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Tips for Parents Struggling to Communicate with their Teenagers about Future Plans

Tips and strategies to help teenagers make the most of college open days

Tips for Parents to Support Student's Secure their First Job

How to guide young people to make their best career and college decisions after the Leaving Certificate

For many years, there were plenty of myths and misconceptions out there about apprenticeships such as: “Apprentices are a form of cheap labour for employers” “There is limited potential to progress after an apprenticeship” “The standard of education is at a basic level and I won’t be able to apply for further qualifications” “I’ll miss out on student life” “Apprentices are only an option if I’m not academically inclined” “It is predominantly men who do apprenticeships” “Apprenticeships are only available for technical, practical type jobs” Times have changed and many of these myths no longer hold true. With a total of 55 apprenticeship programmes now available in Ireland, and another 20 at the planning stage; we are now seeing a drive to further develop the range of apprenticeships which makes them an increasingly attractive alternative to the higher education route for many young people. Traditionally, apprentices were only available in the craft sector, such as construction, mechanics and engineering. However since 2016, following much evidence of the success of the apprenticeship model in other European countries; employers, education providers and the government, are now collaborating to provide a broader range of apprenticeship opportunities in financial services, science, IT, logistics, arboriculture, agriculture, etc. Workplaces are changing rapidly and employers’ require workforces with specific and new skillsets. A recent OECD education report (launched in Davos, January 2020) on the future of work found that modern day apprenticeships have a distinct advantage over traditional education paths . Apprenticeship programmes are able to respond quicker and tailor training faster, in order to reflect technological advances and changes in the workplace due to much stronger engagement between employers and the training institutions. The OECD report also highlighted that in Germany and Switzerland, where the apprenticeship model is well developed, they also have considerably lower youth unemployment than the EU average. Solás have reported that there was a 53% increase in the number of students undertaking the non-traditional apprenticeship programmes from December 2018 to December 2019. So, l et’s delve a little deeper into Apprenticeships in Ireland to understand their attractiveness. WHAT IS AN APPRENTICESHIP? In Ireland, an apprenticeship provides an opportunity to earn, while you learn the relevant skills required to succeed in a career. Most programmes have a duration of two to four years where an apprentice can earn a wage (and in some cases, a full suite of employee benefits) for the work that they do. Each apprenticeship programme is based on the development of specific skills, competencies and standards required for success in the chosen field. In order to pass an apprenticeship, the apprentice must meet these standards in the workplace, in addition to passing all module examinations and completing project assessments to a required standard. This dual mode of learning provides the opportunity for the learning acquired off‐the‐job, to be applied and further developed with support and mentorship in the workplace. Within the apprenticeship model, there is a strong focus on integrating the application of the concepts, tools and techniques in the participants’ organisation during the course of the programme, which more quickly embeds the learning, which is a distinguishing factor from a traditional university qualification. Upon completion of the apprenticeship programme, graduates can walk away with substantial work experience which is another unique advantage over the more traditional, university graduate programs. They may also work towards full accreditation from the relevant professional bodies, such as the Insurance Institute of Ireland, which saves on further post graduate study. HOW IS THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING DELIVERED? Off-the-job training may take the form of day release , with the apprentice attending a local ETB, Institute of Technology or University. Alternatively, apprentices may learn through block release where they are immersed in the learning environment for 4-12 weeks at a time. Online learning is also increasingly used therefore providing opportunities for an increased number of apprentices to be located in more remote working locations. And for some apprenticeship programs, a blended learning approach is adopted where there is a mixture of workshops, lectures and online learning. For most programmes, there is an emphasis on directed assignment work in each module to allow apprentices to spend more time applying the concepts in the context of their own organisation. In some of the University and Institute of Technology led programmes, a community is established (using technologies such as Slack and similar applications) for the apprentice group to enable them to interact and engage in peer‐to‐peer learning activities around the academic content and on‐the‐job learning. Typically the student will spend 70% to 80% of time working and the remainder of the time learning. For some apprentices, additional study time may be required outside of the normal working day to ensure you successfully complete all modules and exams. WHAT APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE ON OFFER? The range of roles available as an Apprenticeship has grown dramatically in the last three years in Ireland. The