Can you still get careers advice in the UK if you're in your mid twenties and not in education?

I'm 25 and I still don't know what I want to do or how to use the qualifications I have. According to the people who analysed my CV this comes across in it and this is probably why I have had very few interviews in the two years I've been looking for work. Has anyone got any advice or experience on the matter that could help me out?Can you still get careers advice in the UK if you're in your mid twenties and not in education?
If you have a degree you can usually carry on using your university's careers guidance centre for a certain amount of time after graduation.


There are lots of websites on the net with careers advice - I think learndirect is probably the best one (it's not just about education but has some useful advice about career options too) prospects.ac.uk is useful for graduates, and if you type ';careers advice'; into google you will bring up loads of sites of varying quality. You can also find lots of careers aptitude tests, which shouldn't always be taken too seriously but can help give you a few ideas.





Some places have careers advice centres (usually the local job centre will be able to tell you if there's one in your town) that will offer advice to adults - my aunt went to one recently and she's in her late thirties.





You might also want to pop down to the library and get yourself out a few recent books about jobhunting and CV writing to see if you can pick up any tips.


My main tip would be to ask whether you are tailoring your CV to specific applications - sending out the exact same CV to an assortment of different jobs rarely works, you need to play with the basic formula. I used to work in a hotel and we got any number of CVs that gave us detailed accounts of the applicants excellent GCSE's and achievements on the football field, but no indication of whether or not they might make a good waiter or not - so they went staright in the bin.


If you're applying for an office job you need to harp on about your computer skills but you can be briefer about your customer service experience. If it's a shop job you can play down the IT a bit but emphasise the customer service.


This is really important.


Also, write covering letters expressing an interest or knowledge in the company - employers like people who look like they actually want to work for them, rather than just plain need a job.


Maybe you need to expand your skills too - local colleges often run heavily discounted courses for the unemployed- something like learning a language, or brushing up on computer skills might help boost your CV. Also, consider doing voluntary work - it looks really good on your CV if you've given up a few hours ona saturday to help out in an old people's home or with a charity fundraiser, and you can use it to demonstrate all sorts of skills, as well as show that you haven't just been sitting around doing nothing for two years.


Hope this helps.Can you still get careers advice in the UK if you're in your mid twenties and not in education?
You can go to this really good website for careers advice and cv writing. This person is a pro...they know what they are doing.





www.cv-dr.co.uk

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Jobcentre Plus have a New Deal 25+ programme, which kicks in after 18 months of signing on. Or you could take the back way in. I think you can actually get fast-tracked onto New Deal provisions but you would need to be sure of yourself and impose on the Jobcentre staff when you ask. That's how my partner got on one.
there is loads of info out there regarding careers advice. start at the local jobcentre. make an appointment and go see someone about the problems your having. dont count out further education tho, it may give you an idea with what you want to do. good luck.
You can still go to the careers advice centers. They have less options when trying to help you but they can still give you guidance if you want it.





I went when I was about 23.
i would agree with the first 2 answers and go to an opportunity centre they can also help you with your C.V make it more appealing to the employer, confidence, high self esteem and life experience is usually what employers look for not necessary grades on paper, I've had lots of different jobs as i don't have a certain career I'm after either, from sales to care, think positive and be confident and you'll get the job you want
Depends on where you live - Scotland %26amp; Wales have all-age guidance services, England doesn't. Some Connexions services in England may be linked to an adult guidance team, so it is worth contacting them (these often target their assiatnce towards clients with few or no qualifications).


Otherwise, try LearnDirect (http://www.learndirect.co.uk/)

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