Careers
Valuable Support & Advice
The aim of CEIAG is to help students to know themselves, to develop a critical approach to information about jobs and educational opportunities, and to give them the skills to make good decisions about their future.
At Etone College, the Careers Programme is delivered throughout Years 7 to 11 during the pupils PSHE lessons and with additional calendared careers enrichment opportunities. We believe that by providing regular, impartial information about the variety of careers and pathways, pupils can make an informed choice about how to get on to their chosen career path.
Youth Employment UK have created a free skills and careers booklet for young people to get some extra support and guidance during this time. Particularly helpful for those who have to soon make a transition. Please click link below
University Guides
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UCAS Personal Statement Advice
Which? Personal Statement Tips
Local Russell Group Universities
Other Local Universities
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Health / Care
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Education
Careers Advisor – 11 – 16 years
Miss Waite
Email address (careers@etonecollege.co.uk)
Careers Interview Request
Careers Café every Tuesday in the “ICE” room with Miss Waite & Mrs Barlow
Sixth Form College
Further Education Colleges
North Warwickshire & Hinckley College
Specialist Further Education Colleges
Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College
Brooksby Melton College - Agriculture, Animal Care and Performing Arts
Key Stage 5 Course Search
What is Labour Market Information (LMI)?
Labour Market Information (LMI) tells us all about what is happening in the world of work, or the labour market.
What can LMI tell us?
- The number of job vacancies in each job sector.
- The type of vacancies — if they are part-time, full-time, temporary, seasonal or permanent.
- General trends in the world of work — such as which types of business are doing well or failing.
- What kind of businesses are opening, or closing down, in your area.
- The skills and qualifications that employers are looking for.
- What qualification levels and subjects people have.
- How many people are looking for work.
Why do I need LMI?
- - LMI can give you a clear view of what is happening in the world of work, so you can make realistic plans when choosing your career.
- - Knowing about things like the number and type of job vacancies, how work is changing and what employers are looking for can make it easier to plan what to do next.
- - It will also help you to find out about the qualifications and employability skills you will need for your career ideas.
- - LMI can give you an idea of the job situation and help you to find out which subjects or courses you might need for your career ideas.
The word Curriculum Vitae literally translated means the story of your life. The words Curriculum Vitae are usually abbreviated to CV or C.V. and you will sometimes see it incorrectly written in lower case as c.v. or cv. Your CV is a very important document; with it rest your hopes and dreams for the future – that next step up the career ladder, a better position, more money, new challenges, etc. Your CV therefore has to represent the best you have to offer if you do not want to miss out on that job you saw which was ‘perfect’ for you.
These days employers often receive a lot of CVs for each advertised position – jobs advertised in national papers can often attract hundreds of applicants. So your CV has to be just that little bit special to stand out if you want to obtain interviews. The good news (for you) is that most people do not know how to write a CV and only spend a short time preparing a CV. Writing professional CVs is a skill, which these people have not learnt.
Of course your CV can continue to work in your favour even after it has obtained an interview for you. It can help you at an interview by carefully focusing the interviewer’s mind on your good points and on your achievements. Once you have left the interview it will continue to work in your favour as the interviewer will probably reread it before making a decision, either on who should be invited to the second interview stage or who the job should be offered to.
Look at the following websites to find out how to write a successful curriculum vitae:
Alec.co.uk – CV tips - Easy to use site, with lots of tips and hints about getting the most from your CV and lots of sample CVs to view.
Career Advice – CV information - This website contains information about what to include in your CV and how to match your skills and experience to the job in question.
Monster – Complete guide to CV preparation - Useful information about writing a CV.
Next Step – CV advice - The careers section of the DirectGov website. Includes advice on all aspects of job hunting and features a CV builder.
PlanIT Plus – Writing your first CV - This Scottish website is straightforward and easy to use, with CV examples for you to view. There is a template CV for you to have a go at writing your own. Some of the facilities on this website do require you to be signed in.
Prospects – CVs and covering letters - Includes information on writing a CV, what to include and not include. With sample CVs to view.
Reeds – Career tools - Features a CV builder, where you can enter your details and it will compile the document for you. There is a charge for some of these services, and most require you to be signed in.
Salon Jobseekers – CV advice, interviews and jobseeking - A website specially designed for those who want to work in the hairdressing or salon industries. Includes advice on CVs, interviews and job seeking. There is also an opportunity to register your CV.
Target Jobs – Downloadable CVs - Mostly aimed at graduates, but contains several formats of CV, which you can download.
