The InbeTweeners answer The bIG careers quesTIons

Discover
Your
Future
The Inbetweeners answer
the BIG careers questions
the big story
The Inbetweeners
answer the BIG
careers questions
They’ve survived school, painful Star Wars moments
and mucking around in tents. Now the Inbetweeners
give you serious TV careers advice. Yes, really.
When Inbetweeners actors
Simon Bird and Joe Thomas met
doing comedy in university,
they had a dilemma:
CAN WE FA
CE WORKIN
GT
MATES FOR
THE NEXT T OGETHER AS
RILLION YEA
RS?
The answer was ‘yes’, so that’s okay. Simon and Joe hooked up with Blake Harrison and
James Buckley and created The Inbetweeners, a guide on how not to do things, ever.
The Inbetweeners gave us life lessons on all kinds of things, and their words of wisdom serve as a useful
guide for the wrong way to follow study and employment advice too:
1
KEEP a positive mental
approach to exams
2
Don’t try to be funny on
your CV or in an interview
4
TALK ABOUT YOUR
ACHIEVEMENTS IN A JOB
INTERVIEW
What’s the point? Seriously, I mean, what’s the point in being alive?
3
FOCUS ON YOUR
POSITIVE POINTS
I’m the worst human being
in the world.
3
5
LEARn the
industry lingo
6
Be honest and open with
your co-workers
You really are one of the most
digusting humans I’ve ever met.
I’m starting to doubt if
“Legislatures” is even a word!
7
BE interesting and
interested
I mean... is this a word?
What we up to Friday night?
It doesn’t look right.
Same as every Friday night, nothing.
4
So that was the Inbetweeners showing us how to
follow good advice badly.
BAFTA Guru
Inspiring minds in film, TV and games…
that’s what our friends BAFTA do via the
BAFTA Guru website. Where else can
you find major famous names like Daniel
Radcliffe, Miranda Hart, Caroline Flack and
Benedict Cumberbatch giving advice on
how they made it in the industry? You’ll
get careers tips from all kinds of showbiz
masters, from TV producers to fight scene
choreographers. Be warned – once you start
watching the videos, you might never stop!
The good news is that it’s a different story for the
lads behind the Inbetweeners! See the video below
to hear genuinely wise words from Simon, Blake, Joe
and James as they talk about how they went from
school skits to TV catchphrases. It’s great advice if
you’re an actor… and if you’re not, Plotr will show
you how to apply their advice to your own life!
WATCH THE VIDEO:
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=V7wcKSk8t1U
How can the Inbetweeners’ career
tips help if you don’t want to be
funny or famous for a living?
• Research and network with people who enjoy the
same hobbies and skills as you – Shared activities
can help you hone your skills and also help you meet
people who can help you go places careers-wise.
• Put yourself forward – If you don’t take a risk and
start climbing the mountain, you’ll never see the
view from the top!
• Try to make sure any good work you do is seen by
other people – Once they see how great your stuff/
work/attitude is, they can help you progress. It’s as
true in your work experience or first job as it is in a
TV comedy career.
Want a career in TV or film? Come and visit the Film, TV, Music and Theatre world on Plotr. You’ll find
loads of different film and TV careers ideas with advice on exactly how to get started, whether your dream
is to become an actor or stay behind the lens as a camera operator. Think your abilities and interests might
head in a different direction? Play the Plotr Game to see which careers might suit you!
5
CAREER SPARKS
From going nowhere
to Cambridge Uni:
Turning it around
Mentor Ali Niaz tells his story…
Ali Niaz, 25, grew up surrounded
by bad influences in South
London and ended up doing time
aged 20. While serving his time
he got an A-level in business
studies. On his release he won
a scholarship to Cambridge to
study sustainable business.
Ali is now a professional life coach and runs the
youth development organisation Aspire to Be Great
as well as his own business Giftrapt – where he
writes and performs personalised rap songs for
special occasions.
In 2013 Ali was hired by the youth charity
Regenerate as a consultant, to help set up its
Enterprise Coaching Collective which mentors
young people and their business ideas.
It’s all about making a change…
“It’s all about
you making
the changes
– if and when
you want to”
What was your experience of school like?
“None of my teachers encouraged me in anything at
school and I don’t blame them – I was playing truant
and causing a lot of trouble. My passion was music
and I was naturally entrepreneurial, so I did quite
like business studies!”
Why did you take up an education in prison?
“I had recently got involved with the youth charity
Regenerate and went to Kenya to help build an
orphanage. The other people on the trip were
successful businessmen – some near my own age –
and talking with them really opened my mind and
inspired me.
“This, combined with seeing the extreme poverty
there, made me want to sort my life out. I didn’t
want to be living a negative lifestyle when these
people had nothing.”
What did you study and how did you stay
motivated?
“I enrolled in lots of courses and got an A-level in
business studies with the Open University. When
I started to volunteer for Regenerate, I also got
introduced to my mentor.”
How did having a mentor help you?
“My mentor sponsored me to run Aspire to Be Great
and encouraged me to apply for a scholarship to
study sustainable business at Cambridge, which I did
– and got accepted. He also asked me to write a rap
song for his daughter’s wedding, which gave me the
idea for my Giftrapt business offering personalised
raps (you can check out some examples here).”
7
What advice would you give to a young person in
trouble with the law?
Helpful Resources
Regenerate
Regenerate works with young people
and families to help transform lives.
Regenerate’s Mentoring & Coaching
Collective aims to guide young people in a
personal quest for growth.
“It’s all about you making the changes – if and when
you want to. Sit down and reflect on what you are
about to get into and how your actions affect the
people that care about you.
“Look at the other options out there. You can’t buy a
house with cash that was made on the streets – you
need to have a legitimate salary going into your
bank account to get a mortgage!”
How can young people find inspiration?
Beyond Youth
“As a teenager, I aspired to be a rapper. Everybody
wants to be the ‘famous guy’, the celebrity – but
we can’t have millions of rappers. What about the
people behind the scenes? Someone has to be the
director, the businessperson, the accountant.
Beyond Youth believe in a Chance 2
Change. They work with all kinds of
young people - including young offenders –
helping them to prepare for adult life.
“We need to glamorise the heart surgeon or the
nurse who saves lives. You need to be aware of all
the roles that make this world go round and not just
look for instant, easy success.”
Think you’d make a great entrepreneur? Find out more on Plotr. Then again, maybe Ali’s story has inspired
you to check out charities and voluntary work…
8
CAREER SPARKS
10 young people
who can add ‘world
record-breaker’
to their CV
Every day, young people lead
the way for others to follow.
Could there be a world
record-breaker in you?
YOUNGEST PERSON TO WIN
A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
Human rights activist Malala
Yousafzai, 17, was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 2014 for her struggles
for young people’s rights, including
the right to education. In the poor
countries of the world, 60% of the
population is under 25 years of
age. It’s essential that children go
to school and not be financially
exploited. Even though she was
only 17, Malala had already spent
several years fighting for the right of
girls to education. In October 2012, she boarded her
school bus in the Pakistani district of Swat. A gunman
asked for her by name then pointed a gun at her and
fired three shots. Thankfully, she survived. In spite of
her terrible ordeal she heroically continues to fight for
young people’s education rights.
Find out what it takes to become to be a
humanitarian worker
YOUNGEST PERSON TO WIN AN OSCAR
Actor Tatum O’Neal won an Oscar at just ten years
old for her supporting actress performance in ‘Paper
Moon’ (1973). It’s amazing to see someone so young
recognised for her achievements.
Find out what it takes to be an actor
YOUNGEST GIRL TO CLIMB EVEREST
A 13 year old Indian tribal schoolgirl and mountain
climber became the youngest girl to climb Mount
Everest in April 2014. And she didn’t just climb it,
she conquered it from the more difficult Tibetan side
because Nepal won’t let anyone under 16 attempt
the climb. Malavath Poorna told the BBC she felt
“great” after the climb and wants to be a role model
for tribal young people.
Find out what it takes to be a mountaineering
instructor
YOUNGEST PERSON TO TREK
TO THE SOUTH POLE
Explorer Lewis Clarke has no problem with the
cold – he admits to wearing shorts in winter! In
December 2013 at the age of 16 he became the
youngest person ever to trek to the South
Pole. He had to ski about eight hours a day
and pull his own supplies behind him on a
sledge. He said in advance his goal was to
enter the record books, and he achieved it!
Explore careers related to sports, tourism
and leisure
10
YOUNGEST SAILOR TO CROSS THE
ATLANTIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY
In 2007, 14 year old British schoolboy and sailor Mike
Perham became the youngest person to successfully
sail across the Atlantic all on his own. It took him
over six weeks. He sailed with dolphins and sharks
while battling huge waves and massive winds. He
celebrated Christmas Day on his own by setting off an
emergency flare in the middle of the ocean, and said of
the experience, “sometimes you feel a bit lonely”. But
at least he got front seat at his own light show… and
got to put ‘world
record-breaker’
on his CV!
