Online Subjects/Careers Information
This is just a snapshot of what’s available online.
Post 16 Options BrochureYears 9-13 Hertfordshire Opportunities – HOP
What is HOP? It’s a one-stop shop for students who can tap into all the resources they need to make informed career decisions. Find out about career path options, apprenticeships, work experience, skills development and professional qualification programmes. Click here
Maths in your Career – Study Skills in Maths
Want to be better at knowing how to study maths? If you choose a Maths degree then this advice will help you improve the way you study.
Find out more about careers at the Maths Careers Website
Visit mathscareers.org.uk – the UK’s most popular maths careers website, info here
Membership of the Institute of Mathematics
Are you planning to study Maths at university? Become an IMA eStudent and receive regular updates about mathematicians working in industry, commerce, schools and universities and learn about the work of mathematicians in the UK and worldwide.
Membership is free – sign up now Newsletter sign up here and here
Maths Fun
Maths Chase is a free site where you can quickly test your times tables. The hope is that students will find it a really fun way to learn their times tables with the aim of making learning fun and helping students gain confidence. Click here
Future Morph has lots of careers advice for those interested in working in the STEM industries (science, technology, engineering & maths). Click here
Maths Careers and Support
The Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) provides a range of support for students including:
mathematical articles, challenges and puzzles, information about university courses, enrichment and revision materials. The AMSP can also help provide tuition support for Further Mathematics if your school or college does not offer it. See amsp.org.uk for more information or click here
NRICH – interesting resources to help you develop your problem solving skills, and information on preparing for university nrich.maths.org/secondary-upper or click here + plus magazine – articles, podcasts and puzzles designed to introduce readers to the beauty and applications of mathematics plus.maths.org or click here
STEM Learning – information about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassadors and STEM Clubs stem.org.uk or click here
Engineering
STEM Learning – information about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassadors and STEM Clubs stem.org.uk or click here
Whether you plan to go to university or straight into the world of work, there are opportunities for budding engineers. From Success at Schools check out this article to learn what makes a great engineer.
What jobs are out there?
Here are some of the main types of engineers:
Civil engineers work on the built environment around us – that means houses, office blocks, bridges, roads, railways and tunnels.
Mechanical engineers design machinery, from dishwashers to wind turbines to the machines that build our products.
Chemical engineers figure out how to mix raw chemical materials to make them perform useful functions – working in the manufacture of food, medicines, materials and nuclear science.
Environmental engineers create systems that protect the environment such as structures that stop the coast from eroding.
Biomedical engineers design technology that provides medical solutions, such as artificial body parts or devices that aid medical specialists in their work.
Electronic engineers develop circuitry to make our gadgets smaller, more powerful and more efficient.
Software engineers design computer applications like the mobile app or internet browser you’re reading this email in, as well as programs that run behind the scenes or inside products.
Am I Cut Out For It?
Whatever engineering pathway you go down, you’ll tend to need the same bunch of skills:
Problem-solving Skills: This is a must, it’s an engineer’s bread and butter.
Creativity: Engineers make something from nothing, they are like artists in this respect.
Curiosity: Not so much a skill as a way of thinking. Engineers constantly ask questions and aren’t happy till they’ve answered them.
Teamwork: Each engineer tends to work on a bit of a project, which means you have to work closely with other people working on the other bits.
Time Management: Most engineering work is project based, which means you have to be able to deliver on time – your colleagues and clients are relying on you to do that.
Is A Career In Engineering Future Proof?
The more advanced our technologies get, the greater the need for specialist engineers to design them. The development of machine learning means that a new generation of robotics engineers will make robots behave less like computers and more like people.
In the future, civil engineers will need to evolve too as they increasingly link smart devices – from fridges and toasters to road signs and even rubbish bins – to the built environment.
How Do I Get There? Apprenticeships/School Leaver Programmes
A bunch of new engineering apprenticeships means you no longer have to go to university to become an engineer. With an apprenticeship, you will train alongside experienced colleagues within a paid job, while working towards relevant qualifications which give you the knowledge and understanding to do your job better.
Apprenticeships offer a way into the following fields of engineering:
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Manufacturing
- Civil
- Environmental
Some are available at advanced level, which means you could train after your GCSEs as an alternative to A-levels. Others are higher apprenticeships, which means you’ll work towards a qualification equivalent to a foundation degree or higher.
Click below to learn more:
Should I apply for an apprenticeship or university?
University – What can I study?
You can study many forms of engineering at university – as well as the generic engineering course which allows you to specialise as you progress, you can choose from chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, aerospace or aeronautical engineering, and others.
What are the entry requirements?
