Welcome to career-plans.com, the FREE website designed for young adults aged 14 to 23 years who are deciding on their career plans.
Here we exchange career and job information between parents and young adults, giving detailed and enlightening insights drawn from first-hand experience.
So often careers are left just to chance. However, the more first-hand information you have, the more informed your choice. The more informed your choice, the more successful your career.
With higher education fees set to rise, it is really worth researching the validity of the course you choose for the career plan you have in mind. Will it really fit the job you ultimately want?
Remember, you are at the beginning of your career, so do not leave it just to chance. Make your informed choice with our help...
And see where life leads you.
| NAME: Joy Boulter | JOB TITLE: Counsellor/psychotherapist |
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| YEARS' EXPERIENCE: Five TODAY'S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Volunteering with support groups such as Samaritans or Victim Support. Part-time postgraduate diploma in counselling. BEST AND WORST BITS ABOUT THE JOB: Best - making a real change to someone's life Worst - lack of secure jobs in the public or private sector. WHAT I WISH I'D BEEN TOLD BEFORE I STARTED: Training is expensive and the supply of work is uncertain. HOW DO I SEE THE JOB EVOLVING? More therapists will be self-employed which means they will have to compete for work. ANY OTHER COMMENTS: A fascinating job if you enjoy making a real connection with people but a good idea to get some experience by volunteering first. |
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| NAME: Judith Crawford | JOB TITLE: Chartered Physiotherapist |
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| YEARS' EXPERIENCE: 30 TODAY'S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Three 'A' levels, preferably with a science, or part-time via hospital placement at university. BEST AND WORST BITS ABOUT THE JOB: Improving peoples' quality of life and maximising their potential in terms of pain relief, rehabilitation and function. Bad points are patients who are not willing to help themselves. WHAT I WISH I'D BEEN TOLD BEFORE I STARTED: That it would help to have a business mentor. I have been in the private sectore for the past 14 years and it would have helped to have done a business course or had a business mentor to help guide me. HOW DO I SEE THE JOB EVOLVING? I am hoping that physios will soon be able to prescribe and I welcome this opportunity. However, we must be aware that without continuing to develop our manual skills we may be lost in the rise of the chiropractors. ANY OTHER COMMENTS: A wonderful profession and I love every day that I work. I am passionate about what I do and I think this reflects in my outcomes of treatment. I feel very privaleged to have been given the opportunity to work as a physiotherapist, which has enabled be to travel and develop a business. |
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| NAME: Kelly | JOB TITLE: Registered general Nurse |
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| YEARS' EXPERIENCE: 25 TODAY'S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Five GCSEs.Maths and English grade C and above. NVQ 1/2/3 or A levels.Then a degree in nursing. When I started you needed six O levels, one A level, then you applied directly to The School of Nursing at your chosen hospital. BEST AND WORST BITS ABOUT THE JOB: Best - Making a person comfortable, safe and cared for back to health or dignified death. Wors - :Breaking bad news. Patients are far more demanding. Often they have unrealistic expectations. There is far more litigation. WHAT I WISH I'D BEEN TOLD BEFORE I STARTED: overnment policy directs money available. HOW DO I SEE THE JOB EVOLVING? There will be more 'carers'and more specialist nurses. Even less money. Longer hours. Privatisation. ANY OTHER COMMENTS: If you have a true vocation ....it is still a great job. |
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| NAME: Clare Marston | JOB TITLE: GP Registrar |
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| YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 7 years since initial medical qualification. TODAY'S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A levels at grades AAA/AAB, chemistry, biology, physics, maths or alternative route arts A levels then a foundation medical year. BEST AND WORST BITS ABOUT THE JOB: Best - Working with people; enjoyable; complex; every day is different and interesting. Worst - Long hours; dealing with some sad and upsetting cases. WHAT I WISH I'D BEEN TOLD BEFORE I STARTED: It is really HARD WORK! Only do this job if you love it . HOW DO I SEE THE JOB EVOLVING? GPs developing more into their areas of specialism. ANY OTHER COMMENTS: Can work flexibly with children. I have always been supported and treated fairly whilst in medical school with a child and as a junior doctor. |
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| NAME: Dr Robert Sparkes | JOB TITLE: Portfolio General Practitioner (current) |
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| YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 13 years GP partner, eight years portfolio GP (Forensic Medical Examiner [Police Surgeon and Prison Medical Officer], Sessional GP for Out Of Hours GP co-op, Mental Health Assessor, Approved s.12 Mental Health Act). TODAY'S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: GP-UK graduates after completing medical school and Foundation Year need to complete three-year GP training Prison Medical officer-GP plus (desirable) additional qualifications in substance misuse/mental health. FME-no current requirements beyond Foundation Years-I.E ANY doctor with full registration can work as a FME as the role is not subject to regulation by the local PCT-'training courses'are offered by the (private) companies now contracted to provide support services to police forces.There is a new Faculty of Forensic Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians offering a Membership exam and Diplomas in Sexual Offence Examination and Forensic Medicine are also available but again there are no regulatory bodies making these qualifications a requirement of the role. S.12 Approved Doctor-either a psychiatrist or a GP with Membership of a Royal college and psychiatric experience (at least 6 months as a SHO) plus references from consultant psychiatrists BEST AND WORST BITS ABOUT THE JOB: Best - variety. Working with other disciplines (social workers,nurses, police and prison officers). Worst - work is mainly out of hours (evenings, nights and weekends) and unpredictable. This together with training puts considerable pressure on family/relationships WHAT I WISH I'D BEEN TOLD BEFORE I STARTED: Length of time it took to train-Medical school of 5 years plus hospital training jobs lasting for 4 years for basic GP then additional training for GP specialities-around 10 years of exams! HOW DO I SEE THE JOB EVOLVING? General Practice has changed in my career. Initially GPs were responsible for their patients for 24 hours, now most GPs are part-time and at evenings/weekends their patients are seen by out-of-hours GPs so 'continuity of care' is poor. Some nurses are training as prescribers - and most management of medical conditions is increasingly governed by guidelines. GPs will need to specialise/enter management to maintain their role and income- ANY OTHER COMMENTS: Opportunities for part-time work in general practice would suit someone looking for a part-time, family-friendly career. |
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