Find out what it
takes to become
a sailor
YOUNGEST PERSON
EVER TO DEVELOP AN APP
In 2013, seven year old Zora Ball became officially
the youngest person to ever develop a mobile app.
Her mobile video game was unveiled at the FATE
Bootstrap Expo. Some grumpy old people thought
her older brother might be responsible so they
gave her a bit of a cheeky test to see if she was
fibbing… but she reconfigured the app in front of
the olds successfully and proved herself to be a total
programming wizard. Take that, olds.
Find out what it takes to be a mobile app developer
YOUNGEST PERSON TO PLAY
IN THE WORLD CUP
Photo: Mer
cury
Press & Med
ia
YOUNGEST PERSON TO
CREATE NUCLEAR FUSION
Jamie Edwards from Preston is just 13 and he
describes himself as an ‘amateur nuclear scientist’.
He’s earned the title – after all, he only went and
built a nuclear reactor in his school science lab!
He spent a year building it then won his world
record when he successfully smashed some atoms
together to make helium, in a feat known as making
‘a star in a jar’ (because it’s the same reaction that
produces the sun’s energy). He’s gone on to win a
$100,000 scholarship and have his nuclear security
work funded by the US Government. Which is
good, because Jamie and his friend George Baker
originally contacted physicists for the $2,000
funding needed but got nowhere until their school
stumped up the cash. It must have been a blow at
first, not getting any funding, but cash and support
from the US Government makes it all better!
Norman Whiteside from Northern Ireland got his
football feet on and played in the actual World Cup
at the age of 17 in 1982. That’s amazing. But let’s also
give a cheer to Souleymane Mamam from Togo, who
got to play in a World Cup qualifying match at the
incredibly impressive age of 13 in 2001.
A football career has a sell-by date because your
body won’t stay in peak condition forever – if you’re
going into football professionally, never think you’re
too young. Just go for it.
11
YOUNGEST PERSON TO WRITE A
BESTSELLER
It’s not a happy story but it is an inspiring one.
Author Mattie Stepanek was born with a rare form
of muscular dystrophy. Before his death in 2004
at the age of 13 he became known worldwide as
a peace advocate and motivational speaker, and
published five best-selling books of poetry. He
published his first bestseller at the age of six.
Like many notable
young people, including
19 year old cancer
sufferer Stephen Sutton
who raised almost
£5 million for the
Teenage Cancer Trust,
Mattie Stepanek
turned his disease
into a means to
make the world a
better place.
YOUNGEST PERSON TO WIN AN
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL
In 1936, USA Olympian Marjorie Gestring became
the youngest person ever to win an Olympic gold
medal, to the amazement of the sports world.
She won it in the 3-metre springboard diving
competition. She was 13 years old.
Want to put ‘world record
breaker on your CV?
• Want to set a world record for a brand new
achievement? Think about your skills and interests
and set yourself a goal.
• You don’t have to go it alone – getting a group
together to achieve a world record could also
work (e.g. most people to have a pillow fight in
Trafalgar Square).
• Trying to set a new world record could be a
great charity venture. It could get you coverage
in the local news and also benefit the charity of
your choice.
CV benefits: You’re disciplined enough to achieve what you set out to do, you’re a proactive person and
ready to think outside the box. You’re ambitious and ready to show community spirit and ‘give back’.
Hop on over to the Guinness World Records website and see if there are any existing records you can break.
You could end up doing something that’s a great conversation piece or has helped to make the world a better
place. For more careers advice that thinks outside the box, visit Plotr.
12
CAREER SPARKS
21
apprenticeships to
make people go ‘wow’
From zookeeping to PR and animation… there are SO many awesome
apprenticeships out there. Here’s our top 21 to make your friends
green with envy…!
The range of apprenticeships via the National Apprenticeship Service is expanding every
day, with new apprenticehsips being posted on the Plotr jobs finder all the time. If you
don’t find what you’re looking for right away, keep checking back! Meanwhile, these
21 cherry-picked apprenticeships are guaranteed to take you on the journey of a lifetime…
1
2
Live events apprentice
Cabin crew apprentice
Love going to gigs and music festivals? On the
‘live events and promotion’ apprenticeship you’ll
learn everything about putting on great events
like Glastonbury. Your work could involve event
promotion (getting the word out), helping to set up
and stage the event, or working with the bookings
department (selling tickets).
Want a career at 30,000 feet? On this apprenticeship,
you’ll learn how to prepare the inside of an aircraft
for a flight and use your super friendly personality to
greet customers. Air cabin crew make sure passengers
are safe and comfortable during the flight. It’s your job
to provide customer service in the narrow spaces of
an aeroplane, using all of your finesse and skill.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become an events manager
Live events and promotion apprenticeships
How to become a flight attendant
Flight attendant apprenticeships
3
4
If a scandal hit the supermarket you worked for, or
a superstar publicly slammed your business, could
YOU help smooth out the crisis? Public relations
officers (known as PRs) manage the media coverage
of people and companies to show their best side. PR
apprenticeships vary depending on your employer,
but you’ll probably work as a PR assistant or a junior
account executive. You’ll learn how to create public
relations campaigns, organise events, write effectively
and use social media to achieve your PR goals.
Firefighters protect people in the community
from fire and rescue people that need help. As an
apprentice firefighter, you’ll learn all of the different
ways to put out a fire – including gas, powder, water
and foam. More importantly, you’ll learn how to
prevent fires and advise others on the subject.
PR apprentice
Firefighter apprentice
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a firefighter
Emergency fire service apprenticeships
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a PR officer
PR apprenticeships
14
5
6
Want to work with our furry friends? Then this
apprenticeship is perfect for you! Animal apprentices
get to work in many settings and with lots of different
animals. You could be grooming dogs, looking after
animals in a pet shop, assisting the breeding of
pedigree animals or training guide dogs.
Want to use your amazing science skills to help take
care of the planet? On an environmental conservation
apprenticeship you’ll have the choice of four routes:
environmental conservation, access and recreation,
rivers, coasts, waterways and flood risk management,
or dry stone-walling. You’ll learn about conservation,
leading volunteers and reporting on the environment
– and you’ll get to work on projects ranging from local
issues (like community recycling) to national ones (like
global warming).
Animal care apprentice
WHAT’S NEXT?
Animals Career World
Animal care apprenticeships
7
Environment apprentice
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become an environmental health officer
Environmental conservation apprenticeships
Horticulture apprentice
Could you work your magic on someone’s garden?
Gardeners grow and look after plant life in green
spaces ranging from someone’s back yard to
Buckingham Palace! Apprenticeships in horticulture
landscaping can cover the planning, creation and
maintenance of designed landscapes – both urban
and rural depending on your employer.
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a gardener
Horticulture apprenticeships
9
Veterinary nurse apprentice
Want to help injured animals? Veterinary assistants
help with everything from feeding time to assisting
the veterinary surgeon with operations.
Veterinary nurse apprentices carry out diagnostic
tests and medical treatments as well as minor surgical
procedures under the supervision of a veterinary
surgeon. As an apprentice you’ll work with domestic
animals such as cats, dogs and rabbits… but you could
be working with horses and farm animals too!
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a veterinary assistant
Animal careers world
8
Florist apprentice
You may not realise it, but there’s a lot more to
floristry then wrapping tissue and bows around
bunches of roses! The best florists must have an
in-depth knowledge of all things plant-related,
as well as being creative, sociable, good with
their hands and hard-working. The Intermediate
Level Apprenticeship in Floristry gives options to
specialise further into a specific area of becoming
a florist, or you can even continue into higher
education and complete an HNC/D or foundation
degree in floristry. Need to start earning right away?
Show a high-end florist some real talent and starting
salaries can be up to £25,000 a year.
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a florist
Agriculture and horticulture apprenticeships
15
10
11
Want to work in TV or radio? As an animator
apprentice you’ll bring cartoon and CGI characters
to life on screen. It’s a varied job – you could be
working on animated films or cartoons for TV, or
creating the latest graphics for a top computer game
as a video game animator instead!
On this apprenticeship you’ll learn a range of skills,
including how to design signs, prepare different
types of surfaces, cut out and build plastics into
letters and logos, use digital technologies and install
signs at the end of the process.
Animation apprentice
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become an animator
Creative and digital media apprenticeships
12
Signmaker apprentice
Your physical activities could involve machining,
joining, engraving, etching, hand decorating, spraypainting and screen-printing. Once you’ve finished
your apprenticeship you could become a signmaker,
sign installer, quality technician or manufacturing
technician.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Activity leader apprentice
How to become an engraver
Signmaking apprenticeships
Got bags of energy and a passion for the outdoors?
