February 2011

Introduction This Careers-based activity has been arranged for several reasons, namely… IT IS ALREADY TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR. NOW! EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, A BACK-UP PLAN IMPROVES YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS. (This is proven every year). Unless instructed otherwise, use the mouse to click from screen to screen, to progress through this powerpoint show.

Let’s Get Started… Adult Directions Careers Software The following pages will explain where to find, and how you can use Adult Directions Careers Software from the frontpage of Moodle. You can watch the show, then run the software, or do them both at the same time – it’s up to you. Y You will be expected to send an to your tutor at the end of the session.

On the front page of Moodle, select the Long Road Wiki, shown as part of the Main Menu on the left hand side.

On the Wiki page, select the Careers Department Link, shown below

In the Careers Menu, click on the Careers Software link to get access to the following screen….

On this page, click on the link whether you are a New or Returning user, and then select the appropriate login button.

Now, fill in the appropriate information and be sure to remember your username and password so that you can return at a later date

Using Adult Directions… When you have logged in and created a username and password (be sure to remember them), you will be presented with the screen to the right…

If you wish, you can begin using Adult Directions by accessing the “Getting Started Guide” shown in the box on the right hand side of this screen. Alternatively, the following pages will explain about the 5 options shown below it.

Would you like Adult Directions to suggest suitable careers for you, or generate ideas for you to consider? Click the icon shown to the right (when you are running the programme) Select an occupational level you would like to work at, and then click on the purple box that says “Answer your likes and dislikes”. You will be asked 50, simple questions that do NOT have right or wrong answers – they simply reflect your feelings. Try to be honest and go with your gut feeling. Once you have answered the first 50, the software will match these against it’s database of jobs and start making suggestions for you to consider Click on any of the suggestions for more details and why it is considered “Suitable for you.” You can also enter any health conditions you may have and/or your preferences for study and/or training. Please note, you can change your answers too

Would you like to identify and assess your transferable skills (these are skills that employers will look for and look good on your CV)? Click the icon shown to the right (when you are running the programme) The software will then help you to carry out your own “skills audit, ” a process to identify these key skills. You will be asked questions on 45 skills which can be rated from “unskilled” to “highly skilled.” They are not difficult. Next, you will view a list of careers and see how you rate in terms of your skills. If you have already completed the Careers Matching mentioned on the previous screen, you will then be able to look at careers that are matched to both your skills and likes/dislikes.

Do you want help planning the next step of your career? Click on the icon shown to the right, (when you are running the programme). The software can then help you create your own Action Plan. There are different ways you can use this: You may wish to set short, medium and long term goals for your career Use your matched list of career suggestions Use the results of your skills audit Your Action Plan will also help you to consider your own career ideas or skills you wish to improve. It will help you to focus on your personal career goals and support you with the next step in your career.

Do you have a job in mind that you want to know more about? Click the icon shown to the right (when you are running the programme) Here, you can look at all the career ideas in Adult Directions If you have already completed the likes and dislikes matching and/or skills matching from earlier pages, you can also see how suited you are to your own career ideas by clicking on “Suitable for you?”

Would you like to view career-related articles on topical issues? Click the icon shown to the right (when you are running the programme) Here, you can view articles on issues such as Interviews, Finance for Study, Age and Employment This section will provide you with a range of up-to-date indepth articles that link to sources of Further Information

Next Steps When you have completed using Adult Directions, you must do the following… Send an to your tutor, identifying… Send an to your tutor, identifying… 2 job ideas you are interested in and have researched using the software 2 job ideas you are interested in and have researched using the software for each job, identify the qualifications that are necessary to achieve this goal for each job, identify the qualifications that are necessary to achieve this goal Adult Directions If you finish the Adult Directions Exercise before the end of the session, the following pages will show you other useful pages on Moodle that you can use for the remaining time

If you would like to see films about jobs you have an interest in, this Careersbox link will take you to a page to search for appropriate films

If you are interested in searching for information on Gap Year opportunities, Apprenticeships, Jobs, etc., then this link will take you to the Notgoingtouni website, and information on many opportunities nationwide.

If you click once again on the Careers Department link, it will open up many more pages, with general information, from Higher Education, to Employment and Training, Taking a Year Out, through to Information Sources in the Careers Library

Finally, back on the frontpage, there is a link to the Careers Blog, shown on the left. This has a broad range of relevant information for you, from Job Vacancies and Apprenticeship opportunities, to Open Day information etc. You can either click directly on latest entries shown below it, or clicking on the Source Site link at the bottom of the box will take you to the complete blog.

All Done! Remember, if you ever want to get more information, support, Interviews with a Personal Adviser, or even discuss ideas, our door is always open.