Influencers and early career ambassadors need to embed technology alongside old-school tactics, to showcase opportunities and embrace the family support network in the decision-making process.At this time of year, reflecting on National Apprenticeship Week and looking ahead to National Careers Week, I’m reminded of the privilege I have in supporting career seekers on their journey toward their dream roles and embracing apprenticeships.My Career Guidance BackgroundWith over 20 years of experience in adult training, I’ve assisted businesses nationwide with their Learning and Development strategies, recognising that people are the cornerstone of any organisation’s success. Effective recruitment and training plans are vital for business operations and future growth.Understanding Early Career SeekersEarly career seekers have something to say; they can be loud, very opinionated, full of ideas, embrace technology, and, for the most part, crave some sense of acceptance and validation for being their authentic selves, which for many is quite difficult to do when they have been placed in a box; they spend the best part of their amazing teen years trying to sit in silence for 6 hours a day listening to their teacher, ready to remember the information being shared for one day in the future, so they can pass their exam.Exam Results vs. Transferable SkillsIs the exam result what we are looking for in a job application? What sets our early career seekers apart from the crowd? Well, from my experience and exposure to thousands of application forms, their first CV or job application is the first time they are allowed to ‘be themselves’ and tell ‘their’ story and how they want to be perceived moving forward into their adult world.When we receive an application that refers to meeting someone aspirational, or a field visit to a local company or that they took part in an activity, or even watched a YouTube video that they learned from and it brought excitement – we take interest and they can talk about it. I’m not sure if you’ve interviewed someone and discussed their last English lesson, it’s not something I would recommend as an interview conversation starter!The current landscape presents new challenges; an all-time low in teen confidence, mental health and resilience issues, and a world with huge technological advances with constant media discussions about how technology is taking people’s jobs or even creating new ones. However, there is no further information about what this new world looks like (aside from your area STEM master saying, “You will be ok”).So what is a STEM career/job role? Don’t we all have transferable skills that will enable us to thrive in a more technologically advanced work environment (with the right training), not just the elite few? Otherwise, we are all doomed. So my plea is let’s make it clear what STEM stands for; rather than making everyone think it’s just for budding astronauts, STEM businesses need lots of disciplines across all levels of the hierarchy, and many non-traditional roles need to embed more technology; it’s a worldwide operational development, not always a specific sector.The Importance of Clear Career InformationAs a parent of a teenager on the cusp of entering the workforce, I can’t emphasise enough how crucial clear information is in guiding their early career decisions. Despite our best intentions, parents and guardians like me ultimately hold the reins regarding our child’s future path, especially considering the potential impact on our household finances. Drawing from my own experiences as a mother (and temporarily putting aside my extensive professional background), I’ve come to realise the importance of exposing our teens to a wide array of opportunities and perspectives beyond our own.Influencers, businesses, and ambassadors, preferably ones who resonate more with our teenagers than we might, play a pivotal role in shaping their understanding of the world of work. Furthermore, many of us fin...

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