Outdoor sports instructors and activity leaders work
in a field they’re passionate about – like canoeing or
climbing – and show other people how to do it.
13
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become an outdoor sports instructor
Sport and Fitness Career World
Activity leader apprenticeships
14
Fashion and textiles apprentice
Could you create the perfect outfit? Dressmakers
make clothing that is designed specifically for one
person. They make “tailor-made” dresses, blouses,
trousers and skirts, and more. Fashion and Textiles
Apprenticeships cover the fashion and textiles
supply chain from the processing of raw materials
to product manufacture, to wholesale and trading
activities and after-sales servicing of products.
Apprentices get to specialise in one of five areas:
apparel, textiles, footwear, leather goods and
saddlery.
Beauty therapist apprentice
Love making people look and feel good? Beauty
therapists take their customers from glum to glam
using the latest beauty products and techniques. As
an apprentice you’ll assist senior therapists and learn
a range of skills and techniques – such as how to
improve facial skin conditions, wax body hair, spray
tan, shape and colour brows, perform hand and foot
treatments, and apply make-up.
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a beauty therapist
Beauty therapy apprenticeships
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a dressmaker
Fashion and Beauty careers world
Fashion and textiles apprenticeships
16
15
16
Could you light up centre stage? In this apprenticeship
you’ll train as a lighting technician assistant –
liaising with the lighting director, designer, floor
manager, producer and sound technician.
Could you design the next iPod? Design engineers
create new products and improve existing ones.
Design apprentices work for either a design firm or
a non-design business that still uses designers (e.g.
a textile manufacturer). You’ll assist a designer or
design team and build specialist skills.
Live theatre lighting apprentice
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become an audio-visual technician
Live theatre apprenticeships
17
Music business apprentice
The music business is labelled as a hard industry
to break into, so getting onto an apprenticeship is
a great way to firmly wedge your foot in the door!
Just don’t expect to be sitting around listening to
your favourite tunes all day – you’ll be learning
all there is to know about the business of making
music. Depending on where you go, there are
different types of Music Business Apprenticeship
available, and you could find yourself choosing
between: A&R (that’s ‘artists and repertoire’ or talent
spotting), music publishing assistants, radio pluggers,
marketing executives or assistant publicists. There’s
a Live Events and Promotion Apprenticeship too,
where you’ll play a hands-on role putting on live
events and shows – so if you’re a gig lover and great
event organiser this could be just the ticket (sorry).
Product design apprentice
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a design engineer
Product design apprenticeships
18
Zookeeper apprentice
Love animals? From zookeeping to breeding
pedigree dogs, there are tonnes of different
apprenticeships that involve working with animals.
Depending on the work your employer offers, you’ll
get the chance to specialise and develop great skills.
Some apprenticeships you could investigate include:
animal groomer, pet shop assistant, animal care
assistant and dog handler.
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a zookeeper
Animal care apprenticeships
WHAT’S NEXT?
Universal Music careers world
Music business apprenticeships
17
19
Playworker apprentice
Yes, playing with kids can be an actual job! As an
intermediate level apprentice you’ll train towards
becoming a Playworker. Playworkers work in
children’s play centres where they supervise and
play with children, helping them to learn and
develop new skills and improve their understanding
of the world around them.
WHAT’S NEXT?
How to become a Playworker
Playwork apprenticeships
21
20
Costume and props designer
apprentice
Lights, camera… action! Could you create props and
costumes and work behind the scenes in the exciting
worlds of TV, theatre, film and musicals? As well
as making and altering costumes as an apprentice
costume designer, you’ll research places and historical
periods to make sure the costumes are accurate. You’ll
attend meetings with the art director, producer and
set designer and have a say in the creative “vision”
of the production. Once you’ve completed your
apprenticeship you can go on to do a foundation
degree or HNC/D in Costume Construction or
Theatre Arts too – the world is your stage!
WHAT’S NEXT?
‘Binary wizard’ apprentice
If you want to explore new horizons, you don’t have
to dive in deep oceans or explore forgotten lands…
why not get into IT instead? An apprenticeship will
give you a sound footing in an incredibly exciting
and ever-changing digital world, and it could be the
perfect way to learn the key skills and experience
you need to become a top IT professional. There
are lots of IT apprenticeships to choose from, so
whether you want to start out as a software tester,
help to create the next social media platform as a
program coder or discover the ghost in the machine
as a sysadmin expert, there’ll be an apprenticeship to
help you on the way to building the skills you need…
whatever your academic level.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Capgemini IT apprenticeships (see their employer
profile – and they’ll help you study for a degree, too)
CGI IT apprenticeships (see their employer profile)
Agilsys Arch IT apprenticeships (see their employer
profile)
Just IT apprenticeships (see their employer profile)
How to become a costume designer
Royal Opera House career and apprenticeship
opportunities
National Apprenticeship Service
The National Apprenticeship Service has loads of
info on applying for the apprenticeships that will
work best for you. See their useful links below:
National Apprenticeship Service profile
Latest jobs
Pictures and videos
See all our tips and advice on apprenticeships on Plotr, plus hear from young people who have actually done
it. They can tell you what it’s like and also give you the best tips!
18
CAREER SPARKS
Get paid to escape!
7 Great jobs
involving travel...
Love visiting new countries? Or never been further
than France? Check out Plotr’s favourite seven jobs
that let you earn AND travel!
Travel rep
Hotel manager
Yes, a job that actually has ‘travel’ in its title! As a
travel rep (representative) you’ll spend a ‘season’
living in a holiday resort. This could be a ski, beach,
diving or safari resort. You’ll know your holiday
resort inside out, and you’ll make sure visitors who
have booked their holiday with your company have
an unforgettable experience so they come back next
year. A typical day includes welcoming guests at
the airport, checking everything’s okay with their
hotel, giving local area advice, and organising and
promoting activities.
As a trainee or assistant hotel manager, you could
be helping to run a holiday resort, a B&B in the
mountains or a luxury spa by the beach. Part of your
job will be to make sure the hotel is clean and tidy,
and that guests have everything they need to enjoy
their stay. You’ll need to be a quick thinker, a good
problem solver and have great organisational skills.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
You’ll start on a salary of around £12,000 a year
and after you gain experience, this can go up to
£16,000 or more. On top of this, travel reps get free
accommodation and insurance, and sometimes
earn commission, for example by selling tours and
arranging car hire.
INTERESTED?
Find out everything you need to get you your first
job as a travel rep or international tour guide
Pilot
Imagine flying a jumbo jet with the Sahara desert or
the Atlantic Ocean stretched out beneath you – and
being the one in charge! Pilots are the most senior
members of the crew on board a plane. It’s a pilot’s
job to safely fly passengers (and cargo) to and from
destinations all around the world. This is an exciting
and challenging job. It requires a very specific skill
set that can take years of intensive training to
obtain, so you need to have plenty of stamina and
determination.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
Starting off as a co-pilot (first officer) you will earn
between £21,000 and £43,000 a year, depending on
experience. Captains can earn between £55,000
and £80,000 a year and captains with lots of
experience (e.g. 20 years or more) can earn up to
£100,000 a year.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
It depends what kind of hotel you’re at (and where in
the world) but typical salaries are around £19,000 for
a trainee or assistant hotel manager. If you enjoy the
job, more senior managers of small hotels or deputy
managers of larger ones can earn from £20,000 to
around £35,000. General managers can earn £60,000
or more.
INTERESTED?
Find out more about becoming a hotel manager
Press officer
Lots of big companies have press officers, and many
press office roles at international brands involve
travelling. It will be your job to fly to different
locations to represent your company there. When
choosing which companies to target, make sure you
pick ones with a high profile in the international
media. It’s an even better sign if the company moves
around a lot. Why? Because they’ll need your
PR presence internationally, so there’ll be travel
opportunities in it for you!
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
Starting out, you can expect to earn around £16,000
per year as a press officer. If you go on to run your
own (successful) business or work your way up to
become an accounts director at a big company you
could make £80,000 per year or more.
INTERESTED?
Find out what it means to be a press officer
INTERESTED?
Find more information about becoming a co-pilot
20
English teacher
Flight attendant
Did you know you already speak one of the most
widely-used languages in the world – and lots of
foreign people want to learn how to do the same?
There’s no shortage of people wanting to learn
English, from Kabul to Kerala to Kathmandu and
many other places that don’t begin with the letter
‘K’. Learn how to teach English professionally and
you can pretty much find work anywhere that
doesn’t have English as its national language. What’s
more, British teachers are in even greater demand
than other English-speakers (like Americans or
Australians) because many foreign people would
prefer to learn English with a British accent.
