options,encourage them to take a look. They could

work through the careers that do requireparticular subjects and decide whether theyare happy to rule them out or want to keepthese options open.

2. Look past the stereotypesEncourage your child to take a quick look atas many career areas as possible, rather thaninstantly ruling any out on the basis ofstereotypes or assumptions. Plenty ofengineers wear suits and go to businessmeetings – and engineering employers arevery keen to hire more women. Many ITprofessionals spend more time talking toclients about their needs than they do writingcode. Lots of lawyers have jobs that don’trequire them to defend people accused ofunpleasant crimes.

3. Beware ‘safe’ choicesTake care if your child is considering anoption because they think it is a ‘safe choice’or a ‘good job’, rather than out of intrinsicinterest. IT and law, for example, have a‘solid’ image but it may be harder than youthink for your child to get their first job andnot all roles will offer a high salary. Tradingin an academic or vocational path your childwill enjoy for assumptions about a‘guaranteed good job’ is likely to lead todisappointment.

Career choices – taking the first stepsGet your child on the right track by encouraging them to think about the careers they might enjoy.

4. Find their motivationIt’s important for your child to be motivatedby their career choice, both in terms ofworking to get the grades they need andprogressing their career once they start work.

Encourage them to think about what’simportant to them in life. Money? Helpingpeople? Being creative? Thinking about whatthey value may help to guide their thinking.

Their interests can be another usefulstarting point. If your child is a Formula 1fan, would they enjoy designing cars as anautomotive engineer? If they like to hit theshops at the weekend, how about a careermanaging a store – or even a whole chain?

Also consider with your child whichsubjects they are good at and what other skillsthey have. Perhaps they are good at speakingin front of large groups of people or workingout and sticking to a budget. Keep these skillsin mind when reading about different jobs.

5. Do further researchGot a shortlist? Find out more with onlineresearch. Then try networking. You and your child can ask your family and friends if they have any good contacts, attenduniversity open days and school leaver job fairs, and look for employers who are willing to offer work experience.



More help fromTARGETcareers

To get lots more help with choosing a

career, head to targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/choosing-your-career.

Read overviews of careers in 12 key areas

at targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors.

You can also find out which careers need

certain degrees and get more on this by

visiting targetcareers.co.uk/uni/choices-about-uni.


While your child might readilytalk to you about careers,don’t be afraid to bring it upwith them if they don’t. Youcould ask questions such as

‘Have you talked about careers at school?’,‘Have you started to put your CV together?’and ‘Are there any careers fairs coming up atschool?’. Keep an eye on the school newsletterstoo; they’ll often tell you what they’re coveringwith your child and what events are comingup. Your guidance and support will be agreat help, but remember not to take over orforce your aspirations or ideas onto yourchild. It has to be what they want to do.

What your child enjoys is most importantEncourage your child to think of what theylike doing and are good at. To help themmatch their interests with different careers,they can talk to their careers adviser atschool and ask their friends, teachers andother family members what jobs they thinkthey’d be good at. Completing a personalityquestionnaire such as the one on the GoConstruct website will flag up the types ofjobs they might be suited to. I’d also adviseyour child to do independent research onlineand go to careers fairs to explore thedifferent stands. Parents can sometimesattend these too.

Keep an open mindI would recommend that your childinvestigates all of their options at this stage –even careers that they might not haveconsidered – and doesn’t rule out an industrybased on preconceptions or because theyassume it doesn’t offer the job they want.Every industry is made up of a range of jobroles, many of which they may not be awareof. My daughter’s school ran a ‘take yourdaughter to work’ day and she originallydidn’t want to come to Willmott Dixonbecause she thought that construction meantjust being out on site, but she spent time inthe legal, finance, communications,recruitment, and health and safetydepartments and had a great experience.

Talking to somebody who does the jobyour child is interested in and getting somework experience with a company are greatways for them to find out more about acareer. See page 22 for more advice.

Don’t stress too much about itFinally, while it’s important to start thinkingabout careers, don’t put too much pressure onthem. I suspect that there will be lots ofchanges in thoughts and aspirations over thenext ten years and that’s okay. Whatever yourchild decides aged 16, it’s not going to preventa career change in the future if they want to.


Helping your child choosethe right career for themSally Cleaver is group HR and diversity manager at Willmott Dixon and part of the Go Construct initiative, coordinated by the CITB.

100s of varied roles. Life-long careers. Impressive pay. Take your pride to the next level and help your kids find a job that they’ll love.

Watch what other parents have to say: goconstruct.org/prideandjoy

YOUR PRIDE THEIR JOY

A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION

University isn’t for everyone. Join our School Leaver Programme.

Realise your dreams at

bdoearlyincareer.co.uk

Some people want to get out there and start working and earning straight away.

Our School Leaver Programme combines work experience with study towards your professional qualifications. Depending on your route, you could gain qualifications in CFAB, AAT, ATT and go on to study for your ACA, ACCA, CTA.

Throughout your programme, we will provide you with constant support to make sure you are never out of your depth.

School Leaver Programmes across:

• Audit

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WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Apprenticeships, school leaverprogrammes and sponsoreddegrees usually involve workingfor an employer and studying for relevant qualifications,

although exactly how your child’s time issplit between the two will depend on thescheme and the employer. You can find outmore about the different options available to your child in this article.

Bear in mind, though, that differentorganisations refer to their opportunities inslightly different ways, so it’s important to

look beyond the name of the opportunityand find out the specifics of what theemployer is offering, such as qualificationsand pay.

What are the different apprenticeships on offer?There is an official national framework forapprenticeships that sets out four types ofapprenticeship, each offering qualifications atdifferent levels:• Intermediate (level two) is equivalent

to GCSEs

Navigating the world of apprenticeshipsWork-based routes for 18-year-olds include higher and degreeapprenticeships, school leaver programmes and sponsored degrees.

The second type is where an employeroffers partial financial support to studentswho are attending university full time in thetraditional way and are studying a subjectthat relates to the employer’s business.Typically, the student will complete paid workwith the employer during universityvacations. They may also be required to workfor the sponsor for a minimum period aftergraduation. This form of sponsored degree ismost frequently provided by engineeringcompanies (find out more about how to getinto engineering on page 42).

What is a school leaver programme?School leaver programmes are normallyaimed at those with A levels (or equivalent).Unlike an apprenticeship, a school leaverprogramme doesn’t need to fit a setframework, so the term can be used todescribe a broad range of programmes thatcombine earning and learning, with tuitionfees covered by the employer. However, someemployers may call their scheme a schoolleaver programme when it is technically anapprenticeship.

School leaver programmes are quite often available with employers inaccountancy and related areas. This typically involves studying for professionalqualifications that are designed to qualifythem as chartered accountants, such as theICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accountingand Business (ICAEW CFAB) and the ACA.Participants tend to end up with the sameprofessional qualifications that graduatesjoining the organisation would worktowards – and in some cases they achievethis at a younger age. Programmes tend tolast around five years. You can find out more about how to get into finance on page 36.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

• Advanced (level three) is equal to A levels• Higher (levels four and five) leads to a

qualification that is equivalent to a highereducation certificate, higher educationdiploma or a foundation degree

• Degree (levels six and seven) results in abachelors or masters degree.This framework is set and regulated by the

government – an opportunity must meetspecific criteria to be able to call itself anapprenticeship.

Higher and degree apprenticeships aretypically open to applicants with A levels orequivalent qualifications (such as ScottishHighers, an advanced apprenticeship or anNVQ level 3).

