What careers advice did you get at school, and did you follow it ?

[Globalti]

Careers advice? Don't make me laugh! I saw careers advisors twice, once at school and once at Poly. On both occasions the conversation went like this:

CA: "What subjects are you doing?"

Self: "Modern languages."

CA: "Oooh, you could be a teacher, an interpreter or a translator!"

....thus ignoring the infinite opportunities for people with modern languages and the ability to travel and operate abroad.

 

[Brandane]

My parents lived abroad for most of my yoof. My secondary schooling was at an asylum of a boarding school (it's fark all like Harry Potter or any other perceived image, just sh!te) in Dumfriesshire.

I couldn't wait to escape from the dump after 5 years. Career advice consisted of a big book (Opportunities For School Leavers 1978) that was left lying around for the use of anyone who had beaten the odds and actually learned to read. I thumbed through it one day, looking for stuff that only required 'O' levels, thus hastening my departure.

Merchant Navy? Minimum of 4 'O' levels (I managed 8) and get to travel the world? That will do. And so to the "Ship's enthusiast" thread.

 

[hopless500]

I don't recall any careers advice being given.

 

[Levo-Lon]

A careers advisor seems like a cushy number..just tell kids to apply for all jobs in the area..

i could do that,, giz a job..

 

[Sara_H]

I was indoctrinated very early on in life with the idea that I was to become a nurse (by my dad, who liked the series Angels).
So, by the time it came to careers advice I already had a very focused plan.
All I remember about our careers advisor was that he only had one eye, the other having been allegedly knocked out when he was a school boy by another pupil who threw a stone at him.

 

[PeteXXX]

I can't remember if I was given any careers advice. I probably was, as I was at Shooters Hill grammar school.
If I did get any. I'd pretty certainly not followed it.
My first job was in the printing industry, sorted out by my parents.

 

[sight-pin]

Back in the mid 60's the careers advice i was given on hearing that i wanted to be a mechanic was, "every boys wants to be a mechanic, you'll need O levels etc... What other job would you like"....Being a spark would be the next best thing.was my reply. Again he gave similar advice.
So i decided to stay on at the my secondary modern school. But then i was given an interview for an apprentice spark and took the job only to find out that if i'd of stayed on at school it would of been too late to take up an apprenticeship as you had to be no older than 15yrs.
Anyway, to cut a long story short i decided it wasn't for me, left and found myself a job as an apprentice mechanic and never looked back.

 

[Dave 123]

similar to advice i got growing up in North Wales

but the places were

1) Hawker siddely ( what the plant in Broughton is known as dates you ) *
2) Shotton Steel
3) Vauxhalls

we also got told to apply at Octel, BNFL Capenhurst, CEGB at Connahs quay ( when it was a coal station ! )
My dad said, do whatever you want to do , but get a trade first because you will always have something to fall back on . So I became a spark

* known as

Vickers, De Havs , Hawkers, Aerospace or Airbus I only know it as the last 3 names.

My dad offered to get me an apprenticeship as a spark working for Wainwright & Gibson, I declined the offer. I did however have a job as a labourer for a period of time with them. One of the places I worked was Shotton Steel, rewiring the place. Pulling heavy cables through roof gantries whilst on a harness (with no training etc) was excellent fun!

 

[subaqua]

My dad offered to get me an apprenticeship as a spark working for Wainwright & Gibson, I declined the offer. I did however have a job as a labourer for a period of time with them. One of the places I worked was Shotton Steel, rewiring the place. Pulling heavy cables through roof gantries whilst on a harness (with no training etc) was excellent fun!

now there is a name I havent heard for a long time.

we did some stuff in Shotton when I worked for Delta Rock

 

[Leaway2]

I don't ever remember getting any or having a "careers advisor" at the school. I was always into radio and TV, I had an amateur radio licence and trained to be a TV service engineer, and so after leaving college I have spent the last 37 years in ................................computing.

 

[MontyVeda]

I was advised to take at least one creative exam class such as art or tech drawing... since i'd chosen motor vehicle repair, metal work and physics. The teachers were surprised that i hadn't chosen a creative subject seeing as i was always at the after school art club... but i wanted to be a mechanic and that was what led my choices. Looking back, i wish i had taken their advice... especially since i hated being an apprentice mechanic.

If we could go back knowing what we know now

 

[MontyVeda]

I don't ever remember getting any or having a "careers advisor" at the school. ....

We did.... it went along the lines of:

them - "have you thought about what you'd like to do after leaving school?"
me - "Yes... i want to be a mechanic and i've signed up for a YTS"
them - "Very good... bye."

As mentioned in my previous post, my teachers seemed to have a better idea of what i might want to look at doing than i did.

 

[Mrs M]

No good advice given.
Wanted to be in the Police (when I was in Primary School) didn't grow tall enough (would have been a rubbish cop anyway).
Best subject at Secondary was Art so I thought I'd be an art teacher.
Crummy guidance teacher tried to make me take French instead and ditch the art altogether. I was quite good at French but didn't enjoy it.
Ignored their advice, went to Art School, I left in 3rd year to take current job.
No regrets, bought my own place and met the lovely Mr M through colleagues.

 

[ColinJ]

The advice that I got from my headmistress when I was 10 was to not bother applying for a place at the local grammar school because I was "not good enough"!

(I think that she should have been more honest and just said that she didn't like me. I was top of my class for the 4 years that I spent at her school, and had just scored 100% in our 'mock' 11-plus exam.)

That was pretty much the only advice I ever got.

PS I forgot say what I did with that inspiring advice ...

I ignored it. I passed my 11-plus and got a direct grant place at the grammar school, 100% of the fees for my 7 years paid by the state!

 

[Milkfloat]

Mine suggested Banking (as in local Branch) after A Levels, but I was swayed by a Geography Teacher who told us stories about University life including throwing up competitions and silly travel. I was sold as i did not fancy the family business.