Support and advice builds confidence for the workplace
WITH 12 now the average number of jobs millennials will have during their lifetime, gaining skills to navigate the changing career landscape is vital.
That’s where Scotland’s worldrenowned careers service, delivered by the national skills agency, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) comes in.
Its nationwide network of qualified careers advisers work from centres, partner premises and every state secondary school in Scotland delivering career information, advice and guidance.
Central to SDS’S work is helping people develop the career management skills they need to make and take ongoing career decisions and realise their potential throughout their lives.
SDS was quick to adapt delivery of careers services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and global lockdown.
Director of SDS’S career service James Russell said: “Our advisers have maintained regular contact with customers, delivered our one-to-one targeted services, enhanced our online tools and information, held webinars and broadcasts and strengthened our community partnership and teacher resources. Our dedicated helpline also offers a valuable single point of contact for people of all ages.” SDS’S online career information and advice service My World of Work was accessed by more than 1.8 million users across 2020/21.
What sets it apart is the range of tools to help people identify their skills, strengths and understand how their personality feeds into their career. The more tools someone completes the more personalised the service becomes, with accounts also including bespoke ‘to do’ lists for secondary pupils.
While SDS supports people of all ages and at all stages, the organisation’s work in school increasingly focusses on engaging young people earlier in their academic life and supporting them into sustained employment.
James said: “Global research shows earlier intervention is key for young people when it comes to making the most of their career, making informed choices and understanding all of the opportunities available to them.
“Careers advisers work with each person to help them discover their strengths, identify their skills and consider where they want to go. The expertise and knowledge base our careers advisers have offers huge benefits to our customers.
“In schools that’s a blend of group and one-on-one time.”
Being part of the wider skills landscape allows for access to industry insight, projecting demand for future skills, with up to the minute labour market information at their fingertips.
James added: “This information is particularly helpful in discussions with parents and carers when finding out more about the jobs or careers their young people are considering and moving into.
“It’s a great way to reassure them their young people are on long-term sustainable career paths.”
Careers advisers also play a role in local PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) teams, offering redundancy support for people and businesses in Scotland, which has been vital throughout the pandemic.
SDS is already thinking about the future of the career information, advice and guidance ecosystem in Scotland. This year it will publish a review of all career services on offer at the request of Scottish Government, working with partners to gather evidence which will feed into recommendations to take forward the implementation of all age career services across Scotland in line with the country’s Careers Strategy.