Paths to Professional Careers...Paths to Professional Careers –a Parent’s Guide 2017 |5 Top tips for helping your child find the right career ‘Encourage your child to try out

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ICAEW is delighted to partner withTARGETcareers for the second year runningon Paths to Professional Careers – a Parent’sGuide. This year’s guide has been developedto continue supporting parents across the UK

who are helping their children select the bestcareer. We’d like to take a moment to tell you aboutopportunities in accountancy.

Over recent years we have seen continuedgrowth in accountancy careers, both at schoolleaver and graduate level, and it is no surprisestudents are selecting this career, given the rangeof opportunities available to qualified charteredaccountants.

ICAEW is a world-leading professionalmembership organisation and we are committed todelivering our qualification, the ACA, to aspiringchartered accountants all over the world.

We work with over 3,500 employers globally tosupport talented school leavers and graduatesthrough the ACA qualification, which is acombination of practical work experience, exams,ethics and professional development.

We’re proud to be a part of this guide for asecond year to help inform you on all the possibleroutes your child can take to start their career. Weunderstand it can be difficult to offer your child theright level of careers advice, so we want to makesure you, as a parent, are as informed as possible.

Students can qualify as an ICAEW CharteredAccountant straight from school or afteruniversity. In recent years we’ve seen increasedtraining opportunities for school and collegeleavers through higher apprenticeships andschool leaver programmes. We also work closelywith universities around the world to incorporateand integrate the ACA into students’ studies,which can result in fewer exams to sit aftergraduating.

The employers we work with are activelyrecruiting those from non-relevant degrees too. So if your child is considering university, it’simportant they pick something they arepassionate about; they can still go on to train forthe ACA and become an ICAEW CharteredAccountant regardless of which degree they study.

We hope you are able to use this guide as apoint of reference for direction and guidance whenit comes to supporting your child’s career andstudy choices. We know you want them to havesuccessful careers and hope that this guidecontributes to them making an informed decisionon their future path.

Clare PowerHead of student recruitment, ICAEW

Paths to Professional Careers – a Parent’s Guide 2017 | 1

Careers in accountancy – a foreword from ICAEW

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

Career choices – be a good guide ................6

Work or university?The world of apprenticeships: explore the options ....................................10

Which route is best financially?..................13

Will an employer programme narrow my child’s horizons? ..................................16

Will my child miss out on the university experience? ................................19

Where will my child flourish? ....................21

Researching employers’ programmes – track down the detail ..............................24

Researching degree courses – spot the differences ................................26

Degrees and employment prospects: top five myths............................................29

Helping your child transition to uni ..........................................................32

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

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

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

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

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

Advertisers’ index ......................................56


I chose to study the ACA as it is a global qualification and opens the door to many opportunities.Jessica McCarville, ACA Student, Audit Associate at PwC

For details on the ACA qualification from ICAEW, visit icaew.com/parents

Contents

4 | Paths to Professional Careers – a Parent’s Guide 2017

YOUR CHILD’S CAREER

also an overview of paths into four key careerareas (finance, business, IT and engineering)starting on page 36 – we cover an additionaleight sectors online at targetcareers.co.uk.

A helping hand is welcomeNot sure whether your child wants your helpor not? Well, the trendence Schools Surveyasked over 10,000 students from schools andcolleges in the UK who they would turn to forhelp with their decisions about careers anduniversity. The study found that 60% of thesestudents would turn to their family for adviceabout which university to go to, and 45%said they’d turn to their family for adviceabout jobs. It’s clear that plenty of studentsvalue their parents’ input, so let your childknow that you’re around if they want to talkand encourage them to keep you in the loopabout their plans. They might find it useful to use you as a sounding board or they might just want a bit of reassurance thatthey’re on the right track.

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

I f your child is planning on taking A levels, Scottish Highers or theInternational Baccalaureate, or isalready studying for them, they mightbe considering their next steps. Do they

know what career they want? Will they go touniversity? Or do they like the sound ofjoining an employer on a higherapprenticeship or sponsored degreeprogramme? Whatever path your childchooses, they are more likely to succeed if itmotivates them. This guide is designed tosupport you in supporting your child to findthe answers to these questions.

You’ll find five starting points for helpingyour child consider what careers interest themon page 6. When it comes to decidingbetween going to university full time orjoining an employer programme, there’s lotsof advice on pages 10 to 22, from weighingup which option is best financially (page 13)to whether your child will miss out on theuniversity experience (page 19). It’s a goodidea to investigate your child’s options fully soturn to page 24 for tips on how to researchemployer programmes and page 26 for aguide to researching degree courses. There’s


Top tips for helping your child find the right career

‘Encourage your child to try outdifferent professions. There arelots of employers and not-for-profit organisations out there to help young people do that, for example through summerschools and work experience.’Emily Archer, project manager, Pathways toProperty – a career-exploring programme forstudents


‘Support and help your childto choose a career they'llenjoy, even if their choiceisn't what you expected.Happiness in a job willencourage them to excel.’Sam, parent of Kayleigh, a businessapprentice at EY



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

following pointers with them.

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

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

The TARGETcareers website has a handylist of degree subjects you need for differentcareers (see box on facing page for details). Ifyour child is feeling stressed about the need todrop subjects and narrow their options,encourage them to take a look. They couldwork through the careers that do requireparticular subjects and decide whether theyare happy to rule them out or want to keepthese options open.

Career choices – be a good guidePoint your child in the right direction by getting them to think about the careers they might like.

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Do further researchGot a shortlist? Find out more with onlineresearch. Then try networking. You and yourchild can ask your family and friends if theyhave any good contacts, attend universityopen days and school leaver job fairs, andlook for employers who are willing to offerwork experience.



More help fromTARGETcareersThe following content on targetcareers.co.ukgives more help with career and subject choice.

Read overviews of careers in 12 key areas

and the skills required at

targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors.Find out ‘Which degree do you need for

which career?’ (go to ‘Uni’ then ‘Choices

about uni’).

discoverrisk.co.ukEmail [email protected] for your free parents’ guide to apprenticeships

From cyber risk to climate change, more than 125,000 CII members work in a surprising range of sectors.

CII’s Discover campaigns and free membership give students and teachers access to our unrivalled networks and insights.

Make an informed choice – Discover Risk.

Confidence through knowledge

Your child is currently at an important and, yes, exciting stage of life. With many options available, from apprenticeships to university, making an informed choice can feel tricky. We hope this overview helps you and your child make informed choices that give them the best chance of success – whatever their career.

The CII is the world’s largest professional body for two distinct sectors – insurance, and financial planning. Both are actively seeking new recruits from school/college and university.