An apprentice will typically attend collegeor university either one day a week (dayrelease) or for a week or more at a time(block release). The cost of an apprenticeship– and any tuition fees – will be entirelycovered by the employer and the government.

Employers don’t tend to guarantee thatthere will be a job at the end of it but inpractice they are typically keen to keepemployees on. Scheme lengths vary; the higherthe qualification involved, the longer thescheme will be. Higher and degreeapprenticeships typically last between threeand five years.

What is a sponsored degree?There are two types of sponsored degrees. The first operates in a similar way to higherapprenticeships and school leaver programmes:your child will work for their employer, earn awage, study for a degree part time (either byattending a local university or through distancelearning) and have their tuition fees paid forthem. Their degree is typically chosen by theemployer – and it may even play a part indesigning the course content.

APPRENTICESHIPS

EARLY CAREERS WITH M&S There are so many more opportunities in retail than you think.

Know somebody that wants to fast track their career? Browse our range of apprenticeship, undergraduate and graduate programmes and discover Retail, Head Office and Engineering opportunities at mandsearycareers.com

Marks and Spencer @MandSTalent


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

T here’s no ‘one size fits all’ answerto the question of whether schoolleavers will be better offfinancially if they go to universityfull time or join an employer at

18 on a higher apprenticeship or otherschool leaver programme. It depends on thecareer they want to get into and theparticular school leaver programme they areconsidering.

Comparing pathsSome school leaver opportunities aredesigned to get participants to the samelevel in their careers as graduates who go touniversity full time before joining. This isoften the case with employers who offer thechance to do a degree part time whileworking. Examples in finance includeBarclays’ higher apprenticeship inleadership and management and PwC’sFlying Start degree programmes. Examplesin IT include CGI’s and IBM’s degreeapprenticeships.

However, not all school leaverprogrammes are designed to put them on apar with graduates. In these cases they mightfind that in the long term they will earn lessthan those with a degree. Make sure yourchild’s research includes finding out aboutthe qualifications they need to progress longterm. For example, in engineering, if theyeventually want to become a chartered

engineer (the highest level), it’s easiest if theyhave a masters degree. (See page 42 for moreon getting into engineering.)

Earnings v. debtIf your child goes to university, they arelikely to leave with student debt, which willthen accrue interest. Student Finance, whichis linked to the government, offers twotypes of student loan: one to core tuitionfees and a maintenance loan to help pay forliving costs. The total amount they repaywill depend on how quickly they pay it offand whether they have paid off all theirdebt 30 years after they graduate (at whichpoint any remaining debt is written off).

Repayment will be deducted from yourchild’s monthly wage once they’re earningover a certain amount: £21,000 (likely torise to £25,000) or more in England andWales and £17,775 or more in Scotland andNorthern Ireland.

Would they have been better or worse offfinancially if they hadn’t taken on this debtto get a degree? If they’d managed to get aplace on a school leaver programme thatgot them to the same earning level asgraduates in the same length of time – andthat was as good for their career in the longterm – then they’d have been better offwithout it. However, if they ended upearning a little less than a graduate thenthey might not have been.

Which route is best financially?A school leaver programme will allow your child to earn whilelearning, but can they earn as much as a graduate in the long term?


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

See our advice on ‘University fees and funding’ attargetcareers.co.uk (click on ‘Uni’ then ‘Choices about uni’).

Ignore ‘average’ salariesIt’s wise not to get too fixated on statisticsrelating to average salaries for all graduatesor school leavers. Media reports about howmuch graduates earn often don’t give the fullstory about their figures (see page 32 formore information). And salaries vary somuch, particularly for graduates, thataverages aren’t much help in predicting whatyour child personally might earn.

Take a look instead at our ‘How muchwill I earn?’ articles for the career sectors ofinterest on targetcareers.co.uk, which willgive you a feel for graduate and school leaverprogramme salaries in different industries.

Also, remember that school leavers start working at a younger age and willprobably have had several pay rises by thetime graduates of the same age join thecompany.

icaew.com/parents

‘I enjoy being an ICAEW Apprentice as I am able to progress quickly and gain valuable career experience.’Martha Jary

We see a future with so much to offer. Do you?Around the world, growth is bringing new prosperity; businesses are pioneering new trade routes; and new centres of wealth and influence are emerging. At HSBC, we’re inspired by the ways the world is changing for our business and for our customers. That’s why we’re looking to connect with the best and the brightest people from across the globe. With so much to offer, we’re ideally placed to help you realise your ambitions.

Achieve your potential at HSBC.

www.hsbc.com/targetjobs

HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are valued, respected and opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working and opportunities to grow within an inclusive and diverse environment.

Around the world, growth is bringing new prosperity; businesses are pioneering new trade routes; and new centres of wealth and influence are emerging. At HSBC, we’re inspired by the ways the world is changing for our business and for our customers. That’s why we’re looking to connect with the best and the brightest people from across the globe. With so much to offer, we’re ideally placed to help you realise your ambitions.

We see a future with so much to offer. Do you?

Achieve your potential at HSBC.

www.hsbc.com/targetjobs

Progressive Minds Apply

HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are valued,respected and opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working andopportunities to grow within an inclusive and diverse environment.

hsbc.com/careers


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Is work or university the best fit for my child?When it comes to your child deciding on their next steps, the best option is the one that will suit them most.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

W hat is life on a schoolleaver programme like, andhow does it compare togoing to university full-time? It’s important for you

and your child to get a sense of what toexpect from the different experiences onoffer, so that your child can make the bestchoice for them.

Independent livingIf your child decides to go to university inthe traditional sense, they are likely to sharea house or flat with other students and takeresponsibility for tasks such as buying andcooking their own food, washing clothesand paying bills. This introduces them toliving independently, while allowing them to share the experience with others in thesame position. However, moving away is not essential if your child attends auniversity close enough to home to commute on a daily basis.

A school leaver programme might be toofar away for your child to commute,requiring them to leave home. Even if it isn’t,there’s still the option for your child to moveout if they want to, as they will probably beearning enough to pay rent. They might beable to share accommodation with otherapprentices, but there’s no guarantee thatthey’ll be living with people their own age.Are they ready for that level ofindependence? Some programmes includeplacements based in different locations orshort overnight trips to other areas of thecountry – would your child enjoy theseopportunities to move around frequently?

Academic freedom or practical results?Most degrees give your child the freedom tochoose which topics they study, especially intheir final year. Many courses also include aproject or dissertation, allowing them tofocus on the aspects that they are mostpassionate about. The main outcome of apiece of work (eg an essay) will be a grade.Will this be sufficient reward, or would yourchild prefer to see their work having apositive impact on other people or on abusiness? Vocational courses, which mayinclude laboratory sessions or workplacements, provide more opportunities forstudents to apply what they’ve learned toreal-world situations, but even these aim todevelop a student’s understanding of asubject from an academic or theoreticalperspective.

On a school leaver programme, as withany job, your child’s day-to-day work willhave a clear purpose that helps theiremployer work towards its business goals.They may see their work have an impact onclients, and possibly even on profits.However, if your child’s school leaverprogramme includes a degree, the topics theystudy will be chosen by their employer andrelate to their working life. Would your childenjoy being able to apply what they’relearning to their job, or would they prefer thefreedom to study what they like?

