Seven careers you could launch after College

GCSE results day marks the next chapter in a young adult’s life. Edging ever closer to the real world of higher education and employment, coming up with a plan for the future can seem like a seriously daunting task.

Some might decide on their A Level / vocational courses on a whim, without much (if any) thought. But it’s important to remember that those choices can influence your future. So, choose wisely!

To make things a little easier, here are seven careers that you can kick start with the help of courses available at Gower College Swansea.

Of course, seven is nowhere near the number of career options out there but it’s a good place to start.

Air Cabin Crew
The ideal career for those craving to travel the world, becoming a member of an air cabin crew is a globetrotter’s dream. Not just a case of pointing towards the emergency exits, this role involves numerous responsibilities such as attending to passengers with special requirements, conducting safety checks and writing up flight reports. Of course, it’s important that your schedule remains flexible as it’s not your average 9-5 workday. But, if you can get over the strange hours, the perks of the job include hefty flight discounts which can also apply to family and friends. Sounds like the perfect career for you? Take a look at the Travel and Tourism courses at Gower College Swansea. Travel and Tourism students are perfect candidates for becoming a member of an air cabin crew thanks to a dedicated simulated aircraft cabin at the Tycoch Campus and various trips throughout the year to airports and training academies.

Potential annual salary – the salary for an air cabin crew member starts at £12,000- £14,000. With experience, this can go up to £20,000.

Sports Therapist
A sports therapist’s work revolves around the wellbeing and fitness of sport participants. This occupation focuses on injury prevention through client fitness assessments, both mental and physical. When injury occurs, it’s the sports therapist’s responsibility to conduct the appropriate assessment and develop a specially designed rehabilitation programme. So, if you love sports but aren’t the best at the participating part, this path would suit you. If you think you’d enjoy this kind of career, the Sports Coaching, Fitness and Development course at Gower College Swansea is a great place to start. Not just a standard classroom-based course, students also get to undertake additional qualifications such as First Aid and NGB Awards, which is an amazing CV boost!

Potential annual salary – the salary for a sports therapist starts at £17,000. With experience, this can go up to £28,000. Individuals working within a professional team can earn up to £35,000.

Construction Manager
Being in construction doesn’t just mean building houses or endless days on a wet and windy building site.  Being a construction manager could allow you to build a business from scratch while learning how to lead a team and work to tight deadlines. Every day is different, from problem solving and decision making to planning and maintaining communication with workers. To start your career as a construction manager, check out the Construction (multi-skills) course at Gower College Swansea and develop your skills that could take you here.

Potential annual salary – the salary for a Construction Manager starts at £27,000 - £30,000. Experienced Managers can earn £70,000.”

Artist & Repertoire (A&R) Rep
An appetite for finding the best in new music is what makes a great A&R rep. The beating heart of any successful record label, an A&R department scouts out fresh artists to make sure the company remains current and ahead of the game. Having a passion for music isn’t enough. A&R reps need to have a strong grasp of the ‘ins and outs’ of the music scene as a whole. This role also moves beyond finding new artists as it involves helping signed artists to develop and grow. So, pursuing this career could mean that you’ll be responsible for the next Ed Sheeran! This is certainly an exciting and fast-paced occupation which can begin with a Music course at Gower College Swansea. Students are educated on all music genres, eras and aspects of the industry to ensure a wide spectrum of musical knowledge.

Potential annual salary – A&R Reps’ salaries start at roughly £20,000, but this can exceed £60,000 with experience. 

Physiotherapist
If you have a passion for helping people in need and an interest in the study of science, this may be your calling. A truly fulfilling occupation, this role can make invaluable changes to a person’s quality of life. As each client has specific and unique injuries, this job is perfect for those with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Every day is different as you’ll treat many conditions such as back pain, whiplash, cystic fibrosis, asthma and sports injuries. Your place of work could range from the NHS, private hospitals and clinics, sports clubs and gyms and private practice. If becoming a physiotherapist sounds like your kind of career path, take a look at Applied Science or Access to Science courses which are available at Gower College Swansea.

Potential annual salary – the starting salary for a physiotherapist ranges from £21,909 to £28,462. With experience you can earn between £26,302 and £35,225.

Chemical Engineer
As a chemical engineer, you will be involved in the design and development of a diverse range of products. Your work will focus on examining and designing the machinery used to turn raw materials into common products such as fuel and plastics. You’ll use your knowledge of mathematics and science to help you overcome problems and create solutions, whilst ensuring health and safety guidelines are applied on a daily basis. You can work in a variety of sectors including energy, food and drink, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, plastics and water treatment. If you enjoy problem solving, this career should suit you. To find out more, read up on the Engineering courses available at Gower College Swansea.

Starting salaries are in the region of £28,500 but, for chartered chemical engineers, this can increase to £70,000. 

Web Developer
With competition among businesses as fierce as ever, having the best website is the ultimate desire. So it’s safe to say that the demand for web developers is on the rise. Depending on the job description, a web developer’s responsibilities can vary from developing the website’s software to focusing on the site’s visual look and design. Daily challenges involve maintaining the website’s safety by blocking or fixing bugs, designing applications and meeting up with designers. The Information Technology courses at Gower College Swansea provide a sturdy foundation for a web developing career. This course has an applied approach to teaching, as it allows students to create websites and programmes along with developing digital products.

Potential annual salary – the salary for a web developer starts at £19,000 - £25,000. Lead developers typically earn between £35,000 and £50,000.

ENDS