Our 125,000 members give us a helicopter view of recruitment trends – whether your child is seeking an apprenticeship for a local small business, or a graduate scheme at a global company.

Different ways to achieveThere are varied routes to success, through different entry points. The key drivers are determination and ability. In other words, business leaders do not need to have gone to university.

Insurance and financial planning companies have a diverse population – some graduates, some non-graduates; some extroverts, some introverts. There are so many roles available, that the key is to research and understand oneself to identify suitable roles. Subjects studied are not important for the vast majority of roles.

Insurance – a hidden gemInsurance is not just about cars, houses and holidays. The UK sector is the world’s third largest market and the heart of international insurance and reinsurance. That creates some very interesting opportunities to look at risks as diverse as climate, cyber, fine art, international politics and sport.

The sector offers excellent support through every stage of a career. That includes having a buddy, a mentor, support and payment for CII’s globally-recognised professional qualifications. Our ACII designation is like a second passport.

CII – make an informed choiceIn fact, the sector’s global nature is one of its strengths and securities. Insurance will always be needed and the growth of the middle classes in Asia and Latin America, for example, offers new opportunities.

Financial planning – managing wealth Financial planning is an emerging profession. It is the ideal area of finance for those who want to help people secure their financial future – and see the results. This can be in a back-office role like a paraplanner – for those who prefer working with data and solving problems; or in a people-focused role as a financial planner – for those who like to meet people, build relationships and grow a business.

Unlike insurance, the vast majority of our financial planning members work in the UK. This is because the information they use to advise clients is subject to UK regulation – with each budget comes a potential impact on clients’ financial plans.

The ageing demographic of the financial planning community makes it the perfect time to consider a career in this area.

How can the CII help?Our free Discover membership gives full-time students access to our sector insights, local and regional events or just a cup of coffee and a chat with someone who does a job your child would like to do. The CII’s Linkedin presence is an opportunity to connect with the sector and find work experience that could lead on to more.

We also deliver free Discover Risk and Discover Fortunes events to Y11-13 students across the country, as well as Apprenticeship events featuring current and former apprentices talking about their experience of not going to university and succeeding in the sector.

Want to find out more? Email [email protected] and our team will be happy to help.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Higher apprenticeships, schoolleaver programmes and sponsoreddegrees usually involve startingwork with an employer, earning asalary and studying part-time

towards relevant qualifications. This ofteninvolves attending college or university oneday a week, or in blocks of a week or more ata time. Tuition fees and any associated costsare typically paid by the employer.

Scheme lengths vary, though three or fouryears is common. Employers don’t tend toguarantee that there will be a job at the end ofit but in practice they are typically keen tokeep employees on.

Different organisations refer to theiropportunities in slightly different ways. Forexample, some programmes labelled as ‘higherapprenticeships’ could equally be described as‘sponsored degrees’. The qualifications onoffer also vary from employer to employer.

The route into every profession is different,so your child needs an idea of their goal beforestarting such a scheme. In some careers theoptions open to non-graduates are relativelylimited. For example, an undergraduate degreeis a standard requirement for anyone whowants to go on to qualify as a teacher orsolicitor. You can find out more about routesinto different careers on pages 36 to 46 and attargetcareers.co.uk.

What is a higher apprenticeship?Higher apprenticeships are typically open toapplicants with A levels or equivalentqualifications (such as Scottish Highers, anadvanced apprenticeship or an NVQ level 3).Once they’ve started work they study part timetowards a qualification at level 4 or above onthe national qualifications framework:• level 4/5 is equivalent to a higher education

certificate, higher education diploma or afoundation degree (the first year of a degree)

• level 6 is equivalent to a bachelors degree• level 7 is equivalent to a masters degree.

The qualifications offered depend on theemployer; examples include HNCs, HNDsand bachelors degrees.

There are also lower levels ofapprenticeship available (intermediate andadvanced). Applicants for these typicallyonly need GCSEs, though students with A levels or equivalent are usually free toapply if they wish.

What is a school leaver programme?Like higher apprenticeships, school leaverprogrammes are normally aimed at those withA levels (or equivalent). The term can be usedto describe a broad range of paid trainingschemes that combine earning and learning,and some employers refer to their higherapprenticeships or sponsored degree

The world of apprenticeships: explore the optionsFind out about work-based routes for 18-year-olds who want to gain higher-level qualifications – including university degrees – while earning.

programmes in this way. Such a scheme mightinclude a degree and/or professionalqualifications, sometimes at the same level asthe qualifications taken by graduates seekingentry to a particular career.

They are typically offered by largebusinesses and organisations, particularly inretail, accountancy and banking, but in plentyof other industries too.

What is a sponsored degree?You’ll come across references to bothsponsored degrees and sponsored degreeprogrammes on companies’ websites; theterms are used in different ways by differentorganisations. Broadly speaking, they refer toa degree programme associated with aparticular employer, with financial supportavailable for students selected by theemployer. The company typically chooses thedegree course because of its relevance forpotential future employees and may play apart in designing the course content.

Some sponsored degrees operate in asimilar way to higher apprenticeships andschool leaver programmes: students will bepaid employees, spend most of their timeworking and attend university part time or inblocks, with tuition fees paid in full. In othercases companies offer partial financialsupport to students who have gone touniversity full time in the traditional way,alongside paid work in the summer vacations.

What is a degree apprenticeship?Degree apprenticeships are a new optioncombining university study and paid work.Apprentices will gain a bachelors or mastersdegree and the cost of course fees is met bythe government and employers.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

BE MORE WITH AN M&S APPRENTICESHIPBe ambitious. Be knowledgeable. Be well-rounded. Be successful. Be rewarded. Be qualified. Be a future leader. Be an M&S Apprentice.

Be more.Be the one to visit our website for details: careers.marksandspencer.com

APPRENTICESHIPS


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

T here’s no ‘one size fits all’ answerto the question of whether schoolleavers will be better off financiallyif they go to university full time orjoin an employer at 18 on a higher

apprenticeship or other school leaverprogramme. It depends on the career theywant to get into and the particular schoolleaver programme they are considering.

Comparing pathsSome school leaver opportunities aredesigned to get participants to the samelevel in their careers as graduates who go touniversity full time before joining. This isoften the case with employers who offer thechance to do a degree part time whileworking. Examples in finance includeBarclays’ higher apprenticeship inleadership and management and KPMG’saudit school and college leaver programme.Examples in IT include sponsored degreeprogrammes at CGI and Capgemini’s degreeapprenticeships.