Flexibility or structure?Universities typically expect students tospend around 35 to 45 hours a weekstudying. Science subjects tend to havearound 20 contact hours a week, and arts

subjects even fewer, meaning that most ofyour child’s time will be spent in privatestudy. It’s up to your child how much timethey commit, as there is less directsupervision than at school. Would your childbe motivated to crack on by themselves?Equally, your child might value havingcontrol over their schedule and the flexibilityto pop round to friends’ rooms for a cuppaor stay up late without an early start forwork the next day.

School leaver programmes tend to havemore of a nine-to-five structure. Your childmay benefit from this as their time is usuallyall theirs once each shift is finished, and itoffers a clear distinction between work, studyand other areas of their life. School leaverson schemes such as higher apprenticeshipsspend the majority of their time at work. If the programme involves working towards adegree or professional qualification, they willattend sessions at college or university duringwork hours but may also need to study athome in their own time – especially close toexams.

Opportunities to socialise and try new thingsAs a full-time student your child would mixlargely with people of their own age. Therewould be opportunities to mix with peoplethey live with, people on the same course andthose they meet through extracurricularactivities. Universities have lots ofopportunities to get involved in sport,theatre, politics, fundraising and media.Societies allow your child to meet peoplewith common interests or try somethingcompletely new. However, at busy times ofthe year your child may need to turn downsocial invitations so they can study.

On a school leaver programme they wouldhave colleagues of all ages. There would stillbe the chance to meet others of the same age,though – both at work and while studying forqualifications. If your child prefers workingin a group, they might be happier workingalongside colleagues than at university whereinteraction can be limited by the need tostudy independently. On a school leaverprogramme your child might not have muchfree time during the week, but will usuallyhave weekends free to catch up with friendsor pursue hobbies. If they do need to work atweekends, they will get time off during theweek instead. Some employers run clubs andactivities, or alternatively your child might beable to find a club in the local area thatinterests them.

Work experience and keeping options openGoing to university in the traditional wayallows your child to explore career optionsbefore making a decision. Students can getwork experience during vacations, fit part-time jobs or volunteering around theirstudies, try career-related activities oncampus and make use of the careers service.Some courses incorporate a year in industry,while others (such as nursing) include workplacements that students attend on certaindays each week. As a lot of graduate jobsdon’t require students to have studied aparticular subject, your child won’t be limitedto one career after graduating. However,some jobs do require a specific degree. Yourchild should look into this if they have astrong interest in a particular career.

School leaver programmes provideexcellent work experience in their particularfield. Many will train your child for a specific


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

job, but some will give them the chance toexperience different areas of the business. Ifyour child doesn’t know what career theywant, or has several different ideas, then aschool leaver programme is probably not forthem. If the programme includes a degree,then this will be transferable to other careers –however, your child may be asked to explainwhy they chose to train in one career andapply for jobs in another. Qualifications belowdegree level are less likely to help if your child

wants to change career completely. It’s alsoworth checking whether your child is expectedto work for the company for a set period oftime after finishing the programme.

One size doesn’t fit all.

More help fromTARGETcareers

See targetcareers.co.uk for which careers

do and don’t require a specific degree.

Look under ‘Uni’ then ‘Choices about uni’.

For more information on whether

university or a school leaver programme

would suit your child best, go to ‘Careers

advice’ then ‘Work v. uni’.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

• experience what working life is like• increase their confidence, independence and

professionalism• enhance their employability and boost their

CV, university personal statement and jobapplications

• meet people who could help them in theirfuture career – and they may find apotential future employer.

Formal work experience opportunitiesWork experience placements. Often lasting upto a week at a company, arranged by yourchild’s school/college or independently. Manylarge employers, including EY, Sky, HSBC, Rolls-Royce and Boots, advertise opportunities ontheir websites and targetcareers.co.uk. Yourchild (under your supervision) can alsoapproach smaller, local businesses over thephone or by email to say they’d be interested ina few days’ work experience, check if this ispossible and ask about the preferred way ofapplying. You should follow your child’sschool/college’s safeguarding guidelines – theywill also have a list of approved employers.Work shadowing. Your child will observe oneperson to gain insight into their job. Usually justfor a day, these opportunities aren’t advertised,so professionals will need to be approacheddirectly. If any of your family, friends or

neighbours work in an area your child isinterested in, you could ask if they’d be willingto help.Employers’ insight days or weeks for schoolleavers. Some employers offer students thechance to spend a day or more seeing forthemselves what working there would be like.They may also get some handy tips on theapplication for its school leaver programme. Youcan look for upcoming events ontargetcareers.co.uk and employers’ careerswebsites.School leaver careers fairs and employerevents. Careers fairs allow students to meetlots of employers in one go and ask questions.An event run by one employer will give yourchild a deeper insight into that organisation, forexample via an open evening at its offices.

W ork experience will helpyour child find out aboutthe different careers thatinterest them and what theydo and don’t enjoy. It will

also help them to:• develop the skills that employers and

universities value, such as communication,teamwork and time management

Testing the waters – how yourchild can gain experienceEncourage your child to dip their feet into the professional world andfind out more about different careers before diving in head first.

WORK OR UNIVERSITY?


Other activitiesBeyond formal work experience, there are lots of options that can help your child develop useful skills and get a feel for what they enjoy. They may even be taking part in some of these activities already.

Volunteering and fundraising. Your child couldvolunteer at a charity shop, help with outdoorconservation projects, become a volunteerpolice cadet or take part in the National CitizenService. Find out more about opportunities foryoung people at #iwill and vInspired.Extracurricular activities. These include: beingpart of a sports team or other club; taking partin a theatre production; writing for a studentnewspaper; joining the school debating society;being a Scout or Guide; and completing the Dukeof Edinburgh’s Award. Competitions. Encourage your child to researchwhether there are competitions in areas thatinterest them, for example design, writing,photography, maths, engineering or business. Part-time jobs. Your child could try their hand atbabysitting or a paper round, get a part-time jobin a supermarket or café at the weekend or lookfor a temporary job in the holidays. Attractionssuch as zoos and garden centres often hiremore staff for the summer.

Personal projects. If your child has designedand made something themselves, such as a DIYproject, website or blog, they may well havedeveloped the problem-solving and creativeskills that employers look for. Another option islearning a language independently.Positions of responsibility. These could includebeing a head boy or head girl, sports captain,house captain, school council member, peermentor or having a leadership or committee rolein a club. Summer school. Several universities run these,usually for up to a week. It can help your childbuild their knowledge of a subject and decidewhether they’d enjoy studying it full time – andwhether they’d enjoy university life. Summerschools are quite common for science,technology, engineering and maths (STEM)subjects. You can find out more on universities’websites and at The Sutton Trust, Pathways toProperty and Headstart.

Parental adviceLet’s put an end to out-of-date careers advice

The world of work ischanging, fast. So are theroutes to career success. As the careers landscape transforms, so do the different routes into a successful career.

Stay up to date with facts and guidancefrom experts and make sure you have allthe information you need to give your child the best possible careers advice to help them make the right career choice for them.

Visit ukcareers.ey.com/parents andjoin the conversation #parentaladvice

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WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

If your child is thinking of joining anemployer to ‘earn and learn’, you’llwant to research the schemes they areconsidering. Make sure before you startthat your child knows what career they

want, so they can assess whether theprogrammes available are appropriate routes.

Sources of informationYou can find basic details of programmesonline, for example on targetcareers.co.ukand employers’ own websites. Also ask yourfriends and family if anyone has a contact atthe company in question with whom youcould have an informal chat.

