ACTIVITIES

Term 1- September

Before you begin - why not take a look at Coleg Cambria's Career Coach website which will help you understand what you like/ are good at doing and the careers that match. It will also inform you of jobs in your local area.

https://cambria.emsicareercoach.co.uk/

Weeks 3-6: UCAS applications and Careers Advice

ALL STUDENTS MUST INFORM THEIR PERSONAL TUTORS WHEN THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR UCAS FORM AND PAID

Careers Advice for those not applying to University

There are lots of alternative options to consider if you have decided not to go to University. You could look for a job with training called an apprenticeship, volunteer or start your own business - check out the Careers Wales website for information on all your options: http://www.careerswales.com.

This site has careers information on different careers and a careers package which will help you to identify suitable careers:

https://www.careerswales.com/en/tools-and-resources/ideas-quiz/

Help and support is also available from the College Student Services Staff, or a representative from Careers Wales, will help you with writing letters of application/CVs and with interview techniques. Books are available on specific careers as well as information sheets/leaflets that you may photocopy.

There is a CV Wizard, which helps you write a CV for applying for jobs available on the Careers Wales web site www.careerswales.com.

Careers Wales can help you explore job vacancies. Job vacancies are advertised on the careers noticeboard in the Learning Resource Centres. Use these three weeks to develop your CV with your tutor and set out an action plan about how and where to apply for jobs and apprenticeships.

You can also find vacancies on the Careers Wales website www.careerswales.com and the jobcentre plus website: www.gov.uk/jobsearch

Applying to University - writing your personal statement

Over the next three weeks you will need to develop your personal statement with your personal tutor. Check out the UCAS website on what makes a great personal statement and discuss this with your tutor also:

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate/filling-your-application/your-personal-statement

HOW TO COMPLETE THE PERSONAL STATEMENT

The personal statement is potentially the most important part of the UCAS application. Examples are available in the Careers section of Moodle, under Higher Education Applications.

Make optimum use of the space provided, you cannot add further pieces of paper. There are 47 lines of text and/or 4000 characters (including spaces)
If you cannot include everything on the page, write to the admissions tutors offering further information to support your application
It must have relevance to the course(s) applied for
It must be truthful, it may form the basis of any interview

The Content

Admissions staff are interested in finding out about the ‘whole person’ to help them decide if you:

Fit in with the demands of the course and they will enjoy teaching you
Have a genuine interest in the course
Will contribute positively to the institution as a whole
Whether you will mix well with others on the course
Whether you will be committed to the course

You must therefore sell yourself well and should include:

Your reasons for choosing the course (e.g. a career reason, or continuing a subject you have studied already)
The background to your interest in the subject(s) applied for (e.g. any relevant employment, work experience, voluntary work)
Particular interests which you have in your current studies
Your social, sporting or other interests and activities
Reading/music. Be precise about the type of books you read and music you listen to
Any responsibilities you have held, e.g. Prefect, Sports Captain, and Chairperson of committees/clubs at school/College etc.
Ability to use IT

The guiding rule should be relevance, interest and what you would enjoy/feel comfortable talking about at interview.