However, not all school leaverprogrammes are designed to put them on apar with graduates. In these cases they mightfind that in the long term they earn less thanthose with a degree. Make sure your child’sresearch includes finding out about thequalifications they need to progress longterm. For example, in engineering, if theyeventually want to become a chartered

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

Earnings v. debtIf your child goes to university beforegetting a job they are likely to leave withstudent debt, which will then accrueinterest. The total amount they repay willdepend on how quickly they pay it off andwhether they have paid off all their debt 30years after they graduate (at which pointany remaining debt is written off). Forexample, if they borrow £37,500 and take29 years to repay then, based on currentinterest rates, they would end up repayingaround £52,500 in total.

Would they have been better or worse offfinancially if they hadn’t taken on this debtto get a degree? If they’d managed to get aplace on a school leaver programme thatgot them to the same earning level asgraduates in the same length of time – andthat was as good for their career in the longterm – then they’d have been better offwithout it. However, if they ended upearning a little less than a graduate thenthey might not have been. If you divide£52,500 over a typical working life of 45years, then they’d only need to earn £1,167a year more as a graduate than a non-graduate to make their degree a goodfinancial investment.

Which route is best financially?Doing a degree before starting work usually results in student debt.Is this cancelled out by higher earnings in the long term?


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

See our advice on ‘University fees andfunding’ at targetcareers.co.uk (click on ‘Uni’then ‘Choices about uni’).

Ignore ‘average’ salariesIt’s wise not to get too fixated on statisticsrelating to average salaries for all graduatesor school leavers. Media reports about howmuch graduates earn often don’t give the fullstory about their figures (see page 30 formore information). And salaries vary somuch, particularly for graduates, that

averages aren’t much help in predicting whatyour child personally might earn.

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

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

I originally thought accountancy was just number crunching. I was pretty excited when I heard about the different jobs you can do.

Kayleigh Anderson, ACA Student, Audit Trainee at EY

For details on the ACA qualification from ICAEW, visit icaew.com/parents

I

Create value through diversity.Be yourself, be different.

Traditionally, there’s only been one route when school comes to an end. University. Degree. Career. But things have

pwc.com/uk/schools

Take the opportunity

© 2016 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.

/pwccareersuk @pwc_uk_careers /pwc_uk

Business Insight Week, Career Open Days or jobs

Flying Start degree programmes

Graduate Work Placements or jobs

Talent Academy, Internships, Business Placements

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Join us as a graduate

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Get a Head Start, join from school or college

No matter which path you choose...

...there are no limits as to how far you can go and how much you can achieve.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

If your child takes an ‘earning andlearning’ route at 18 then they will betrained for a specific career. Thequestion of ‘How specific?’ varies fromscheme to scheme. Some of the broadest

involve completing placements in differentbusiness functions (eg sales, HR, marketing orfinance) and studying towards a qualificationin ‘business’ or ‘management’. Otherprogrammes lead to one very specific field, egcyber security or aerospace softwaredevelopment.

Such schemes aren’t appropriate if yourchild doesn’t know what career they want.They are also not the best idea if they haveseveral options in mind and wouldn’t be ableto explore all of them on the programme.

Changing career later onIf a programme includes a degree, then intheory this should be transferable to othercareers. There are many entry-level jobs forwhich a university degree is required, but forwhich any subject is acceptable. However,your child would need to give convincingreasons as to why they had chosen to train for one career and apply for graduate jobs inanother.

As an example, let’s say they completed asponsored degree programme in softwareengineering, then applied for graduate roles asa marketing assistant. If they had helped outwith marketing activities at work and foundthat they enjoyed them, that would be a clearreason for the change of direction and would

Will an employer programmenarrow my child’s horizons?Schemes such as higher apprenticeships and school leaver programmesare aimed at applicants who know what type of career they want.

show that they had experience in marketingon which to base their decision. If theyhadn’t, they’d need to have fitted in activitiesrelated to marketing outside of work, to showthey’d tried it and knew they liked it. Herestudents who’d been to university full timemight have the advantage, as they wouldprobably have had more time andopportunity to, say, take a marketinginternship in a vacation or been marketing repfor the university summer ball.

Qualifications below degree level are lesslikely to help if your child wants to changecareer completely. This is because there isn’treally a recruitment market focused on, say,HNC leavers with any subject, whereas thereis a recruitment market for graduates who’vestudied any subject.

It’s also worth checking whetherprogrammes that interest your child have a‘tie-in’ period – they might be expected towork for the company for a set period of timeafter finishing their qualifications.

Keeping options openIf your child wants to keep their optionsopen, they could take a degree and explore

different careers on the side. They might beable to do this on a sponsored degreeprogramme that doesn’t involve too muchtravel, overtime or studying in their free time.However, they’re more likely to be able to dothis as a full-time student – providing theydon’t have to work long hours in a part-timejob or spend several hours a day commutingto lectures.

For example, a history undergraduateconsidering careers in teaching, law oraccountancy might join the universitydebating society, stand for election to becometreasurer of the choral society and spend amorning a week in term time volunteering ata local school. They might then line up workexperience with schools, law firms andaccountancy firms for their universityvacations, and watch trials at their local courtwhen they have time.

Of course, if your child goes to universityto keep their options open then they shouldconsider whether they need to study aparticular subject – see the box below. It’s alsoworth considering with your child whetherthey would realistically have the motivationto explore different careers on top of theirstudies.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

More help fromTARGETcareersSee targetcareers.co.uk for which careers doand don’t require a specific degree. Look under

‘Uni’, then ‘Choices about uni’.

An actuarial apprenticeship is your route into the fast-paced world of analysis of risk for banks, insurance companies and huge corporations.

You’ll be learning from top professionals and earning from day one. Potential earnings are outstanding and you’ll work towards internationally recognised professional qualifications.

If you’re looking for a career that counts, visit our website to find out if you’ve got what it takes to succeed.

www.actuaries.org.uk/careersthatcount [email protected]

Use your maths skills to scale the financial heights


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

If your child is considering a higherapprenticeship, sponsored degreeprogramme or school leaver programme,you might be concerned about whetherthey would miss out on the broader

experience of being a full-time student.The answer will depend on which aspects

of the university experience they would value.You might find it helpful to talk throughwhich of the following appeal.1. Studying a subject that really interests

them for its own sake.2. Being able to choose the modules and

projects that most appeal to them.3. Moving away from home and living

independently.4. Meeting new people and making new

friends.5. Learning new things and having new

experiences.6. Getting involved in activities such as sport,

theatre or politics.7. Having time to explore their interests, values

and job options before choosing a career.8. Being able to socialise spontaneously.

Academic freedomIf academic freedom appeals (points 1 and 2),they probably do need to go to universityindependently rather than joining a schoolleaver programme, so they’re free to studywhat they like.

