Job
I'm a Connexions Personal Advisor (Young people's Careers Guidance & Support)
Company
Connexions
Day to day
I struggle with this, my day to day job is to work with 13-19 year olds and assist them by giving information, advice and guidance surrounding careers information. This might be about continuing education, training or employment. On a daily basis I have a mixture of appointments in our office to sit down and interview clients (teenagers) and general admin such as updating their details on our database, typing up 'action plans' for them to follow after interviews.
I also have a caseload of clients in secondary school, so I go to school once day a week and see pupils in school. Trying to hopefully not be a crap careers advisor like I had!
Overall Job
I kind of fell into this position, before this I had worked in retail and for the police as a civilian. Until recently I volunteered with the Samaritans for several years which is what turned me towards working with people more. However, I got a place with Connexions last year on a trainee programme where we got paid for full time training for six months, which was a right laugh. I also met my girlfriend who I now live with!
The problem is that the job doesn't appear to be what it was cracked up to be during this training. There is an awful lot of pressure to reduce the number of young people not doing anything such as work or training and we have to constantly 'track' our clients by calling them up on a montly basis to see what they are up to and offer support. This is fine to a point, but it doesn't feel like what I imagined the role to be.
Plus careers guidance is bloody boring
thought I was going to be what is known as an Intensive Support advisor who work with people with other sorts of issues.
Perks
Hmm, well the money is more than i've earnt before, just over 20k at the moment with a small rise coming. I pretty much work four days a week as I am currently working towards a level 4 NVQ and so get a 'study' day each week. Ten days paid training per year which is handy and the usual public sector fringe benefits. No discount anywhere though, which sucks!
Downsides
I work in a town which somehow has no shops
I didn't want to work specifically in careers guidance, more general support - so I'm increasingly finding myself on a career path I didn't intend to be on (THE IRONY!) and naturally, as much as I knew I was going to be working with teenagers and apathetic chavs, having to be professional to those who literally can't be arsed is often very frustrating - although no one in there would dare say so!
Education?
Grammar School until 16, left with 9 GCSEs mostly around C grade.
Went on to further education at college, did an Advanced GNVQ in Information Technology. Would've like to go to uni, but for some reason didn't.
Do you like your job?
Like is a strong word
It's ok - I'd much rather be in a comfy IT role but no one will employ me near the money i'm on, even though I know i'm capable.
I'm also aspiring to be a stand-up comedian, so if all else fails - i'm pinning my hopes on that!