Some employers attend careers fairs orhold open days. Here you can speak torecruiters and, often, young employees on therelevant programme. Parents are usuallywelcome, but remember to take a backseatand let your child do the talking. There’sadvice on how to make the most of suchevents at targetcareers.co.uk (click on‘Careers advice’ then ‘Building networks’).You can find details of open days on thecareers pages of employers’ websites and thebox opposite lists some fairs.

Qualifications offeredFind out what qualifications your child wouldgain. Use targetcareers.co.uk to assess whetherthese would get your child into the right career

at the right level – go to ‘Career sectors’, thenchoose the relevant area.

There is a national framework forapprenticeships that defines the level ofqualifications on offer (see page 12). However,there is no such framework for other schoolleaver programmes. Some employers offerschool leavers the chance to study forprofessional qualifications that are also takenby their graduate recruits, such as the ACAqualification from ICAEW. Professionalqualifications certify that you have thetraining and skills needed to do your job to ahigh standard; in some industries such asaccounting they are essential to progress yourcareer. Check the detail of what is on offercarefully.

If a degree is mentioned, double checkwhether it is a full bachelors degree (if this isimportant to you or your child). Sometimes afoundation degree is included instead, whichis the equivalent of two thirds of a standarduniversity degree.

As good as a graduate?It’s worth asking how, once your child hasfinished the programme, their careerprospects would compare with those of agraduate recruit. Would they be doing thesame kind of work? How would their salarycompare with that of a graduate of the sameage? Would your child’s prospects for career

Researching employers’ programmes – dig out the factsFind out everything you need to know about school leaver programmes by visiting careers fairs and looking online.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Careers fairsThere are lots of careers fairs held around the

country. The following will help you get started.

www.theskillsshow.comwww.nationalapprenticeshipshow.orgwww.regionalskillsevents.co.uk

progression and promotion be the same as agraduate’s? You’re unlikely to find thisinformation online, so ask in person at careersfairs or open days.

Support availableInvestigate what support would be available.Is there a buddy system or mentoring scheme?Would there be help with findingaccommodation or with the cost ofrelocation? Does the employer have groups oractivities that could help your child to makefriends, such as clubs, regular social events, anLGBT group or a women’s network?

Travel requiredDepending on their role, your child may beexpected to travel frequently. For example,they might visit different offices or clientswhile maintaining a regular base, or moveround different parts of the country tocomplete the programme. Make sure yourchild is happy with the amount of travelinvolved and the logistics of combining thiswith time at college or university. Check alsowhether the costs of travel are met by theemployer. Again, this is information thatyou’re likely to have to gather in person.

About the contractTypically recruiters do not guarantee thatemployees will be kept on at the end of theprogramme; however, in practice theyusually want to keep them. Be aware ofwhether your child would be offered apermanent or fixed-term contract initiallybut don’t reject opportunities on this basis.

Do take note of whether there is a ‘tie-in’period after training has ended. You mayalso want to investigate what would happenif your child were to drop out of the schemepart-way through (for example whether theywould have to repay any training costs),though it might be safest to leave this untilyour child has a job offer.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

O nce your child knows what degreesubject they would like to study,it’s worth drawing up a shortlistof universities that they areinterested in. You can then do

some further research with your child tonarrow this list down. They can apply to amaximum of five universities via UCAS. Thesame degree can differ between universities,so look into each course in as much detail aspossible. Here are some factors for you toconsider.

Researching courses• What content is covered? Does this match

their interests?• Do the lecturers’ backgrounds and research

areas tie in with the topics your child wantsto learn about?

• How many hours of contact time are thereeach week and how is this divided up (eginto lectures, tutorials and/or lab sessions)?

• How many hours of study are studentsrecommended to do by themselves eachweek? If your child is planning to workpart time, could they fit this in?

• Are students assessed by coursework, examsor both, and what proportion of their finalgrade does each element count for?

• What are the student satisfaction ratings for the course?

• What jobs have past students gone on to do?• How much are the tuition fees and are

there any extra costs?

• What are the relevant department’s ratingsfor research and teaching quality?

• Is the course taught at one of theuniversity’s main locations or further afield?

Questions about vocational degrees• Is the course accredited by a relevant

professional body?• Which employers do past students now

work for?• What percentage of graduates find work in

the relevant industry?• What links does the course have to

employers? Are there opportunities to meetthem, get sponsored by them or do workplacements with them?

• What modules are included? Do these relateto your child’s career interests?

• Have any of the lecturers worked in therelevant industry?You might not be able to find all of this

information on the university’s website. If youcan’t, you or your child could contact therelevant course admissions tutor or ask inperson at an open day (see below).

Researching universities• How highly ranked is the university overall?• How employable are its students? What

facilities and initiatives does it have to helpthem become more employable?

• Where is it located? How much would itcost to live there and would the universityprovide accommodation?

Researching degree courses – leave no stone unturnedResearch courses thoroughly with your child and you’ll both be confident that they’ve picked the best ones for them.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

• How long would it take your child to gethome for a visit, or to commute if they planto live at home?

• Does the university have clubs and societiesthat relate to their outside interests – orcould they find these elsewhere locally?

• Does the local area have the facilities theywant?

Visiting universitiesEncourage your child to visit universities anddepartments to meet or listen to theacademics who would be teaching them –parents can usually attend too, but encourageyour child to speak for themselves. Are theywelcoming? Do they sound passionate abouttheir subject? Open days and taster coursesare a good chance to do this. You can find outmore about taster courses on the UCASwebsite (www.ucas.com).

Have a good wander round to see thefacilities – labs, lecture halls, libraries etc –and what the atmosphere is like. Head furtherafield to explore the local area. Would yourchild feel at home?

Impressing graduate recruitersKnowing what employers like in their graduaterecruits could also help your child’s decision.

• Some recruiters prefer prestigiousuniversities. So investigate higher-rankedinstitutions if your child is predicted goodgrades, but find one where they will feelinspired and supported.

• Almost all recruiters want graduates to havetaken part in activities outside of theirdegree. So consider whether a university hasclubs or volunteering programmes that yourchild would like to join. If they plan to liveat home they might be best at a universitythat doesn’t require a long daily commuteso they have time for other interests.

More help fromTARGETcareersGo to targetcareers.co.uk/uni where you’ll find:

a university course search

university profiles

city guides

help on applying to university via UCAS

degree subject guides

university reviews – find out what current

students think about their universities.

Progress your degree at a university that cares.

QMU is small enough to care, but big enough to take you where you want to go.There are a multitude of reasons to choose QMU, so let’s help you find your fit.

We:• are top in Scotland and third in the UK for employment of our undergraduate leavers;• offer a friendly, supportive learning environment;• provide courses that are professionally relevant;• ensure you will benefit from the latest research, technology and industry practices.• have excellent academic and social support approaches to ensure you ‘Stay on

Course’ with your studies and feel supported during university life;• offer outstanding opportunities for your personal development and to enhance your

student experience; and• have a great location – just six minutes train ride from Edinburgh’s city centre.

Let us help you maximise your potential!

See what our students say about us: www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/student-stories


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Don’t believe everything you hearabout degrees and employmentprospects. We’ve put together ourtop five myths to guide youthrough the maze.

MYTH ONE: arts degrees won’t get you a jobTruth: An arts degree is a good start to abroad range of careers. Some graduate jobsrequire a particular subject or range ofsubjects (eg a numerate degree or a sciencedegree) but many roles are open to graduatesof any subject. There are also conversioncourses for graduates who want to changedirection after their degree.

Many employers ask for at least a 2.1(the second highest degree grade). So if yourchild wants to join, say, a big accountancyfirm after they graduate – a route that isopen to graduates of all subjects buttypically requires a 2.1 – they would be farbetter off with a 2.1 in English than a 2.2 in maths or economics.

