Idealism shines through in young people’s dreams of how their careers will develop

Dec 20 2007 by Abbie Wightwick, Western Mail

YOUNG people in Wales most want to work in health, creative arts and education, a new survey shows.

Healthcare comes first followed by arts and education in a list of 27 career avenues which ranges from jobs in the City to social work.

In a revealing snapshot of how opportunities and professions’ appeal have changed, people aged 16 to 25 rated a job in education as their third choice while those aged 45 to 65 ranked it eighth.

Information technology was ranked fourth by people aged 15 to 25 but came seventh those aged 45 to 65. Young people are less likely to want to go into broadcasting and interactive media or legal services.

Both groups agreed on their first choice – a job in healthcare – and on their last choice – voluntary work.

The online survey, commissioned by City and Guilds, shows that almost two-thirds of people in Wales had a clear idea of their dream job. Nearly half were studying for their preferred careers and 16% were working directly towards the job of their choice. More worryingly, 37% of those asked had no clear idea of their future career plans.

Mandy James, Wales manager for City and Guilds said, “Our research shows that the majority of young people know which career they want to pursue. Top of the list are healthcare and education, which is good news for the UK’s public services.

“Careers in healthcare and education equip people with transferable skill that are in global demand.”

Psychologist Dr Paul Sander said young people were often fired by idealism rather than money.

Dr Sander, principal psychology lecturer at Uwic said, “Having worked with young people all my working life what worries me is that their choices are such uninformed choices.

“My experience is only with psychology students but I do sense among my students a tremendous sense of idealism and it’s quite impermeable. They are not deterred from their ambition to be clinical psychologists and cure all people’s ills.

“Idealism and the sense that, ‘I can achieve it’ is important and means we are still trying to crack the world’s problems.’’

Professor John Arnold, a chartered occupational psychologist at Loughborough University, said, “People’s career preferences are influenced by both dreams and their personal experience.

“Dreams are used by at least one popular vocational assessment test (the Self-Directed Search) as one element of the assessment.

“The chances are they reflect some deeply held value, and even if the dream itself is unrealistic, it may be very useful as an indicator of what the person would like to emphasise in their work and/or leisure, possibly in other ways, eg sports teacher or fitness instructor instead of professional soccer player.

“People do tend to choose things with which they have some familiarity.

“That’s partly because the familiarity is comforting, and partly because pragmatically, the person may well know quite a bit about how to get in and what’s required.

“That may also explain why health careers are at the top of both lists – most of us have contact with health services, and there’s a lot about them, factual and fictional on the TV.

“The people we hang out with also make a difference to career preferences. From our research here at Loughborough, and some other research done elsewhere, it’s fairly clear that what we believe our friends and family think about occupations does influence our occupational decisions.”

David Samuel, who is training to be a doctor at Cardiff School of Medicine, said healthcare was a vocational choice which was attractive to many.

“I was born with a congenital deformity and always wanted to be a doctor,” he said.

“Medicine and healthcare are a vocation and a way of life. I like seeing how I can improve people’s lives even if I can’t cure them.’’.

Caren Hopton has returned to her local primary school in Ysgol Ynysgedwyn in Ystradgynlais as a fully trained teaching assistant – her dream job.

The 47-year-old told the Western Mail she was driven by a desire to give something back and has just completed a Modern Apprenticeship in Early Years Care and Education and a Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Practice with a Welsh Assembly grant.

Caren, who works with children aged four to 11, said, “I love working with children and there is no other job that I would rather do.

“It’s very rewarding watching the children develop from joining the school right through to when they leave.

“Attributes you must have in this job are a genuine love of children and lots of patience.’’

Dream careers for Wales
16 to 25-year-olds

1. Health

2. Creative and cultural arts

3. Education

4. Information Technology

5. Broadcast and interactive media

6. Construction, science, accountancy, business services

7. Advertising and PR, City and markets, fashions, legal services local, regional and national government, sport and leisure

45 to 65-year-olds

1. Health

2. Broadcast and interactive media

3. Legal services

4. Creative and cultural arts

5. Environmental food chain and rural, retail, transport

6. Accountancy, business, construction, engineering, IT, financial services, manufacturing, social care

7. Education, fashion, local, national and regional government, Advertising and PR, City and markets, voluntary, science, sport and leisure.

Source : City and Guilds YouGov survey

A low pay start
People choosing health and education as careers can expect to start at below average rates of pay.

The national average UK wage is £28,141, but City and Guilds warn this is bumped up by a minority of very high paying jobs and the average most people can realistically expect is £24,051 and less in Wales.

Here is a sample of starting salaries newly qualified staff can expect:

Teacher – £20,133

Nurse – £19,683

Classroom assistant – £11,000

IT professional – £37,786

Junior hospital doctor – £32,000

Broadcast and interactive media journalist – up to £14,000