Go to school. Pass some exams. Attend university. Pass more exams. Then walk into the job of your dreams.
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? And, for some people, it is. But for many others, life doesn’t turn out like that.
Not everyone is suited to higher education and studying for a degree. Many people don’t enjoy the environment, while others struggle with the pressure of meeting deadlines and studying for exams. Some students pick the wrong course and there are people who just want to be out in the world making some money. There are also those who fail to meet the entry requirements.
Fortunately, for most professions there is more than one entry path. So, for anyone not keen on going straight from school to university, here are some different routes to reaching your chosen career destination.
Work Based Learning
The best of both worlds. You work, earning money and gaining valuable experience, while studying for a qualification.
Examples include modern apprenticeships and professional awards in areas such as accounting, human resources or training and development.
Full-Time Job
School is enough to put people off education for life. By the time they’re 16, they want to get out into the world and start making some money.
And for some roles, particularly at entry level, that’s fine. Learning is on-the-job, with not a test or certificate in sight.
Gap Year
Not everyone has their full working life mapped out in front of them. Some people need more time to decide what is best for them.
Taking a year out to travel, work casual jobs and (hopefully) work out what’s next can be hugely beneficial.
Mature Study
There’s nothing to stop you studying for a degree, or any other qualification, in your 20s, 30s or even later.
Due to their work and life experiences, older students often find it easier to relate their course work to the real world. And they may appreciate their studies more if they have worked in jobs they didn’t enjoy.
Distance Learning
Post covid-19, studying from home may be the long-term solution for millions of students.
It’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t enjoy attending lectures and seminars or who lives in a remote area and doesn’t want to move away from home.
Part-time Study
Completing a degree over five or six years, whether it be at a local institution or via Open University, is far less demanding than studying full-time.
It also allows for greater flexibility with regards to work and family commitments.
Self-Employment
Some people are better suited to going it alone than working for someone else. The right idea could mean you are the boss from day one.
The Gov.UK website reports that, in 2018, there were 450,000 16-24 year olds running small businesses in the UK.
Portfolio Career
It is becoming increasingly popular to gain an income from multiple sources rather than one. Usually with one steady, reliable job, the ‘anchor’, supported by other pieces of work.
For instance, someone with a flair for languages could teach night classes at a local college. They could supplement this by offering interpreter or translation services, providing one-to-one tutoring or writing a monetised blog about an aspect of life in a country where their chosen language is widely spoken.
The Career Hunter 