New experiencesIf it’s more about leaving home, meeting newpeople and doing new things (points 3 to 5),both university and school leaver programmesprovide these opportunities. Manyprogrammes pay enough to be able to rent aroom, and all involve new people andexperiences. If your child likes company, theymight actually be happier at work surroundedby colleagues than at university studying foran arts degree, on which they’d typically onlyhave a few hours of lectures and tutorialseach week and be expected to spend themajority of their time writing essays alone.

One difference will be in who your childspends their time with. As a full-time studentthey would mix largely with people of theirown age but who were studying a variety ofsubjects and going on to a range of careers. Incontrast, on a school leaver programme theywould have colleagues of all ages but whoworked in a limited range of careers. However,there would still be the chance to meet others ofthe same age, both new joiners at theircompany and those with whom they wouldstudy.

Clubs and societiesIf your child is keen to join societies (point 6),in theory they could join the local rowing clubor audition for an amateur musical while inemployment. Large companies often even

Will my child miss out on the university experience?Even if an employer’s scheme includes a degree, it won’t be atraditional university experience. Does this matter?


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

have a club or two of their own. However,some school leaver programmes involve quitea bit of travel and/or studying at home in anemployee’s free time, which can limit theirability to take on commitments outside work.Your child might also fit in and make friendsmore quickly with fellow students, who willlargely be the same age as them.

‘Me time’Going to university in the traditional wayoffers time and opportunities to explore careerdirection (point 7) before making a decision.Students can use the vacations to get workexperience in different areas, try career-relatedactivities on campus (eg writing for the studentnewspaper) or make use of the careers service’scontacts. Some employer programmes offer thechance to try different roles, but the scope isrelatively limited. See page 16 for more detail.

Full-time students typically have morechoice than employees as to how todivide their time between work andsocialising (point 8). Your child mightvalue the freedom and flexibility to popround to friends’ rooms for aspontaneous cuppa, stay up late withoutan early start for work the next day orspend a Tuesday afternoon learning tounicycle.

However, getting a decent degreerequires motivation and commitment toa subject. If it’s currently only the socialside of university that appeals to yourchild, they might want to consider a wellplanned gap year to earn some money,try new things and form a better idea ofwhat they want to do. See the ‘Taking agap year’ section of targetcareers.co.uk –you’ll find it under ‘Careers advice’.

WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Y our child’s motivation levels willbe a key factor in whether theysucceed in the career oreducational path they set out on at18. Both traditional degree study

and employer programmes such as higherapprenticeships can be hard work and usuallyrequire participants to spend time studying athome by themselves as well as attending formalteaching sessions at college or university.

Intrinsic interest in their subject or job willhelp see them through, as will learning in away that suits their personality. For example,35 hours a week of solitary, theoretical study

might be perfect for an academically inclinedstudent but is unlikely to suit somebody whoprefers a hands-on approach to life.

Would university suit?Many degrees require a lot of private study,and students typically make their owndecisions about how hard they wish to work.So a key consideration is whether your childwill be motivated enough to crack on bythemselves – and to keep going month aftermonth. Genuine interest in their subject willbe more helpful than a nebulous desire to ‘get a good degree’.

Where will my child flourish?Traditional university study isn’t for everyone – nor is earning and learning. Consider which would suit your child personally.



WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Universities typically expect students tospend around 35 to 45 hours per week intotal studying. For many subjects there is lesscontact time than at school, which means thata higher percentage of their time should bespent in private study. This is particularly thecase with arts and social science subjects: onsome courses a typical week involves only sixor eight hours of teaching time. Sciencesubjects tend to have more contact hours (20 hours a week is a typical figure). Howmuch private study would your child behappy with?

University students also tend to be muchless closely monitored than school pupils – onmany courses it’s possible to slack off forweeks or even months at a time withoutanyone commenting on it. As an example, anEnglish degree will typically consist of lectures(listening to a talk in groups of around 20 to100) and seminars or tutorials (interactivesessions in groups of up to about 20).Attendance at seminars or tutorials istypically monitored, and students may beasked to explain themselves if they missmultiple sessions. Attendance at lectures oftenisn’t monitored. Would your child beconscientious about turning up if nobodychased them?

Most degrees aim to develop a student’sunderstanding of a subject from an academicperspective. This can often be the case evenon courses that sound quite vocational,though some have practical elements such aslab sessions. Is your child interested inknowledge and intellectual enquiry for their own sake?

On most university courses, the mainoutcome of a piece of work (eg an essay) willbe a grade. Will this be sufficient reward, or

would they prefer to see their hard workhaving a positive impact on other people oron a business?

Would working life suit?School leavers on schemes such as higherapprenticeships and sponsored degreeprogrammes spend the majority of their timeworking, with time off to attend college oruniversity. They usually do extra study athome in their own time. Depending on theemployer, they might also travel to differentlocations for work – for example, employees inthe construction industry need to visit differentconstruction sites. Would your child be happyjuggling and prioritising multiple demands ontheir time? If they would need to leave home,are they ready to live independently?

The topics that your child studies will bechosen by their employer and relate to theirworking life. Are they genuinely excited bythe career in question? Would they enjoybeing able to apply what they were learningto real-world situations, or would they preferthe freedom to study what they liked?

As with any job, your child’s day-to-daywork will have a clear purpose that helpstheir employer work towards its businessgoals. They should be able to see their workhave an impact on clients and colleagues –and possibly even on profits. Would yourchild feel motivated by having a real, practicaleffect, or does intellectual success currentlyappeal to them more?

Employees on such programmes areexpected to behave and dress in a professionalway. Would your child welcome being treatedas a grown-up or resent the fact that friendson full-time degrees had more freedom to actas they pleased?

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WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

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

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

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

Some employers attend careers fairs orhold open days. Here you can speak torecruiters and, often, young employees on therelevant programme. Parents are usuallywelcome. There’s advice on how to make themost of such events at targetcareers.co.uk(click on ‘Careers advice’ then ‘Buildingnetworks’). You can find details of open dayson the careers pages of employers’ websitesand the box opposite has links to fairs.

Qualifications offeredFind out what qualifications your child wouldgain. Use targetcareers.co.uk to assess whetherthese would get your child into the right careerat the right level – go to ‘Career sectors’, thenchoose the relevant area.

There is a national framework forapprenticeships that defines the level ofqualifications on offer (see page 10). However,there is no such framework for other schoolleaver programmes. Some employers offerschool leavers the chance to study forprofessional qualifications that are also takenby their graduate recruits, such as the ACAqualification from ICAEW. Professionalqualifications certify that you have the trainingand skills needed to do your job to a highstandard; in some industries such as accountingthey are essential to progress your career.Check the detail of what is on offer carefully.

