Pathways - a careers advice app

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Brief: How can we improve the careers advice system for young people ages 16-25?

This brief was formed from my own poor experiences with careers advice whilst in secondary school education. I felt as though I did not receive sufficient careers and progression advice from my school since I wanted to take a route other than university. I wanted to investigate if students currently receive enough support and whether I could improve the current system to help students make and explore choices regarding their careers.

I completed first hand research and found that a problem still existed. Some of the key elements that I took from my research include:

- 90% of young people said that they received insufficient careers advice whilst at school

- Students are often encouraged to go to university rather than explore other routes such as internships and apprenticeships

- Students don't know how to find out information for themselves

- Students are often persuaded by their teachers when making career decisions

My outcome app 'Pathways' allows users to explore different options that they could take. When they find an interesting course, job or qualification, they can add it to their 'path' page and map out all of the routes that they could take in their career.

Users can either explore and search for opportunities or they can use the 'Pathfinder' section. This feature will ask the user a series of questions and ask them to pick their top skills and interests. The generated results will then display potential path points that may interest the user. More information is available when tapping on the results summary.