Advice worker : Entry requirements

There are no formal degree requirements for those wishing to enter advice work, although many people do possess degrees and postgraduate or professional qualifications. The following subjects may increase your chances:

• advice studies
• business and/or finance;
• community studies/cultural studies/youth studies;
• education;
• law;
• politics;
• psychology;
• social administration/social policy/social work;
• sociology.

The usefulness of each degree will depend on the nature of the advice provided. A degree in finance will be beneficial for those offering advice about debt or finance, and a degree in social work will be useful for those offering advice to single parent families.

However, some degrees will be desirable for most kinds of advice work. Since most advice work will touch on legal issues, a degree in law is usually beneficial. Some universities have now started to offer degrees in advice studies, while others allow students to study advice work as part of a degree in law, typically as a one-year sandwich placement. These degrees will be useful for all kinds of advice work.

Advice work is also open to all diplomates. Any subject that gives knowledge of or demonstrates an interest in law, finance, communication or social work is useful.

However, the following subjects may increase your chances:

• business studies/administration;
• legal studies;
• public administration;
• social sciences.

It is quite possible to get into advice work without a degree, as long as you have relevant experience and the necessary skills. No specific postgraduate qualification is required, but many applicants may have followed postgraduate courses in law, psychology, social work or social science.

Experience in dealing with people and running administrative systems is very important. In addition, candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• excellent interpersonal, communication and IT skills;
• the ability to relate to people from different backgrounds;
• a caring, sympathetic and sensitive manner;
• a non-judgemental attitude;
• resourcefulness, problem-solving skills and good attention to detail;
• the ability to cope with stress and emotionally-charged issues;
• strong written skills suitable for writing letters on a client’s behalf;
• numeracy skills suitable for working out benefit entitlements;
• the ability to acquire knowledge of relevant legislation;
• tact and diplomacy to deal with sensitive and confidential information;
• the ability to liaise with other professionals and organisations.

Knowledge of an ethnic minority language may be useful for some posts.

Volunteer experience is an important, and sometimes essential, factor in obtaining paid employment. There can be a high level of competition for positions, as it is common for advice work to be done by volunteers.

Often, there are large numbers of people with experience and relatively few paid positions available. Developing contacts through voluntary work is a useful way of gaining employment. Sending speculative letters to organisations may also be worthwhile.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.