Understanding What Early Careers Opportunities Are Available To You
1 year ago

At Not Going to Uni, one of our main company values is supporting young people in finding their future careers. Below we explain the different early career opportunities available, to help you understand better the options you have to choose from.

What early career opportunities are available?

Entry Level Jobs

An entry-level job is a role for people with little training and experience. They may be full-or part-time roles and are often targeted towards school/college leavers. Entry-level positions are prevalent in every industry and can vary significantly in their specific requirements.

Though some of these roles require an academic qualification, most entry-level employees develop skills that are relevant to the role through on the job training. You can then use the skills acquired in an entry-level job to gain a position at a higher level with the same employer or elsewhere.

Click here to browse our current entry level job opportunities.

Apprenticeships 

An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee gains valuable experience whilst also working towards a recognised qualification. 

Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification. 

An apprenticeship includes: 

  • paid employment with holiday leave 
  • hands-on-experience in a sector/role of interest
  • at least 20% off-the-job training 
  • formal assessment which leads to a nationally recognised qualification

Different apprenticeship levels equate to different qualification levels. An apprenticeship can start at any level, but some may require:

  • previous qualifications such as English or maths GCSEs 
  • additional training in English or maths to ensure the apprentice is at the right level

Click here to browse our current apprenticeship opportunities.

Alternative Courses/Degrees

An alternative course/degree is any course of study offered as an alternative to the National Curriculum. There might be a cost to complete the course, but it is still cheaper than attending University. 

Click here to browse our current alternative courses/degree opportunities.

Distance/Online Learning

Distance/Online learning is an educational process where students receive instruction through online classes, video recordings, video conferencing, or any other audio/visual technology medium. It enables people to receive education without having to be physically present in a classroom. 

Click here to browse our current distance/online learning opportunities.

College Higher Education

Higher education is third level education after you leave school. It takes place at universities and Further Education colleges and normally includes undergraduate and postgraduate study. Higher education gives you the chance to study a subject you are interested in and can boost your career prospects and earning potential.

Click here to browse our current college higher education opportunities.

College Courses

A college course is a class offered by a college or university. These courses are usually part of a program leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree or a certificate. 

Some colleges and universities also offer non-credit courses, such as continuing education or personal enrichment courses.

Click here to browse our current college course opportunities.

Traineeships

A traineeship is an education and training programme which incorporates work experience, preparing young people for their future careers by helping them to become ‘work ready’.

Click here to browse our traineeship opportunities.

Sponsored Degrees

Sponsored degree programmes are school leaver schemes that focus on the fact that you’ll get a degree as part of the programme. As well as studying for a degree at university, students are often regarded as permanent employees of the company and receive a salary.

Click here to browse our current sponsored degree opportunities.

Everyone tends to talk about going to University or doing an Apprenticeship after leaving school or college, but there are other alternatives to consider and we want to make sure you have all the information you need to make the right choice!

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