During our primary research, educators, employers and young people were asked to share their views about careers guidance in the educational system, the skills required to secure and maintain employment and the process of transitioning from education to employment. This primary data highlighted specific issues and gave weight to the need for further training and support in certain areas.
The primary research has also shown that educators from all partner countries have different approaches to career guidance and training but have similar challenges engaging young people from education. The careers requirements across the partner countries have recurring themes that this project aims to address using materials that can be adapted to suit local, regional or national needs.
During our secondary research the partners collected good practice examples of careers guidance and vocational assessment tools implemented locally, regionally and nationally in the participating countries. As a result of testing and reviewing these different transnational approaches we have developed a range of materials that will be useable by Careers Advisors and educators across Europe.
After an in-depth analysis of different best practices across the partner countries the APT project partners have devised a toolkit of resources to assist the smooth transition for young people from education to employment. This toolkit consists of four bespoke resources aimed at specific target audiences:
Careers Advisors and Educators
The first resource is aimed at VET educators, youth workers, adult education providers, school teachers, career counsellors, etc. who are dealing with young people who are facing the prospect of entering the labour market to find meaningful employment. This takes the form of a modular training package including activity plans and is presented in a workbook that can be delivered in a variety of ways. This deliverable training resource offers flexibility for careers advisors when working with young people, the workbook addresses both ‘soft skills’ as well as the practical aspects of employability.
(Preview Working Draft Version Here)
Young People
The second resource is aimed at young people and serves as an information, advice and guidance tool presented in the form of an information booklet. This includes guidance information for young people transitioning from education to employment covering several aspects of employability. The booklet covers information, advice and guidance on actions to take to improve career prospects, signposting to helpful services, website and organisations, employability tips and a ‘Tick box checklist’ or ‘to-do list’ for young people to complete before they leave education.
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Employers
The third resource takes the form of support materials for employers who may employ young people, this consists of tips and information for employers to manage their expectations and to help them get the best out of their young employees. This is presented in a small information booklet that covers expectation management, the positive attributes and potential contributions of young people to a business, tips on how to get the best out of a young employee, information about how to recruit good young people (e.g. apprenticeships, internships, work placements and building links with education providers) and signposting to helpful websites and resources.
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Useful links for Employers
Parents
The fourth and final resource is a ‘quick-guide’ for parents of young people, this is aimed at providing support to parents who are guiding their children through the decisions that affect their future career options. It is presented as a small information booklet that covers how to help improve their employability, how to help find or search for opportunities (both employment and education), helping create a career action plan, motivating and encouraging, supporting their decisions even if you disagree but ensuring you voice your concerns, what not to do and signposting to helpful websites and resources.
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The project consortium hope you find these resources useful and effective in supporting young people in the transition to meaningful employment and to fulfil their potential