Forget the old-fashioned “trolley dolly” image –
today’s flight attendants are more highly trained
than ever before. As well as serving food and
drink and keeping their passengers happy, flight
attendants are responsible for the on-board safety of
the flight, plus relaying messages from the pilot. Lots
of different vocational courses are available to help
get you started. It’s also worth knowing that many
big airlines pay to train their staff from scratch.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
Salaries vary according to where you’re teaching.
There’s a huge demand for TEFL teachers in Japan,
Korea and Taiwan, where salaries are up to £2,000 a
month. In Saudi Arabia, an experienced teacher can
earn as much as £2,600 a month.
INTERESTED?
See more about what it means to be a teacher and
explore the Plotr schools, colleges and uni world for
more info
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
As cabin crew, you’ll start on £12,000-14,000 a year.
With experience, this is likely to rise to between
£15,000 and £21,000 a year. Senior crew can earn up
to £25,000 a year. Overtime and flight allowances
can boost your earnings further.
INTERESTED?
Find out more about becoming a flight attendant
Mountaineering instructor
There are lots of mountains in the world, and lots
of people keen to climb them! Mountaineering
instructors are fully-qualified guides who take
groups of people on mountain treks and expeditions.
They make sure the people in their care enjoy the
experience and, most importantly, stay safe. It’s the
perfect role if you’re fit, love being outdoors and
enjoy socialising.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
Starting salaries are around £12,000 a year. With
experience, you can earn around £18,000 a year
while senior instructors can earn £25,000 a year or
more. With some jobs, accommodation and food are
provided too.
INTERESTED?
Find out more about being a mountaineering
instructor here
Want more ideas? Don’t forget to check out Plotr’s Tourism and Leisure and Getting Around career worlds!
See lots more careers as well as useful tips on working overseas, volunteering abroad and more.
21
GET UP, STAND UP
7
types of volunteer
– which one are you?
Boost your confidence and skills,
meet new people, give back to
the community, plus it’s GOLD
for your CV! Which of our seven
volunteering types best suits you?
Having ‘volunteering’ on your CV shows you are motivated, experienced and
able to work with anyone. It can really help you stand out from the crowd
when you start applying for your first proper job. Oh, and as well as giving you
extra confidence and new skills, it also means helping others.
HOT TIP
You can volunteer from the age of 14+ in the UK, so long as it’s for a non-profit organisation and they
have an insurance policy to cover you. Volunteers usually start at 16+.
1
2
Lights! Music! (Volunteer) action! If you’re a creative
type who loves art and culture, there are all kinds of
ways to give back to the community (and make your
CV a Van Gogh-worthy masterpiece).
Do you long to travel and see the world,
experiencing other cultures? That wanderlust
can be combined with your desire to help others
through travel volunteering. You can try it as part
of your gap year, or during your summer holidays…
programmes tend to be flexible and can last
anything from one week to six months or more.
The Creative
You can volunteer backstage at theatres, or crew on
music festivals. You can give your time to museums and
galleries, helping to keep them a resource that anyone
can enjoy. You can share your skills at art workshops
to provide social support and therapy for all kinds of
people. From the homeless and elderly to those with
learning disabilities, everyone needs (and deserves)
access to the benefits that creativity can bring.
GET INVOLVED
Do-it
vInspired
3
The Carer
Perhaps it’s children, the homeless, or old people you
want to reach out to? Right here in the UK, so many
people are facing terrible daily challenges. You can
help, and the UK will be a better place if you do.
If you have a caring nature, there are many ways
you can make a difference, even if what you have to
offer is mainly your time and enthusiasm rather than
specific skills. There’s bound to be a local volunteer
group that needs extra helping hands in your area.
From giving a few hours each week or month at
hot soup kitchens for the homeless to becoming a
Leukaemia CARE student ambassador, there’s a lot of
variety in how you can help care for others.
The Adventurer
It’s usually not a cheap option – there’s often initial
payment involved (for travel and expenses) so it’s
something to save up for. Any free opportunities
you find are more likely to involve set skills, like
photography or teaching, but it’s worth scouting
around.
GET INVOLVED
Raleigh International
Restless Development
International Citizen Service
HOT TIP
Dig deeper! Research your dream travel
volunteer project to check it really is
ethical, popular and genuinely useful to the
community it’s intended to help. See what
other ex-volunteers have said about it! And
always place your health and safety first
if you go abroad. You can be adventurous
without taking unnecessary risks.
GET INVOLVED
vInspired
St John Ambulance Cadets
23
4
5
Do you think you’d make a great team activity
leader? Are you driven, full of ideas, and willing to
step up and take charge (in a good way that helps
others, not the Darth Vader way… )? There are lots
of ways to volunteer so you can show leadership
qualities and experience on your CV. This could
involve sports coaching, teaching, mentoring or
perhaps becoming a youth club leader.
How can you combine canoeing with caring? Or
skiing with social justice? If you love physical
activity, you can make a difference through
fundraising, sports coaching, summer opportunities
and becoming an active champion for a wide variety
of organisations.
The Leader
GET INVOLVED
vInspired
YEUK Youth Ambassadors
Team v
The Sportster
GET INVOLVED
vInspired
Volunteer Now
Duke of Edinburgh’s award
HOT TIP
HOT TIP
Many volunteer organisations like YEUK
give lots of responsibility to their Youth
Ambassadors, so search online for ‘volunteer
youth ambassador’ and you’ll find all kinds of
opportunities!
6
The Wallflower
Feel a bit shy in social situations? What you
need is a change of scenery and a new challenge.
Volunteering means you throw yourself into
something completely new and different, to put
a spring in your step and either boost or restore
your confidence. You’ll feel great knowing you’ve
helped others, and those smiles will make it all seem
worth it. Plus you’ll get to meet new people in a safe
environment and discover a whole bunch of skills
you never knew you had.
GET INVOLVED
Get involved in sports volunteering now and
you could end up a sporting coach or sports
team leader over time.
7
The Animal Lover
People need help, and so do animals! There are all
kinds of disadvantaged creatures out there who need
humans to intervene, from the cute and fluffy to the
creepy and decidedly crawly. Your focus could be
on rehoming animals, prevention of animal cruelty
or species protection. Your activities could include
anything from dog walking and cat socialising to
home visits, fund raising or staffing gift shops. Or
perhaps swaddling baby bats and feeding them with
tiny pipettes. Your desire to help animals could take
you from UK animal rescue centres to rainforest
jungles. It’s your call.
GET INVOLVED
RSPCA
Blue Cross
Do-it
Duke of Edinburgh’s award
24
Step up to Serve: #iwill
Do-it
The Step Up to Serve charity is the brains
behind #iwill, a huge campaign to boost
volunteering. In fact, the aim is to double the
number of young people
volunteering in the UK! If
you’re aged 10-20, taking
part could help you develop
vital career skills and create
a habit for life!
Do-it is a really useful resource with over
100,000 volunteering opportunities available,
and 40,000+ organisations
looking for volunteers to
get involved. Wherever
you live in the UK, you’re
bound to find an exciting
opportunity near you!
Do-it
“I wanted to find out for myself, so I joined my local
youth council at 11. My experience was so positive
it got me hooked!”
Rhammel Afflick, 19-year-old Step Up to Serve
volunteer
#iwill campaign
Step Up to Serve
National Citizen Service
NCS (National Citizen Service) is open to all 16
and 17 year olds across England. It’s a unique
three week full-time programme, plus 30 hours
committed to a community project, focused
around fun and discovery that benefits both
you and your local area.
You build skills for work
and life, while taking
on new challenges and
adventures, learning new
skills, making new friends
and contributing to your
community.
National Citizen Service profile
Pictures and videos
TEAM LONDON
Team London are looking for willing volunteers
to join their Team London Young Ambassadors
programme as borough volunteers. The
initiative wants to get more
young people involved in
social action, in school and in
their local community, and
they need lovely people like
you to help them do it.
Team London
Could you be a Team London Young
Ambassador?
VINSPIRED
vInspired is an independent British charity
dedicated to helping young people volunteer
in their local communities. They offer access to
thousands of opportunities for 14-25 year olds
to get involved in
their communities
and earn awards
for their work!
vInspired profile
Want to boost your skills, broaden your horizons and help others? You can find loads of volunteering tips and
opportunities on Plotr. Alternatively, you can explore a whole range of charity and voluntary-based careers.
25
the big story
What subjects did
your favourite
supervillains study?
We’re overrun with highly educated supervillains!
Can our science superheroes compete?
Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory:
“You know, it’s amazing how many super villains have
advanced degrees. Graduate schools should do a
better job of screening those people out”
Is Sheldon right? Are educated supervillains outweighing our educated superheroes? Are we in trouble? Will
Ra’s al Ghul’s next test-tube superplague spell our DOOOOOOOooooommm? We need to test this frankly
disturbing theory using a proper scientific method, results and conclusion.
