School leaver options: working with employers

As a profession, you are obviously keen to do all you can to connect your students with prospective employers. AllAboutSchoolLeavers research shows that over 90% of teachers want employers to offer careers talks and workshops. They are also keen to hear about opportunities like work shadowing (over 88%) and days out of school/college at corporate offices (over 79%).

And from a statutory perspective, schools are expected to work in partnership with local employers and other education and training providers like colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers.

Every school should engage fully with their local professional community to ensure real-world connections with employers are at the centre of careers guidance. Different interventions will work for different schools and pupils, and could include:

Mentoring and coaching

Sending speakers from the organisation into schools to lead discussions and assemblies

Workplace visits and work experience placements

Work ‘taster’ events such as games and competitions

Careers fairs and career networking events

Access to open days at further and higher education institutions

Access to creative online resources and labour market intelligence

Help with basic career management skills like CV writing, CV building, job searches and job interviews

Employers can demonstrate the opportunities available and advise young people on how to access them. They can explain the skills needed, and where pupils should be prepared for a level of competition in gaining access to courses or employment.

Evidence from the Education and Employers Taskforce shows that access to a network of employers is associated with better outcomes for young people.

Research from the Careers Enterprise Company also show that quality contact with employers can improve young people’s ability to make career decisions and their optimism about the future; help young people to increase their attainment and be more likely to enrol in post-secondary education; reduce young people’s likelihood of becoming unemployed; and increase young people’s earnings after they complete their schooling.

Employers can pass on the benefits of their experience to both pupils and teachers, helping to link curriculum subjects to employment and providing an overview of the different routes into careers.