1. Career Planning
Career planning is about understanding:
- Interests
- Strengths
- Skills
- Values
- Qualifications
- Future opportunities
Career pathways may include:
- Employment
- Apprenticeships
- Further Education
- Higher Education
- Vocational Training
- Supported Employment
- Self-employment
- Volunteering
Young people should be encouraged to explore a range of options and understand that career journeys are often flexible and change over time.
Useful links:
- National Careers Service:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
- Explore Careers:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers
- Career Pilot:
2. Career Planning for Children & Young People
Career development starts long before employment.
Schools and colleges should help learners:
- Explore interests
- Understand workplaces
- Learn employability skills
- Meet employers
- Understand qualifications
- Consider future aspirations
Parents and carers can support by:
- Discussing interests
- Encouraging exploration
- Attending careers events
- Supporting work experience opportunities
- Promoting realistic but ambitious goals
Useful links:
- National Careers Service:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
- Amazing Apprenticeships:
3. CV Writing
A CV (Curriculum Vitae) helps employers understand a person's skills, experience and achievements.
A good CV should include:
Personal Details
- Name
- Contact information
Education
- Qualifications
- Current studies
Skills
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Organisation
- Digital skills
Experience
- Work experience
- Volunteering
- Community involvement
Achievements
- Awards
- Projects
- Responsibilities
References
Where appropriate.
Tips:
- Keep information accurate
- Tailor the CV to the role
- Use clear formatting
- Check spelling and grammar
Useful links:
- National Careers Service CV Advice:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/cv-sections
4. Interview Skills
Interviews allow employers and training providers to learn more about applicants.
Helpful preparation includes:
- Researching the organisation
- Practising common questions
- Preparing examples of skills
- Understanding the role
- Planning travel arrangements
- Dressing appropriately
- Arriving on time
Common interview topics include:
- Motivation
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Career goals
Useful links:
- National Careers Service Interview Advice:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice
5. Work Experience
Work experience helps young people understand workplaces and develop practical skills.
Benefits include:
- Confidence building
- Career exploration
- Employability skills
- Professional networking
- Understanding workplace expectations
Work experience may be available through:
- Schools
- Colleges
- Employers
- Community organisations
- Voluntary organisations
Students should understand:
- Health and safety rules
- Workplace expectations
- Professional behaviour
- Safeguarding procedures
Useful links:
- National Careers Service:
6. Career Changes
Career changes are increasingly common throughout life.
Reasons may include:
- New interests
- Health needs
- Redundancy
- Family responsibilities
- Better opportunities
- Disability or accessibility needs
Support may include:
- Careers advice
- Skills training
- Adult education
- Retraining programmes
- Apprenticeships
- Vocational qualifications
Useful links:
- National Careers Service:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
- Skills for Careers:
7. Supported Employment
Supported employment helps people with disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions and other support needs gain and maintain employment.
Support may include:
- Job coaching
- Workplace adjustments
- Employer support
- Skills development
- Travel training
- Ongoing employment support
Useful links:
- Access to Work:
https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
- Disability Rights UK:
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
- Mencap Employment Support:
8. Volunteering
Volunteering can help develop:
- Confidence
- Experience
- Communication skills
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Community engagement
Volunteering may support:
- University applications
- Job applications
- Personal development
- Career exploration
Useful links:
- NCVO Volunteering:
- Do IT Volunteering:
- Volunteer Scotland:
9. Skills Development
Employers increasingly value transferable skills.
Important skills include:
Communication
Listening, speaking and writing effectively.
Teamwork
Working collaboratively.
Problem Solving
Finding practical solutions.
Digital Skills
Using technology safely and effectively.
Time Management
Managing tasks and deadlines.
Resilience
Adapting to challenges.
Leadership
Supporting and motivating others.
Useful links:
- Essential Skills:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/skills-assessment
- Skills Toolkit:
10. Careers Support for SEND & Disabled Learners
Young people with SEND or disabilities may need additional support when preparing for employment.
Support may include:
- Supported internships
- Job coaching
- Reasonable adjustments
- Access to Work
- Specialist careers advice
- Supported employment programmes
Useful links:
- SEND Guide:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers
- Access to Work:
https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
- Preparing for Adulthood:
https://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/
- Contact:
11. Legal Rights
Learners, job applicants and employees may have rights relating to:
Equality
Protection from discrimination.
Disability Rights
Reasonable adjustments.
Employment Rights
Fair recruitment and treatment.
Education Rights
Access to careers guidance and support.
Relevant legislation may include:
- Equality Act 2010
- Employment Rights legislation
- Education legislation
- Data protection legislation
Useful links:
- Equality Advisory Support Service:
https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
- ACAS:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission:
12. Evidence Standards
Evidence can be important when:
- Requesting adjustments
- Applying for support
- Challenging decisions
- Making complaints
Useful evidence may include:
- Qualifications
- CVs
- Training certificates
- Medical evidence
- Disability evidence
- Employment records
- Assessment reports
- References
- Emails and correspondence
Keep records of:
- Applications
- Interviews
- Decisions
- Support requests
- Workplace adjustments
Evidence should be:
- Accurate
- Relevant
- Organised
- Dated
13. Accountability & Complaints
If concerns arise:
Education Settings
- Careers Adviser
- Tutor
- College Support Team
- School Leadership
Employment Settings
- Manager
- HR Department
- Training Provider
External Support
- ACAS
- Equality Advisory Support Service
- Citizens Advice
Useful links:
- ACAS:
- Citizens Advice:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
- Equality Advisory Support Service:
14. Advocacy & Independent Advice
Useful support organisations include:
National Careers Service
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
Citizens Advice
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Disability Rights UK
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
Contact
Preparing for Adulthood
15. Quick Help Directory
National Careers Service
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
Career Planning
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers
CV Advice
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/cv-sections
Interview Advice
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice
Apprenticeships
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Access to Work
https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
Supported Employment
Volunteering
Free Skills Courses
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs
Equality Advice
https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
ACAS
Citizens Advice
Key Message
Career development is a lifelong journey. There is no single "right" path to success. Whether through education, apprenticeships, employment, volunteering or career changes, every person should have access to accurate information, fair opportunities and appropriate support. Understanding rights, building skills, gaining experience and seeking advice early can help children, young people and adults make informed decisions and achieve their goals.