To study engineering at university, you’ll need to have an A-level in maths, and at least one other STEM subject, with some unis specifying physics. You should of course find out what subjects are required for your specific branch of engineering – for example, chemical engineers will be expected to have a chemistry A-level/equivalent.
To learn about working in Engineering, take a look at Tomorrow’s Engineers, click here.
The Institute of Civil Engineers could also provide advice, click here
Here are the UCAS pages here Read more about working in the industry from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, here plus the Engineering Council here You can find information on mechanical engineering from The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, click here
This is Engineering
This is Engineering has a wealth of information from fashion and beauty in engineering to film and tv, sport and space. There are also video links where you can hear from young engineers in their roles. Click here
Careers information on the motor industry can be found at the Institute of the Motor Industry here and at Autocity here
Although a scientific academy, The Royal Society hosts lectures, competitions, exhibitions and festivals bringing cutting-edge science to the public. More information here
A visit to the annual Cambridge Science Festival taking place in March each year must not be missed. Click here
The Royal Society of Biology has an excellent student page here. For more Biology and Biomedical Sciences, visit the website of The Francis Crick Institute (click here). They are a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the biology that underlies health and disease. You’ll find news, features, lectures, exhibitions etc – you can sign up for email newsletters too.
There’s Chemistry news here from The Royal Society of Chemistry. Each year, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge puts on a spectacular demonstration lecture for the public, generously supported by The Walters Kundert Charitable Trust. With a strong narrative throughout, all the demonstrations have been devised to illustrate particular concepts for that lecture with many experiments never seen before. The videos are available for free online click here. Isaac Chemistry can be found here
If you are interested in Physics then The Institute of Physics has lots of student information here and Isaac Physics can be found here Here’s a link to theSenior Physics Challenge at University of Cambridge. Information on outreach lectures at The Cavendish Laboratory here
Isaac Computer Science is a free online learning platform for A level, funded by the Department for Education, click here. The professional organisation, The British Computer Society is a useful resource, click here
Energy companies turn natural resources into fuel we can use to heat and light buildings, and power vehicles and appliances. Suppliers bring usable energy into our homes and workplaces, while other utility companies provide services like phone lines, broadband, water and sewage systems.
Here is info on careers in Energy & Utilities – and click the links to read more.
What jobs are out there?
More than one in 50 people work in the energy industry, here are just some of the jobs available:
Scientists: Geoscientists, geologists and chemists search for the perfect places to extract natural resources and turn them into energy.
Mudloggers: This unusual-sounding bunch help scientists collect and analyse soil, rock and liquids thrown up by drilling to find oil or gas.
Engineers: Engineers work out how to extract resources to make energy, from fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, to renewables such as wind, solar and tidal or wave energy. Some carry out the hands-on work required to get the energy, and others look after utilities such as plumbing and wiring.
Skilled workers: There are also lots of jobs for skilled workers including welders, pipelayers and scaffolders.
Diving: A lot of the hunt for resources goes on underground or underwater so commercial diving jobs are also common.
Hydrologists: Identify, create and look after water sources, to ensure we can all access it safely from our taps at home and that it doesn’t run out.
Who will I work for?
Companies in the energy industry fall into three basic groups – those that generate energy, those that get energy to the customer, and those that sell it to the customer. Some companies do all three of these things. Water companies provide drinking water and sewage systems, and telecomms companies
look after phone lines, TV services and broadband connections. You could work for a big company in one of these areas, one of the many smaller companies, or a supplier to one of these companies.
Am I cut out for it?
Given the range of jobs out there, there’s probably something that will appeal to you. Here are some things to bear in mind:
Work outdoors: Many of these jobs, particularly those involving building, maintenance or prospecting work (searching for resources), give you chance to work in the great outdoors – which has its pros (invigorating, active, fun) and cons (can be cold and wet).
Away from home: If your work involves identifying and extracting new sources of power, you may find yourself working away from home, either within the UK or all over the world.
Make a difference: Jobs in Energy & Utilities are essential to modern life: they keep us warm, watered, powered up and connected. By choosing to work in renewables, you will help keep the planet safe from climate change by helping us shift away from harmful fossil fuels.
Of course, there are plenty of office jobs available in the Energy & Utilities industry, so there are options for you if you don’t want to travel or get soggy.
Is a career in Energy & Utilities future proof?
Yes Renewable energy is taking over from the dirty fossil fuels we used to rely on as we move towards sustainable energy sources and try to combat climate change. This will create thousands of new jobs across the spectrum of energy roles.
The government wants to roll-out high-speed broadband across the country in a big way to make sure everyone has a decent internet connection. This means many more jobs for engineers and technicians in the telecoms sector – and more back-office staff too.
How do I get there?
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships all the way from intermediate up to degree level are available in many roles in the Energy & Utilities industry.
