UK Bitesize Careers

The BBC has a series of podcasts on careers, called "Bitesize Careers" targeted at school leavers, which can be listened to on BBC Sounds (here; Thistledon, 2024). BBC Radio 1 presenter Katie Thistleton interviews a range of interesting and inspiring people - including students and career practitioners. As well as on BBC Sounds, the Bitesize Careers podcasts can also be found at a range of locations, including Amazon (here) and Podchaser (here). 

However, this is not simply a series of British career-oriented interviews. The podcasts themselves are beautifully supported by a wide range of career resources (BBC, 2024a) including information about jobs using particular school subjects; careers in a range of sectors; skills and attributes (called 'qualities'); paths from secondary school (University, Apprenticeships and other post-secondary options; BBC, 2024c); and a great section called tips and inspiration (BBC, 2024d). There is a list of careers from "A to Z"; a range of quizzes which students can select from; and toolkits for putting together CVs, application letters, and preparing for interviews.

Yes, some of the material is so context-specific to the UK as to be of little value to school leavers in Aotearoa (such as the section on choosing a University, which bears little resemblance to the New Zealand system; BBC, 2024d) but other sections are fabulous (such as five questions to ask yourself about your future job; BBC, 2024b). Many of the sections are supported by video, and I was very interested to see just how specialised the UK apprenticeship system is, and what professions can be entered in this way (BBC, 2024d; scroll further down the page for the apprenticeship section). More of this type of job entry here would be fabulous for so many of our rangatahi.

All in all, this is a rich site, and well worth a stroll around.

Sam

References:

BBC. (2024a). Careers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers

BBC. (2024b). Careers: Help! What am I good at?. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z4t3qyc#z9xsdnb

BBC. (2024c). Careers: Help! What am I good at?. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/cm5m6rkdwyvt

BBC. (2024d). Tips and Inspiration. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/cj13rxxpq0vt

Thistleton, K. (2024). Bitesize Careers [podcast]. BBC/Redbrick Media. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0h80c73