Results: Supervillains
Doctor Doom
Real name:
Victor von Doom
Science special moves:
Maths, engineering, physics
Further education:
Flunked university degree, leaving on the grounds
of being evil. The “Doctor” title is unearned
Invention:
Power armour
Diversity & inclusivity:
Latverian citizen who undertook further education
in a language other than his native tongue
Latverian immigrant Victor von Doom escaped
bad times to be offered a scholarship by the State
University in Hegeman, New York. He studied
multiple sciences at college level but was expelled
for anti-social behaviour before being able to
graduate with a degree.
A self-starter, he educated himself to graduate level
and beyond in most sciences.
He wasn’t that rigorous a scientist, to be fair - a
flaw in his calculations totally messed up Reed
SCORE
4/10
Richards’ interdimensional class project and created
the Fantastic Four. He couldn’t even build his own
Doctor Doom armour without the assistance of
some Tibetan monks.
A better manipulator and despot than he ever was a
scientist, at least he kept his hand in by plaguing the
FF with shrink rays and other assorted inventions.
He does magic on the side but really it’s all about
the science... and the hatred, the deep, unending,
malicious hatred.
27
Doctor Octopus
Real name:
Otto Octavius
Science special moves:
Atomic physics
Further education:
University degree, Ph.D
E
SCOR
8/10
Invention:
Wibbly-wobbly mechanical arms
Diversity & inclusivity:
Difficult family circumstances
Otto Octavius’ factory worker father was very cruel
to him. To distance himself from his dad he threw
himself into school, earning top marks. His father’s
death in an industrial accident then pushed him into
studying physical science.
A brilliant and respected physicist, inventor and
lecturer, Doc Ock was the youngest person EVER
to serve on the National Board of Nuclear Science.
He devised mechanical arms to help him research
atomic physics. That’s a bit of a clue as to where it all
started going wrong.
Green Goblin
Real name:
Norman Osborn
Science special moves:
Electrical engineering, chemistry
SCORE
6/10
Further education:
Multiple university degrees, possible post-degree
qualifications (unconfirmed)
Invention:
Power hoverboard, strength formulae
Diversity & inclusivity:
Born with silver spoon in mouth (thanks to
industrialist CEO father)
Norman attended Empire State University with
a science scholarship and received degrees in
chemistry and electrical engineering. He founded
OsCorp with his old science prof (who was then
turned over to the police for embezzlement) and
worked on a strength-enhancing formula.
It was all going well, for a while, except for the
dubious ethics of testing his strength formula on
employees... Unfortunately, the death of his wife and
his decision to test the formula on himself resulted
in him using his highly transferrable skills to career
transition from businessman to SuperGoblin.
28
Ra’s al Ghul
Real name:
As above
Science special moves:
Medicine
RE
SCO
0
1
/
6
Further education:
Apprenticeship and on-the-job learning
Invention:
Mega-diseases, e.g. “The Clench”
Diversity & inclusivity:
Ex-nomad, now city and underground lair-based
He’s one of the bad guys constantly on Batman’s
tail! Over 600 years old, he started life as a nomad
but after developing an early interest in science
he pursued life as a researcher in the city, later
becoming a physician.
He cottoned onto the germ theory of disease hundreds
of years before anyone else and got revenge on the
prince who killed his wife Sora by infecting him with
a deadly virus by means of a gift of contaminated
fabrics. Later, his huge self-built international
organisation The Demon created a deadly virus
known as Ebola Gulf A, a.k.a. “The Clench”.
What’s really nice about Ra’s al Ghul is he went the
work experience and self-learning route, probably
doing an apprenticeship at some point. Not all
supervillains take the uni route to science infamy.
Doctor DEATH
Real name:
Unknown
Invention:
Looooves his bio-weaponry
Science special moves:
Biochemistry
Diversity & inclusivity:
Living with chronic
respiratory problems
Further education:
University degree, Ph.D
This is Batman’s first ever supervillain nemesis! We
have to use some reverse engineering to determine
Doctor Death’s actual qualifications. We know
he developed a lethal chemical agent from pollen
extract and used the resulting poison in some kind
of Gotham City extortion racket.
Nowadays, he produces and sells bio-weapons on
the black market and tends to wear a lab coat and
oxygen mask at all times.
SCO
RE
7/10
From his name, we get he’s a Ph.D. He most probably
took maths and all sciences at A-level, then followed
up with degree specialisations in chemistry and
biology and a further doctorate in biochemistry.
Probably.
29
Results: Superheroes
BEAST
Real name:
Henry Philip “Hank” McCoy
Science special moves:
Biochemistry, genetics
Further education:
All the degrees, ever
SCORE
9/10
Invention:
He’s more for crafting sonnets and plays
Diversity & inclusivity:
Blue
He’s a medical doctor, lectures in science and
mathematics at the Xavier Institute and still has
time to be a world authority on biochemistry and
genetics. He’s done all the degrees and read all the
books and he’s blue.
He also left the X-Men briefly to become a
professional wrestler, so he’s basically the best at
everything, ever.
Batman
Real name:
Bruce Wayne
Science special moves:
Forensic science, engineering
E
SCOR
4/10
Further education:
Shrouded in mystery
Invention:
Lots of cool kit, all named “Bat-something”
Diversity & inclusivity:
Orphan. Unsupported by the state care system
He’s a total mystery, Batman. He’s made some
great Batmobile upgrades and batarangs. Everyone
says how fantastic he is at forensic investigation,
so he’s learned that somewhere. Basically, aside
from running the Wayne Foundation he’s used his
massive fortune to go around the world building his
physical and mental skills to their peak.
But... where did he study? Why are there no traces of
him in any college or university records? A mystery.
30
Professor X
Real name:
Charles Xavier
Science special moves:
Genetics, psychology
Further education:
Ph.D.s in genetics, biophysics, psychology,
anthropology. M.D. in psychiatry
SCORE
9/10
Invention:
’Cerebro’ helmet to focus and increase telepathy
Diversity & inclusivity:
Has only the intermittent use of his legs (depending
on storyline)
Athletic Charlie X loved studying as much as sport
and ended up getting about a million doctorates
in Harvard University and Oxford University
(Pembroke College). He was appointed Adjunct
Professor at Columbia University.
It’s amazing he had any time to found a mutant
academy and form the X-Men superteam at all.
He’s like Martin Luther King and Einstein but with
telepathic powers.
IRON man
Real name:
Anthony Edward Stark
Science special moves:
Electrical engineering
Further education:
M.Sc in electrical engineering, M.Sc in physics
E
SCOR
5/10
Young Tony Stark studied electronics engineering
at MIT at the incredibly young age of 15, and
then he got some M.Scs in electrical engineering
and physics.
Invention:
Awesome power suit, also lots of weapons which he
used to sell to foreign lands. Invented a brand new
energy source. Twice.
Diversity & inclusivity:
So, so, so incredibly rich
A bit surprisingly, he didn’t go on to do a Ph.D. As a
boy genius you’d figure he’d have nailed all this by
age 20 and moved on, but he got a little side-tracked
with inheriting Stark Industries and doing some
superhero, military and playboy stuff.
31
Mister Fantastic
Real name:
Reed Richards
Science special moves:
Maths, physics, mechanics
SCORE
8/10
Further education:
Multiple science degrees by age 20, x2 Ph.D.s
Invention:
Wearable technology (FF uniforms made of
‘unstable molecules’)
Diversity & inclusivity:
Born with unusually high intelligence; marked as
different from the start
Reed Richards was yet another of those scientific
child prodigies who so often turn to a life of superjustice (or super-crime). At the age of 14 he enrolled
in college, and as a 19 year old teenager he began
design on a hyperspace-capable starship. By the age
of 20 he’d got several science degrees under his belt
from universities like the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, the California Institute of Technology,
Columbia, Harvard and Empire State University.
Because this clearly wasn’t enough to be getting on
with, he also got Ph.D.s in physics and electrical
engineering from Harvard and became a military
scientist by the age of 22. After that he kind of retired
from academia and focused on the superheroing.
Unusually humble about his academic prowess
for a superperson, Reed Richards does not refer
to himself as ‘Doctor Fantastic’. But he could if he
wanted to. Unlike that lying flunker Doctor Doom.
The Incredible Hulk
Real name:
Bruce Banner
Science special moves:
Physics
Further education:
Not sure. Probably got a Ph.D in nuclear physics
Invention:
Gamma bomb (that turns you mean and green)
E
SCOR
6/10
Like Batman, Doctor Bruce Banner’s education is
shrouded in mystery. This self-assured doctor is a
doctor, natch, and he is a physicist. From this we can
determine he’s done at least one Ph.D. and it was
probably in physics.
