Early Careers Month 2021

July - Early Careers

For many people, a new stage in their career can be a daunting prospect – especially in a post-COVID world. At VERCIDA we believe this can be a very exciting time in anyone’s life, it’s an opportunity to shape your lifestyle and career path as you develop new life skills. Throughout July we will be sharing articles and various stories from people who are at different phases in their lives: they may be finishing their education and moving into work; parents returning to work after having children or senior apprentices. We will be exploring the challenges and rewards that these different people experience. This month we will be sharing observations and insights into the world of work and Early Careers. Below are a couple of examples of the type of information we will be sharing to whet your appetite.

Employment figures for young people

From February to April in 2021 529,000 people aged 16-24 were unemployed in the UK. This is a decrease of 52,000 from the previous quarter and is a decrease from the previous year. By historical standards this is good news, the unemployment numbers for young people continue to remain low. However, the number of young people in employment fell by 274,000 from the previous year to 3.48 million so it is still as important as ever to promote Early Careers and explore the experiences of young people working to ensure we can maintain a growth in these figures especially in these challenging times.

Negotiate your salary

Many people don’t realise the consequences of not negotiating their salary when starting out on a new career path. It is easy to forget that not negotiating your salary impacts any pay rises you get throughout your working life. Economist Linda Babcock of Carnegie Mellon University tells her students that by not negotiating their job at the beginning of their career, they’re leaving anywhere between $1 million and $1.5 million on the table in earnings over a lifetime. The goal of early careers month is to motivate and assist job seekers from all walks of life into taking steps in building the foundations of their new career path. Through our clients sharing how they support people along the way and with content from Vercida we can guide you through your new career adventure.

Being an intern at Vercida

Before the pandemic hit I had foregone the prospect of university to play in a band and tour the world. Unfortunately the impact COVID had on the music industry meant that this was cut short; this left me searching for a meaningful way to fill my time, learn new skills and take the first steps in shaping a career.

Without a degree to my name I felt like this would be a challenge. However, an internship at VERCIDA gave me an opportunity to learn about marketing and also to practice the skills I would learn in real world scenarios. This allowed me to gain real experience and develop a deeper understanding of the marketing field.

Diversity & Inclusion have always been something I have felt passionate about, especially in a constantly evolving society where cultural norms are constantly being questioned and reshaped. The opportunity to learn about and develop my career in a friendly environment amongst a diverse team at a company specialising in Diversity & Inclusion has been a wonderful learning curve and a lot of fun, despite working remotely.

Before I began my internship I had minimal experience in marketing however, I took the opportunity and jumped straight in – I would recommend anybody do the same. No matter what the opportunity may be, a change in field or career path is exciting and opens up many new doors and opportunities that you may otherwise never find.

EMPLOYERS WITH EARLY CAREERS INITIATIVES

Starting out on a new career, whether it be a first job, a change of direction because of a desire to do something new or a return to work after a period of absence, can be daunting. It will change your life in many ways and can be a challenge but if done right it could be the most rewarding thing you do. Throughout this month Vercida will be showing you the way to start up your new career with help and advice from ourselves and many of our clients and of course it will be diverse and inclusive.

EARLY CAREERS MONTH

JULY

July - Early Careers

July Month Highlights

Being an intern at Vercida

EMPLOYERS WITH EARLY CAREERS INITIATIVES

Articles

‘I want to show people that you can be treated as an equal after a career break’

Capita is taking part in the government’s Kickstart programme

IPO launches inclusive programme to help STEM Returners back into work