Explore pathways

Find the route that fits where you are now

There is no single correct path into work. These are the routes that usually suit each starting point.

I am still at school or college

Use this time to try things out. A week in a workplace tells you more than any leaflet, and it strengthens future applications.

You can start earning straight away. Apprenticeships combine a wage with a qualification, and many entry-level jobs need no experience.

Paid internships build the experience employers ask for at graduate level, and often lead to a job offer before you finish.

Your subject matters less than you think. Most graduate employers recruit from any discipline and train you from the start.

Funded bootcamps often end with a guaranteed interview. Supported employment offers a job coach alongside the role.

Not knowing is normal and it is not a problem. Start with one conversation and one small step.

Plain explanations of the terms used in job adverts. You will also see them explained wherever they appear on the site, for example .

Apprenticeship level: How hard the course is. Level 2 is about GCSE standard, Level 3 about A level standard, and Levels 6 and 7 get you a degree.
Fixed-term contract: A job that runs until an agreed end date. You get the same rights as everyone else while you are there.
Hybrid working: Some days in the workplace, some days at home. The employer will tell you the split.
Pro rata salary: The pay shown is for full-time hours. If you work part time, you get a share of it that matches your hours.
National Living Wage: The lowest hourly pay you can legally be given if you are 21 or over. Under 21s and apprentices have their own lower rates.
Reasonable adjustments: Changes an employer makes so you are not at a disadvantage, like extra time in tests, different equipment or flexible hours. Just ask.
Right to work: Proof you are allowed to work in the UK. Usually a passport or a share code from the Home Office.