Researching employers’ programmes – track down the detailWhat to research about programmes your child is considering as analternative to university – and where to find the information.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Careers fairsThere are lots of careers fairs held around the

country. The following will help you get started.

www.regionalskillsevents.co.ukwww.skillscymru.co.ukwww.skillsscotland.co.uk

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

As good as a graduate?It’s worth asking how, once your child hadfinished the programme, their career prospectswould compare with those of a graduaterecruit. Would they be doing the same kind ofwork? How would their salary compare withthat of a graduate of the same age? Wouldyour child’s prospects for career progressionand promotion be the same as a graduate’s?You’re unlikely to find this informationonline, so ask in person at careers fairs oropen days.

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

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

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

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


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

C hoosing a degree course is easier ifyour child has a clear idea of thesubject they want to study – andeasier still if they know whatcareer they want. If they’re not

certain about these, take a look at our adviceon choosing a career on page 6 and onpicking a degree subject if you’re not surewhat career you want on targetcareers.co.uk(click on ‘Uni’ then ‘Choices about uni’).

Vocational degreesIf your child wants to take a vocationaldegree (ie one that is focused on a particularcareer), investigate the following.• Is the course accredited by the relevant

professional body?• Which employers do past students now

work for?• What percentage of graduates find work in

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

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

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

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

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

Questions about any courseIt’s a good idea to find out the followingabout any degree course your child isconsidering, regardless of whether they have acareer in mind.• What content is covered? Does this match

their interests?• Do the lecturers’ backgrounds and research

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

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

• How many hours of study are studentsrecommended to do by themselves each

Researching degree courses – spot the differencesDegree courses vary widely. Examine the detail with your child to see how the ones that interest them differ.


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

week? If your child is planning to workpart time, could they fit this in?

• Are students assessed by coursework,exams or both, and what proportion of their final grade does each element countfor?

• What are the student satisfaction ratings for the course?

• What jobs have past students gone on todo?

• How much are the tuition fees and arethere any extra costs?

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

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

Researching universitiesYou and your child might also want to findout the following about universities thatinterest them.• How highly ranked is the university overall?• How employable are its students? What

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

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

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

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

• Does the local area have the facilities theywant?

Pay a visitEncourage your child to visit universities anddepartments to meet or listen to theacademics who would be teaching them –parents can usually attend too. Are theywelcoming? Do they sound passionate abouttheir subject? Open days and taster coursesare a good chance to do this. You can find out

more about taster courses on the UCASwebsite (www.ucas.com).

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

Impressing graduate recruitersKnowing what employers like in their graduaterecruits could also help your child’s decision.• Some recruiters prefer prestigious

universities. So investigate higher-rankedinstitutions if your child is predicted goodgrades, but find one where they will feelinspired and supported.

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

More informationGo to the ‘Uni’ section of targetcareers.co.ukwhere you’ll find:

a university course search

university profiles

degree subject guides

university reviews – find out what current

students think about their universities.

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WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

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

MYTH ONE: arts degrees won’t get you a jobTruth: Some graduate jobs require aparticular subject or range of subjects (eg anumerate degree or a science degree) but fewspecifically call for non-vocational artsdegrees such as English and history. However,many roles are open to graduates of anysubject. There are also conversion courses forgraduates who want to change direction aftertheir degree.

Many employers ask for at least a 2.1 (thesecond highest degree grade). So if your childwants to join, say, a big accountancy firmafter they graduate – a route that is open tograduates of all subjects but typicallyrequires a 2.1 – they would be far better offwith a 2.1 in English than a 2.2 in maths oreconomics.

Some employers also prefer to recruitfrom top-ranked universities. If your childwants to be a lawyer or managementconsultant, for example, a degree in Frenchfrom, say, the University of Oxford orImperial College London will impress morethan a degree in law from a lower-rankeduniversity.

Degrees and employmentprospects: top five mythsMake sure your child has the full facts if they are choosing a degree course with their employment prospects in mind.

MYTH FOUR: studying IT makes you very employableTruth: Each year the Destinations of Leaversfrom Higher Education survey reports whatgraduates are doing six months after finishingtheir degrees. The subject with consistentlythe highest unemployment rate for those withan undergraduate degree is computer science.That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty ofjobs available for IT graduates with goodgrades and extracurricular experience – justthat even such a useful-sounding subjectwon’t guarantee you a job.

MYTH FIVE: graduates start on £28,000 to £30,000Truth: The press love to report on surveys thatsuggest high graduate starting salaries.Regularly quoted reports include TheGraduate Market (from High Fliers) and thebiannual surveys from the Association ofGraduate Recruiters (AGR). The formerpredicted an average graduate starting salaryof £30,000 for 2015, while the AGR AnnualSurvey, published in September 2016, reportedan average of £27,500.

However, they are based largely on salariesfrom the biggest, highest-paying employers,not from all organisations offering graduatejobs. For example, the 208 AGR memberswho responded to the AGR survey offered22,960 graduate jobs in 2016, while around300,000 graduates leave university each year,meaning that only around seven per cent ofgraduates will land one of these roles.

A more accurate salary picture comes fromthe Destinations of Leavers from HigherEducation survey, which is based onuniversities contacting all of their graduates.This found that graduates who left universityin 2015 with an undergraduate degree andwere in full-time jobs six months later earnedan average of £21,690.

MYTH TWO: a sensible subject is better than one you will enjoyTruth: As per myth one, academic success is abig factor in employability. Getting good gradesrequires motivation, and it’s far easier to staymotivated about something that interests you.This is particularly important at university: inmany cases attending lectures is optional,lecturers are unlikely to hound slacking studentsand there are hundreds of fun distractions. Onsome degrees students are expected to spend thevast majority of their time studying alone – andno one will check up on this. If your childchooses a subject they enjoy, they will be lesslikely to neglect their studies.

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

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

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


WORK OR UNIVERSITY?


If your child is heading off to universitysoon and you’re wondering how best tosupport them, here are a fewsuggestions from Marie on helping themwith the transition.

The initial conversationBefore your child goes to university, ask themwhat they want to get out of university andwhat they would like help with. You can thentailor your support accordingly.

Establish some ground rules. Discuss howyou will help your child, whether it’s financialsupport or bringing their washing home at theweekend, and how often you will be in touch– do they want to hear from you or shouldyou wait for them to call you?

Practical considerationsEncourage your child to attend post-offer visitdays and get an insight into the universitythey’re hoping to go to. They can talk tocurrent students about how they found thetransition and what they like or don’t likeabout university. Some universities also put onsessions for parents at these visit days so lookinto whether you should go along or not.

Think about the practicalities, from findingout where they need to go on their first day to

remembering to pack a coat. Is there anythingyour child needs to know or learn, such ashow to budget or how to change a lightbulb?

