As a parent, you are one of the most influential people in your child’s life and in the best possible position to support your child as they consider their future, review their options and make choices.

Here at school we have a strong careers programme providing education, information, advice and guidance and our staff signpost pupils to online information advice and guidance. That said, research shows that children look to their parents first when they want career advice.  Whilst some young people have a very clear idea of where they see their pathway leading them, others may take a while to decide – you can help by:

Starting the conversation

• Focus on the skills and behaviour your child will need, rather than specific jobs.
• Talk about goals and what your child finds fulfilling.
• Be open-minded and encouraging.
• Talk about what career experiences your child has had at school (lessons, visits, tutor time etc.
• Be patient as your child’s choices may change.
• Remember it’s your child’s decision about what direction they want to go.

We realise it can be challenging to know how to ask the right questions, so here’s our Top Five Tips to get started:

1. Start with their interests, skills, abilities and values – get them to write them down.
2. Talk about their likes and dislikes of different school subjects.
3. Encourage them to link their skills and interests by using the future skills questionnaire through Compass+ around Personality and Interests Quizzes or National Careers Service Skills Assessment 
4. Identify 3 different jobs they may like to explore using the National Careers Service Job Profiles.
5. Share your own experiences and talk about your own job or career and those of the wider family.

We are working in partnership with Sheffield Progress (which all Y10 and 11 pupils have log-in details for) and a skills' builder who can offer home support. Your child can track their career pathway with you at home by using this service. It is free to register. The link can be found below.

There are many organisations who offer advice and support to parents at various stages of your child’s career pathway to post-16 choices, university, apprenticeships and funding support.

Useful Links for Parents

• University Open Days – A Parents Guide to University.
• Green Careers Week – A Parents Guide to Green Careers.
• Talking Futures – A Parents Toolkit for Careers Conversations.
• Success at School – Parents Advice Pages.
• Career Alchemy – Parents and Teens Pages.
• Career Pilot Parent Zone can give lots of information about choices at 14, 16 and 18, along with FE, HE, Apprenticeships, Funding and Support.
• UCAS –  Undergraduate Advice for Parents & Guardians.
• My World of Work helps you to explore over 600 job profiles.
• Parental Guidance from the Careers Writers Association gives advice and information needed to support young people during their transition to adult working life.
• Amazing Apprenticeships Parents Zone.
• The Skills' builder home zone - https://www.skillsbuilder.org/parents-and-carers.
• Sheffield Progress - https://www.skillsbuilder.org/parents-and-carers.