The CV Centre – A CV centre guide - Although this is a CV writing consultancy, there are several free articles to view that contain advice on getting the most from your CV.
The aim of any application, by letter, CV or application form, is to get an interview. Having got the interview it is very important that you prepare yourself properly, do as well as you can at the interview and, if you are unsuccessful, learn from the experience.
Preparation:
- Find out about the organisation. What do they do? How many people do they have? Ask everyone you know, go to the library and read newspapers to try to find out as much as you can about the organisation.
- Think about yourself. What skills, qualities and achievements have you got that would interest the interviewer. Read your application again and pick out the things you’d like to come out at interview.
- Plan your journey – make sure you know exactly where and when the interview will be and let them know you will be attending. Plan Your Journey and aim to arrive at the reception area of the company at least 10 minutes before the interview. If possible, have a dry run beforehand and an alternative plan in case something goes wrong. Check the location on a map if you need to. The local library will probably have copies of local maps. For interviews in another town or city, the company will probably send you a map and details of how to find them by rail, car, bus etc. If they don’t, telephone them and politely ask the receptionist to send you details. Have a pen and paper handy in case these are given over the telephone. Decide on your preferred method of transport and check the timetable with the bus or rail company.
- Dress appropriately – choose clothes that suit the type of work and fit in with the organisation’s image. Aim to look clean, neat and tidy. Get your clothes ready the day before.
Use the following websites to help you find out how to complete a successful interview:
BBC Northern Ireland Learning – Interview advice
Lots of interview advice, not just specific to Northern Ireland. There is also an interview game where your responses can be rated so you can see how you’re doing.
College Grad.com – Mastering the interview
An American website, but a good basis for you to prepare some possible interview answers. This article features fifty standard questions you may be asked at interview.
DirectGov – Preparing for an interview
Lots of information about the interview process, from how to prepare to what to expect on the day.
Employment 4 Students – Interview advice
Information about what to expect from an interview, some standard questions to help you to prepare and some advice on body language.
Monster – Coping with interviews
Lots of articles on all aspects of the interview process, from preparation and presentation to answering questions. Also includes a virtual interview.
Level 7 – The Interview Techniques Guide
Level 7 is a step-by-step film guide to interview techniques – helping school leavers prepare for the world of work. You’ll follow Chloe as she progresses through the 7 levels and pick up essential advice along the way. Each level lasts around 5 minutes and the full programme takes half an hour in total. The films were recently acknowledged at the MEDEA Awards where the judges suggested that they should be promoted among all young men and women across the EU.
Work tasters and volunteering are an excellent ways of finding more about different jobs, networking to make links with prospective employers and gaining valuable experience to get your foot in the door in a hard to crack work area or University course. It also gives something back to the community!
You can get accredited for Volunteering through Vinspired
Vinspired makes it easy for you to find people near you who would value someone like you. What you do, where you do it and how much time you give is totally up to you. Even if you’ve only got an hour or two to spare, your help could make a big difference.
- Community Service Volunteers is the largest volunteering and training organisation.
- St Johns Ambulance: www.sja.org.uk
- The Red Cross: www.redcross.org.uk
- Sport England: www.sportengland.org
- Princes Trust: www.princes-trust.org.uk
- Young Enterprise: www.young-enterprise.org.uk
- Connexions: www.connexions-bs.co.uk
- West Midlands Fire Service: www.wmfs.net
- YMCA: www.suttoncoldfieldymca.org.uk
- Do-It.Org: www.do-it.org.uk
- Volunteering.org: www.volunteering.org.uk
Activity Centres
www.geh.nhs.uk/community-involvement/volunteering-geh/
www.uhcw.nhs.uk/where-careers-grow/volunteers/
www.wcava.org.uk/volunteering-individuals
www.volunteercentre.org.uk/index.html
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/volunteering
www.nbleisuretrust.org/work/volunteering
www.princes-trust.org.uk/support-our-work/volunteer
Charity Shops Volunteering
British Heart Foundation - www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer
Scope - www.scope.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering
Doorway - www.doorway.org.uk/volunteering
Cancer Research - www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/volunteer
Enterprise is one of the most exciting and important subjects you will learn about. The skills and attitudes that you will learn from studying enterprise are relevant to all aspects of work and your life.To spread awareness of just how vital enterprise is, some of the most exciting companies in the UK today have got together to create this website for you. Have you already achieved a purple merit/commendation for showing enterprise in your lessons? If not, then read on and see what you need to do.
