Chartered Management Institute/EY Foundation Young people s attitudes towards work experience and employment
Methodology Populus conducted 10 depth interviews with young people aged 16-21 in Bury, Manchester on Tuesday 24 November 2015. Interviews were conducted with young people who were studying, working, and with those who were looking for work. Questions explored young people s attitudes towards work experience and employment. 2
For most young people, a career is a means to an end What would you like to have achieved in the next 5 to 10 years? A good career is one that allows young people to achieve other goals, e.g. owning a house, stability, owning a business However, a good career is a difficult concept that is not top of mind Money is one important factor in choosing a job, being happy and doing enjoyable work is more important Some are keen to give back to their community I have no idea. Have a house and a good job, like enough to pay for the house and other things that you need and then still have a little bit left. Man, 19-21 That s a difficult question. Hopefully, I've got my degree and then get a job in what I've been studying. Woman, 19-21 3
Many schools don t equip young people to choose a career Did your school give you any training or preparation for the workplace? Not all schools offered work experience Likewise active career guidance is not that prevalent Most have been offered CV guidance in some form Not that I remember, no. It would have been beneficial because it d be good to get a lot of knowledge from people who are in work to tell you, this is what it s like. Man, 19-21 They gave us help on the CV writing and they gave us a few contacts via the apprenticeship routes. Man, 16-18 No, not really I did a First Aid Course in PE so I suppose that could help in the workplace. They didn t offer it for my school, work experience. They wanted us to concentrate on our GCSEs. Woman, 16-19 4
Young people (have been led to) believe grades matter most for a career. Work experience is appreciated Few think of school or education as having directly prepared them for the workplace or working life This was in direct contrast to attitudes towards their work experience placements, which are deemed useful for all given that opportunity (if only to exclude potential careers) I don t think the courses that I ve chosen really helps directly with business but there are some skills that I ve picked up along the way, like report writing, stuff to do with maths and economics that will help. Man, 19-21 I really enjoyed it, but it showed me that maybe it wasn t the ideal place for me, which was good because it made sure that I didn t waste my time going into that sort of area. Man, 19-21 I found it useful because you get involved with real life people It s good for your CV and employees, they are going to like it. Man, 16-18 5
Apprenticeships are well respected, though many don t know how to find anything suitable Awareness of apprenticeships is patchy. Those in the most potential need are least aware Young people generally liked the concept of learning on the job. They particularly liked the idea of gaining a degree qualification alongside practical elements But concerns exist - finding a relevant apprenticeship - leaving (higher) paid work for an apprenticeship I just need to build up the courage to do it, or go into the shop and say, do you do apprenticeships? Woman, 16-18 People would be more beneficial if they actually worked and learned at the same time instead of just pen and paper this is how you do it. That s what I think s worked out better for me. Man, 19-21 I m on minimum wage at the minute so if I go on apprenticeship wages it s less and I ve got used to having that. Woman, 16-19 6
Significant proportion follow their parents career path Which individual has had the most impact on your career to date? Why were they so influential? My coaches because they're all in the industry at the minute. I speak to my I look up to her, see her and my dad mum about what I want to do, but, have got a nice house they re happy obviously, because she's not got any and I feel like that s where I want to be experience in what I want to do, she can't when I m her age. Woman, 19-21 help me as much as my coaches. Woman, 19-21 My parents because they ve always driven me to be academic... they ve always encouraged me with everything that I ve wanted to go into. My dad, he trained me up with his business, he helped me with that. Man, 19-21 My older brother he s already at that point where I want to be in the future. Man, 16-18 7
Awareness of the range of career possibilities is low Little awareness of the range of options available The options explored for their own career path largely dictated by those of their parents and siblings Many recognise that without family connections, they would have been lost and unsure about what work they wanted to do Calls for greater contribution from schools to help prepare young people for work I wanted to go into accounting but the reason why I didn t go on to uni was because I found it quite boring, so now it s like what am I going to do? I d gone to careers meetings about what I wanted to do while I was at college but I didn t really fit any of them. Woman, 19-21 There needs to be more in school or places in education just to get it out there because like I said, if I didn t have my dad to fall back on, I didn t really have anything it s just luck that my dad has got that company. Man, 16-18 8
Young people want career guidance at school and elsewhere, but most likely to get it at home Anyone who can. I had to do stuff myself, but then if I needed the help I d ask someone, but I can t think of anyone. I don t know - my mum? Woman, 16-18 When you re doing college and sixth form, I definitely think that they should help you then, because if you re not going to uni it s the last step of education for you. So you need to be given the right path to where you re going after that. Woman, 16-18 The government should, like I think they re doing it now, they are offering a lot more apprenticeships and they are giving incentives to go there. Man, 16-18 I don t know maybe more like someone you can go and speak to, because if you re in school or uni or college there ll be someone to go and talk to, but who do you go and talk to when you re not in one of those places? Woman, 19-21 9
Management is tactical: leadership is strategic they admire leaders, but expect to be managers What qualities do you think a good manager should have? The leaders just tell everyone what to do don t they; and the managers have to manage things. Man, 16-18 I ve known stories of people who are good leaders but not good at managing people, and then I know people who are good at managing people but not very good at leading something forward. Man, 19-21 10
Many young people want to own their own business Would you ever consider starting your own business? Many of these participants liked the idea of one day owning their own business particularly those with previous exposure to entrepreneurs Appreciation of the financial benefits AND risks Expectation of the need to save in order to fund their business ambitions I just don t think I would actually know where to start off because I ve never actually been around somebody that has started their own business and everything. It s like I wouldn t actually know where to begin. Woman, 19-21 You work your own hours, do what you want. But then the drawbacks if you don t work you don t get paid? Say if you were a builder you work for yourself if you re not going building a garden or whatever you re not going to get paid. Woman, 19-21 11
Next steps Quantitative survey of young people, prepared for publication 1,500 online interviews, nationally representative of those aged 16-21 Interviews will quantity hypotheses derived from qualitative interviews: Career expectations, needs and wants Career guidance and influences Current experiences of work and training Exact questions to be developed in collaboration with CMI/ EY Output will be a report including video footage of interviewees Interviews scheduled to take place early in the New Year 12
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