government has committed to growing the range of apprentices available to incorporate a greater number of career fields and skills specialities. These include the more traditional Engineering, Electrical, Motor, Hospitality and Construction as well as the more recent additions of Insurance, Auctioneering, Biopharmchem, Finance, ICT, Logistics, Sales and many more. The complete listing of all Apprenticeship programs, both current and in the development phase can be accessed here . The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a system of ten levels. Each level is based on nationally agreed standards of knowledge, skill and competence. Some apprenticeships provide a stepping stone option for progression onto more advanced programmes upon successful completion: The IFS Associate is a two year apprenticeship program and the apprentice will complete the program with a Certificate in Financial Services (NFQ 6). Apprentices may then be considered for the IFS Specialist program, which will see them graduate with an Honours Degree in IFS (NFQ 8). And there are plans to roll out an IFS Masters program where students can graduate with a NFQ Level 9. WHAT ARE APPRENTICES PAID? Where an apprenticeship was in operation before 2016, the rates of pay are set and agreed by the industry in association with government and trade unions. The employer is required to pay these minimum rates which are set based on the year or training phase of the apprenticeship. Detailed information on these can be found on apprenticeship.ie For apprenticeships established post 2016, each apprenticeship program agrees a minimum rate of pay applicable, which are stated on the information pages of that apprenticeship offering. The employer and apprentice should also clearly agree time off for learning, additional study and any contributions towards the payment of the tuition fees, student contribution, off the job elements, etc. In addition, some employers offer very attractive benefits to the apprentice such as additional holidays, health insurance, etc. This is particularly so with the apprenticeships in larger, corporate workplaces. TOP TIP: Be sure to verify with your employer who pays the college fees and student contributions. These can be a grey areas, so it’s important to clarify this with your employer at contract negotiation stage. HOW CAN I FIND AN APPRENTICESHIP JOB? With the increased attractiveness of apprenticeships, places are becoming more competitive so it’s important that potential apprentices be prepared and ready to sell themselves well. An apprenticeship is based with an employer and they are responsible for hiring directly. Apprenticeship opportunities can appear at any time of the year. All apprenticeship employers are encouraged to advertise opportunities on Apprenticeship.ie however some also advertise on their company careers pages and other job portals, such as jobs.ie , irishjobs.ie , etc. Many of these job sites have email and text alert options, so it's worth registering to keep up to date on new opportunities e.g. Laboratory Technician. For some of the larger, established programmes, they hold dedicated recruitment campaigns. For example the ESB usually open up the Apprenticeship campaign in Spring, with the intention to start successful applicants in September. In some of these, applicants are required to go though in-depth recruitment process which may include detailed application forms, personal statements, online assessments, video interviews, psychometric / assessment testing and interviews. If you seeking an apprenticeship in a smaller company, workplace or with a sole trader; you may have to take the initiative and find an apprenticeship directly. It’s worth making a speculative enquiry to an employer in your preferred career area to see if there is a potential to do an apprenticeship with them. Use your network, and that of your parents’ and friends, to see if they know of any prospective, local employer that may be willing to take you on. For pre-2016 apprenticeships, when you find an employer willing to take you on as an apprentice, be sure that they either on, or apply to be on, the register to employ apprentices. This should be done, in advance of starting the apprenticeship position. The date your apprenticeship application is signed by the Regional Apprenticeship Manager is the date that your four year apprenticeship journey commences. TOP TIP: When considering an apprenticeship, the apprentice needs to be very clear on why they are pursuing that particular job. Employers are investing in the your future, providing you with a job and facilitating your continuous education. You may also be engaging with customers directly, so they will adopt many of their standard selection processes. Therefore, you will need to clearly articulate why you are interested in this particular apprenticeship; be able to highlight any studies or work experience completed which show your interest in this field or occupation. In some ways, career planning needs to be even more advanced than someone applying for college. WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS? As apprenticeships are now a proven strategy in todays’ labour market to develop talent pools in companies and specific industry sectors, many organisations, who traditionally required new recruits to have a university degree, are now opening their doors to a much broader range of backgrounds and applicants Successful applicants may be school leavers, further education, university graduates or mature applicants looking to pivot in their careers. They may also have a number of years’ experience in a similar role but without any recognisable qualifications so the apprenticeship programmes allow them to continue earning while they learn. For traditional apprentices (typically in operation before 2016), such as motor mechanics, electrical, etc., you must be at least 16 years of age; have a minimum five D grades in the Junior Cert and ensure your apprenticeship be registered with a person or company who is a SOLAS approved employer. However some employers require more than the basic minimum. All entry requirements are clearly stated for each role on Apprenticeships.ie For apprenticeship programmes post 2016, a greater number of employers are now are using the ‘earn while you learn’ concept to open up opportunities to people with a multitude of backgrounds and skillsets. I n some industry sectors, employers are also providing their current employee base with an apprenticeship opportunity so that they can up-skill and acquire advanced qualifications to support their future growth and development. Therefore, many programmes have broader entry requirements which may include minimum grades on certain Leaving Certificate subjects, specific competencies or skills, etc. Check out the entry requirements as they vary greatly between each apprenticeship program. WHAT DO I NEED TO GET AN APPRENTICESHIP? Being well prepared is essential to landing any apprenticeship. Therefore, ensure you have: A well prepared cv Clarity on why this apprenticeship interests you Have work experiences, projects, that relate to the key skills and behaviours required in the role Proven examples and stories about why you are a great candidate Successful apprentices tend to display the following characteristics so be sure to show how you match up with these: Enthusiastic and willingness to learn Determined, focused Prepared (and has some experience in the area or similar fields) Mature and responsible Team player It’s worth checking out too what courses in your local community colleges, ETB’s, etc. can further prepare you for your dream apprenticeship. Not only does this provide you with a back-up plan but at interview stage, you can show your commitment to the particular career field. For example, Galway Community College run an excellent Apprentice Preparatory Course . So if you are interested in studying an apprenticeship; it’s worth starting the research process early. Talk to employers, or contacts in companies, that hire apprentices. Seek out work experience opportunities. Attend college and careers fairs where many apprenticeship employers take stands, and contact your local ETB office to find out more about apprenticeships in your area. If you need assistance in finding your best career path and determining your first, or next steps, in your career; send me a question or give me a call. I support students, and others, to identify and plan their best career and study possibilities.

Despite the economic and health challenges being presented to us all at the moment, there are still many companies recruiting who have an immediate need to fill key roles. Many employees who may not be able to work from home are committed to returning to their employer when the coronavirus containment measures are lifted, however there are many more who have returned from overseas; are about to graduate from college or are unsure if their current employer will be re-opening in the near future. I’ve worked in HR for over 20 years and have also had to look for work in the middle of recessions. Over the last two weeks, I’ve been helping clients who now need to successfully navigate their job search during this pandemic, so I’ve written some tips on how to land your job during the Covid-19 crisis. 1. Polish your cv Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to initially screen candidate cv’s to manage the hiring process. This is how the HSE & NHS are managing the thousands of applications being received for their latest request for additional staff. It’s critical that your cv gets past the ATS and is seen by a pair of human eyes. To do this, ensure your cv contains key words and phrases which are peppered throughout the job description. Your cv should not only tell future employers what jobs you have done in the past, but how you did it. List how you excelled and performed in past roles, rather than just stating the job tasks. Your cv needs to sell your soft skills as well as your technical skills and when you do this effectively, a future employer can start to visualise how you will fit in, and excel, in their role. Have a cv and cover letter ready to go, but customise it for each position you are applying for. And don’t forget to save the version that you submit so that you can easily refer to it when you get called for more information or interview. It’s much easier than scrambling through your ‘Sent Items’ folder to find out which version of your cv was sent for that job. 2. Build your professional network If you already have a LinkedIn profile, update it to more accurately reflect your career and skills. Ensure your profile is optimised so that recruiters can find you and set up alerts so that you are can easily find jobs that would interest you. Be active on professional social media sites (for some industries, Instagram or Facebook may be more appropriate). Connect with people in your preferred industry and target companies. Join industry groups and become proactive online by regularly commenting on posts that interest you. Many people are working from home or not actively working at present, so now is a great time to reach out to them and ask them for an Informational Interview to learn more about the industry, potential opportunities and what you can do to position yourself better for when roles arise. I also encourage clients to do some gentle hustling i.e. inform your contacts that you are searching for opportunities and ask if they know of any roles that are, or will be arising in the near future. Even in periods of low unemployment, up to 60% of roles in Ireland were hired through word of mouth and referrals. 