Important Careers Guidance Changes in 2026
Statutory Careers Guidance Updated
DfE updated its statutory careers guidance on 23 June 2026. Schools and colleges should use the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks to build a stable, progressive careers programme with employer encounters, workplace experiences and access to further and higher education.
DfE Careers Guidance 2026Work Experience Reform – September 2026
Schools should now be reforming programmes so pupils can build towards 2 weeks' worth of work experience during Key Stages 3 and 4. DfE describes one week's worth of employer-led activities in Years 7–9 and one week's worth of placement experience in Years 10–11.
Work Experience GuidanceNew Jobs & Careers Service – 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, the government plans to bring the National Careers Service and Jobcentre Plus together in England as a new jobs and careers service. Until then, the National Careers Service continues to provide free careers information and guidance.
National Careers ServiceCareer & Training Options
Skills for Careers brings together apprenticeships, Higher Technical Qualifications, vocational qualifications, Free Courses for Jobs, Skills Bootcamps, supported internships and other training routes.
Skills for CareersWhat Meaningful Work Experience Should Include
DfE's 2026 careers guidance says workplace experiences should be progressive, varied and meaningful rather than simply a short visit with no learning purpose.
Explore the Workplace
Learners should get a realistic understanding of what it is like to work in the environment and what skills the employer values.
Real Interaction
Meaningful experiences should involve two-way interaction with employees and opportunities to meet different people in the workplace.
Real Tasks
Where appropriate, learners should have an opportunity to complete a task or piece of work relevant to the employer or workplace.
Support for SEND
DfE says additional or different preparation and support may be needed for vulnerable or disadvantaged learners and young people with SEND.
Applying for Jobs Fairly & Effectively
Tailor the Application
Match examples directly to the essential and desirable requirements in the job advert. Keep a copy of the advert and role description with your application.
National Careers Service – CVsPrepare Evidence
Use examples that show what you did, how you did it and what happened as a result. Evidence can come from work, education, volunteering, caring, community activity or personal projects.
Interview AdviceReasonable Adjustments
Employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants where required. Examples can include accessible premises, extra time in tests, alternative formats or changes to the interview process.
Recruitment AdjustmentsRecruitment Data
Employers and recruiters must follow data-protection law when collecting, using, sharing and retaining candidate information during recruitment.
ICO Recruitment & Data ProtectionSupport for Disabled People Looking for Work
Reasonable Adjustments
Equality Act protections can apply throughout recruitment and employment. Employers must make reasonable adjustments where disabled applicants or workers would otherwise be substantially disadvantaged.
Reasonable AdjustmentsAccess to Work
Eligible people aged 16+ may receive practical employment support for a disability or health condition. It can cover paid jobs, apprenticeships, work trials, work experience, internships and placements.
Access to Work EligibilityInterview Communication Support
Access to Work has separate arrangements for communication support at job interviews, such as a British Sign Language interpreter or lipspeaker, where eligibility rules are met.
Applying for Work if DisabledPreparing for Adulthood
For young people with EHC plans, preparing for adulthood and employment should be considered in reviews from Year 9 onwards.
SEND Careers GuidanceVolunteer, Worker or Employee?
Volunteering can build useful experience, but the legal position depends on what the person is actually required to do and what they receive in return.
Genuine Volunteers
Genuine volunteers do not have the same employment rights as employees or workers. A volunteer agreement may explain supervision, training, insurance, health and safety and expenses.
Volunteer RightsExpenses
Volunteers can normally receive genuine expenses such as travel, food or necessary equipment costs without being paid for their time.
Volunteer Pay & ExpensesPayment Can Change Status
Payment, rewards, benefits in kind or promises of future paid work can indicate that someone is actually a worker or employee rather than a volunteer.
Minimum Wage & Work StatusBenefits & Volunteering
People can volunteer while claiming benefits if they continue meeting the conditions of their benefit and only receive permitted expenses.
Volunteering & BenefitsTraining Options for Adults – England
Free Courses for Jobs
Eligible adults aged 19+ can access selected free Level 3 qualifications and certain Level 2 qualifications in construction, engineering and manufacturing.
Free Courses for JobsSkills Bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps are free courses of up to 16 weeks for eligible adults, designed around skills needed in specific sectors and including an offer of a job interview on completion.
Skills BootcampsApprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine paid employment with training and are available at different levels, including higher and degree-level routes.
Find an ApprenticeshipCareer Skills & Training
GOV.UK links to careers services and training options across the UK, including qualifications, funding and skills development.
Career Skills & TrainingCareers Advice Across the UK
England
The National Careers Service currently provides careers information, skills assessment, course search, CV and interview support. A new combined jobs and careers service is due to begin from 1 October 2026.
National Careers ServiceWales
Careers Wales provides career planning, job information, apprenticeship search, course search, CV and interview help, and support for parents and carers.
Careers WalesScotland
My World of Work is Scotland's careers information and advice service from Skills Development Scotland, with career tools, job information, course search and access to careers advisers.
My World of WorkNorthern Ireland
The Careers Service provides impartial all-age careers information, advice and guidance to young people and adults across Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Careers Service