15 September 2023
How to Pursue Your Dream Job
Some people dream of being a footballer when they’re older, others sit in class imagining themselves fighting crime, or working on the cheese counter at Sainsbury’s.
Whatever career you want to pursue, RateMyApprenticeship is here to help you take your first steps towards that dream job.
So let us begin with three simple questions…
1) Do you need a degree?
Did you know, you might not have to get a degree to pursue your dream job? If you have a clear idea of what you want to do, find out if you even need to go to university.
If you want to be a doctor or an architect, you will have to get a university degree. These professions require high level qualifications. This means you’ll have to do A-levels, and go to university afterwards.
For many other careers, there are alternative paths. More and more young people are choosing to do apprenticeships after they leave school or college. Apprenticeships are available in thousands of different job roles. From finance to engineering, IT and even law!
RateMyApprenticeship is here to help you if you’re interested in finding out more about apprenticeships and how they work. Check if there are apprenticeships in your desired field – you might be surprised!
Did you know that you might not even have to do A-levels either? Some apprenticeships start immediately after GCSEs. So there’s a distinct possibility that you can have your dream job before you turn 18!
2) What skills do you need?
Does your dream job involve any specific skills that you can develop while you’re still at school?
Most jobs involve some form of training when you first begin, meaning you’ll develop the skills you need as you get more experience.
However, if you begin to develop these skills now, it will prepare you for when you leave school. And show employers that you are proactive and serious about pursuing that particular career.
So do some research and discover what skills you’ll need for your desired profession.
It could be something like learning another language, learning how to code or use complex software. The easiest way to research this is to Google ‘what skills do I need to be a…’ and enter your desired profession.
There might be extra curricular classes or skills workshops at your school to help with this. But you can always just look online for free courses or for something in your local area.
3) Which companies offer your dream job?
If you know what career you want to pursue, it’s useful to know what companies exist in that industry. Who knows, one of those companies could be your future employer.
Again, do some research… find out who the top employers are in your preferred industry and follow them on social media. Companies regularly share information about their latest projects, opportunities they offer and what it’s like to work for them.
Careers events
It’s also good to research company events that you could attend. Careers events are usually aimed at older students. But you can still attend before you have finished your GCSEs.
Events like this are a fantastic opportunity to network with people who already do your dream job, to ask them questions and visit their offices.
It may seem very early to be thinking about which company you want to work for, early even to attend careers events. But it will help you discover if your dream job is the right one for you.
Once you have worked out… 1) if you need a degree, 2) what skills you need and 3) which employers you could potentially work for, you’ll have a much better idea of how to pursue your dream career.
So do your research, and remember to make use of your teachers, family and friends too – especially If they have any knowledge or contacts that could help!