3. Set up online job alerts There is a myriad of job boards online so I recommend reviewing some and highlighting the key ones that will work best for you. Most sites now have job alerts services so you can get immediate notification of roles that match your criteria. Check out jobs.ie , irishjobs.ie , and Indeed . If you are focusing on jobs within the public and civil sector, be sure to register with publicjobs.ie . If you are soon to graduate, or have graduated within the last two years, check out gradireland.ie Don’t forget to keep an eye on the local newspapers and search directly on career pages on your preferred target companies’ website. 4. Be proactive and patient As many teams are now operating remotely, it’s important to be patient during the hiring process. Some decisions may be a little slower than usual and at times, HR may need to stall a process due to changing business demands. Always respond to emails, no matter what the message. Even a simple ‘thank you’ lets the recruiter know that you still engaged. Empathise with the sender if they inform you that they won’t be proceeding at this time and highlight that you are still interested in hearing from them should they have other opportunities. From my experience, during times of great business uncertainty, employers can reverse decisions within a few days. Despite this, as a job hunter you must be very responsive. If the company is looking for extra resources during this time, they want people that are reliable and quick to respond. Monitor your email a few times a day, and get back to recruiters or hiring managers immediately. They won’t hang around too long for you to get in touch with them. From chatting to a few recruiters who are busily trying to find new hires for stretched teams, they are ready to hire within a few hours if they can find someone with the right skillset. 5. Keep an open mind By applying for a job, you aren’t committing to anything. You aren’t deciding if you want to take the job, just if you want to meet the hiring team and find out more about the job. Although you may ideally be looking for a permanent, full time position; consider fixed term roles if the position matches your job search criteria. Freelance or self-employed options should also be considered which can be found via LinkedIn , Fiverr , Upwork , etc. Many of these situations may ultimately lead to the offer of a longer term offer of employment. Many companies are now working remotely due to coronavirus but equally, there are also many companies that do not have a physical office in Ireland and have people permanently working remotely e.g. Shopify , Scrapinghub , etc. Other companies may be based in New York or California, or elsewhere in the world and want to expand their talent base so are open to hiring staff anywhere in the world. Check out this open source document for an up to date list of remote jobs. If you get refused for a position, be sure to thank the recruiter for their time and most importantly, ask for feedback on your application. The most successful way to get feedback is to ask for a phone call with the recruiter and while you are talking with them, you can also ask about other opportunities that may potentially arise and the hot-skills required within the company and industry. As an in-house recruiter for many years, I always gave much more constructive feedback verbally rather than in writing. A candidates’ request for feedback always highlighted their true passion and interest in the job and the company. So inevitably, if another role opened up which was much more suited to them; we would just call them and discuss it with them to determine if they were interested, often before incurring additional advertising costs. 6. Be ready for video interviews Due to the physical / social distancing measures, be prepared to jump on video conferencing interviews with little notice during the day. These can be Live Interviews or Recorded Interviews, where you are asked to record yourself answering a few questions and these video’s are then shared with the key hiring managers. Spend some time using Zoom, Google Hangouts and Skype to ensure that you are clear on how they work on your laptop or device. It’s great to have a home office area that looks clutter and distraction free. And ensure your laptop or camera captures your face in the centre of the screen. If using a mobile device, ensure that you can prop it up on books or a stand, rather than holding it in your hand, especially if you are nervous. It will make you even more nervous if you can see your phone shaking in your hand. And definitely avoid sitting on a sofa as it will feel much too casual. You don’t want to feel as if you are chatting with your best buddy during an interview for your dream job. 7. Accept a job, if offered If you are starting in your career or pivoting into a new career field, I recommend that if you are offered a job, to take it. During periods of high unemployment, if you are in a job and have strong references; your next job will be much easier to land. Taking a job during the pandemic will enable you to get real life experience and you can build out your cv further. Especially if you are in your twenties, most employers don’t expect you to spend much longer than 2 years in your first job out of college. So even if you wait just six months in a role that you got hired in during the pandemic; employers will not hold it against you if you can clearly explain the benefits of switching to a new employer after just a few months. Be prepared to work from home initially. If it’s a mid to larger size employer, it’s likely that most of their onboarding programmes will be completed online and in the comfort of your home. So during interviews, now more than ever, it’s worth highlighting how comfortable you are working independently yet are comfortable asking for help if unsure of how to proceed on assigned tasks. 