Careers A Levels Planning Your Future

You may ask why it's important to plan now, can't it wait until I'm ready to look for a job or have completed my degree? Taking time now to think about your future will allow you to make the right key decisions. Knowing which skills and academic qualifications are required for the industry you wish to enter, for example, will help you get ahead.

But deciding which industry you want to go into isn't easy. If you're unsure, ask friends and family what they see you doing - they know you better than anyone. Examine your values and beliefs and really think about what you'd like to spend your working life doing. Visit your college or school careers adviser and talk to them, ask them about tests available to guide you towards suitable careers. This is an important decision, which will affect the rest of your life, so spend time on it.

Once you've decided on an industry, do some research. Find out which qualifications and skills are required by potential employers. Knowing these before you choose your university and degree subject can benefit you in the long term; it may be too late when you've finished university. Remember, if you do decide to go on to higher education you're likely to spend between five to six years there, so time spent planning now will ensure you choose the most effective and direct route to your career.

As well as choosing the right degree subject for the industry you are interested in, try to develop key skills. Your ability to work with others, motivation, communication, negotiation skills and team working are just some of the skills you will need in most industries. More and more employers are now taking your academic achievements for granted and looking for evidence of these skills.

Companies are also targeting graduates sooner; according to a survey carried out by The Guardian and Park, over one fifth of graduate employers develop relationships with potential candidates while they are still at school and many approach undergraduates in their first year of university. There's a war on for the UK's top talent, so if you have everything well thought out, you can take advantage of this!