Careers Adviser

I have been the Careers Adviser in Irvine Royal for nearly 9 years and I don’t think I could work in a better school – I have developed excellent relationships with the Guidance staff and always put the pupils at the centre of my work. 

Many years ago, careers looked very different and was more about matching people to jobs and looking through lots (and lots) of college and university prospectuses trying to make head nor tail of the wide array of courses available.  That was before we even started thinking about apprenticeships and jobs. 

Fortunately, things have moved on and we approach careers advice and guidance in a very different way these days.  The main focus of my role is to help our young people develop their Career Management Skills – exactly what it says on the tin, it is unlikely that our pupils will stay in the same job for the whole of their working lives therefore it is important that we equip them with the skills they will need to make the right decisions at the right time. We focus on 4 Themes – Self, Strengths, Horizons and Networks – you can find out more about these on our website www.myworldofwork.co.uk 

During their time at Irvine Royal, they will see me both in a classroom setting, usually within their PSE time and also, once in Senior Phase, in a 1 to 1 engagement.  These 1 to 1s are very much led by the pupil and we will focus on what matters to them – I always promise them 2 things.  Firstly, I will never make decisions for them and secondly, I will never force them into making decisions before they are ready to do so. 

Our hope is that, by the time they leave Irvine Royal, they are prepared as they can be for their next step, whether that is college, university, apprenticeship or job and the support from careers advisers does not stop at that point – we are available for as long as the young people need us. 

I can be contacted either through the school office or by emai: fiona.callan@sds.co.uk – I am always happy for parents / carers to attend careers appointments with their young person.

Thanks

Fiona

Fiona Callan Careers Adviser

Tel: 01294 685319 or 07825 843119

Skills Development Scotland Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba

82-84 Glasgow Street Ardrossan KA22 8EH