For help and advice contact us:

Your Personal Adviser: Name: ____________________________ Telephone: ____________________________

Use our confidential email enquiry

service: help@cxnonline.org.uk We post vacancies on our Facebook page:

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www.connexions-northumberland.org.uk

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Considering Options Other Than

University?

Now you have your results you might be re-considering your future. This can be a difficult time. Plans that you have had in place for many months may not now be feasible, or you may have simply changed your mind about your next step. Either way, you’re now considering alternatives, and this leaflet aims to help you.

What are your Choices?

First of all, don’t panic, there are other options out there, described below, some of which could still take you where you want to go, even if it is not by the route you first intended and there are plenty of people who can help you.

Still want to Study?

Re-sitting What is your school’s policy? Do students usually increase their grades? How would you feel about returning to school or College? Are there any costs involved? Re-applying next year Talk to your school about how to handle references etc. Also, be aware of the increase in tuition fees for 2012 entry.

Part Time study www.open.ac.uk Open University is increasingly popular. You can study while you work, and it is cheaper than the normal route. (about £5,000). Some unis and colleges offer distance learning courses. Foundation Degrees are available in vocational areas. They combine work experience and higher study. You can usually top up with an extra year’s study to get an honours degree. You can apply directly to Colleges or check notgoingtouni.co.uk.

Looking for Employment? Apprenticeships www.apprenticeships.org.uk allows you to see and apply for apprenticeship vacancies on line. All Apprentices are now employed from Day 1 and paid a wage. There are now more Advanced Apprenticeships which offer study to level 4 (HNC). All apprentices study part time for relevant qualifications. How to register with www.apprenticeships.org.uk and apply on line. • Click login to Apprenticeship Vacancies (top

left of homepage). Click on Register now, complete the details then click register

• Check your email and follow instructions to activate your account. Now you can:

• Search for vacancies. Use link on right hand side of your homepage. Search by type of job and area. Save your favourite searches (e.g. Engineering in Northumberland).

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• Apply, but read the Top Tips leaflet first. Print off info about vacancies you have applied to, to look at later, if you get an interview.

• Check regularly on applications by clicking on Manage Applications on your Home Page. Look at your Message Board too as you might be invited to interviews through this.

• Set up alerts by email or text using the link on the left hand side of your home page to find out about new vacancies.

Employment Some Year 13s extend the hours in their existing part time jobs and that’s ok, but it’s good to consider jobs with training. www.notgoingtouni.co.uk has lots of ideas and vacancies from national companies. The usual job websites; Job Centre: jobseekers.direct.gov.uk Fish for Jobs North East: northeast.fish4jobs.co.uk, need to be regularly checked. You can send spec letters and CVs to employers, check their websites first. For help and advice see www.direct.gov.uk search for Finding and applying for your first job. Self employment Look at www.shell-livewire.org for entrepreneurs aged 16-30 or www.princes-trust.org.uk which gives grants to young people setting up businesses. A local organisation that supports this is www.reaction-online.org

No ideas, or just not sure? Talk to your Connexions PA who can advise you about all of the options. Details overleaf.