Career Advice for a Careers Teacher

Working as a Careers Teacher, you will help young people realise their career potential and direction by providing careers guidance and education.

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How to Become a Careers Teacher

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Careers Teacher

Should you wish to work as a Careers Teacher you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Careers Teacher

  • NVQ Level 4 in Advice and Guidance.
  • An Institute of Careers Guidance (ICG) Qualification in Careers Guidance (QCG).
  • Master’s Course in Careers Guidance.

Key Responsibilities for a Careers Teacher

  • Developing and delivering careers programmes, education, and guidance.
  • Establishing short modules for the curriculum.
  • Arranging and delivering staff training.
  • Organising work experience for pupils by visiting local employers.
  • Developing relationships with trade unions, training providers, community organisations, employers, and higher education professionals.
  • Collaborating with teachers, parents, and local government authorities.

What to expect as a Careers Teacher

When you become a Careers Teacher, you will need to draw on your perception of the world outside of school, using communication and team working skills to provide education on careers in academic settings. You may later develop your career by specialising in social work, youth work, or leadership.

Recommended Careers Teacher Jobs

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How to get Careers Teacher Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Careers Teacher job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Careers Teacher application. If you have not held a Careers Teacher position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Careers Teacher role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Careers Teacher CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Careers Teacher application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Careers Teacher in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Careers Teacher 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Careers Teacher and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Careers Teacher experience.

How to get Careers Teacher Experience

What does it take to be a Careers Teacher? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Careers Teacher jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Careers Teacher through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Careers Teacher Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Careers Teacher part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Careers Teacher or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Careers Teacher freelance work

If you have impressive Careers Teacher qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.