Diversity & inclusivity:
Green (or grey, depending on storyline). Anger
management issues.
Why isn’t there more information? Is it because noone out there really cares about the man behind the
fury?
HULK SMASH.
32
Ant-Man
Real name:
Henry Pym
Science special moves:
Quantum physics, robotics, cybernetics
Further education:
Ph.D in biochemistry
SCORE
2/10
Invention:
‘Pym particles’ that make you tiny or big
Diversity & inclusivity:
N/A
Officially a scientific genius, Henry Pym scored
himself a Ph.D but also held his own in the fields of
quantum physics, cybernetics, artificial intelligence
and entomology (ant stuff).
The main problem is he kind of created Ultron, one
of the most epic supervillains the world has ever
known. What were you even thinking of, Doctor
Pym? Seriously, own goal.
Apart from that he has the unimpressive power of
growing very tiny or very large thanks to his Pym
particles.
So that’s good. Sort of.
Go home, Doctor Pym, go home.
CONCLUSION
We’re safe... for the moment. The highest-scoring supervillain in terms of academic qualifications is Doctor
Octopus, but Professor X and the Beast score higher. The superheroes have got our backs (except for Doctor
Pym, a.k.a Ant-Man, who should be given some cookies and milk and sent to bed).
But evil never sleeps… so the more superheroes try on the mortarboard, the more we can ensure that science
is in safe hands!
When it comes to preparing academically for their future, every single one of our featured superheroes –
and even villains – is a winner. Even Ant-Man. However, as Batman villain Ra’s al Ghul shows, there are
lots of different routes into a science career, from apprenticeships to placements, graduate programmes and
more. Find out more about science careers at the Your Life world on Plotr.
33
YOU(TH) VOICE
GCSEs, A-levels
or a degree
– EDF Energy has
careers for all
EDF Energy has opportunities for young people
from school leavers to uni leavers. YEUK Youth
Ambassador Jack Welch finds out more…
With over 15,000 employees across the UK, EDF Energy is a well-known
energy company providing electricity to nearly 4 million residential
customers. EDF is also one of the outstanding employers working
across communities to provide early career (first part of working life)
opportunities for candidates, whether they have just GCSEs or a degree
to their name.
Joanne Norman, EDF Energy’s Early Careers
Recruitment Specialist, reveals more about early career
opportunities and the right way to be a successful
candidate to YEUK Youth Ambassador Jack Welch.
With a large shortfall of students taking STEM
(science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
subjects – which could affect UK industry in
general – what can EDF Energy offer people who
want to jump straight into work after their GCSEs?
We have an Engineering Apprenticeship scheme
based at our nuclear power stations around the UK
and a Smart Metering Apprenticeship scheme.
EDF Energy also sponsors Access to Apprenticeship
courses (in Bridgwater in Somerset and Lancaster
and Morecambe in Lancashire) for people who have
not met 5 A*-C grades at GCSE level. The course
gives candidates an opportunity to apply for an EDF
Energy apprenticeship once they have completed
it, as well as helping them gain employability skills
such as team work and verbal communication, and
knowledge around engineering.
EDF Energy is the largest low-carbon generator of
electricity in the UK, from its fleet of nuclear power
stations. If you’re passionate about the environment,
our Sustainability Graduate scheme is available and
graduates may also be able to experience working in
the Renewable Energy department.
HOT TIP
What’s the difference between a graduate and
industrial placement at EDF Energy?
Graduate Scheme – This is a permanent post with
rotational opportunities across the business
Industrial Placement – This is for students taking a
gap year who are interested in experiencing the
energy industry.
What options are available for A-Level students
and graduates?
We have a Business Apprenticeship programme for
A-Level students. For graduates, we have a number
of Engineering & Science and Commercial graduate
schemes, including Finance, Human Resources and
Project Management.
There’s even a post A-Level Technical Foundation
Training scheme, which gives candidates the
opportunity to study for an undergraduate degree
whilst working.”
“It’s a supportive
environment,
with great
training and
development”
35
Have you got any CV and interview tips? What
does it take to be the right person for an early
careers role at EDF Energy?
EDF ENERGY
We only have one
world. That’s why we
need to treat it with
respect. But unless
we look at alternative
ways of producing
energy we’re in
danger of damaging
it. That’s why EDF
Energy is exploring
every route possible.
EDF Energy have lots of entry-level routes
into engineering and are actively working
to provide employment opportunities for
all kinds of different young people. Explore
their career world to discover your path
and help make energy better.
EDF Energy Careers World
EDF Energy profile
Jobs
We look for people with knowledge of the energy
industry, who are able to give a clear explanation
of their motivation for working with EDF Energy.
People who are pro-active and seek out challenges
stand out from the crowd. Strong communication
skills and effective team working are very
important to us.
What things should be avoided?
Candidates should avoid being unprepared and
unenthusiastic. Knowledge of the industry is
important and having a positive approach makes
an impact.
Why is EDF Energy a good opportunity for
young people?
It’s a supportive environment, with great training
and development, and opportunities to work across
the business in different roles. It’s a chance to
work for a company who stands on the side of the
customer and is leading decarbonisation of the UK
energy sector.
About the author
A University of Winchester graduate, YEUK
Youth Ambassador Jack Welch has worked
across a number of diverse organisations, taking
on everything from project planning and social
media to marketing and communications. A
freelance volunteer for organisations like the
Diana Award, he helped to develop projects for
young people on vInspired’s Youth Advisory Board
and also produced a report for the Department
for Communities and Local
Government on how young
people in social housing can be
engaged in their communities.
Follow him on Twitter via
@MrJW18.
Find out more about becoming
a Youth Ambassador for YEUK!
Check out all the opportunities that EDF Energy has to offer young people looking for work, and you can
also visit Plotr’s Energy careers world for more inspiration.
36
CAREER SPARKS
From philosophy
to retail...
you’ll never guess what
these graduates do at Asda!
People always say you can study one thing and end up doing
something completely different. It’s true! Meet three grads that got
experience at Asda and never looked back.
Asda isn’t just offering opportunities for graduates. They have a range of work
opportunities for young people aged 14+, from work experience and work
placements through to weekend flex positions. You can find out more on the
Asda employer profile on Plotr.
What if you ARE looking for a graduate job, though? Whether you studied computer
science or theology, the retail sector is bursting with jobs that brim with responsibility and
great experiences. Discover why these graduates chose Asda.
Nicole: Buyer
Got an eye for spotting great deals? After studying
philosophy and theology at Durham University,
Nicole went to work in the buying and trading
department at Asda – and qualified as a buyer one
year later. Nicole says, “There’s so much energy and
enthusiasm and everybody is so supportive.”
WATCH THIs VIDEO
FoR MORE...
“The job is so
much fun, I have
a better social life
here than I did at
university!”
38
DARREN: IT PROJECT MANAGER
ASDA
Asda have all kinds of opportunities for
young people, from work experience for 14-16
year olds to work placements, weekend flex
and graduate schemes. See their useful links
below:
Asda profile
Latest jobs
Love computers? Computer science grad Darren
oversees massive IT projects for Asda – including
the IT for one of its biggest offices, known as the
merchandising centre, which measures 90,000
square feet! “It’s about working hard, playing hard
and reaping the benefits,” says Darren.
WATCH THIs VIDEO
FoR MORE...
Pictures and videos
What the team says
Asda company history
EMMA: STORE MANAGER
Would you like to manage a big team? Emma
became a store manager at Asda after studying
environmental health at university. Now, she
manages a team of 50 people and says, “You’re
responsible for a lot at a young age, but it’s brilliant –
I love it.”
WATCH THIs VIDEO
FoR MORE...
Think the world of retail could be worth shopping around in? You can find more retail, sales and customer
services careers advice at Plotr.
39
GET UP, STAND UP
Start an
unforgettable
adventure in
2015 with ICS!
By Wendy Morrissey
(YEUK Youth Ambassador)
International Citizen Service (ICS) brings together 18-25 year olds to
work on projects aimed at fighting poverty overseas and in the UK.
You don’t need qualifications, skills or money – just the passion to
make a difference!
There are many different organisations you could start an ICS
placement with, and each has a unique approach to their work.
• You could be working on projects that
raise awareness of HIV and AIDS as well as
environmental issues with Progressio.
• You might be interested in using sport, games
and community events to tackle issues facing
young people in Southern Africa with Skillshare
International.
• If you are over 24 and have experience of working
with young people, perhaps you’d like to apply as a
team leader in Asia?
• Or what about projects aimed at supporting
entrepreneurs in starting up new businesses?
All placements last an average of 12 weeks and you
could be going to Africa, South/Central America
or Asia.
MY OWN ADVENTURE
After wanting to get involved with a project like
ICS for a few years, I have finally got the courage
to apply and will be attending an assessment day
for Restless Development in January. Restless
Development are a youth led development agency
and their mission is to place young people at the
forefront of change and development.
