Looking for a Job

How Connexions Can Help

If you are due to leave school or college this year and will be looking for work, either see your Choices Adviser in school or college, or you can call the Vacancy and Recruitment Service on 0800 73 13 2 19 (choose option 1).

Your official school leaving date is the last Friday in June, at the end of Year 11. This is the date you can legally start full time employment, but don't wait until then to start your job search.

Connexions can:

• Inform you about suitable vacancies.
• Help you make job applications and arrange interviews.
• Inform you about the different types of training available and put you in touch with training providers.
• Offer you support from a Choices Adviser or Vacancy and Recruitment Assistant.
• Advise you about training courses that can help you find work.
• Help you find out about benefits such as housing, job seekers allowance etc.

Connexions is here to support you. Not only can we advise on social issues, such as benefits or housing issues, we can also help with careers guidance and job seeking. We won't tell you what to do, but we will help you to look at your options and to achieve your best possible start in life. Looking for the right job can be stressful and, for most of us, it's a new experience.

Connexions is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all young people and we can also inform you of your employment rights.

Careers Software

On our website you will find a software program which can help you to decide what sort of job or career would be best for you.

eClips

This program is called eClips. This features a wide range of job areas and can help you decide what sort of career might suit you, given your interests, qualifications and experiences. It is accessible online here:

• www.eclips-online.co.uk

To access eClips, you will need to email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a password.

If you are at school or college, you may find that there are other careers programs available for you to use there.

Where else to look?

You can check job vacancy websites (see "Searching Online") or your local newspapers. Keep in mind that these jobs can be for people of any age and experience, not just young people.

Another good idea is to ask friends and family if they know of any job vacancies where they work. They can tell you what the company is like to work for and might be able to put a good word in for you.

Speak to a Connexions Choices Adviser to see what your best options are.