21 year old to find meaningful work
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 27/11/2008 - 11:50am
Can you please advise what knowledge and help you are able to provide a 21 year old who obtained good results of A's and B' s in GCSE level but made a mess of 6th Form and after several stints volunteering abroad and here locally in Somerset plus lots of temp work - he is negative about job prospects and is totally unable to specify an area in what kind of job he would or could get.
The local job centre is trying to help but just keep giving him low grade jobs which he sees no future in . with thanks x
Hi,
I wouldn't offer any blanket advice for the situation you describe. I'd want to find out more about the kinds of temping and volunteering he'd done, why he hit problems at sixth form, and what he's passionate about. It's worth asking why he doesn't see a future in any of the jobs he goes into - moving into more interesting work in the same company is often a better way of moving on than going back on the dole. You say that he can't specify the kind of job he's looking for, but really very few people can at 21. Finding out what he liked and disliked about the work he's done so far is a good way of providing a direction, but you need to get him to open up a bit more.
Somerset doesn't have the best job market and transport availability, which could make the whole process rather tougher. More importantly, people I've known in their 20s in that area can fall easily into a culture of unemployment and drugs/alcohol dependency, which wouldn't be ideal. What are his friends doing?
Thank you Daniel - we are in touch with Direct Government for the Next step programme etc and the Job Centre have passed him on to the Pathway to Work programme with their Personal Advisory team and Jobs 4U which is for 16 - 19 years olds but has relevant advice for 21 year olds - perhaps he'll open up to them a bit more than his parents!!!
Thank you for quick response and advice
As an observation from personal experience, I got very grumpy and reticent when my parents tried to provide career advice – it’s one of those things that people with less direct connection are often in a better position to help on.
Also, why is Pathways to Work involved in helping your son? It’s a programme for people on Incapacity Benefit or ESA.
[Note: all content up to this point was initially an e-mail conversation. I've put this on the site so you can offer your own suggestions. More generally, what good options are there for young people?]
Join the army if you fail
The Beatles from Abbey Road
The army these days offers many career opportunities.
I'm not sure if the comments about joining the army are 'tongue in cheek', but it is true to say that a carer in the armed forces is an option, but remember it's more than just a job, it's a way fo life. I should know, I had dozens of jobs up to the age of 25 and never settled, then I joined the RAF. I served for 18 years and loved every minute of it; it was the perfect choice for me, but it's certainly not for everyone.
My advice would be to keep on with the volunteering but use it as an opportunity to try out different vocations - it will also benefit you when you apply for jobs. Remember that the Jobcentre is about getting you in to any job that you are capable of doing, that's their remit, so don't expect too much from them.
And finally, whatever you do, particularly as you don't appear to have the academic acheivements that some employers will look for, remember that you will have to start at the bottom - whatever you choose to do - that's life!