Julia Watson
International Director
June 2006

MAKING DECISIONS AT
15/16, 18 AND BEYOND…..
KEY DECISION AND TRANSITION POINTS FOR MOST are:
1.Subject choices at age15/16 – IB subjects ... IMPLICATIONS?
Then..
2. University choices… where, which subject(s), which country or into employment? Competition for places at selective universities..
3. Gap year or not, travel, volunteering etc
4. Career exploration – how might this be linked to university choice?
www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

University experiences… more choices www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

The Economic climate
 Uncertainty is the only certainty. Exciting yet challenging...
 Some careers more resilient than others in difficult times
 Opportunities in different countries e.g. emerging markets such as
China
European countries not all similar in terms of job stability...
 Skills acquisition and flexibility vital… e.g. IT and languages, international outlook..
 One job for life is unlikely… the portfolio career is increasing..
 Influence of technology
 New careers emerging all the time
June 2006

www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

Help with transitions/choices
Parents, staff, friends, resources such as books, brochures, work experience and internet sites can all help
School results / examination results will also be important in making realistic decisions
A useful impartial tool in addition, to highlight natural potential and encourage self awareness used in many international schools worldwide is…
The FUTUREWISE psychometric profile and follow-up scheme www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

Your turn now
 Personality and qualities
 Patient
 Hard working
 Likes children
 Want to make a difference
 Long shifts
 Who could this be www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

An explanation of the Profile and of its use in supporting quality decisions
June 2006

WHAT IS A PSYCHOMETRIC
PROFILE?
 Objective assessment of abilities and aptitudes
 Used increasingly in the workplace for recruitment/selection
 Not an exam! No pass or fail
 Short interests’ questionnaire initially plus
 A morning of many different tasks e.g. reasoning, numeracy…
 Results appear both in a personalised online web space and in a 16 page report. School also has a copy.
www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

An Interests’ Questionnaire begins the process
This focuses on three main areas of preference:
Working with:
1.
PEOPLE
2.
INFORMATION
3.
THINGS
Questions are multiple choice
Non native speakers of English can indicate this and it will be taken into account www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

Problem Solving
Processing Information of different types
Practical abilities
Dexterity (hand)
Work Personality
How you apply yourself
June 2006 www.myfuturewise.org.uk

Next stage
 The Morrisby organisation of psychologists looks at the answers. See www.morrisby.com
 Early tasks are scored by computer but the career suggestions are chosen by a psychologist taking into account: a) Interests b) Abilities c) Personality aspects www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

 Aim - to stimulate discussion AND provide objective information
 Looks at different types of intelligence
 Looks at the profile pattern not the scores
 Measures potential ...not necessarily achievement i.e. what you COULD achieve. It complements your other results
 Other talents can be talked about individually e.g. sport, music, drama as well as languages .. at the interview or discussion www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

How does it help in school?
 Assists with subject choices
 Help to recognise your preferred learning style
 Enhances study and revision skills
 Maximises your results by
- identifying your style
- gives a basis for subject choices
- highlights natural potential.
www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

 Helps with university and job/career options
 Career suggestions (12 taken from 500) can broaden horizons and show the links between careers and the subjects required
 Emphasis on skills and strengths
 Shows a range of opportunities to be explored not just one or two... And gives some new ideas www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

 An individual interview
 With personal ID register on www.myfuturewise.org.uk
 The profile results appear online as well as in paper version
 Look further at the 12 Career Suggestions in the context of the profile
 Use the ‘ What Next’ section over the next few years to maintain an ongoing CV and also research universities
 There is a whole A-Z of careers section
 Futurewise will help and support till you are 23 wherever you are!
www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006

And finally...Correlation to the
IB Learner profile
 Favours the HOLISTIC, whole person approach to future planning
 Encourages INDEPENDENT research and an INQUIRING approach by students as well as evaluating their capacity for it via the reasoning task/ problem solving ability
 As RISK-TAKERS students are encouraged to look beyond standard options via the breadth of suggestions
 REFLECTION and self awareness form a large part of the profile e.g.
What are my strengths and how can I use them? and
How might my personality influence my decisions/ preferences?
www.myfuturewise.org.uk
June 2006