Career Options

There are a lot of different options for your career. Many people have different careers during their life. But first jobs matter, so it’s important to sort out what fits your talents, abilities, and interests.

Job Families

Job families contain different jobs which are related to each other. For example, the construction job family includes plumbing, civil engineering, and architecture.

A good approach is to choose something you’re interested in and explore careers related to it. 

Instant Expert: You can look through different job types on iCould, and watch videos to give you real life examples of the massive range of careers available to you.

What should I study?

Most jobs need you to have core skills like Maths, English and ICT. Some people choose what to study based on what career they are interested in.

Different careers have different educational requirements:

• Careers like being a doctor or lawyer have an established career route but may be other routes into the work area, including apprenticeships.
• Careers such as plumbing and care can be studied at college or through an apprenticeship or traineeship.
• Many careers including engineering, hairdressing, teaching, and building can be studied at college, university, and apprenticeship.
• For some careers like nursery, retail and food preparation your employers will support you to gain qualifications as you work.

Instant Expert: Explore careers with the National Careers Service.

Learning Choices

Once you've chosen a career path, explore your potential learning options in Oxfordshire:

• Apprenticeships
• Traineeships
• Sixth Form or Further Education College
• UTCs and Studio Schools provide alternate education in specific subjects for those 13+
• Training Providers offer alternatives to the above options.
• You can also train at work

Take action: If your parents are interested in helping you, this Careermag may be helpful.

Careers Information and Guidance 

Every School and College in Oxfordshire has a Careers Advisor - ask your teacher. 

If you are not in Education, Employment or Training and aged 15/16-19 (up to 25 with learning difficulties and disabilities), extra support is available via the EET Support Service.

If you’d like to talk to someone outside of school, you can contact the National Careers Service online or by phone on 0800 100 900.

Crucial: If you are educated at home this should include careers information and guidance.