What is National Careers Week?
National Careers Week (NCW) promotes careers guidance across the UK. It happens in early March each year, with this year's event running from 4-9 March 2024.
Head to Bitesize Careers' tips and inspiration page to explore our NCW content and find out how we can help you decide on your next steps.
Scroll down for a handy guide to what's available.
NCW 2024: New content
We've launched a new series of content to coincide with National Careers Week:
- Videos
- Job swap – watch Dr Ranj swaps jobs with Radio 1 DJ Charlie Tee – can they smash it in a totally different role?
- From hobby to career – meet three young people who turned their passions and interests into jobs
- Video podcast – join Radio 1 presenter Katie Thistleton for three special episodes of The Bitesize Careers Podcast. Hear from young workers and award-winning careers experts to get inspired about what your future career could look like
- Quizzes – see if you can suss out which school subjects can lead to which careers with our Can you guess the job? quiz
- Top 10 jobs list – find out which jobs teenagers want to do the most, and loads of interesting insights about motivations, ambitions and worries, as we reveal the results of our big Bitesize Careers survey on Wednesday 28th February.
NCW 2024: Themed days
We’ll have themed days from Monday-Friday during NCW. We'd love for you to join us each morning throughout the week, but if that's not possible the content can be explored at a day or time that suits you better. The themes will include the content mentioned above, and more. Here's what's planned for each day:
- Motivation Monday – exploring which jobs you may enjoy and why
- Talented Tuesday – linking your passions to possible future jobs
- Working World Wednesday – getting a glimpse behind the scenes of real jobs
- Throwback Thursday – hearing real-life stories of young people who've turned their long-loved hobbies and interests into jobs
- Your Future Friday – identifying your career goals and how to achieve them.
If you're a teacher, there is a new teacher guide with activity ideas for how you could use the content in your lessons and form time.
Year-round content
There's lots of helpful content to explore all year on Bitesize Careers.
Not sure where to start? Check out the pages below for some inspiration.
- Jobs that use… – explore jobs by school subject. Where could your favourite subject take you?
- Careers in… – browse jobs by sector (job area), like "Education and childcare" and "Healthcare and frontline services"
- Careers A to Z – all our job profiles in one place. Each profile is a chance to hear from a young person doing that role
- Skills and qualities – find out more about skills for the work place and beyond. Get top tips for CVs, applications and interviews.
A taster of what you can find on the Bitesize Careers website all year round
TEXT: Planning your next steps can be scary
Oh my God, what am I doing with my life?
Fake it 'til you make it.
Ickle bit stressful.
TEXT: Now… find your path.
TEXT: BBC Bitesize is more than revision.
TEXT: Advice
Be confident. Admit that you might fail sometimes and just try new things because you'll surprise yourself.
TEXT: Careers
Drama facilitator
Filmmaker
Freelance audio engineer
Music photographer
Junior soldier
Medical student
Volcano guide
Personal trainer
Farmer
Paramedic
Conservation officer
Freelance director
Radio presenter
Solar farm manager
Nurse
Games designer
Science officer
Waste warrior
Ambulance dispatcher.
TEXT: Preparing for work
If you're writing a cover letter, compel the reader.
It needs to be short, snappy and sweet.
Explain to them why you are ideal.
Think about your motivation – what's inspired you to want to study this course?
Take the time to understand what the employer needs. Then take the time to understand how you meet those skills.
TEXT: Job skills
As a paramedic, a high level of teamwork is required.
As a science officer, I've brought a lot of uniqueness to the role through my creativity.
I'm a director so I'm good at communicating a visual idea through words.
TEXT: Making your mark
Body language is the first impression someone will get of you.
Take initiative.
Learn new things.
Positive head space.
Ask questions.
Listening can fast track you to doing well in your role.
TEXT: Enterprise skills
Do a lot of research.
Meet a lot of people and learn.
The secrets to success are about hard work.
Your knowledge of what you want to do is the most important thing before your start it.
More from Bitesize Careers
Job inspiration: Careers in healthcare and frontline services. collection
Hear from people working across the healthcare sector and in frontline services, including some roles you may not know existed!
Job inspiration: Careers in media collection
Hear from young people about how they got started in their careers in media.
Jobs in sport: Working at Wimbledon. video
Five young people talk about their roles at Wimbledon, showing just how many people takes – working across job sectors – to host a major sporting event.
