So what can I do

If I am interested in a non-traditional career (continued)

2. It’s good to talk

There will be lots going on in school to help you get your career plans underway: there could be visiting speakers, careers fairs and enterprise events in school, as well as visits to exhibitions and institutions.

• Talk to someone who actually does the job you are interested in. If possible, try to find someone who is working or studying in the same non-traditional area that interests you.
• Talk to the people who provide training or learning in the career area that interests you. This may be an employer, a training provider or a tutor or lecturer from college or university. Find out as much as you can about what type of training you will get, and ask plenty of questions about what it could be like to be a trainee or learner in a non traditional area.

3. Future prospects

It’s your life and your future, so you want to make sure you give yourself the best chances you can. Everyone’s priorities and motivation are different. However, there are some things everyone should be aware of:

• What rate of pay can you expect to earn in a non-traditional job?
• How quickly (and how high) are you likely to climb the promotion ladder?

And do bear in mind that, at present, the average hourly earnings of women in Scotland working full-time are 15% lower than for men working full-time.