These include:
Engineering apprenticeships tend to be on the practical side of engineering. If you want to design engineering solutions, you will need a degree.
Skilled jobs such as welding, pipe-laying, scaffolding and plumbing are available through apprenticeships.
Electrical engineers, who carry out practical work on the national grid and its connection to buildings, can train via an apprenticeship.
Wind turbine operations and maintenance is available specifically in the renewable energy sector.
University
University is the option for you if you want to work in high-skilled areas which generally require a degree, such the design part of engineering, or a degree-level understanding of science, such as geoscientist, chemist or hydrologist.
What should I study?
How do I find a job?
Look for graduate schemes with energy companies and utility providers.
Also search for graduate-level job vacancies – you don’t have to complete a graduate programme to do a grad job.
A Google search in your chosen area of work should get you started.
Try searching for the names of companies near you that work in the area of energy industry you want to work in: generation, supply or sale.
More resources
5 types of renewable energy jobs you could do
Going green: 10 cool environmental jobs you could do
Careers in the Construction Industry
For those interested in a career in this booming and growth industry, here are some useful websites:
Veterinary Science information from the UCAS pages here and from The British Veterinary Association here
Explore over 350 roles in the NHS, including apprenticeships, here
Explore careers in the world of Business & Finance here with Career Profiles, click here
There’s information here from Target Careers.
For information on Journalism, this is a useful website The National Council for the Training of Journalists and the BBC offers advice here plus there’s good information here from The Broadcast Journalism Training Council
For information on careers in Law, look at the Law Portal here
Also see The Law Society here
A visit to Cambridge’s Festival of Ideas taking place each October is a must. Click here
Some universities require you to sit an exam during the application process – here’s some info on the LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) here
Remember, you can study another subject followed by a Law Conversion Course.
Information on Law Conversion here
Information from The Complete University Guide here too
Apprenticeship or University?
Ensure you attend the TBSHS Law Society, held within school at lunchtimes.
Here’s an overview from Prospects of working in the Arts, click here. And for Art & Design, see Target Careers, click here
Music
Is Conservatoire Study Right for Me?
What are conservatoires like? How do they differ from a university or college? Find out here.
What is Geography? The Royal Geographical Society has a very informative website Click here
Find out more about working in the world of history by joining The Institute of Historical Research click here. You can find out more about possible careers after studying Classics here and here
For courses, advice, information and jobs in the world of sport, see Careers in Sport, click here. There’s more careers information from Global Sports here
Architecture pathways can be found on The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) here and see the UCAS pages here
Click here and here for information on working in Media – from All About Careers & Target Careers.
For information on careers in Computing, look at the British Computer Society website – Click here.
To find out more about the government’s drive to recruit the next generation of cyber professionals Click here CompTIA – information technology research and market intelligence for all things IT has free information to access and webinars providing background reading and research Click here To learn more or get more involved in coding, join the CoderDojo organisation Click here
Isaac Computer Science is a free online learning platform for A level, funded by the Department for Education, click here
A Career in Politics?
Politics shapes what our country and our world is like – from whether the buses run on time to how equal our society is and even how we save the world from climate change. Political decisions shape all of this and more. If you want to change things for the better, a career in politics could be for you.
What kinds of jobs can I do?
You might be surprised to learn that most people in politics aren’t politicians. Here’s a snapshots of the roles in the political world, national government and local government (your local council).
Civil Servants
Civil Servants work in government departments (like the Department for Education) and decide how to carry out of the policies of the government of the day. From research to communications, there are lots of jobs you can do in the Civil Service.
Think Tanks and Policy Institutes
These organisations come up with policies to tackle social or economic problems such as poverty or homelessness. They usually have a political leaning. You can work here as a researcher or in a public relations role.
Public-Sector Workers
Public-sector workers do not make political decisions, but carry out the day-to-day job of running public services. From librarians, accountants and customer service officers to NHS nurses, teachers and social workers, they do a huge range of jobs. This is a good career option if you care about the issues of the day but don’t want to get involved in the political side of things.
How do I get there?
Because of the range of jobs in politics and government, that depends what you want to do. If you want to research policy or become a politician, you might want to consider studying A-levels in subjects such as history, sociology, politics and philosophy which will give you a strong background in theory and research methods.
Political activism is also a good way to learn about the issues and gain experience of making change through action. What are the issues you care about? Use Google to research activist groups near to you that you can get involved with.
How else can Politics help my Career?
Experience of politics shows that you care about more than just yourself, that you have a conscience and are reliable. It also enables you to develop skills such as leadership and teamwork which are valuable in any career. Take a look at these articles to get an idea of where you could go:
Career Zone: Public Sector & Government: Learn about different roles in the public sector, local and national government and how to get there.
