Careers Advice & Mentoring

Deciding what to do after school - or then after college, an apprenticeship or university can be quite exciting, but for many of us the prospect can also feel quite daunting. Especially when, as estranged and care leaver students, we have more pressing financial concerns post-uni than our peers.

If you are unsure about how to start or what to do next, you are not alone. However, whether you are in your first year, have already graduated, or are somewhere in between, there's no need to panic. You do not need to plan the rest of your life right now, just the next step. Here's a few resources to get you started. 💜

Writing a CV: 1 Minute Guide

Writing a CV

The University of Sheffield's top tips for success

Top tips:

As a general rule, keep your CV to two A4-sized pages as recruiters won't have time to read more. If a job doesn’t require lots of qualifications or experience, a one-page CV may be fine
While the choice of format is yours, the main thing is to show how you meet the job or course requirements. Focus on relevant information and use the space well
Aim to get the most relevant information early in the CV. The recruiter will not search for it
Sell yourself - provide examples of the skills and qualities required, whether that is through your studies, work experience or interests. Don't just list everything you’ve done. Instead, provide a bit of detail
Consider using bullet points rather than paragraphs when describing your experiences and skills. Instead of using "I" every time, start each bullet point with a verb, e.g. "Organised...", "Liaised with...."
Emphasise your actions and achievements
Use simple language; avoid jargon and acronyms which may not be understood
Ensure you include dates and locations (town/city) for education and work (if there are 'time gaps' explain them in your cover letter)
Write in the past tense if it is something you have completed rather than something current
Use common fonts and black text on a white background to make it easy to read
Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation - any mistakes will put your CV into the rejection pile.

Full credit and original source: University of Sheffield Careers Service https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/

Finding a Mentor

Working with a mentor can be exceedingly valuable for anyone who wants to grow in their career. Mentors can provide insights into specific professional situations, negotiation tactics, opportunities and career path goals. Finding a good candidate and asking them to be your mentor can feel challenging. It well worth it, however, to gain a trusted advisor and guide. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to find and engage with a mentor. (Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-find-a-mentor )

There are several ways you can go about looking for mentoring - and this all depends on what kind of career advice you are looking for.

How to Find (and Keep) a Mentor in 10 Not-So-Easy Steps: see the article here
How to Find a Career Mentor: The Balance Careers, see here
Your College/University: you should have a careers service at your place of education and these tend to be available to you for at least a few years after graduation too ( or even life). They can help with things like mock interviews and assessments, proof-reading and structuring CVs, covers letters and personal statements and talking through careers ideas and options. Many Universities also have a mentoring schemes set up with alumni or recent graduates in lots of different fields of work, so it is work getting in touch with your Careers Service and academic department to see what opportunities exist here.

Below are some further resources, sites and organisations we have found helpful for careers advice and mentoring.

Careers Support

Rees Foundation - Careers Coach

When you are leaving the care system it can feel a little unsettling. Entering the world of work may also be overwhelming. Here at Rees, no matter your age, they seek to support you emotionally and practically by offering a bespoke careers service to assist you into work or training.

Their careers team are all Mental Health First Aid qualified and will help you to meet your goals at each stage and step of the way. Eligibility: live in the UK and be care experienced.

Website: https://www.reesfoundation.org/careers-coaching.html

upReach

Exists to boost social mobility by supporting students from less-advantaged backgrounds to secure top jobs.

From skills workshops on campus to daily live video forums and dedicated ongoing 1-to-1 support from a designated Programme Coordinator, upReach offer a personalised programme of support tailored to the needs of each Associate.

Associates gain professional exposure, through Insight Days and work experience programmes with our partner employers and access to an experienced mentor. Associates applying to their partner employers receive extensive support at every stage of the process to maximise their chances of success.

Website: https://upreach.org.uk/students/

Networking Tips to Help You Get the Job: MALK Employee

Some benefits of mentorship include:

Building professional connections for future opportunities
Having a reliable source for a letter of recommendation
Gaining honest feedback about your strengths and areas for improvement
Identifying opportunities and resources to build key skills
Having support during the hiring process for resume editing, practicing interview questions and developing an elevator pitch

Website: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-find-a-mentor

Up on it Careers

Learning from personal experience and realising that students were sometimes underprepared and under informed about the world of work, ‘Up On It’ was founded by Charlynn Koranteng in 2017.

Up On It seeks to inform, advise and prepare young people in school, university or in early careers about opportunities that can advance them in their chosen careers. Up On It functions through Youtube videos, Social Media, as well as skills development workshops and mentoring sessions.

Website: https://www.uponitcareers.com/

Instagram: @uponitcareers

Become - free coaching

Life coaching can help you to:

Identify your strengths and the things that are important to you
Set meaningful goals and create action plans to move forwards in your life
Build motivation to achieve the things that are important to you
Turn problems into solutions
Feel more positive about your life and future.

The life coaching is free, whether you need 1 session, 3 sessions or even 10 sessions. They’ll work with you to agree a format that works for you. You’ll have a dedicated coach that you’ll meet for one-to-ones, and you’ll also get to meet other care leavers through our group sessions on evenings and weekends.

Website: https://www.becomecharity.org.uk/for-young-people/life-coaching/

Some Free Online Courses you may find helpful 📚

Essential Skills for Your Career Development

Take charge of your career development and identify the skills you need to plan and achieve your career goals. This is a free course by the University of Leeds and The Institute of Coding.

Website: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/essential-skills-for-your-career-development

How to Succeed at: Writing Applications & Interviews

This free three week course by The University of Sheffield will help you produce a perfect CV, application and online profile when applying for a job or course.

Websites: