Careers adviser/personal adviser : Career development

From a qualified personal adviser (PA) post, it may be possible to move into a lead or supervisory role, involving acting as a mentor to other PAs, deciding on caseloads and conducting annual reviews. This in turn, could lead to a team leader or manager role and responsibility for managing a Connexions /careers centre, or team of advisers. Alternatively, there is the option to specialise in such areas as special needs or working with ethnic minorities or travellers. You could also become a teenage parent adviser, or an intensive PA with a smaller caseload of young people who need more in-depth help.

After a number of years' experience it may be possible to move into senior management roles, although in some areas these senior roles will mean a transition to a local authority department. Movement into management positions may require relocation to a different town, city or region.

It is possible to progress to different areas of careers work, including work with adults for organisations such as Next Step , or in independent schools for the Independent Schools Careers Organisation (ISCO) . Some PAs progress on to work in the further education or higher education sectors, although competition for such progression can be fierce. It is also possible to move into related careers such as youth and community work, health and social care, counselling and employment services.

Career development can be enhanced by keeping up to date with changes in policies and new initiatives. This may be achieved by reading relevant journals, magazines and reports and attending conferences.