Career choices 18+
At 18, after sixth form or college, your choices include:
- further study at college or university
- a job or apprenticeship, combining work and training
- a gap year, to earn money for university or get relevant work experience.
Think about what career you want to do, and then what experience and qualifications you will need.
There's lots of information on starting university, student finance, taking a gap year and studying abroad on this page.
Need help with your career options?
Your teachers and advisers in school or college can help.
Some schools and colleges have careers information and access to online careers websites.
Find more information on Planning your future and useful career websites.
You can also contact:
- the Progress Team, for advice and information on jobs, training, apprenticeships and career choices
- the National Careers Service helpline, call 0800 100 900.
Thinking about getting a job?
Look for jobs with training and the opportunity to gain relevant qualifications – important if you want to move on.
Not going to Uni and Beetroot have advice and vacancies aimed at advanced level leavers.
You can look for vacancies and opportunities in the latest vacancies section on izzy-info.
There's lots of information on finding and applying for jobs on the Vacancies and job search skills page.
Take a look at Find a job on GOV.UK for opportunities.
Don’t forget apprenticeships are jobs with recognised training and are available across most job sectors.
Thinking about an apprenticeship?
Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships are a good way to learn while you earn.
Apprenticeships combine training with a job. More and more employers are recruiting apprentices.
Find out more about Apprenticeships on izzy-info.
If you want to find and apply for an apprenticeship, we've got lots of information to help you on the Finding jobs and apprenticeships page.
For more details of the range of apprenticeships and the latest vacancies, go to Find an apprenticeship.
You can also search for opportunities on Not Going to Uni
Thinking about taking a gap year or a year out?
A gap year is a year between school or college and university. Options include voluntary work, paid employment, or travel. Many young people do a mix of these.
For more information and advice take a look at these websites:
EDT (Engineering Development Trust) offer paid work placements within the STEM sector across the UK.
The Year Out Group has gap year information and advice.
The Foreign Office has the latest information and advice for those thinking of travelling abroad.
www.realgap.co.uk provides advice and information on gap year and student travel abroad.
www.bunac.org/uk offers a range of work abroad and volunteer abroad programmes.
You can also find more information on Gap Years in the related information section.