A series of transitionsDon’t just focus on the first few weeks;university is a series of transitions for yourchild. November, for example, is the first setof deadlines at Leicester. Then, after the firstterm, your child comes home for Christmas.After seeing their family and friends, yourchild might find it difficult going back touniversity in January. Familiarise yourselfwith the university’s academic year so you cansupport your child through key transitions.

University supportYou don’t need to know all the answers.There are support networks, such as welfareand careers services, at every university sopoint your child in their direction. Rememberthat sometimes your child will just need youto listen. Find out what the university does tosupport parents too. Most universities havewelcome websites with sections for parentsand they might offer a welcome talk forparents. Some universities will also havemagazines to keep families updated onuniversity news.

WORK OR UNIVERSITY?

Helping your child transition to uniMarie Muir is the student experiencemanager at the University of Leicester.

Discover the world of possibilities open to students at Leicester

Your background shouldn’t impact what you can achieve. More and more employers understand that a great degree is only half the story. We know that it is a student’s skills and experience that make them a stand out candidate.

At the University of Leicester we’re proud of our record on diversity. We’re working with leading progressive employers to ensure all students, no matter what their background, understand their skills and experiences to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Parents, carers and family members have a key role in providing support for students applying to, and studying at, university – find out how we can support your family member at one of our open days.

www.le.ac.uk/opendays

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

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

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

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

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

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

Accountancy careers for graduatesA graduate will typically need a 2.1 degree(the second highest grade) in almost anysubject to enter the accountancy profession.However, some accountancy firms, includingEY and Deloitte, will accept candidates with a 2.2 degree (the third highest grade). Artsdegrees are as welcome as numerate degrees(degrees with a high concentration of maths),though there’s often a numeracy test as partof the application process. Graduates alsoneed to have developed skills such asteamwork, communication and problem-solving, for example through extracurricularactivities or part-time jobs.

Most employers want good A level grades(eg 112 UCAS points*), although things are

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

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

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

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


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

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

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

Some retail banks will start their schoolleavers off in a frontline role. Barclays’ higherapprentices, for example, spend the first yearat a local branch or within its call centre.Other banks put school leavers into theirintended roles straight away.

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

To get into investment banking, applicantstypically need a university degree at a 2.1 orabove and at least 120 UCAS points*. Mostinvestment banks take on graduates from allacademic disciplines into finance roles, but theytend to go for those from ‘top universities’. A relevant internship is almost a must.

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

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

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

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

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

traditional degree, for example via a higherapprenticeship or sponsored degree (see page10). Employers generally ask for two or threeA levels (or equivalent). Some set minimumgrades or UCAS points, typically between 80and 120*. Some programmes offer the chanceto try different business areas via a series ofplacements: marketing, HR and sales arecommon options, though PR andmanagement consulting placements are rare.For most other opportunities, and for mostgraduate schemes, applicants need to knowwhich specific area interests them.

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

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

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

SalesA number of sponsored degrees and higherapprenticeships offer the opportunity to workin a sales role. There are also entry-level andtrainee roles available, for example in mediasales or recruitment. To get a job it will help ifyour child has customer service experience orcan show that they have developed relevantskills (eg building relationships andunderstanding other people’s needs) through

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


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

extracurricular activities. Areas such aspharmaceutical or IT sales sometimes requirea degree.

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

MarketingTraining programmes such as sponsoreddegrees and higher apprenticeships areavailable. You can also get an entry-levelmarketing job without a degree. To get hiredfor the latter, your child is likely to needexperience in a business setting (eg an adminjob) and potentially a qualification from theChartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). TheCIM offers introductory courses and it’spossible to study online and/or at evenings orweekends. Entry-level jobs in market researchtend to be aimed at graduates, though yourchild could start in a support role and worktheir way up.

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

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

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

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

Management consultingSome firms, often referred to as professionalservices firms, offer a range of services toclients, such as accountancy, tax andconsulting; others specialise in consultingservices. At the time of writing, none of thelatter offer opportunities for school leavers.However, professional services firms PwC andDeloitte offer school leaver programmes inconsulting while KPMG includes anopportunity to experience consulting in itsschool leaver option called 360°, which givesa taste of several different divisions.

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


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

an extended version of this article

salaries in business

degree choices for business careers

types of jobs and employers your child

could choose.

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

W ould-be engineers whointend to complete their Alevels or Scottish Higherscan either study for anengineering degree before

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

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

To get onto an engineering higherapprenticeship or similar your child willtypically need maths and science A levels. Someemployers ask for specific science subjects andothers don’t, but maths is often requested.

Grades requiredIf your child wants to get into a top universityto study engineering they will typically needA* and A grades in their A levels orequivalent. Universities that aren’t as highlyranked often ask for As and Bs. Entryrequirements for higher apprenticeships aretypically a bit lower. Some employers don’tspecify grades; some ask for C grades or aboveat A level; others set a minimum number ofUCAS points, typically between 96 (CCC) and112 (BBC)* though sometimes higher.

The university routeYour child could study a particular area ofengineering or keep their options open with ageneral engineering degree. They can alsochoose between a course that leads to abachelors-level qualification or one that leadsto a masters-level qualification.

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

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

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

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


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

Your child is unlikely to be guaranteed whenthey start the programme that they will have apermanent job once they finish. However, ifthey do well their employer is very likely tooffer them a position. It may also support themto continue their studies to a higher level.

Becoming professionally qualifiedMany engineers choose to becomeprofessionally registered. This means that aprofessional body has certified that they havethe right level of skills and knowledge to meetits benchmark. Engineers work towardsbecoming professionally registered over aperiod of time while in employment,gathering evidence of their skills andexperience before being assessed.

There are different levels of professionalregistration. The highest is chartered engineer,then incorporated engineer, then engineeringtechnician. On average, chartered engineersearn more than incorporated engineers, andincorporated engineers earn more thanengineering technicians.

The quickest and simplest route tochartered engineer status is with a mastersdegree; the quickest and simplest route to

incorporated engineer level is with at least abachelors degree. However, it’s also possibleto get there with lower qualifications, if youcan prove that you’ve reached these levels oflearning in another way.


More help fromTARGETcareersPick up a copy of TARGETcareers Construction,

Engineering & Property.

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

careers, including:

an overview of types of jobs and

employers in engineering

advice on choosing an engineering degree

or higher apprenticeship

engineering salaries.

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

There are IT jobs available at manydifferent levels. If your child is doingwell academically it makes sense forthem to start a little way up theladder, either by going to university

and then getting a graduate-level job, or bystarting work after their A levels or ScottishHighers with an employer who will train them– for example via a higher apprenticeship.