MYTH TWO: a sensible subject is better than one you will enjoyTruth: As per myth one, academic success is abig factor in employability. Getting good gradesrequires motivation, and it’s far easier to staymotivated about something that interests you.

Degrees and employment prospects: top five myths

Make sure your child isn’t misled if they are choosing a degree course with their employment prospects in mind.

graduates are doing six months after finishingtheir degrees. The subject with consistentlythe highest unemployment rate for those withan undergraduate degree is computer science(the unemployment rate was 9.3% in the2017/18 survey). That’s not to say that therearen’t plenty of jobs available for ITgraduates with good grades andextracurricular experience – just that evensuch a useful-sounding subject won’tguarantee you a job.

MYTH FIVE: graduates start on £28,000 to £30,000Truth: The press love to report on surveysthat suggest high graduate starting salaries.Regularly quoted reports include TheGraduate Market (from High Fliers) and thebiannual surveys from the Institute of StudentEmployers (ISE). The former predicted anaverage graduate starting salary of £30,000for 2017, while the ISE Annual Survey,published in September 2017, reported anaverage of £28,000.

However, they are based largely onsalaries from the biggest, highest-payingemployers, not from all organisationsoffering graduate jobs. For example, the 200ISE members who responded to the ISEsurvey offered 31,630 graduate jobs in 2017,while around 300,000 graduates leaveuniversity each year, meaning that onlyaround ten per cent of graduates will landone of these roles.

A more accurate salary picture comesfrom the Destinations of Leavers from HigherEducation survey, which is based onuniversities contacting all of their graduates.This found that graduates who left universityin 2016 with an undergraduate degree andwere in full-time jobs six months later earnedan average of £21,176.

This is particularly important at university. In many cases attending lectures is optional;lecturers are unlikely to hound slacking studentsand there are hundreds of fun distractions. Onsome degrees students are expected to spend thevast majority of their time studying alone – andno one will check up on this. If your childchooses a subject they enjoy, they will be lesslikely to neglect their studies.

MYTH THREE: vocational degrees are great for job prospectsTruth: There’s sometimes a mismatch inexpectations as to what a vocational degree willprovide. Students can assume that it will focuson the skills employers seek; their lecturers mayview it as an academic background to an area.Research courses carefully.

Employers typically favour graduates whohave experience outside of their degree,gained through work experience orextracurricular activities, even if their coursewas vocational. A media recruiter, forexample, is likely to be far more impressed bya history graduate who edited a section of astudent magazine and has taken workplacements with local newspapers than ajournalism graduate who hasn’t.

Different industries’ recruitment needsvary according to the state of the economy.Some are very cyclical; construction inparticular was badly hit after the creditcrunch. Outsourcing can take jobs abroad,while recruitment caps can be brought in inpublic sector roles. An area that’s boomingwhen a student applies for their degree mightnot be once they finish their studies.

MYTH FOUR: studying IT makes you very employableTruth: Each year the Destinations of Leaversfrom Higher Education survey reports what


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

© The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2017. All rights reserved. Goldman Sachs is an equal employment/affirmative

action employer Female/Minority/Disability/Vet.

BUILD SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX PROBLEMS

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Get a head start on your career in Goldman Sachs engineering while earning a degree in computer science. In partnership with Queen Mary University of London, the Goldman Sachs Degree Apprenticeship Programme combines higher education with vocational training to offer a fee-free alternative to the traditional University route. Launched in 2016, the programme has been named Overall Winner of the Top 100 Employers for School Leavers and recognized on the RateMyApprenticeship Top 100 Employers Table.

The Degree Apprenticeship Programme will allow participants to complete an apprenticeship within Goldman Sachs’ Technology division while studying for a degree at Queen Mary University of London. After the four-year programme, participants will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Digital and Technology Solutions, with the potential opportunity for a full time position with Goldman Sachs.

This programme is suited to students currently pursuing a university degree to commence in Autumn 2018, and possessing a keen interest in building solutions to complex problems. Applicants will be required to meet the minimum entry requirements of Queen Mary University of London. Given government requirements, only European Economic Area nationals are eligible for this programme.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 18 March 2018Apply online at www.goldmansachs.com/careers

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• University blend• Apprenticeship blend

Find your child’s perfect blend

• School leaver programme blend• Gap year blend

at targetcareers.co.uk


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

T here are two routes into mostfinance careers. Your child could goto university full time first and thenapply for a graduate job, or join anemployer after their A levels or

equivalent and start earning while they learn.Here we concentrate on accountancy andbanking careers but you’ll find an extendedversion at targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectorsthat includes investment management,insurance and actuarial work.

AccountancyThere are both graduate and school leaverprogrammes available with many accountancyfirms. Whichever route your child chooses,once they’ve started their job they’ll worktowards becoming professionally qualified asa chartered accountant. You can read moreabout this at targetcareers.co.uk.

Starting work at 18Accountancy firms usually seek good academicgrades (eg 112 UCAS points*) from applicants,with at least a C grade in GCSE maths andEnglish. Most school leaver programmes lastfive years; the first two years are spent workingtowards a basic qualification or certificate, thefollowing three towards a professionalqualification. A few firms offer a combineddegree and professional qualificationprogramme – these programmes usually takebetween four and six years.

A small number of firms offer summerschools for year 12 students – this kind ofexperience will make your child moreemployable, as will attending a firm’s schoolevents, open evenings or insight days.

Accountancy careers for graduatesAs a general rule, graduates will need a 2.1degree (the second highest grade) in almost anysubject to enter the accountancy profession.However, some accountancy firms, includingEY and Deloitte, will accept candidates with a2.2 degree (the third highest grade). Artsdegrees are as welcome as numerate degrees(degrees with a high concentration of maths),though there’s often a numeracy test as part ofthe application process. Graduates also need tohave developed skills such as teamwork,communication and problem-solving, forexample through extracurricular activities orpart-time jobs.

Most employers want good A level grades(eg 112 UCAS points*), although things arechanging. Work experience can help too. Lots

How to get into financeFind out about routes into accountancy and banking careers.

of accountancy firms offer internships, whichcan lead to a job offer after graduation. Doingan internship isn’t essential though; otherwork experience, such as bar work orvolunteering, is equally valuable. After beinghired, graduates usually take about threeyears to become professionally qualified.

BankingThe entry requirements for careers in bankingdepend on the division of a bank that yourchild applies to and whether they want to goin as a school/college leaver or a graduate.

Starting work at 18Banks’ retail and corporate divisions hirecollege leavers into higher apprenticeships(sometimes known as level 4 apprenticeships).Recruiters typically ask for at least two good A levels (A to C) or between 80 and 112 UCASpoints*, as well as five or more A to C gradeGCSEs, including maths and English. Recruitersmay also seek customer service experience.

Some retail banks will start their schoolleavers off in a frontline role. Barclays’ higher


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

More help fromTARGETcareersVisit targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/finance for the following:

an overview of types of jobs and employersin financeinformation on professional qualifications in accountancyadvice on choosing a university and adegree if you want a finance careersalary detailsdetails of careers in investmentmanagement, insurance and actuarial work.

apprentices, for example, spend the first yearat a local branch or within its call centre.Other banks put school leavers into theirintended roles straight away.

