Developing Your Career

We want to help you achieve your full potential. We offer a careers consultancy service to ensure you have impartial and constructive information and guidance to help you decide and then to action your career decisions. There are also various helpful resources further down the page.

To find out more about having a careers consultation, speak to your Tutor/Coach or Learner Progress Advisor about seeing one of our consultants; read the message from our careers expert Mel or fill out the form below.

It is important to us to keep in touch with you over the long term. We have set up an alumni network to provide you with benefits after you finish your apprenticeship so please expect occasional communications. You will have the opportunity to opt-out of communication if you no longer wish to receive them.

Message from Mel Clarke, Career Development Advisor

Whether you are on a course that lasts 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years you are doing something to progress your career! One of the things that a career is not is ‘just a job’ …it is a long, windy, often bumpy road that can sometimes feel like constant dead ends or wrong turns. However, anything that happens on your career path can be a useful experience in supporting you to move forward.

Some of us have known from a young age what we wanted to do when we grew up, others, like me, have taken a more, shall we say, unconventional path. Either is okay and that is something to remember. As I have said above, I truly believe that any experience is a good experience. Knowing what you don’t want to do is just as good as knowing what you do want to do.

The job market is ever changing and can be very fast paced. A ‘job for life’ is not really a thing anymore, apart from for the odd few. The way we work has changed; remote working, hybrid working, fixed term and variable hours contracts – all things that have become more prevalent in recent years. The last few years have shown us that when it comes to working people’s priorities have changed but also how important making the right decisions, at the right time really is.

As we go along our career paths we have to keep reflecting on where we are and where we want to be. We need to consider, amongst other things, our own skill set, the labour market and set ourselves goals. It can be a minefield! So, where do you start? This is where I come in. As a level 6 qualified Career Development Professional I can help you navigate your way through. I can’t get you a job, I won’t do your CV for you but what I can do is give you tailor made careers guidance. No matter what stage you are in your current course it is never too early or too late to start thinking about the next steps. So if you fancy a chat about how you can use your recently acquired knowledge and skills get in touch: melanie.clarke@jga-group.co.uk

Apply for a Careers Consultancy Session

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Career Development Resources

Let’s Chat Careers Advice Podcast

Focussed on career conversations, hosts Scott and Charlotte chat about a range of workplace-related topics. They are joined by guests who share their first-hand experiences and career top tips. Presented by PwC.

How to Build a Rewarding and Resilient Career

Career development is an intricate dance between ambition and timing. While some may believe it is a concern for the distant future, the truth is that the right time to deliberate upon it is now. By proactively shaping our professional path, we pave the way for growth, learning, and fulfilment. Embrace the present moment as the opportune juncture to lay the foundation for a prosperous future.

Career Development

Making the Most of LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a key networking tool for professionals. Here’s some links to help you get the most out of the opportunities it provides:

And why not follow JGA on LinkedIn for news, announcements and useful content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jga-group

Profession Specific Help

Public Relations and Communications
The new CIPR careers hub is a great resource. There is a good explanation of the sectors and career case studies and lots of helpful guides and videos on where to look for a job, how to boost your profile on LinkedIn and how to prepare for interviews as well as what qualifications to consider if you have gaps in your knowledge.
Visit the CIPR Careers Hub

Finding Your Next Job in Fundraising

Interested in a career in fundraising? JGA Skills Coach, Hannah Kowszun has made a step-by-step guide to finding a fundraising job using the CharityJob website.