I need help finding education, employment or training

Our friendly and dedicated team can help support you if your plans don’t work out after you finish Year 11, or any time until the end of Year 13.

We are a non-judgemental and supportive service, with advisers allocated to each area of Kent, who will be able to offer guidance specific to your location. We will listen to you and help explore all your options, making a plan to get you where you want to be.  

You will be able to access one-to-one support to help you make your own decisions. This is offered in a way that suits you - by phone, email or in person.

If you don’t know what you want to do, we will help find opportunities and experiences that will help you choose a next step, so you can make an informed decision.

• Support looking for apprenticeships.
• Searching and applying for job vacancies.
• Finding out about all your training options.
• Writing a CV.
• Help finding specialist support for other issues.

• The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to anyone in England helping you make decisions on learning, training and work.
• The Careerpilot Buzz Quiz can help you find jobs and careers that suit your interests/skills.
• Prospects guide millions of students in the UK to make the right career choice. Match your skills and personality to 400+ job profiles.

Find more resources

The Education People work on behalf of Kent County Council (KCC) to stay in touch with young people during Year 11 and through to the end of Year 13. It is the statutory duty of KCC to keep in touch with young people after Year 11 to see what they are doing with regard to education, work, or training and offer help where needed. To find out more about how we collect, store and process your personal information, please read our privacy notice below. 

Our team of Young People’s Participation Officers carry out this duty with the NEET Support Service and will be in touch at various stages throughout the year to ensure things are going smoothly for you, offering one to one support and guidance, and to keep our records up to date with your current destination or plans. The team can signpost you to courses, open days, webinars and refer you to support services (where needed).

Kent County Council - Staying in touch and supporting young people privacy notice

In Medway, the IAG Team deliver this on behalf of Medway Council. Find out more below.

Medway Council - Data protection and privacy notice

We understand that job hunting can sometimes have a negative effect on your mental health and wellbeing. Spending lots of time on applications and facing rejection requires emotional resilience and this is a skill that develops over time. Take comfort in knowing that many people feel like this when they are starting out on their career journey and there are lots of places you can find support. 

Be strategic

• Apply for opportunities that can help you in the short or long term, and know the difference. 

Set SMART goals

What is a SMART goal?

• Specific: This makes sure that your goals are clear and focused. What are you looking to achieve? Why is it important to reach this goal? Who else is involved? What resources will you need? Are there any limitations to your goal?
• Measurable: It is important that you are able to assess the progress of your goals to see if any of your work needs improvement. 
• Achievable:The perfect goal is one that challenges you but is realistically. What do I need to do to achieve this goal? How realistic is my goal?
• Relevant: How important is the goal to you and your overall success? Is it worth it? Is this the right time to carry out my goal? Am i equipped to reach the goal?
• Timely: Set a deadline for when you want to complete your goal to avoid other distractions. Mini deadlines will also help this seem less daunting. What can I do today? What can I achieve by next month? What can I achieve in six months?

Ask for help if you need it

• Asking for help or advice from friends or family is important when job searching. Older family members may have already gone through the process and friends may be experiencing the same issues as you.

Make time for breaks and rewards

• The importance of regular breaks from work or job searching cannot be understated. This will allow you time to clear your mind, reflect on the work you have been doing and give you more energy to continue your search. 

Avoid negative thinking

• Try to replace negative thinking (“I messed up that interview”) with positive thinking (“I learned a lot from that interview”).

Do your research

• Research ways to de-stress before job interviews that work for you.

 Ask for professional mental health support if you need it

• Seek mental health support from your GP if you feel like you are becoming. increasingly depressed or anxious over time.