Banking careers for graduatesFor graduate programmes within retail andcorporate banking, applicants typically need a 2.1 in any subject and 120 to 152 UCASpoints*. Most employers also have minimumGCSE (or equivalent) requirements; forexample HSBC asks for a grade C or above in English and maths. Conversely, buildingsociety Nationwide accepts applications fromgraduates with a 2.2 (the third highest grade),but conditions apply.

To get into investment banking, applicantstypically need a university degree at a 2.1 orabove and at least 120 UCAS points*. Mostinvestment banks take on graduates from allacademic disciplines into finance roles. Highachievers in any subjects who have studied attop ranking universities tend to have the bestchances. A relevant internship is almost amust.

* This is based on the new UCAS points system from September 2017.


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

T he term ‘business’ is very broad, sohere we’re focusing on HR, sales,marketing, PR and managementconsulting. It’s possible to get intothese careers without taking a

traditional degree, for example via a higher ordegree apprenticeship or sponsored degree(see page 12). Employers generally ask fortwo or three A levels (or equivalent). Some setminimum grades or UCAS points, typicallybetween 80 and 120*. Some programmesoffer the chance to try different business areasvia a series of placements: marketing, HR andsales are common options, though PR andmanagement consulting placements are rare.For most other opportunities, and for mostgraduate schemes, applicants need to knowwhich specific area interests them.

HRSponsored degrees or higher apprenticeshipsare an option. Alternatively, some entry-level

jobs are open to non-graduates, though officeadministration experience is often needed first.

A number of HR graduate schemes areopen to those with any degree subject, thoughothers ask for a relevant degree (eg businessstudies). In many cases applicants need a 2.1(the second highest grade) though someemployers accept a 2.2 (the third highestgrade). Some organisations don’t run formalgraduate schemes but do have entry-level HRjobs that graduates can apply for.

SalesA number of higher apprenticeships anddegree apprenticeships offer the opportunityto work in a sales role. There are also entry-level and trainee roles available, for examplein media sales or recruitment. To get a job itwill help if your child has customer serviceexperience or can show that they havedeveloped relevant skills (eg buildingrelationships and understanding other

How to get into businessInvestigate routes into HR, sales, marketing, PR or consulting.


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

people’s needs) through extracurricularactivities. Areas such as pharmaceutical or ITsales sometimes require a degree.

A number of graduate programmes areopen to graduates from any degree discipline.IT companies may specify or prefer graduateswith a degree in business or IT, andpharmaceutical companies often needgraduates from a natural sciences, biomed,chemistry or life sciences background.

MarketingTraining programmes such as sponsoreddegrees, degree apprenticeships and higherapprenticeships are available. You can alsoget an entry-level marketing job without adegree. To get hired for the latter, your childis likely to need experience in a businesssetting (eg an admin job) and potentially aqualification from the Chartered Institute ofMarketing (CIM). The CIM offersintroductory courses and it’s possible to studyonline and/or at evenings or weekends. Entry-level jobs in market research tend to be aimedat graduates, though your child could start ina support role and work their way up.

Some graduate roles are open to those withany degree subject; others require a relevantsubject such as marketing or business studies.If your child studies a subject that isn’t relatedto business they should try to gain somerelevant experience while at university.

PRA number of PR employers offer higherapprenticeships. To get onto one, your childwill need evidence of their interest in theprofession. For example, they could showtheir interest in current affairs by writing ablog, or that they are confident using socialmedia by posting videos on a YouTubechannel.

For graduate roles, some employers ask fora degree in a relevant subject, and/or a 2.1

degree; others don’t. If your child’s degreerelates to the work that an employer does,that could give them an advantage: a sciencegraduate may appeal to a PR organisationthat specialises in healthcare communications,for example.

Management consultingSome firms, often referred to as professionalservices firms, offer a range of services toclients, such as accountancy, tax andconsulting; others are purely consulting firms.At the time of writing, none of the latter offeropportunities for school leavers. However,professional services firms PwC and Deloitteoffer school leaver programmes in consultingwhile KPMG includes an opportunity toexperience consulting in its school leaveroption called 360°, which gives a taste ofseveral different divisions.

Graduates from any degree discipline canbecome consultants. A 2.1 is the minimumgrade usually required by employers.Intellectual ability is highly prized, so yourchild should study a subject they can get topgrades in at the most prestigious universitythey can get into.


More help fromTARGETcareersVisit targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/business to find:

an extended version of this article

salaries in business

degree choices for business careers

types of jobs and employers your child

could choose.

We offer a wide range of professionally accredited

Plymouth Business School


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

W ould-be engineers whointend to complete their Alevels, BTEC or ScottishHighers can either study foran engineering degree before

starting work or join a higher apprenticeshipprogramme with an engineering employer.

A level subjectsIf your child wants to take a degree inengineering they need an A level (orequivalent) in maths. In many cases they willalso need physics. Some chemical engineeringdegrees ask for maths and chemistry instead;some ask for all three. For some veryprestigious universities it is helpful also tohave further maths. See the extended versionof this article at targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/engineering for more details.

To get onto an engineering higherapprenticeship or similar your child willtypically need maths and science A levels.Some employers specify which science subjects they want.

Grades requiredIf your child wants to get into a top universityto study engineering they will typically needA* and A grades in their A levels orequivalent. Universities that aren’t as highlyranked often ask for As and Bs. Entryrequirements for higher apprenticeships andsponsored degrees are typically a bit lower.Some employers don’t specify grades; someask for C grades or above at A level orequivalent; and others set a minimum numberof UCAS points, typically between 96 (CCC)and 120 (BBB)* though sometimes higher.

The university routeYour child could study a particular area ofengineering, such as mechanical engineering orcivil engineering, or keep their options openwith a general engineering degree. They canalso choose between a course that leads to abachelors-level qualification (BEng) or one thatleads to a masters-level qualification (MEng).

Many engineering employers run graduateschemes for those who have completed an

How to get into engineeringExplore paths into engineering and the grades required.


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

engineering degree. As well as a job to do,graduates are likely to receive formal trainingand might have the chance to try out differentroles to see which suits them best. There arealso many jobs for graduate engineers withcompanies that don’t run formal graduateschemes. Often these are with smallerorganisations that need someone to come inand do a particular job straight away.

Joining an employer at 18A number of engineering employers runhigher apprenticeships, which are aimed atthose who’ve just finished their A levels (orequivalent). The qualifications your childwould gain vary from company to company –some offer the chance to gain a bachelorsdegree; others offer a foundation degree or anHND or an HNC, for example.

All programmes involve combining a jobwith part-time study. Your child might workMonday to Thursday and then spend Fridaystudying at a local college or university, orattend college in blocks of a week or more ata time. They’ll also need to spend some oftheir spare time studying at home. However,their employer will typically pay all of theirtuition fees.

Your child is unlikely to be guaranteedwhen they start the programme that they willhave a permanent job once they finish.However, if they do well their employer is verylikely to offer them a position. It may alsosupport them to continue their studies to ahigher level.

Several engineering employers also offersponsored degrees. Find out more aboutsponsored degrees on page 13.

Becoming professionally qualifiedMany engineers choose to becomeprofessionally registered. This means that aprofessional body has certified that they havethe right level of skills and knowledge tomeet its benchmark. Engineers work towards

becoming professionally registered over aperiod of time while in employment,gathering evidence of their skills andexperience before being assessed.

There are different levels of professionalregistration. The highest is charteredengineer, then incorporated engineer, thenengineering technician. On average,chartered engineers earn more thanincorporated engineers, and incorporatedengineers earn more than engineeringtechnicians.