How politics can help your career: How Youth Parliament or Model Westminster can help your career.
60 Second Interview: Politics, philosophy and economics student Sarah explains why she chose to study PPE and what her university experience has been like.
BBC Archive & iPlayer – Background Research & Reading
Don’t forget to visit BBC Archive, iPlayer library and BBC Sounds; perfect for personal statement research, EPQs and more in depth knowledge of your subject eg for Psychology try All in the Mind and for English Literature try Shakespeare and Literary Criticism. Here’s a link the flagship annual lecture series delivered by significant international thinkers The Reith Lectures. Find more listening and watching linked to your subjects, click here and archive selections can be made here.
Careers – General
Irritating Words and Phrases at Job Interviews
CareerExperts.co.uk, amongst a wealth of job-related advice and guidance, has a whole section on Interview guidance. They have a piece of research outlining 11 key words and phrases that can irritate a prospective employer with suggestions as to how to avoid using them.
11 Irritating Words and Phrases That Are Costing You Job Offers
Careersbox Career Films
Careersbox is an on-line site with a variety of films about all sorts of careers that you may or may not have thought about – how about using Chemistry to be a flavourist for a top perfume house? There are also films about Sports Journalism, Design, Music, Photography etc. Have a look at: Careersbox
Start https://guest.startprofile.com/ Excellent free website with questionnaire, articles, careers videos & info.
Icould https://icould.com/ Buzz Quiz takes five minutes and identifies your ‘animal’ profile! Results include strengths & likely suitable careers areas, videos & articles.
All About Careers https://www.allaboutcareers.com/ Info & advice – springboard into job market for students, graduates & school leavers.
National Careers Service https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ Information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work. Info on CVs, skills health check reports, action plans, course searches, job profiles and help to find a job.
For careers films on the web, see CareersBox. Click here https://www.careersbox.co.uk/
Barclays Life Skills has a huge amount of information and advice on CVs, interview skills and how to get the most out of Work Experience. See here
UK Coursefinder https://www.ukcoursefinder.com/
University & HE search – Sacu Student https://sacu-student.com/
Questionnaire with links to HE subjects/courses plus careers info & labour market info.
UCAS 16-18 pages https://www.ucas.com/further-education
Routes open to you post-16 and careers ideas
World Skills UK contains activities to help students with career planning and employability skills, click here
The Big Choice https://www.thebigchoice.com/Apprenticeships/Careers-Advice
Apprenticeship & careers advice – Total Jobs https://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice
Jobs & careers advice – Prospects https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice
Target Careers is helping school leavers make decisions about their future. Explore options for careers, university or apprenticeships and get help applying successfully. Click here
Online careers advice – Youth Connexions https://www.ychertfordshire.org/
Success at Schools has information on jobs, courses and a vast number of advice forums including career zones https://successatschool.org/
Advice & support, info on jobs & careers – Bright Network – For free guidance, information and advice, and to find out more about this free student network, click on the link. You will also find listings of internships as well as jobs. Click here
BBC Bitesize – Supporting Careers
The BBC Bitesize team have come up with some terrific links to support careers. Alongside its well-loved resources, you can find a wealth of careers inspiration and advice with case studies supported by labour market information. You’ll also find links between curriculum subjects and work that show how vocational, apprenticeship and academic pathways can lead to success. Click here
For general advice on how to manage your money and take control of your financial future, Nat West have lots of information on their Money Sense website. Click here
Five Mistakes to Avoid at an Open Event
If you have students heading to an open event soon, make sure they don’t end up making one of these mistakes. Click here
Deadly Social Media Mistakes Job Applicants Must Avoid
Social media is an indispensable part of people’s lives and employers use it to aid in most recruitment situations. Click here
The Russell Group Informed Choices booklet has gone digital. This new website has been developed to help pupils, and their supporters, discover the right university degree for them. Students can use the website to learn which subjects are usually required for particular degree programmes, and to receive suggestions for potential degrees if they are uncertain about what to study at university.
It’s a terrific interactive tool which students can explore which degree subjects different A level subjects combinations could lead to in the future or, if they know what degree they may want to study, explore the best subject combinations. Click here
Unifrog
Students in Years 11-13 have access to the online tool Unifrog which is is a complete destinations platform. It helps students compare every opportunity by bringing all the available information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform. It supports students by helping them to make the best choices, and submit the strongest and most successful applications. Click here
Information on Local Colleges
For additional information and guidance regarding courses at Hertford Regional College, please see the link where you will find specific parent information Click here
For information on Harlow College, click here and for Stansted Airport College, click here
Information on Cambridge Regional College can be found here, and Long Road here
