1. Unit 7 Career Planning

2.  In this task you are going to work out a plan to show how you could enter the career of your choice.  You can use all of the same websites as in Task 2 but will need to do some more specialist research based on the career you have chosen. Most careers departments/sites should be able to help.  Keep a copy of all your research in appendices at the end of the assignment.

3.  You have now looked at your skills and qualifications and possible careers. You must now chose which of the 3 career paths you are most suited to following.  Choose one of the 3 careers.  Copy and paste your table of strengths and weaknesses from task 1.  Explain why you are suited to this career.  Take each of the key features of the job and show how you suited for it, by giving examples from your strengths table.  In each case explain why that particular skill is important

4.  There are different ways of entering your chosen career. This will differ from career to career. Generally they may include:  Going Straight into employment and gaining specialist qualifications on the job  Modern Apprenticeships  Higher Education – there are different qualifications.  Work experience - voluntary or abroad  Self employment  Research and explain the different routes into your career. The research will depend on which career you have chosen.  Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each route and the choose your route and explain why you have chosen it rather than the others.

5.  Show your choice of career path by drawing a flow chart which shows the main route into your career.

6.  Research the different sources of funding available to you. These could include:  Benefits  Own savings  Student Loans  Education trusts and charities  Bursaries or hardship funds  Training allowances  Salaries or wages  Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each source of funding

7. Construct a personal budget showing your income and expenditure forecast for your career plans. Estimate as realistically as possible all income and expenditure over the duration of your plan. Once again they will be different depending on what pathway you have chosen. Explain briefly the key points of your budget

8. Income£Expenditure£ Salary/wages/ Employment Tuition fees Tuition fees Loans Accommodation GrantFood BursaryEducation Books SavingsEntertainment OtherTravel Other Total

9.  Devise an action plan for at least the next 3 years, which show how you will aim to achieve your objective.  Use the template you have been given.  Explain the importance of each of the stages in the plan.

10.  Evaluate the suitability of your chosen pathway and route, explaining both positive and negative issues which effect it.  Analyse the whole career pathway selected and explain ways in which it is suitable for you and any problems you might encounter.