Careers Guidance - Darlington College

The Careers Guidance Team will help you make the right choices and decisions on your future career path before you come to college, whilst you study and when you come to leave.

Before you start

Not sure what you want to study or where it will lead? Our impartial Career Guidance Advisers can help you with a range of support, even before you get to college to ensure you make the right decision with what to do next.

We offer

Impartial careers advice
Information and advice on routes into careers and what courses to study
Support and guidance if you don’t know which course to do, or which career to pursue
Guidance and information on university applications and expectations

Whilst you are here

During your course you will make decisions on whether you wish to go to university, progress with your education or find a job. Throughout your course we will deliver group sessions and have workshops covering a range of subjects such as Higher Education, career choices, and job search. As part of our fantastic Guidance Services you will also have individual access to advisers who can support you with a range of information, advice and guidance on your next step options. We can offer you an appointment or just drop in to one of our advertised drop in sessions or workshops.

Facebook

Our Darlington College Careers Guidance Facebook page is updated with fresh information weekly. It features lots of great resources covering Higher Education, job/volunteering opportunities, student finance and apprenticeships.

Higher Education

University guides
Links to the UCAS website
Advice on creating a personal statement
Information on student finance and the cost of higher education

National Careers Service

The National Careers Service website provides careers advice and information on a wide range of jobs, training course resources and funding.

Call 0800 100 900 to speak to an adviser. Lines are open from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

Jobsearch

How to create a CV to get you THAT job
Interview techniques
How to complete an application
Local job vacancies posted weekly to keep you up to date with what’s out there
News about local industries that are growing and areas where there are skill shortages

Apprenticeships

Support on how to use the National Apprenticeships website
Information on what an apprenticeship is
Advice on how to secure Apprenticeship employment

When you are about to leave

When you decide to take your next steps and as you come to the end of your course we will support you. Whether applying for jobs, looking for your next course or progressing to an apprenticeship we are here to help. As you finish your course we will come to your group and ask you what you intend doing next and put a plan in place to support you in your chosen goals to ensure your success in whichever route you choose.

Provider Access Statement

We work with partners to ensure students have access to a range of educational and training providers at the relevant phase of their education including approved technical qualifications or apprenticeships. Partners will be invited to be represented at key careers events that will be timetabled throughout the year. In line with the Technical and Further Education Act 2017 partners will be involved in careers fairs and on mutual agreement opportunities for visits and workshops will be facilitated. Providers wanting to be involved in the structured careers programme should contact the Careers Lead to discuss feasibility. Grounds for access will be agreed on an individual basis and on student need. Details of premises and facilities will be provided. See Policy Statement on Provider Access

Downloadable leaflets

Download our Careers Guidance Programme leaflet 2022-23

View the Careers Guidance Team’s Statement of Service 2022.

Darlington College Careers Strategy 2022-2024

Matrix accredited

Our Careers Guidance Team have recently (June 2022) been awarded Matrix accreditation once again, a national standard for quality.

The Assessor found that “Students felt the services provided are impartial and objective and that they had been presented with, and included in developing, a range of options to explore which were appropriate to their needs. Of particular note, was the practical and emotional support and flexible approach given to people during one-to-one meetings which had ensured that they were able to access information, support and learning opportunities that increases their wellbeing, reduces any risk of needing to leave College and improves their chances of progression.’’

View a copy of the Accreditation Report 2022

Darlington College’s guidance team, L-R, Student Services manager Julie Davison, data and destination specialist Jan Needham, advisers Andrew Brown and Rebecca Sunley.

Labour Market Information

Labour Market Information is information relating to occupations and industries, such as job numbers and salaries, educational levels for occupations, workforce demographics, and numbers of establishments in particular sectors.

The purpose of LMI is to use current and historic data for labour markets, in order to enable us to better understand the trends, structure and demands of those economies. The information is also useful in that it can be used to forecast what the future might hold for particular industries, occupations or geographical areas, based on past and current trends. LMI can help students and their parents/carers to understand the salaries and promotion opportunities for different jobs, the volume and location of vacancies across different sectors and where there might be gaps in the workforce.

The college also has access to software called EMSI which provides managers with up to date local labour market information. This is used to ensure that our curriculum offer is designed to meet the needs of employers and the local labour market and provide our students with the relevant skills and knowledge needed for industry.

Tees Valley LMI Factsheet

Darlington LMI Factsheet