Uni first, job laterIt’s possible to get into an IT career as agraduate with any subject. However, broadly

speaking, the less technical your child’s degreethe fewer roles will be open to them; as suchthey’ll face more competition and need to bemore impressive as a candidate. • Some technology employers require a

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

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

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


• Several technology employers acceptgraduates with any degree and train themup. In many cases this will be for slightlyless technical roles. To beat the competitionfor these jobs, a strong academic recordand extracurricular achievements will help.There is a wide range of IT degrees

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

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

Starting work at 18Sponsored degrees and higher apprenticeshipswill allow your child to start work in IT aftertheir A levels or Scottish Highers (or equivalent)and study towards higher level qualifications atthe same time. See page 10 for more detail onhow such programmes work. Lower levels ofapprenticeship are also available.

There are a handful of sponsored degreeprogrammes that would enable your child tocomplete an IT degree while working for anemployer. Participants earn a wage and havetheir studies paid for, meaning that they cangraduate debt-free and with several years ofvaluable professional experience on their CV.CGI and Capgemini both run sponsoreddegrees; Ford has a similar programmethough it calls it a degree apprenticeship.

Several other programmes include afoundation degree – the same level of

qualification as an HND, and equivalent tothe first two years of a bachelors degree. Takea look at employers such as National Grid,Unilever and BAE Systems.

To get onto a programme that includes asponsored degree or foundation degree yourchild will typically need three A levels (orequivalent). UCAS points requirements tend tovary between 98 (CCC) and 120 (BBB)*.Often their A levels need to include at least oneor two science, maths or technology subjects.However, this isn’t always the case – Unileversimply asks for a minimum of two A levels.

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


ROUTES INTO CAREERS

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

careers in IT, including:

an overview of the types of jobs and

employers in IT

typical salaries

advice on choosing an IT degree

types of tests used to assess candidates

for IT higher apprenticeships and

sponsored degrees.

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

I knew I didn’t want to go to universityso I looked at other options. My schoolran a careers week and I went to talksfrom parents and past students abouttheir jobs. One of them was a girl who

now works in recruitment at PwC. She talkedabout PwC’s school and college leaverprogramme, which I liked the sound of, so I applied. The programme was two years’long and I worked in the assurancedepartment, where I still work now.

Making a differenceI work on both external and internal audits.An external audit involves checking companies’financial records to ensure the results they’rereporting are correct, whereas an internalaudit involves assessing the key risks a clientfaces and checking that the controls in placeto prevent these from happening are effective.I’ve done an internal audit for a pharmacy ina hospital, where I reviewed the controls inplace to make sure the drugs couldn’t bestolen or go missing. I’ll then giverecommendations on how my client couldfurther reduce risks or increase efficiency. It’ssatisfying watching my clients’ progress andseeing the difference my work makes. I alsoget to travel a lot and meet new people. I’mbased in the Newcastle office but most daysI’ll be out of the office visiting clients.

A step up from A levelsI didn’t want to leave school with just A levelsso the chance to get a professional qualificationthrough ICAEW played a big part in mydecision. My training started with ICAEW’sbasic qualification, the Certificate in Finance,Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB), and I’m now studying towards the ACAqualification so I can achieve charteredaccountant status.

For the first exams I had two weeks off andwent to college, learning in a classroomenvironment, but now I get four weeks off andit’s mostly self-managed learning – I’ll get aworkbook to go through. The exams have beendifficult but the college tutors are on hand toanswer questions and my manager went throughmy work with me when I needed help.

Time for friendsAt first I found balancing work, exams and mysocial life difficult but I’m used to it now. If I want to go shopping with my friends at theweekend, go to the gym or walk my dog, I can.When exams get close I can’t see my friends asmuch but they understand and I think it’sworth it. I’ve taken a faster route to charteredaccountant status. If my friends who went touniversity want to go into accounting, they’ll bestarting the first exam when I’ll hopefully besitting my final exams.

A fast track to charteredaccountant statusLydia is now an associate in risk assurance at PwC after completing its school and college leaver programme.

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ROUTES INTO CAREERS

I chose to study astrophysics at universitybecause I enjoyed understanding howthe universe works and I wanted to keepmy career options open. Once I was atuniversity I decided to try a career out,

so in the summer before my final year Icompleted an internship in IT risk assurance(ITRA) at EY. After the six weeks were up, Iwas offered a place on the ITRA graduatescheme, which lasts for two years and involvesa mix of advisory and assurance projects.

Working with clientsSo far I’ve mainly worked on the assuranceside. While the financial audit team checks thecompany’s financial records are correct, wecheck its IT processes and controls, and assessthe risks the client faces, such as data hacking. I attend meetings with clients to walk throughand test the controls in place around key ITsystems, or to go through the status of theproject. I check the physical and logical securityin place, such as passwords, CCTV camerasand security gates, but I also look at things likeits disaster recovery plan. If the building burnsdown, for example, is the data recoverable?

Since I joined EY, I’ve worked with aroundten clients and for the past eight months I’vebeen working on an IT audit for a large bank.

I also get involved in internal projects such asrepresenting my cohort at a forum, where wemeet with EY leadership in order to improvethe graduate programme.

Training and qualificationsAs part of my graduate scheme, I’m workingtowards the ICAEW Certificate in Finance,Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB). My department supports me with my exams: I have blocks of time off work, ranging fromsix days to two weeks, to attend collegecourses or to study at home. After this, I’d liketo qualify as an ICAEW chartered accountantby completing the ACA qualification.

A world of opportunitiesOne of my career highlights so far has beentaking on more responsibility on my latestproject; for example I’m looking after anotherassociate and developing my coaching skills. I also really enjoy the training opportunitiesavailable, such as the ITRA annual trip toAmsterdam and the graduate programmeevent in Rome, where we meet our colleaguesin Europe. In the future, I really want to workin New York so, after I’ve finished thegraduate scheme, I’d like to apply for asecondment at EY’s offices there.

From summer intern to graduate consultantRhian Jones is an IT risk assurance consultanton EY’s graduate scheme. She graduated fromDurham University with a masters degree inastrophysics in 2015.

Futurewise supports young people toexplore their career aspirations and makeinformed decisions about subject choices,higher education, apprenticeships andfuture employment. The programme helpsyoung people between 15 and 19 to:

• Make decisions on subject choices (A Levels, Highers, IB or equivalent)

• Understand how their strengths, interestsand personality fit together

• Consider university options & alternatives to higher education

When it comes to career choices, is your child feeling a little lost?

Find out how Futurewise can help your teenagernavigate their career choices – visit our webpageat www.inspiringfutures.org.uk/parents

P


I didn’t go to university. I used to workfor a high street bank and my husbandand I now run our own businessmanufacturing wild bird foods. I handle the office side, and help with

sales and marketing. When Lydia said shedidn’t want to go to university, I couldappreciate that it isn’t for everyone. Otherparents asked me if I was disappointed andassumed Lydia hadn’t got the grades to getinto university, but she needed the samegrades to get onto PwC’s school leaverprogramme as she would have needed foruniversity – and I’m far from disappointed.