Working on projects to educate young people and
improve their prospects is something I am extremely
passionate about so I’m very excited about the
possibility of volunteering with ICS and will have
my fingers firmly crossed over the coming weeks!
Sounds amazing, right?
Where do I start?
1
Visit the Volunteer ICS website and
submit an application, ideally 4-6 months
before you are able to go overseas
2
If your application is successful,
you’ll receive a confirmation of what
organisation you have been placed with.
They will email you directly and invite
you for an assessment day
3
The selection day will be fun and
interactive. You’ll get the chance to
learn more about the organisation you
have been placed with and meet other
people interested in doing ICS.
4
Shortly after this, you’ll find out if
you’ve been chosen to take part in an
ICS program and what country you will
be going to.
Challenge yourself – CHANGE
YOUR WORLD!
About the author
Wendy Morrissey is a highly motivated and ambitious
Psychology and Criminology graduate who loves
travelling, festivals, social science, people, food and
adventures. She has been involved in voluntary work
since high school and has so far worked with young
people and ex-offenders on mentoring programmes,
assisted as a telephone volunteer for a late night listening
service, as well as volunteering at festivals around the UK. Currently
Wendy is a YEUK Ambassador and enjoys getting involved in ‘Youth Friendly
Campaigns’, writing for the e-mag, attending events, helping contribute to policy
recommendations on careers education and youth unemployment. Outside of
volunteering Wendy works in Educational Recruitment and is passionate about
developing a successful career within the education, training or charity sector.
41
Restless Development
Half the world is under 25. That’s 3 billion
people. Restless Development offer jobs and info
for young people – their strength comes from
being led by young people, from the boardroom
right through to the field. They have an ICS
volunteering programme which is open to 18-25
year olds, enabling them to volunteer overseas.
Restless Development profile
Raleigh International
Raleigh International is a sustainable
development charity who challenges and
empowers young people and communities to
deliver grassroots sustainable development –
especially when it comes to getting access to safe
water and sanitation in rural communities. With
the Raleigh ICS volunteer programme, you could
go to India, Nicaragua or Tanzania.
Raleigh International profile
Pictures and videos
Jobs
More about Raleigh ICS
International Citizen
Service
ICS is a UK government-funded development
programme that brings together 18 to 25-yearolds from all backgrounds to fight poverty in
overseas and UK communities. To volunteer
overseas with ICS you don’t need cash, skills
or qualifications – just the ambition to make
a difference.
International Citizen Service website
Want to boost your skills, broaden your horizons and help others? You can find loads of volunteering tips and
opportunities on Plotr. Alternatively, you can explore a whole range of charity and voluntary-based careers.
42
YOU(TH) VOICE
Dear parents:
4 reasons why
getting a job
now is a whole
new world
By Alexa-Jane Moore
(YEUK Youth Ambassador)
An open letter to parents from young people –
because we’re braving the frontiers of a totally
new UK employment landscape!
Dear Parent(s),
Some of you may think that young people are ‘lazy,’ or aren’t ‘trying hard
enough’ to get a job. Actually, many young people today have major
concerns about their job prospects and are working really hard to get one,
but the unemployment landscape just isn’t what it used to be.
Here are four reasons why comparing job hunting now to how it was in
your day just doesn’t work:
1
The pre-requisites for even an entry level
job seem to be so much higher
When I compare my experience to that of my dad, no longer can you
stroll out of high school and walk into an entry level job. All too often,
you’ll need a degree for that. My dad left high school about 35 years ago,
with O-levels, and went straight into a junior assistant job with British
Gas, by just sending in a CV. My brother has been applying and it seems
that for an entry-level job he now needs GCSEs, competency-based
question answers, work experience and an interview. This echoed my
own experience when applying for graduate roles.
Today’s recruitment process is endless. You have to think: CV, company
specific questions, psychometric tests, telephone interview, assessment
centre (usually with a group task and presentation element), and finally
an interview.
Phew, I’m tired just writing it!
My dad didn’t have to do any of that.
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2
Graduates are more likely to be employed than
non-graduates of a similar age
This 2013 Office for National Statistics report pretty much sums it up.
In 2013 there were 12 million graduates in the UK. In April to June they
were more likely to be employed than those who left education with
qualifications of a lower standard. Non-graduates aged 21 to 30 have
consistently higher unemployment rates than all other groups.
3
Catch 22: Employers want young people to have
qualifications AND vast experience
In your day, young people were given a chance to work their way up in
an organisation, gaining qualifications and experience along the way.
Now, if a young person studies, they’ll have the qualifications but not the
experience that employers are looking for. Then again, if a young person
tries to build experience straight from high school by applying for an
entry level job then many employers will say the CV doesn’t show enough
experience OR qualifications. This is a real catch 22!
4
There are fewer entry level jobs and
graduate positions than jobs in general
The High Fliers 2014 report said graduate positions among the top 100
UK employers increased in 2014, which is positive. However, there was
also an increase in graduate positions from 2012-13 and firms like Procter
& Gamble were still reporting 160 applicants per junior job. It all goes to
show there aren’t enough graduate and entry level jobs going round to
meet young people’s needs.
45
Dear parent(s), please take these points on-board the next time you find
yourself tempted to tell a young person to ‘just get a job.’
Take a young person to an open day, to volunteering opportunities, or to
apprenticeship fairs. They just want some support and guidance. It may
take just a little push to find out what they want to do, but they have a
wide range of skills to offer, if you just give them a chance.
We are really, really trying. But it’s a different world out there... cut us
some slack!
Kind regards,
Young People of the UK.
About the author
Alexa-Jane Moore is a 1:1 Education Mentor,
teaching SEN pupils. She has a keen interest in
issues affecting young people. These include:
unemployment, careers guidance, mental health
and voting. She has written about these issues
for The Guardian and Targetjobs. She is currently
studying towards a PG Cert in Coaching
and Mentoring and a NVQ L4 Diploma
in IAG. She is also the winner of YEUK’s
‘Youth Ambassador of the Year Award’.
She achieved this by organising an
employer-student employability event,
with funding bid for from O2 Think Big.
46
TACTICAL INFO
Job hunting tips for
young people with
alternative style
By Roswell Ivory
I left university with a degree,
debt and a decision: how to job
hunt successfully while keeping
my alternative style?
When I left university I wanted to get a job, but I was still an alternative student at heart
and some jobs just don’t accommodate that. For those of you with tattoos, piercings or dyed
hair, here are 7 ways to survive job hunting as an alternative young person!
1
Job hunting costume
The fewer tattoos and piercings you have, the easier
it is to find a job. It sucks but it’s true. Though some
employers have become more relaxed about small
tattoos, if you have bright blue hair, facial ink and
lots of piercings, you may have to tone down your
look for job hunting.
Decide how far you are willing to compromise.
Would you take out your piercings for the perfect
job? How about dying your hair or wearing a wig?
Covering your tattoos? If you are willing to make
some changes, your task will be easier. Think of it as
your job hunting costume.
TIP: Tattoos are becoming far more acceptable in society
today. A small one may not get you grief with potential
employers, but large visible ones may. When it comes to
piercings, UK offices see 2-3 stud earrings in each ear
and possibly a discreet nose stud the upper limit.
3
The search begins…
What sort of job are you looking for? If you’re just
after a few weeks of holiday work, try approaching
places you have in mind. If you’re really not fussy
about where you work, the local supermarket
is a good bet. If you are looking for something
more permanent, job agencies, the Job Centre and
recruitment websites all advertise vacancies. If you
go to visit a job agency, look smart/casual. You may
be called for a discussion on the spot.
TIP for job hunting: You can start looking
for jobs on Plotr. Also search online for “job websites
+ location” and you’ll find a range of places to search
online offering vacancies in your area. The Government
can help, too. You can use their Universal Jobmatch
search tool.
2
Listing hobbies on your CV:
Avoid ‘but’ and turn potential
negatives into positives
When you know how far you are willing to
compromise your look, have a read through your
CV. Most CVs include a brief list of your hobbies
and interests, particularly if you don’t have much
work experience to put on there yet. “I love The Sex
Pistols, tattoos and skateboarding” is probably not
a good idea as it contains the words “sex”, “pistols”
and “tattoos”! Put your interests into bullet points if
there’s enough space and write “socialising” instead
of clubbing as it sounds more work-friendly.
Work to your advantage! Don’t write “I know
I have a leopard-print Mohican BUT I’m really
hardworking”. That sounds as if your hairstyle is a
bad thing.
Instead, try: “I bring a sense of individuality and
creativity to all I do.” (It says yes, you’re an individual,
and that you’re creative too, which are both good
things.)
