When there are so many different GCSE options, and you don't really know what a real job is, it can be very hard to figure out next steps. Here are some starting points you can think about:
- What are your favourite subjects at school?
- What skills do you have? And what skills would you like to develop?
- Have you read something in the news that grabbed your attention?
There are also careers quizzes online, that can introduce you to sectors that fit your interests. I like this one from career pilot (you have to make an account with them first).
Remember, you don't need to have your life planned out by the time you're 16, so you can take a breath. When you're not sure what to do, the best thing is to focus on yourself. Set small goals, even if you don't have the 'big picture' yet. Maybe you can set a goal to start writing a blog, or get more confident speaking to new people, or to listen to new podcasts and opinions, it will all add up.
Here are some stories from industries you may not have considered.
- Big Sisters in STEM: Sustainable fashion and coding (Podcast)
- A day in the life: Engineering at Heathrow Airport (YouTube Video)
- 30 Animals that Made us Smarter: How Whales Inspire Wind Turbines (Podcast)
- The Physics of the Hardest Move in Ballet (YouTube Video)
- Radioactivity in medicine: How we use Radioactive Drugs to See Inside the Human Body (YouTube Video)
Hopefully this gives you somewhere to start exploring new ideas and industries. Check out the rest of our website for more resources and ideas.