Exploring optionsLydia’s very independent; she searched foropportunities herself and we’d talk aboutwhat she’d found over the dinner table. Sheapplied to PwC’s school and college leaverprogramme after a past student, who nowworks at PwC, gave a talk at her school. I wasn’t surprised Lydia decided to pursue acareer in accountancy; she was involved inYoung Enterprise at school and alwaysenjoyed the finance side of it. We didn’t knowmuch about school and college leaverprogrammes but we were happy as long asshe was doing something she wanted to do.

Trusted with clientsI’m impressed by how much responsibilityLydia’s taken on so early in her career. I assumed she would be in the office addingup figures all day but she was out of the officemeeting clients straight away, and she travelsa lot. I was a bit concerned about thetravelling and studying for exams, and thetime it would take up in Lydia’s life, but she’shad a really mature attitude towards it. She’svery busy and needs to focus on her studies, soI think living at home with us has helped her.

Speedy progressionLydia doesn’t have as much free time as herfriends at university but she doesn’t mind. Shedidn’t want the university lifestyle. She prefersmeeting her friends for lunch at the weekends,which she can still do. Plus, by the timeLydia’s friends have graduated and juststarted paying off their debt, she willhopefully be fully qualified as an ICAEWchartered accountant, so the hard work willbe worth it.

Lydia visited her old school to encourageother students to consider school and collegeleaver programmes, and she goes to careersfairs with PwC. I think she’s a greatambassador.

A daughter to be proud ofValdine is Lydia’s mum (see profile on page 49).She talked to TARGETcareers about Lydia’sdecision to join a school leaver programme rather than go to university.

ROUTES INTO CAREERS

ROUTES INTO CAREERS

change for the operations side of the business, forexample providing training to colleagues if we’reupgrading a system. I work closely with my linemanager and my team but I also get to speak topeople in different areas of the business.

My current project is a strategic review,which involves looking at where we potentiallyduplicate our services and what we can do tomake this more efficient, whether that’smoving the work to another site, automatingthe work or stopping it altogether. In the nextfive years I’d like to try my hand at a morecustomer-facing role, managing a larger team,such as branch manager or operationsmanager.

Outside the officeI’m glad I chose the apprenticeship route; someof my friends at university tell me they’re tiredof studying and having no money. They movedaway from home sooner but now I’ve finishedmy apprenticeship in Yorkshire, I’m hoping tomove to London this summer and get my ownplace. I was worried I wouldn’t make friends aseasily as if I’d gone to university, but I’veformed close friendships with the apprentices I joined with. We support each other at workand we socialise outside of work. We’ve evenbeen on holiday to Amsterdam together!

Banking on a bright futureEllie Greenwood is a project manager atLloyds Banking Group, where she previouslycompleted a higher apprenticeship in project management.


A s a child, I always wanted towork in a city and wear a suit. I studied business studies at A level and I got involved withYoung Enterprise. It was obvious

to me that this was what I was good at. I’dapplied to university but after a career advisertalked to me about apprenticeships I decidedto look online at what was out there. I appliedfor Lloyds Banking Group’s higherapprenticeship in project management and,two weeks before I was due to move into myuniversity accommodation, I found out I’d gotthe job.

Learning on the jobWhile I was on the apprenticeship I workedtowards a level 4 diploma in projectmanagement, which involved coursework andtwo exams. I learned a lot on the job too andI’ve developed the confidence to put my ideasforward. At school I thought I wasn’t creativebecause I wasn’t good at arts subjects but I’verealised I am creative in a business environment.

Increasing efficiencyI work in the group operations changemanagement department, where I was alsobased for my apprenticeship. We help deliver

Have you ever wondered how properties are developed, who is responsible for them and how much they are worth?You may know something about pursuing a career in law or even accounting but working in property is not so well known – even though there are countless career opportunities. Want to know what they are?

Pathways to Property Pathways to Property is a free programme led by Reading Real Estate Foundation at the University of Reading for sixth form students. Supported by British Land and some of the biggest players in the real estate sector and by the Sutton Trust, the programme will help you �nd out where a career in property could lead.

Opportunities include: • A free residential Summer School at the University of Reading each July

• Industry led talks in schools throughout the year

• A mentoring programme

• Work experience placements in real estate �rms

Pathways to Property introduces careers in property by connecting you with those already working in the sector. Industry volunteers from some of property’s leading �rms work with students across the programme to share their expertise and talk about their routes into the profession.

For further information and to get involved visit www.reading.ac.uk/pathways-to-property or email [email protected]

‘The experience improved my understanding of the various ways to pursue a career in property and it gave me an insight into higher education courses in property and real estate.’

Toni, Summer School participant

‘The talks from the graduates were very inspiring. I would de�nitely recommend the summer school to anyone.’

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Editor Rachael MilsomDesign Thomas GrayProofreader Laura CookAdvertising Jon Mallott, salesproduct champion; theTARGETcareers sales team; theTARGETcareers campaignmanagement teamCirculation Patty ShufflebothamCommercial director Jon MallottSales director Simon RogersProduction director Jane AndersonGroup chief executive officerGraham Storey

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© GTI Media Ltd, February 2017All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproducedby any means including, but not limited to, photocopying or storedin a retrieval system in any form without prior written consent ofGTI. This is subject to the single exception of photocopying bycareers advisers or lecturers for careers counselling. All items soused should be fully acknowledged. The views expressed inarticles are those of the authors and their publication does notnecessarily imply that such views are shared by GTI. Whilst everycare has been taken in the compilation of this publication, thepublishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, orfor consequential loss arising from such inaccuracies, or for anyother loss, direct or consequential,arising in connection withinformation in this publication.


Aon ............................................................31Arden University ........................................28Bath Spa University ....................................50BT ..............................................................44CII ................................................................8EY ............................................................IBCHSBC..........................................................38IBM ............................................................47ICAEW ....................................OBC, IFC, 3, 14Inspiring Futures ........................................52Institute and Faculty of Actuaries................18Le Cordon Bleu London ............................48Lloyds Banking Group..................................2Marks & Spencer ........................................12Pathways to Property..................................55Plymouth University....................................23PwC ............................................................15University of Leicester ................................33

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Will tomorrow’s leaders all have degrees?At EY, school leavers can go as far as graduates, with just as many career options.

Choose what’s right for you.ukcareers.ey.com/schools

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Paths to Professional Careers...Paths to Professional Careers –a Parent’s Guide 2017 |5 Top tips for helping your child find the right career ‘Encourage your child to try out