The Enterprise Zone shows you what drives these companies forward and how they’ve developed to get where they are today. You’ll learn what makes enterprise important, how it can work in your life, and how to make the most of your own potential. And from across the whole range of the business community, you’ll see examples of enterprise being put into action. Please open the following attachment for more information.
The 2020 Careers Fair has been postponed. Check back soon for our new date.
On 24th October 2019, for the second time, we held a whole school Careers Day. Once again, the aim of the day was to inspire pupils’ exploration of career opportunities and offer advice and guidance for their future career choices.
Etone follows The Gatsby Foundations ‘Good Career Guidance’ which states that “good career guidance is critical if young people are to raise their aspirations and capitalise on the opportunities available to them. At Etone, we work hard to promote impartial careers advice and guidance to our pupils and our Careers Day covered many different genres of careers and encouraged aspirations for all.
Year 7
Year 7 spent the day attending talks and workshops with a number of different companies including the Police and Fire Service and also discovered the world of manufacturing, hospitality and games design. Pupils were treated to a visit from a police car as well as demonstrations from the fire service, a web quest and designing a new computer game!
Year 8
Pupils in Year 8 took part in CCF workshops learning about the different aspects of the RAF and understanding more about being a part of CCF in school. Some pupils also had the opportunity to work with Wilmott Dixon, our Business in the Community partner, on some tailored projects.
Year 9
The West Midlands Ambulance service joined us for the day, offering demonstrations, techniques, careers advice and information about joining the service. Pupils were also able to take a look around the fast response vehicle and ask lots of questions about life as a paramedic. Pupils also received talks and information about roles in engineering and project design.
Year 10
Pupils were given lots of opportunities to spend time working with representatives from local universities, landscapers, computer engineering and driving ambitions. Lots of skills were taught and advice given about all the different roles available to pupils should they wish to follow a career path into these areas.
Year 11
The theme for Year 11 was next steps and all pupils in school were given a Careers Interview with a member of the Senior Leadership team. They had to complete an initial form of their skills and aspirations before embarking on their interviews. These were highly successful and we have been able to direct pupils to opportunities that have since become available. Following the interviews, pupils were invited to attend groups of discussions with Coventry University, Newman College University, Driving Ambitions and a unique opportunity to discover studying abroad. The final task for Year 11 was to experience lift in Etone Sixth Form and ask lots of questions about their pending applications. A selected number of pupils were taken offsite to visit the University of Birmingham for an in-depth look at how a university operates and what they can expect.
Year 12 & 13
Year 12 pupils had experiences with university representatives, with a particular focus being on UCAS applications and university life expectations. There was also some sessions with engineering and RAF representatives as well as an opportunity to work on their personal statements.
Year 13 were taken offsite to experience life at De Montfort University in Leicester with the focus being the transition to university, time management and experiencing life at university.
The Careers Day was a huge success and pupils had a plethora of opportunities and wealth of information to assist with their future career choices when they finally leave Etone College.
We are already very excited about hosting our 4th Annual Careers Fair on 19th March 2020 which will allow a further opportunity for pupils to meet with prospective employers, apprenticeship providers and further education establishments to discuss their futures and careers aspirations.
We also look forward to running another career day in the near future.
On 25th October, Etone held a whole school Careers Day. The aim of the day was to inspire pupils’ exploration of career opportunities, expand their networks and open their eyes to exciting employment opportunities. The Gatsby Foundation ‘Good Career Guidance’ Report states that good career guidance is critical if young people are to raise their aspirations and capitalise on the opportunities available to them. Etone College works hard to promote impartial careers to its’ pupils and the careers day certainly encouraged aspirations for all.
Year 7 and 8
Year 7 and 8 had talks from representatives of the Armed Forces and Emergency Services. The Air Ambulance, RAF and Police Force discussed their service and the careers available within each. Pupils were treated to a look around the Police car and the siren went off many, many times! We managed to raise some much-needed funds for the Air Ambulance who work on a voluntary basis and the day was a great success.
Year 8
A small selection of pupils visited Blenheim Palace
Year 9
Year 9 pupils took part in an ‘Apprentice’ style day where they designed and created a new healthy biscuit snack. Pupils were designated a ‘role’ within the team including design, packaging, marketing (including social media), manufacturing and sales. This was a fun and interactive way for pupils to learn about being entrepreneurial and setting up a small business. A competition for the best design was held and judged by Mr Smith (Headteacher) and a representative from local supermarket Aldi. The pupils were treated to a demonstration on cookie baking by our chef, Mr Thornley-Yates and then went on to create their own recipes. The pupils all engaged really well and enjoyed their part in the process.