The quickest and simplest route tochartered engineer status is with a mastersdegree; the quickest and simplest route toincorporated engineer level is with at least abachelors degree. However, it’s also possibleto get there with lower qualifications, if youcan prove that you’ve reached these levels oflearning in another way.


More help fromTARGETcareersPick up a copy of TARGETcareers Construction,

Engineering & Property.

Visit targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/engineering for more on engineering

careers, including:

an overview of types of jobs and

employers in engineering

advice on choosing an engineering degree

or higher apprenticeship

engineering salaries

advice on engineering degree sponsorship.

Inspiring the next generationWe have exciting opportunities to join our

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

T here are IT jobs available at manydifferent levels. If your child isdoing well academically it makessense for them to start a little wayup the ladder, either by going to

university and then getting a graduate-leveljob, or by starting work after their A levels orScottish Highers with an employer who willtrain them – for example via a higherapprenticeship or a degree apprenticeship.

Uni first, job laterIt’s possible to get into an IT career as agraduate with any subject. However, broadlyspeaking, the less technical your child’s degree

the fewer roles will be open to them; as suchthey’ll face more competition and need to bemore impressive as a candidate. Bear in mind:• Some technology employers require a

particular, IT-related degree, eg computerscience or software engineering. This isparticularly the case with smalleremployers, who are less able to takegraduates who need lots of training.

• Some technology employers accept subjectssuch as engineering, science or maths for ITjobs but won’t accept arts or humanities.

• Several technology employers acceptgraduates with any degree and train themup. In many cases this will be for slightly

How to get into ITDiscover ways your child could start a career in technology.


less technical roles. To beat the competitionfor these jobs, a strong academic recordand extracurricular achievements will help.There is a wide range of IT degrees

available. Your child could choose a broad,technically focused subject such as computerscience, a more commercially focused degreesuch as business IT or something a bit morespecialist such as computer games design,network engineering, digital media oranimation. See targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors for our advice on degree choices for IT careers.

A level maths is typically needed to getonto a degree in computer science or similarat a leading university, often at A or A*grade. Less prestigious universities don’talways ask for A level maths.

Starting work at 18Degree apprenticeships and higherapprenticeships will allow your child to startwork in IT after their A levels or ScottishHighers (or equivalent) and study towardshigher level qualifications at the same time. Seepage 12 for more detail on how suchprogrammes work. Lower levels ofapprenticeship are also available.

A degree apprenticeship will enable yourchild to complete an IT degree part time whileworking for an employer. Participants earn awage and have their studies paid for, meaningthat they can graduate debt-free and withseveral years of valuable professionalexperience on their CV. Employers that offerIT degree apprenticeships include BT, CGI,Capgemini and Lloyds Banking Group.

Higher apprenticeships often include afoundation degree – the same level ofqualification as an HND, and equivalent to

the first two years of a bachelors degree. Takea look at employers such as BT, NationalGrid, Sainsbury’s and BAE Systems.

To get onto a programme that includes adegree or foundation degree your child willtypically need three A levels (or equivalent).UCAS points requirements tend to varybetween 98 (CCC) and 120 (BBB)*. Sometimestheir A levels need to include at least one ortwo science, maths or technology subjects.

There are also numerous higherapprenticeships in IT that don’t includeuniversity study. Entry requirements for thesevary widely. Some employers ask for three A levels; others are happy with two. Someexpect science, maths or technology subjects;others will accept any subject. And somespecify minimum grades they will accept(typically Cs) while others don’t.


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

More help fromTARGETcareersVisit targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/it-and-technology to find out more about

careers in IT, including:

an overview of the types of jobs and

employers in IT

typical salaries

advice on choosing an IT degree

types of tests used to assess candidates

for IT higher apprenticeships and

sponsored degrees.

What can you do at IBM? Ouropportunities for students will give youeverything you need to build a successfulcareer. You will work on high profileprojects for our clients and you’ll havethe support of over 380,000 colleaguesworldwide. You’ll gain the experience,skills and contacts you need to help ussolve some of our client’s toughestchallenges. ibm.com/jobs/uk

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ChrisJoined IBM 2015

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

twelve people. We tend to stay in the sameplace and have dinner together, which is nice.My cohort (and the years above and below us)goes out every Friday after work for drinks orsometimes activities such as crazy golf. There’saround 30 of us. We also have departmentsocials at least once a month – for example wewent to Go Ape in the summer.

One step aheadI wanted to join a programme that allowed meto gain the ACA qualification, which is thesame qualification that you take as a graduate.By the time I’m 23 I’ll have finished theprogramme and be eligible for an assistantmanager position, whereas graduates the sameage will be several years behind.

I will complete 15 exams in total and havea few weeks off work at a time to go to collegeand learn the content for each one. I’ve alreadycompleted ICAEW’s Certificate in Finance,Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB),which covers the first six modules of the ACA.I also attend courses on topics such as clientinteraction, coaching new starters and usingrelevant software. I have support from a buddyin the year above who can help with exams,and a counsellor who helps me tailor mycareer path.

Getting a head startJade is currently on EY’s businessapprenticeship programme. She is an auditassociate in financial services assurance.

I knew I wanted to work in finance andI thought I’d have to go to university,but after doing more research I foundout about the different options. Itmade sense to start work straight

away, avoid university debt and get extrayears of experience. I’m now in my secondyear of the five-year business apprenticeshipprogramme at EY, working towardscompleting the ACA qualification andbecoming an ICAEW chartered accountant.

Going placesIn assurance, I work with clients to confirmthat all of the balances in their financialstatements are not materially misstated,whether this be through error or fraud. I’mbased in Canary Wharf and spend about 50 per cent of my time there and about 40 per cent on clients’ sites conductingaudits. My main clients are in Windsor,which I commute to, and in Birmingham andStoke-on-Trent, which typically involve aweek away staying in a hotel. I spend aroundten per cent of my time in training, either incollege in London or on courses in differentparts of the UK.

My office is very sociable. When we travelfor audits, the team can vary from four to

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

A fter university I got a job as anenvironmental consultant, but itwasn’t quite what I wanted todo. I wanted to work in thecharity sector and, after speaking

to people about how to achieve this, I choseto train as an accountant. I applied to severalgraduate schemes that involved studying forthe ACA to qualify as an ICAEW charteredaccountant, and I was offered a job at PwC.Before starting, I spent six months travellingacross Russia, Mongolia, China and India.

Acing the ACAMy role was in audit, which involvedspending a few weeks at clients’ offices tocheck their financial records and ensure thatthey were correct. I worked with a range ofclients – from recruitment companies to theDuchy of Cornwall – and went to Delhi and New York.

I qualified as an ICAEW charteredaccountant after three years. The ACAinvolves 15 exams, which I sat in sets of three.Every six months or so, PwC gave me sixweeks off from work: I would go to collegefor four weeks and then I’d spend two weeksrevising before sitting the exams.

The ACA helped me develop my technicalaccounting skills as well as my people,teamwork, analytical and presentation skills,scepticism, and project and time management.

A well stamped passportAfter qualifying I joined PKF Littlejohn as ahumanitarian aid project auditor. I worked onEuropean Commission grants for humanitarianaid projects in developing countries. My jobwas to check whether the projects and moneywere being handled correctly.

I spent 60 per cent of my time travelling,which was great. I went to Israel, Palestine,Lebanon, Tajikistan, Mali and Nigeria, to namejust a few. I’d visit the main office of the charity(usually in the capital city), the field office(usually in a remote place) and the project site,such as a refugee camp, village or hospital, tospeak to the people receiving aid. The rest ofmy time was spent in London, either writingup reports or planning for the next trip.

