After you have left full time education, you will probably want to find a job. Lots of people can help you find work, including:

• parents or relatives
• friends
• careers guidance staff at your school or college
• teachers
• job advisors - Jobcentre Plus or the National Careers Service

For support in understanding more about working, contact the 16-19 Team, or check them out on Facebook.  They can help with:

• advice and guidance
• careers guidance
• CVs and applications
• interview techniques 

We also have some easy to read guides in our transitioning resources.  

Working for someone else

This is when you have paid employment, working for someone else or for an organisation. This could be working for a large company such as a supermarket, or a small company such as a newsagent.

Traineeships 

Traineeships are courses that are designed to help young people who would like to get an apprenticeship or job but do not have appropriate experience or skills, learn at their own pace.  The courses provide essential work experience and training, including English and Maths, needed to secure an apprenticeship or employment.  

Apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships are work based training programmes, funded by the Government. They combine practical training while you work with study. Training is mostly in the workplace but may involve some desk-based learning too.  

To start an apprenticeship you will need to be over the age of 16 and not in full time education. Apprentices will be paid the minimum wage rate or more whilst they are training and can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level. Read more about how to find an apprenticeship. 

Supported internships and job coaching 

Supported internships are structured study programmes based primarily at a workplace. They enable young people aged 16-24 with SEND to achieve sustainable, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work through learning in the workplace. Internships normally last for a year and include unpaid work placements of at least six months. Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme.

Students complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if suitable, and English and Maths to an appropriate level.

A job coach will support a young person whilst they are completing an internship - this includes making sure they are settled in on the first day and that all tasks are explained in small steps.

Employability Projects

These are free, short term projects which are designed to help young people develop relevant skills, qualities and attitudes needed to progress onto appropriate and sustainable education, training or employment options. 

Working for yourself

Working for yourself can offer opportunities that meet your needs by providing:

• pace - the work can be done your speed 
• pattern - the work can be done at a time that suits you
• place - the work can be done where it suits you 

Some people set up a small business in addition to some part-time work.

Organisations that could give you information on working for yourself:

• COBRA (the Complete Business Reference Adviser) - produces guides and factsheets to help you set up your own business
• The Prince’s Trust - an enterprise programme for young adults aged between 18 and 30 and lots of useful information and downloadable guides
• Shell LiveWIRE  - the UK’s biggest online community for young people aged 16 to 30 who are starting or running their own business

Volunteering

Volunteering is considered to be work experience and can be a good stepping stone to paid employment. It can:

• help you find out what job you might like to do
• create opportunities for paid work
• provide a chance to learn new skills and practise existing skills
• lead to being more confident
• add to a CV - a document that tells people what you can do and work experience you have
• provide references
• lead to new interests and routines

Organisations that could help you volunteer:

• Jobcentre Plus - ‘Work Together’ is a volunteering programme designed to help you get back into work  
• Volunteering Matters 

Community employment service (CES)

A free employability support service designed to help Milton Keynes residents into work. Each service offers you practical help and advice with the steps towards finding work, guidance with identifying skills and potential work options and information about local job vacancies and training opportunities. More information about CES can be found here.

Employment and Support Allowance 

If you are on the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) permitted work scheme you can:

• work - but it must be for less than 16 hours each week
• earn up to £143.00 (Nov 2021) every week, after tax
• get your normal amount of benefit payment
• build up your skills and experience
• do voluntary work - there is no limit on how many hours per week you can do voluntary work for

From April 2017 there is no limit on the number of weeks you can do permitted work for. Work must be:

• supervised by someone from a local council or voluntary organisation who arranges work for disabled people
• part of a treatment programme under medical supervision

If you are getting Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) you must fill in Form PW1 before starting any work, paid or unpaid - find out more information from Jobcentre Plus