Year 10
Year 10 pupils have visited Coventry University where they were invited to explore the campus, experience lectures, discuss courses and future careers with heads of faculties as well as understand more about university life.
Year 11
Year 11 pupils were visited by “Talk the Talk” to build on their communication skills and interview techniques for when they have finished school. Talk the Talk ran a workshop within school and this covered employability skills, interview techniques and key presentation methods. Pupils also developed oracy skills to improve connections with potential employers and were equipped with advanced visual, vocal and verbal communication skills.
The secondary aim of the day was to boost pupil’s confidence and self-esteem for their move from school onto further education. Pupils were also provided with a resource to assist them with the creation of their CV’s using appropriate professional terminology.
The day was a great success and our pupils are now more prepared to take the next steps with their education or career.
Thursday 14th March 2019 saw the second annual Careers fair at Etone College. Due to the amazing work of Miss Waite and the success of the pilot event in 2018, we had to move the 2019 Careers fair to the sports hall to accommodate all of the presenters.
The pupils filtered around the event in 30-minute slots, allowing them valuable time to speak directly to employers, apprenticeship providers and university staff.
Etone College ensures that through each academic year, every pupil will meet aspects of the governments Gatsby benchmarks for a robust careers education. By the time pupils leave Etone College at the age of 18, they will have experienced all of the benchmarks.
You can read more about the Gatsby benchmarks for careers education by following the link below.
The careers fair provided pupils and parents the opportunity to discuss potential next steps and the correct routes through to a certain career. It helps to bring the classroom learning to reality and indicates to the pupils what subjects they need and that every grade counts!!
Presenters included Rolls Royce, Department for Education, HOET, Domino’s Pizza, University of Leicester, Nuffield Health, McLean Restaurants T/A McDonald’s, UCFB, Wilson’s Solicitors, Forrest of Arden Marriott Hotels, Coventry University, George Eliot and UHCW Hospitals, Pure Gym, National Citizens Service, Willmott Dixon, CROWN Bevcan Europe & Middle East, Warwickshire College Group and Evolve Teaching School Alliance to name but a few! We also had our own Sixth Form stand which had lots of interest from pupils.
Feedback from presenters was very encouraging and all enjoyed the experience. Etone College was particularly highlighted as being “the best fair attended so far and the most positive”. Pupils were inquisitive, proactive in their approach and behaved remarkably throughout the day.
During the last two weeks’ of the school term, our Year 10 pupils are offered the opportunity to find work experience placements. The pupils are tasked with finding their own placements at the start of the spring term and have to liaise with Miss Waite, Work Experience Coordinator, in order to have their placement finalised and insurances checked prior to their placement beginning. This year, we are really pleased to report that 100% of our pupils found a placement and have been enjoying their work placements to the fullest. The feedback we have received so far is positive and very encouraging: “He has got on very well, he is a pleasant, well-mannered young man, he must have enjoyed his time with us as he has bought us a lovely bunch of flowers and thank you cards!” “She has been a pleasure to have work with us, really hard-working and polite”. “She has arrived on time, with a great attitude towards working and learning how we run things as a business”. We are always looking for local businesses to help with work experience placements. If you can offer a placement to any of our Year 10 pupils next year, or for more information regarding work experience, please contact Miss Waite on 02476 757300 or by email at careers@etonecollege.co.uk
Work Experience Placement Form - 2019
- The importance of Work Experience - HERE
- UCAS - Importance of Work Experience - HERE
- Work Experience - Tips & Tricks - HERE
- My World of Work Experience HERE
- Ground Work - Finding Work Experience - HERE
Jaguar Land Rover currently has exclusive work experience opportunities for 14-18-year-olds located at 7 different locations in the West Midlands.
The opportunities are based near Solihull, Castle Bromwich, Halewood, Whitley, Gaydon and Wolverhampton. Applications will close on the 28th of February 2020 and placements will commence between June and July 2020.
Using the link below you can learn more and get your students to apply for this exclusive opportunity: https://www.springpod.co.uk/jaguar-land-rover-work-experience-2020/
Springpod is free for schools and students. Students can apply directly to this and work experience opportunities from Atkins, BBC, BMW, Airbus, BAE Systems, Deloitte, Boots, Royal Air Force, Rolls Royce EY and more.
To find out more visit our website:https://www.springpod.co.uk/ schools-colleges/
Alumni
Meet the Careers Support Team
Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance
Miss N Waite
CEIAG Co-ordinatorApprenticeships, Employment and Work Experience