A helping hand I moved to a job as a project finance managerat Ark, a charity with a network of schools inthe UK. I managed the budgets for projectssuch as bringing a school into the network,building a new school or a capital project(such as a new building at an existing school).

I’ve just started my new job as the financialcontroller at the Aga Khan Foundation, whichfocuses on long-term investment all over theworld in civil society, education, health andrural development. My career so far has mademe realise that international development isdefinitely where my interests lie.

Taking charity into accountSarah is a geography graduate and the financialcontroller at the Aga Khan Foundation.

Get in touch!If you would like to find out more about Inspiring Futures and Futurewise, please [email protected] phone +44 (0)1491 820381

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When it comes to careerchoices, is yourchild feeling alittle lost?

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Futurewise supports young people to explore their career aspirations andmake informed decisions about subject choices, higher education,apprenticeships and future employment. The programme helps youngpeople between 15 and 19 to:

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I expected that Jade would go touniversity because it seemed to be theroute every teenager took when theyfinished school, but I encouraged her topursue whatever she enjoyed most. After

doing her research she showed me theapprenticeship programmes she had discoveredthat were run by the Big 4 accounting firms.She seemed really enthusiastic and I agreed thatit was an excellent alternative to university.

Changing perceptionsI assumed that apprenticeships were minimum-wage manual-labour jobs – I definitely didn’tknow you could become a chartered accountantthrough one! I didn’t know anybody whoworked in finance, so in my mind it involvedsitting at a computer all day. From observingJade’s first two years at EY I know that isn’tthe case. It was quite a specific career path forJade to go down, but that’s no longer a fear ofmine since I learned that her professionalqualification, the ACA, will open up otheravenues of work and she can progress as far asany graduate. No one in our family has goneto university but most of Jade’s friends have.They worry about their chances of finding ajob after they graduate, while Jade is earningmoney and gaining practical work experience.

Work, study and travelI was nervous about Jade going straight fromschool into such a huge company, but shetook it in her stride. I do sometimes feel thatshe takes on a lot of work; however, sheknows when to say no if she is too busy. Jadehas gained so much confidence and I thinkshe has managed her studying well. So far shehas passed all her exams first time. EY givesher study leave and lets her finish work earlyduring exam periods. Jade occasionally staysaway from home to be at client sites, butrarely for longer than a week at a time andshe seems happy with that variety in her workenvironment.

Living independentlyJade is usually out with friends on a Friday,and at weekends she goes to the gym andspends time with her partner or her father andme. Now that her time is more limited thanwhen she was at sixth form, she has learnedto make the most of the time that she has.Jade moved out after three months on theprogramme to a flat that she rents with herpartner. I think it was a good decision as shehas matured a lot and has coped well withtaking on that extra responsibility. The onlybad thing is how much I miss her!

I’m glad my daughterdidn’t follow the crowdJennifer is Jade’s mum (see profile on page 49). She talked to TARGETcareers about Jade’s decision to do an apprenticeship instead of going to university.

ROUTES INTO CAREERS

ROUTES INTO CAREERS


I did very well at school and college. I’deven been to open days at theUniversity of Cambridge and won anaward there, but I just knew thatuniversity wasn’t for me. I was

working part time at an Apple store duringmy AS levels and one of my customers toldme that they worked at Lloyds BankingGroup and were starting up anapprenticeship. I applied and got an interview.

I did a higher apprenticeship in projectmanagement that led to a level 4 qualification.It was two years long, with two exams andseveral pieces of coursework. We were trainedto be junior project managers and I dideverything from leading small projects tohelping two different parts of the bank cometogether as one.

Discovering project managementProject management stood out to me becauseit sounded different and I thought it suited myskills and characteristics the best. I likemanaging uncertainty and I don’t like doingthings that are repetitive. As a projectmanager, you are managing situations wherebig changes are involved and your work reallycould be different every day. It is a lot ofresponsibility to get things right, but you havesome really good times with the people youwork with.

Beyond the apprenticeshipProject management gives you fundamentalskills that can be applied to lots of differentjob roles. In fact, what I’m doing now iscompletely different to my project managerrole as an apprentice. At the end of myapprenticeship I was approached about anopportunity to be an associate director incommercial banking and I took it up. I startedworking in commercial banking insight,which is a team that looks at the needs ofclients and how to adapt our products andservices to make them better. I helped managethe research around new products, whichinvolved online surveys, client focus groupsand customer testing.

Work experienceI used to do a lot of fundraising andvolunteering for local charities, such as akennels. One of the things I did there was tohelp them out with their website and mediacontent. I also worked part time at Pizza Hut,which helped me get confident when speakingto people and finding solutions to their needs.Then there was my job at an Apple store. I don’t believe I’d be at Lloyds BankingGroup if it wasn’t for Apple, but I wouldn’thave been at Apple if it wasn’t for Pizza Hut,and I wouldn’t have been at Pizza Hut if itwasn’t for the volunteering opportunities.

Every bit of workexperience countsDan is a business manager at Lloyds BankingGroup, after completing his project management apprenticeship.

Editor Rachael MilsomAssistant editor Emily DunnDesign Thomas GrayProofreader Jacky BarrettAdvertising Jon Mallott, sales product champion; the TARGETcareers sales team; the TARGETcareers campaignmanagement teamCirculation Patty ShufflebothamCommercial director Jon MallottSales director Simon RogersProduction director Jane AndersonGroup chief executive officerGraham Storey

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© GTI Media Ltd, February 2018All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproducedby any means including, but not limited to, photocopying or storedin a retrieval system in any form without prior written consent ofGTI. This is subject to the single exception of photocopying bycareers advisers or lecturers for careers counselling. All items soused should be fully acknowledged. The views expressed inarticles are those of the authors and their publication does notnecessarily imply that such views are shared by GTI. Whilst everycare has been taken in the compilation of this publication, thepublishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, orfor consequential loss arising from such inaccuracies, or for anyother loss, direct or consequential,arising in connection withinformation in this publication.


Dan Marsh.........................................................Lloyds Banking Group ..................................................................54Emily Archer .....................................................Pathways to Property ....................................................................4Emma Barbour .................................................UK Power Networks ........................................................................5Helen Alkin .......................................................Marks & Spencer ............................................................................4Jade Garner ......................................................EY....................................................................................................49Jennifer Garner .......................................................................................................................................................53Lynne Hamilton-Gow ......................................ICAEW ..........................................................................................1, 4Lynne Russell ..................................................Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh ........................................5Sally Cleaver ....................................................Willmott Dixon ................................................................................8Sarah Dixon ......................................................the Aga Khan Foundation ............................................................51Tor Redman.......................................................BDO ..................................................................................................5

Bank of England ......................................................48BDO ............................................................................10EY ..............................................................................24Financial Conduct Authority ..................................IBCFulbright Commission ............................................50Go Construct ..............................................................9Goldman Sachs ........................................................33HSBC ..........................................................................17IBM ............................................................................47

ICAEW ....................................................OBC, IFC, 3, 16Inspiring Futures ....................................................52Lloyds Banking Group ..............................................2Marks & Spencer ......................................................14Nomura ....................................................................38Pathways to Property..............................................55Plymouth Business School ....................................41Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh ................30UK Power Networks ................................................44

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When it comes to career options for your child, it’s best to keep an open mind. ICAEW Chartered Accountancy is open to school leavers and graduates, with all routes equal and end points the same. Support your child in picking the route that’s right for them and start their journey to a successful career.

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