TIP for CVs: If you’ve never written a CV before, there
are some good websites around to give you guidelines.
You might want to give your CV a New Year detox, too.
4
Style-friendly employers:
The liberal list
If you are unwilling to change anything about your
look, your choices will be limited.
Supermarket shopworkers (e.g. Tesco and Sainsbury’s),
construction workers, music/videogame shopworkers
and most call centre operators are generally allowed
to look the way they choose. Some hair and beauty
salons are also quite liberal, but you will need training
first and may need to do another course at college.
Tattoo artist apprenticeships and jobs in alternative
shops are safe bets too, but they are usually hard to
come by as they are in demand!
48
5
6
Some employers may negotiate piercing numbers
with you. Chefs and restaurant managers will NOT.
(It’s a hygiene thing). If you are looking for a job
where you will be working with food, you will have
to remove ALL piercings and nail varnish. If you
have hair longer than a few inches, you will also
have to wear a hairnet. However, if you’re already
passionate about becoming a chef, you probably
know all that already and it shouldn’t matter a bit!
Job interviews are scary at the best of times, but if
you are obviously a former Alternative Student, you
may be scrutinised even further. Be prepared for
questions and comments on your looks and interests,
especially if you have very unusual interests. Think
up answers beforehand and impress the interviewer
with your ability to stay calm under pressure.
Now make me lasagne!
7
Success
Well done, you have the job! After celebrating in
your usual refined manner *cough*, start work
looking conservative so that you can see what other
people are wearing. If the girl at the desk next to you
has an eyebrow stud, you can probably get away
with one too. If not, don’t tempt fate and be asked to
remove something in your first week.
If you have worked there for several months and
have a good relationship with your boss, it may be
safe to show the very edge of a tattoo or put a stud
back in. If you work on them slowly, you can show
that it is possible to be alternative and smart for
work at the same time!
The interrogation room
Here are some real-life interview questions that have
been fired at me, and my more decorated friends:
• “Would you be willing to dye your hair/take out
your piercings/cover your tattoos if you are offered this
job?” (You should already know the answer to this one!)
• “You say one of your interests is bellydancing.
Could you please tell me more about this?” (Why do
you enjoy it? Have you won any awards etc?)
• “What does that tattoo mean?” (Honesty can
sometimes be interesting here, unless it was a present
from an ex. If in doubt, keep it brief. “It represents my
ambition to achieve my goals” is a good answer!)
• “Your CV says that you would like to be a
professional taxidermist, so why are you applying
for a job in a supermarket?” (If you are applying for
a job that has no relevance to your interests, make
sure the interviewer hears a good reason for this!
E.g. “I’d love to improve my customer service skills and
I think that working behind the till in a supermarket
would really help me to achieve this”.)
Good luck!
About the author
Roswell Ivory is a writer and model who has forged
a career while retaining her alternative style.
Photographer: Charlotte Rutherford
MUA/Hair: Sam Chapman
Jewellery: Eclectic Eccentricity
Whatever your interests and lifestyle, Plotr can help you with your career pathways: See our careers advice, or
play the Plotr Game to find out what kind of job would most suit you! (Professional tattoo artist, body piercer
or hairdresser, perhaps? Or how about cool hunter, Youtuber or social media whizz? We’ve got it covered).
49
YOU(TH) VOICE
THIS 6-step
method will
make you better
at interviews
forever!
An easy system that you can use to improve
your performance in job interviews.
When at university, I wanted to do a
summer internship to make myself more
employable. I had done lots of things at
university that these employers were keen
to hear about, in telephone interviews and
then assessment centres... but I needed a
way to put these experiences across!
I had always used the S.T.A.R. method (Situation,
Task, Action, Result), but expanded this to my own
S.T.A.R.R.S. method as employers always asked me,
“How would you do ‘X’ better next time?”
THE S.T.A.R.R.S. METHOD
Situation
Explain the situation you were in.
Aim to answer the questions ‘what/
where/when’ – for example, “In the
third year of my business studies
degree” or “When I was working as a
retail assistant in a shop last summer.”
Task
T
S.T.A.R.R.S. provides you with the opportunity to
‘Reflect’ on your experience and ‘Strengthen’ it by
thinking how you would do things better, next time.
The S.T.A.R.R.S. method is a succinct formula that
you can adapt to any situation. It’s easy to follow and
remember when you’re in a stressful situation like
an interview. It covers all the points that employers
are looking for and helped me secure numerous
offers for summer internships.
What did you do, and what did the
task or role involve? Explain your
tasks and responsibilities briefly.
Action
A
R
What did YOU do to meet the
objective of/complete the task?
You might want to cover what you
did and how you did it, including
what skills you used.
Result
What was the outcome?
Did you make a difference?
Can you quantify this?
Reflection
R
What did you do well?
What didn’t go as well as
you’d hoped?
Strengthen
S
After reflection, what would you
have done differently?
What could have been improved to
achieve an even greater success?
About the author
Alexa-Jane Moore is a 1:1 Education Mentor, teaching SEN pupils. She has a keen
interest in issues affecting young people. These include: unemployment, careers
guidance, mental health and voting. She has written about these issues for The
Guardian and Targetjobs. She is currently studying towards a PG Cert in Coaching and
Mentoring and a NVQ L4 Diploma in IAG. She is also the winner of YEUK’s ‘Youth
Ambassador of the Year Award’. She achieved this by organising an employer-student
employability event, with funding bid for from O2 Think Big.
It’s time to ‘star’ in the movie of your life! Head on over to Plotr for more careers advice.
51
CAREER SPARKS
Ask a careers
advisor anything
Get your careers advice questions answered
every month by a friendly careers advisor.
See this month’s crop of answers below.
Meet Susan Burke,
this month’s advisor!
Susan, an ambassador for National
Careers Week, says: “I love helping
people. I am a qualified careers
advisor, featured in the Telegraph
and The Guardian. Think of me as a
best friend but with a bit of tough
love thrown in, helping you get to
where you want to be by giving you
frank, honest and uncomplicated advice.”
www.susanburkecareers.co.uk
When we think about a gap year we tend
to think of the full 12-month deal, but don’t
forget you can do something worthwhile
in just a few months, too. Your gap period
doesn’t need to be a full 12 months unless you
want it to be. It could even be a single month…
One point I will make is that if you intend
to take that break before university and you
want to study maths, you should know that
many maths departments don’t recommend this.
You have been warned – if in doubt, ASK!
GRADUATE
CAREERS
I want to get a job in retail. Can you work your way
from the shop floor or do you need a degree? I want
to be a fashion buyer for a high street store one day.
Well done on considering your career path. If you
are interested in being a fashion buyer, make sure
you read the ins and outs of this job on Plotr. You
can see from the qualifications that you generally
need to have a degree for this job.
That being said though, you may be able to start in
a lower position and work your way up through
your company as you gain experience, perhaps
supplementing your day-to-day work with
additional study.
There are several professional qualifications in
management available with the Chartered Institute
of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), including:
• Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply
• Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement & Supply
• Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement
& Supply
GAP YeAR
Is it a good idea to take a gap year or will employers
look down on you?
If you intend to use your gap year watching daytime
TV, then yes, an employer is going to have some
doubts about you. However, you could decide to do
something worthwhile with your gap month or
gap year (like travelling or gaining news skills or
qualities, for example). Personally, I think it is a good
thing and is likely to be seen as a plus on your CV…
What do you think is the biggest obstacle for
current graduates looking for a job?
Some people think your choice of degree can be an
obstacle to landing a job as a graduate… Personally,
I don’t have an issue what you study. You can study
history of art, if you like, even if you don’t ever
intend to work as an art auctioneer at Christie’s. The
key is to build up your employability skills along the
way. You can join clubs and societies, you can pick
fascinating and relevant topics for your thesis, and
you can gain work experience while studying.
EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE
I’ve heard there are employers that will pay for you
to train, get qualifications or even a degree – is this
true? Do people do this and then just hop to another
job once they’re qualified?
This is true and tends to be most common in areas
where there is the highest demand for young people
with certain types of skills. For example, employees
with STEM (science, technology and maths) skills
are currently very much in demand in the UK.
Graduates and school leavers who have a STEM
background and later want to pursue this further
are more likely to have the opportunity of attracting
a salary/benefits package to suit.
I don’t think employers need to be overly concerned
about job-hopping. It’s their aim to attract capable,
passionate recruits, and attractive salaries and
benefits packages are one way to do that. Once
someone’s working in a company it’s down to the
employer to keep them – and down to the school
leaver or graduate to demonstrate they’re a good fit.
Got a question for us? It’s really easy – just email [email protected] in complete confidence with your question
(please put CAREERS ADVICE in the subject header). No question is too big or small. What’s more, you will be
really helping out other readers who are dying to know the same thing!
53