8. Continue up-skilling Check out the latest software in use in your career field. This period of downtime will give you an opportunity to learn the latest tools of the trade and if you are considering remote work opportunities, check out Google Hangouts, Slack , Trello , etc. There is oodles of free training on Coursera , Masterclass , etc., so it’s worth tackling some courses. Not only will you be honing your skills but you will be able to weave these into your interviews and add to your cv, which will show future employers that you take initiative, are passionate about learning and are clued into the skills needed for future success in the workplace. Brush up on your tech skills too such as Data Analytics, Advanced Excel and take some of the Google Digital Certifications to become certified in PPC, SEO, etc. Or perhaps you need to focus on Business Writing skills. If you are currently based in Ireland and considering longer term up-skilling programmes, check out the courses available through Springboard . The key is not to waste this time, and even doing two hours a day on up-skilling will reap its rewards for you in the months to come. Finally, it’s easy to get your hopes up when you see a promising job but focusing too much on one job can result in you putting the brakes on pursuing other opportunities. Job searching is a numbers game so aim to have at least five to ten applications in the pipeline at any time. Mind your mental health, there will be good days and bad days during any job search, so take breaks and get out (Skype or Zoom) and talk to people. The more you engage with others, the more success you will have in your search. If you are baffled about what you should do in your career and need help to figure out your next step, we offer career consulting services (via Zoom currently). By working with us, our clients avoid the stress, pain and confusion in uncovering their next career step so that they can start earning much quicker than they would on their own.

How can parents best support teenagers to reflect and explore the variety of career and college options open to them, while balancing the need of their son or daughter to figure it out for themselves and take ownership for their decisions?

A: JM, your query regularly crops up with clients. For systems analyst, substitute graphic designer, school teacher or auctioneer. Essentially, there are three options open to you, writes Petrina Mitchell, Career Navigation Consultant. One of the easiest options is to consider changing your occupation while remaining in the same general field . You may choose to seek out other internal opportunities in your current employment. For example, I’ve regularly seen team leads and supervisors transition into support functions such as human resources or training, where they can effectively leverage their departmental knowledge and ease the transition into a new career field. Another straightforward option is switch industries e.g. if in a production environment, move to a service industry or switch from industry to a consulting organisation whereby you can provide services to multiple clients. This can provide you with new learning opportunities and challenges which will re-energise you. The hardest shift is to change both your occupation and industry (or field) simultaneously . It’s not impossible but it certainly requires a much more structured approach to break through into a new career and may require a stepping-stone approach. I’ll focus on this a little more now. One of the best ways to start is by identifying fields that interest you. In careers terminology, fields are a way of categorising work. Review your working history, school and / or college subjects, hobbies, family influences…identify subjects you found most satisfying and seek out more information. What TV programmes interest you? What articles do you read? What have you dreamt about doing and always found obstacles to stop you pursuing? Write it all down now. Ignore the “yeah-buts” which will you stop you in your tracks. They will stagnate your thinking at the outset. You may initially identify up to 20 subjects. If any of your subjects are too big or wide (engineering, teaching, medicine…), then refine it further e.g. engineering maybe civil, electronic… write each on a post-it note or blank card so that you can clearly see each subject. Now select your top 10 subjects that would like to focus on over the next 12 months. If something is purely a hobby and that is all that you would ever like it to be, leave this to one side for now e.g. knitting, running... Seek connections between each subject. Move your post-it's / cards around to see any overlaps or opportunities to combine fields. The objective is to generate ideas and connections between your subjects. For example if two of your subjects are physical fitness and computer engineering, you may come up with ‘writing apps to customise fitness plans'. Or if you combine physical fitness with negotiating and training, you might consider ‘creating training programmes for physical trainers to maximise revenue’. Review all your newly documented field ideas and create a plan to explore possibilities in employed or self-employed positions. If you are stuck for ideas on what to do next in your career, this exercise requires you to think laterally. It can be uncomfortable and it certainly is challenging. If it is, it’s working, so stick with it. Sometimes, it's incredibly hard to make a transformational career shift on your own. If you need help, drop me a message and I'd love to chat about how we can work together.