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What skills and qualifications will you need

More employers are looking for people with good skills and qualifications. Developing your skills can help give you the best chance of getting into the career you want – and there are more courses to choose from than ever before.

Your future, your options

You’ll have important decisions to make in Year 9 and when you’re 16. You’ll want to keep your options open, but if you’ve got a career in mind there may be some choices that are especially useful.

• Your choices in Year 9 (education and learning section)
• Choices at 16: what's right for you (education and learning section)

If you decide to go into work, it’s a good idea to look for a job with training. Apprenticeships and the Time Off for Study or Training scheme are two ways of gaining a qualification while you’re working.

If you’re looking for a job, schemes like Entry to Employment can help you build up your skills and improve your chances.

• Skills for work if you're under 19 (education and learning section)

Higher education and your career

Higher education can open up new career options, and there are more ways to get into college or university than ever before.

• Higher education and your career (education and learning section)

Kick start your career planning

It’s never too early to start thinking about careers. Be on the look out for fairs and events – especially those that focus on a career you’re considering. Remember that you’ll get more out of them if you go prepared. A careers adviser will be able to give you some tips on how to prepare.

If you’re doing a course and planning to get a job when you’ve finished, start preparing well in advance. Make sure you ask the permission of the person you’re going to put down as a referee.

You’ll find advice on job applications and putting together a CV in ‘Getting your first job’.

• Getting your first job

It’s worth thinking about a ‘plan B’ in case you don’t get your ideal job at the first attempt. Would further study improve your chances?.How about doing something in your spare time related to the career you want?

If you’re too late to get on a course at the start of the next academic year, it’s worth considering what you can do to improve your career prospects in the meantime.

Options include getting a temporary job, volunteering or getting some work experience through a placement. You can also look into gap year activities.

• Work experience and volunteering
• Planning a gap year

Help planning your career

If you’re unsure what to do next at any stage, there’s plenty of help available.

• Finding a career that's right for you

More things to consider

Once you’ve got a good idea of where you want to go with your career, there are a number of other things you’ll need to consider - like pay, location and the job market.

When you’re ready to look for a job, it’s also worth thinking about what type of work would suit you. Will you be looking for flexible arrangements to help you fit in study or childcare? Or do you like the idea of working for yourself?

• What type of work would suit you
• Career considerations (jobseekers section)

More useful links

• Your rights and responsibilities at work
• Employment support (disabled people section)