CAREERS NETWORK
MEET GILLIAN JONES, POCKLINGTON SCHOOL’ S CAREERS AND UNIVERSITY ADVISOR
A bit about me … I have been married to my husband John for twenty five years and have two children, a son who is a journalist / writer and a daughter who has just graduated with a degree in Fine Art and is taking a gap year before going on to do a masters in project management.
My career started … I started my career working in the financial sector with Shell and moved to the French oil company Elf Aquitaine / Total. At school I had no idea what I wanted to do I just knew I wanted to wear a suit to work and earn money!
Working for large companies allowed me to see and work with people in a myriad of roles. I took a career break when my children were born and we moved to Paris with my husband’ s job. I got involved helping at my children’ s schools over there; this was instrumental in my decision to work with young people and upon our return to the UK I took a role at a local school and quite literally stumbled into careers guidance.
Later, I was asked to step up to take on the role of Careers Advisor in a school with over 2,000 students. I took my Level 4 Diploma in Careers Information and Advice quickly followed by the Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development gaining the Careers Development Institute accreditation.
I’ m responsible for … I am responsible for working with students to help them identify and consider the choices available to them, outlining possible courses of action and helping them to plan how to achieve their personal goals; plans may involve a variety of options or a combination. By listening to the initial ideas and aspirations of students I help them to identify possible routes and the qualifications, skills and experiences required. I also support students to see how they could overcome any barriers that prevent them from moving forwards, or referring them to other people that could advise them.
My typical day … No day is the same! My job is very varied; I go from doing face-to-face interviews to analysing students’ interests, aptitudes and abilities, helping with UCAS and apprenticeships, running group work to develop employability skills, organising and arranging presentations, careers events and activities by outside agencies and speakers including some OPs.
The best part of my job … The best part of my job is when I have a student who has lost confidence and thinks that the path they want to take is closed to them and I show them other routes and they see all is not lost. Everyone’ s career path is unique and you may need to take a circuitous route to get to where you want to be. I also love A level results day( now my own children are past that age!) as I love the satisfaction of sharing my knowledge and helping people – it’ s a great buzz!
Little know fact … I love art and travelling and spend a lot of time visiting art galleries and exhibitions. If I could go back in time I would have studied Art History and my dream job would be as an art conservationist … maybe that’ s my next career journey, who knows?
CAREER TALKS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE PUPILS FOR LIFE
In May, guest speakers from 16 different careers shared their experiences with Pocklington School pupils in a series of mini-talks designed to inspire them to think about their futures.
The short, 10-minute talks were aimed at Middle School and Sixth Form students to provide them with insights into some possible‘ career destinations’ and to give them the opportunity to hear firsthand the often differing and convoluted journeys people have undertaken during their working life to reach their current role.
The speakers worked in areas as diverse as construction, the food industry, human resources, event management and the probation service. They included an entrepreneur, an engineer, a nurse and a GP, and a market researcher.
Gillian Jones, Careers and University Advisor at Pocklington School, said:“ Many students struggle to imagine a direction for their working life, let alone the steps to a specific career.
“ By helping students to think in terms of‘ a career’, they can be motivated on to their own journey, fuelling their transition into the world of work.” She said:“ The students find these events to be particularly useful in influencing their attitudes and assumptions regarding different jobs. This in turn guides their decisions about their futures.
“ It’ s important that students understand that there can be many routes into a particular career and that the journey can take unexpected turns. Therefore, they need to be aware of opportunities as they present themselves, as well as being self-aware in order to make the most of these opportunities.”
If any OPs would be interested in giving a 10-minute talk at a future careers event at the school, please contact Rachel in the OP office.
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