News: A few simple things to consider before choosing a career

It can be overwhelming considering your career path, with so many factors to weigh up, but it doesn’t have to be scary. Break it down and think about your skills and what you enjoy, do your research, and perhaps most importantly, talk to an expert who can support and advise you.

At Nottingham College we have a dedicated careers team here for you to chat to, help you to discover your options, and to point you in the right direction so that you can get off to the right start in your career journey. 

Meet Nicky (pictured above), he’s one of our friendly advisors, and he’s put together this short blog, highlighting a few important things for you to think about before choosing your career:

Consider what you enjoy doing in your spare time. A career is more than just an income, you need to be happy and content in your job. Ask yourself: Am I creative? Am I a people person? Do I enjoy being active? Would I like to work in an office or outdoors? Am I good at problem solving or decision-making?

Make the best of your skills and personality traits. It’s natural to be better at some things over others; and this isn’t a negative. Take some time to figure out what you’re good at. Build on your strengths and use these to narrow down your potential careers. 

Speak to a careers advisor about the routes available to you. There may be options you haven’t thought about or realised you could access. It’s also useful to think about the following: are you a practical or academic learner? Is university an option? Or is an apprenticeship better suited to you? Also, bear in mind the length of time your training/​course may take and the progression routes available to you.

Before you make your decision, be sure to put some time into researching the career you’re interested in. For example, are there opportunities to grow within the sector? Make a list of your key priorities i.e. How much money do you want to make? Do I want to travel? Do I want to help others? Do I need flexible working hours? Would I be prepared to work unsociable hours?

Make an appointment with one of our experienced and friendly careers advisors, even if you’re not a current student of ours, simply call 0115 9 100 100 or email the team at: careersteam@​nottinghamcollege.​ac.​uk and a member of the team will be happy to help.

Whether you have your eyes firmly set on your goals or haven’t quite decided yet, we’ll help you take the next step towards your future. Our huge range of courses, outstanding student support, state-of-art facilities and fantastic student community mean you are perfectly placed to take your next steps, whatever you choose! 

There is still time to submit an application to join us this September.