Unsure what to do next?

What do you enjoy?

Enjoying what you study is important. You should challenge yourself, but realistically if you do not enjoy something you are unlikely to want to attend and learn.

What is the aim of your study?

• For enjoyment
• To gain confidence
• To gain skills that will help you to find employment
• To further yourself at work.

Are your aims realistic?

• Do not under or over sell yourself - the college wants to provide a course that is in the right area and at the right level for you so that we can best support your individual needs.
• If your aim is to find employment in a specific area, are there currently many vacancies in your chosen industry. It is often worth doing some research before starting a new course.
• Will you have to take additional qualifications to achieve your aims?
• Do not assume that the future will look like the past, job market information shows what has happened in the past is not a crystal ball to predict the future.
• Remember, economies run in cycles and some industries, such as construction, are particularly sensitive to upturns and downturns.

Do you have existing skills or experience you would like to build on?

You do not have to start something completely new; you may wish to develop skills which you already have, as this could enhance your job prospects and earning potential.

To help you find out what interests you and motivates you, or to help identify your skills, you may want to take a Skills Assessment. A Skills Assessment can be helpful at any stage of you career, like when you are either starting your career, returning to work, or progressing your career.

How will your studies fit in with your personal life and commitments?

It is important to achieve a balance. You should consider how much time you will be able to dedicate to study.

Have you really considered all your options?

There may well be areas you had not previously considered but could be successful with.

• Academic Studies
• Art and Design
• Business
• Children and Young People
• Computer Science
• Construction and Building Services
• Creative Industries & Digital Technology
• Engineering and Transport Skills
• Hair and Beauty
• Health and Social Care
• Hospitality and Catering
• Media and Performance
• Skills for Life
• Sport and Outdoor Education

You should keep notes and plan your actions as you progress towards making decisions. You may find it useful to note the areas that definitely do not appeal to you, this should help you to quickly target the areas that are of interest to you.