Your Child’s Career Happiness Matters!

If I want general advice about my son/daughter’s career, what service is better: a parental consult or careers advice service? 

This depends on you but if it’s just general questions about their A-Level choices, degree choices or ways to apply for a course or apprenticeship a parental consultation may be a great place to start. 

If you want your son/daughter to have more personalised advice and get an action plan and careers advice and research fitted to them the career advice service would be better because you get a comprehensive assessment of their needs. This service can be especially helpful if your son/ daughter hasn’t had a careers interview in school or you are unsure if they will be offered one. 

Why are these services not free and what can I expect to get for the price?

Let’s start by saying that being as careers adviser is an accredited profession that requires constant professional development and such service is never free. Schools get government funding to pay their advisors. I am a qualified Careers Adviser with over a decade of experience. My services aren’t free because of the experience I have developed and the preparation that I need to do for you as a client.

I take time to get to know my clients and design a bespoke service to fit them. So the career advice you get from me isn’t something you can get off Google, it's more than that. 

My aim is to support you and your child first. 

I also have some specific podcast episodes about career advice for you as a parent. Around what careers advice is, why it’s important and what you need to know etc.

What additional support can you offer if we need on-going support after a session?

If you need additional support I can offer a one 1-1 online session or email support and if you need support with just careers research I’ll be more than happy to assist you with that too. Any the hourly rate I offer for this.

What makes you the best person to help my teenage son/daughter?

I have worked in 5 different schools and 2 colleges as a careers adviser. I understand a lot about the education system and although schools support young people. Many young people need extra support and encouragement. Schools do their best to provide this but as a careers adviser. My psychology degree has helped me understand that young people just need someone to listen to them not talk down to them. 

I build rapport with young people to help them open up  in a safe and non judgemental way regardless of their academic ability and who they are. I have faced bullying both as a child and adult in the workplace. I know all too well what it feels like not to be heard and I can help your teenager son/daughter to reflect on what they want without dictating what they should or should not do. 

I have interviewed and given careers advice to 100s of students them get into Sixth Form colleges to apply to college courses, apprenticeships and explore degree options. I know what processes apply and can support you with it.

What is the difference between the advice I get from my son/daughters' school vs you?

Some young people don’t get offered any career advice anymore especially in year 11. When I started out as a careers adviser all year 11 students were entitled to an interview. This changed in 2010 when funding for careers advice was cut and although it’s offered it is not always a requirement for schools anymore as it’s mainly privatised with schools needing to invest in it.  

The following study shows that many schools are failing to provide this support and that’s why I started providing support through my skills and experience in the first place to help you as parents. 

The difference between me and the school is yes I am only 1 person but I specialise in careers advice. Many teachers may have a vested interest in your child’s future but they may not have the knowledge and training I do. Plus I am a member of the CDI and continue to learn and develop my knowledge of careers advice, information and guidance. 

Young people need more support to help them with their careers and are looking for unique careers. I can also give support and guidance around looking at starting a business and thinking about getting a job. So the support I give is not just focusing on the academic part of their career