Career education prepares young people for their future. A key part of this is helping them to think about the paid work that they will do, and to choose and engage with learning paths. Teachers want all young people to succeed in school, to take their learning into the next stage of their life and make a positive contribution to their world. Therefore, thinking about career education should be important to all teachers, as a career is how we put our learning to work after leaving school.

Embedding career learning in subject teaching

If done well, embedding career learning into your subject teaching can increase the relevance of, and interest in, your subject and help you answer those awkward but persistent questions from students: Why are we learning this? What use will it be? This approach should enhance and improve the quality of your engagement with the subject area without displacing dedicated subject content.

Ask yourself the following questions:

 

• What are you teaching?

Your curriculum and the skills and knowledge that you want to develop should always be the starting point.

• What does the career programme and curriculum cover?

There are likely to be many overlaps between your subject curriculum and the career curriculum. You can explore these while referring students to the school’s career programme for more learning opportunities. Talk to your school’s career practitioner first.

• How are the skills and knowledge that you are teaching used outside of school?

Understanding the real-world usefulness of what you are teaching is a powerful way to increase the relevance of your teaching.

It also provides resources that you can use to illustrate concepts and encourage further research.

• What jobs require (or prefer) people to have qualifications in your subject?

It is useful to know the jobs where your subject is central – some of them might surprise students. For example, many trade roles require good mathematics skills.

• What jobs do people who study your subject go on to work in?

Often subjects may lead people in surprising directions. It is always worth highlighting examples that show that careers often don’t follow a straight line.

• What courses connect to your subject?

The higher education and vocational education and training courses that require or recognise your subject is critical information for you to share with students.

• Can I involve an employer in my class?

One of the most powerful things that you can do is bring in an employer or working person to your classroom. Employers can talk about how they use your subject in their job, and the skills, experience and training they look for in future employees. Making this direct connection will really engage your students.

Subject	Possible links to careers
Humanities (e.g. history, geography)	Explore how developments over time in different locations impact on jobs, industries, working practices and career patterns.
Information technology (IT)	Audit your digital footprint and explore how IT is used in the recruitment and management of employees.
Mathematics	Use labour market information to teach statistics and mathematical techniques.
Science	Involve employers in the teaching of scientific techniques. Discuss the value that a wide range of employers place on science and the skills learnt in science.
English	Use the concept of career to explore the motivations of characters. Explore the process of the publication of a book (including all of the jobs involved, from writers, to logistics, to retail).
Drama	Simulate job interviews as part of improvisation exercises.
Modern Languages	Write CVs in different languages. Think about jobs that require second or multiple languages. Learn about workplaces in other countries and societies.