Lancing Launches Speedy Careers Event for Lower Sixth Pupils

Research published by the Careers and Enterprise Company indicates that the number and quality of employer interactions a student encounters has a significant impact on outcomes. It is found to improve decision making, employability skills and educational outcomes. The research also reports that authenticity of the speaker is vital, as is the quality of the interaction, that the students feel the encounter is positive and helpful.

This research very much endorses one of the criteria in the Gatsby Good Careers Framework, which lists “Encounters with employers and employees” as an indicator of a high-quality careers programme.

This approach of “meaningful employer encounters” was the foundation of our thinking as we developed this new format of speedy careers intervention. Recognising that students were more likely to be gaining in confidence regarding the career areas which interest them. The most impactful interaction would therefore be one where they had one to one time with an expert of their area of choice to ask their own questions and the expert respond to them individually; resulting in a highly personalised conversation.

This event was also timed as Lower Sixth students prepare to visit universities over the summer, carry out work/work experience and commence their UCAS preparation in the Advent term.

Detailed biographies were provided of the twenty-two experts who comprised current parents, and OLs from across the decades. Students choose three experts to meet on a one to one/three basis. Feedback indicates that they found these conversations really valuable, and, in many instances, these also included wider employability advice.

Pupil Feedback

• “I have been very interested in doing a apprenticeship degree and he helped me immensely in how they work and how to find one.”
• “They talked very passionately and knowledgeably on the subject that they studied and really opened my eyes to many different things that I should have considered.”
• “He proved that experience is really important and he managed to work his way up the ranks, without the grades he was hoping for.”
• “Gave helpful advice on LinkedIn which I know will be useful in the future.”
• “I really liked the way he explained his profession and I could see his passion for it. He answered all my questions with enthusiasm and gave very interesting responses. His career seemed really interesting, and I might consider doing something similar.”
• “They gave me really good advice. In terms of life at university, what I want to study (what makes good portfolio etc).”
• “Easy to talk to, answered all my questions, was interested in what I wanted to do .”
• “Great life advice as well as career and university advice!”

Note 

The College is hugely grateful to the OLs and parents for their support. These events are an important part of the Lancing experience, and we know from our feedback that students really appreciate these events which would not be possible with the engagement of the volunteer experts. If you would like to offer your skills to join our network of volunteers, please contact careers@lancing.org.uk 

WATCH SPEEDY CAREERS VIDEO