Knowing what to do can be tough. As a starting point, it’s helpful to know what sort of job or career you’d like to have – don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do yet though!
Research careers
Work out what sort of job sector you’d like to work in by researching some careers. There’s a huge variety of job roles, many of which you may not have thought of.
Career quiz
Career quizzes can be fun, but they can’t tell you what you should do or your perfect job – they can give you ideas to start looking into. Our career quiz is a fun, short quiz which analyses your personality to see which job areas might suit you.
Not sure what to do next?
Get ideas and all the info on your options – we've got loads of advice to help you start thinking about the right route for you. From uni, apprenticeships, internships, jobs, gap years, studying abroad, and distance learning – we can help you narrow down your choices and set you on the right path.
Starting business or self-employment
Have you considered working for yourself or setting up your own business?
- Shell LiveWIRE offers support information and advice for 16-30 year olds considering setting up their own business.
- The Prince's Trust enterprise programme also offers help. They support unemployed people between 18 and 30 to work out if their business ideas are viable and if self-employment is right for them.
Work experience and volunteering
If you have an idea as to the sort of job you’d like to do why not volunteer or take part in a work taster. Work experience will look good on your CV and give you a better idea as to whether you’d enjoy your chosen career.
- All about careers gives useful guide to work experience and includes information on how you can get it.
- If you’re interested in volunteering VInspired is a guide for 14-24 year olds. You can search and apply for local volunteering opportunities through them.
- Interested in youth social action? There are many volunteering opportunities and programmes available across the UK. Find lots of ideas and further information on the iwill website.
- You may also want to consider National Citizen Service, it’s a residential and local programme for students in years 11 or 12.
- International Citizen Service (ICS) – government funded international volunteering placements for 18-25 year olds in the UK.
Apprenticeships and traineeships
If you have a good idea of what you’d like to do, explore whether there are apprenticeship or traineeship opportunities in your chosen field.