GCSE results day is just around the corner. On the 20 August you will find out how well you have done. Whatever your results there are still lots of options open to you.

When you’re at school you are constantly being asked what you want to do with your life. It can be really hard to side line the input from your parents, teachers and peers that say you should follow a particular path. How do you decide what is right for you; do you take the path for doing something you’re really passionate about?

You see them in adverts and find them at the supermarkets and on our high streets. Brands are really popular and you buy them because they are well known and they grab your attention.

The same applies to people in their job search. When job hunting it is important to show the best possible version of yourself, and brand yourself successfully in order to maximise your chances of getting a job. This means demonstrating to an employer that you are hard-working, keen to learn new things and very enthusiastic about the role you are applying for.

If you are looking to kickstart your career or need a job to get by or fund training, then there are a number of things you can do to carry out an effective job search.

I think ‘having a plan’ is a phrase that either  brings comfort to people who like to be organised or, alternatively, strikes fear in to those who like to ‘go with the flow’. People constantly wonder: What am I supposed to work towards? What if I change my mind? How do I do it? Why should I bother? These are all perfectly normal and understandable questions to ask.

Careers that involve maths? This is not tricky. The real answer is every single job under the sun, from shop assistant to astronaut.

However, there are certain careers which heavily use maths. Here are just a few of these careers:

Not sure what you want to do for your career? Perhaps you think that Apprenticeships are only for technical careers or your opinion is governed by the popular BBC show, The Apprentice.

The reality is very different. There are plenty of careers out there which you might have not even heard of before, let alone considered. Here is our small selection.

Affecting 1.1% of the population, and occurring more frequently in men than women, Autism Spectrum Disorders are a group of mental disabilities that can affect a person’s communication skills and social interaction.

Autism Spectrum Disorders can also occur with learning difficulties, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and Attention Deficit Disorder, as well as other mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression.

You may not think it, but language is very important in interview. From the language you use in the interview, to the image you project through your body language, here we will explore why language is important for interview and give you advice on using it effectively.

January is a time for New Year’s resolutions and changing things in our lives for the better.  It may be to exercise more, give up something that we think is not good for us or do more of something we did not get round to doing in the previous year!  Mine is to get out and run more - how about you?

January is also an important time to think about what you are doing and plan for the future.  Young people across the country are in the middle of deciding what to do with their lives and this is especially relevant for those who are in their GCSE year or older. 

You may not have considered starting a business, but with National Entrepreneurship Week underway, if you see yourself as the next Alan Sugar or Richard Branson, then starting a business is something that you should consider and something you can achieve with the right passion and flair.

Whether it be babysitting, or selling second hand goods on eBay, running a small business venture can be the start of something huge or it can give you valuable experience of the business world and be a stepping stone to a positive career. 

Some young people I meet and work with tell me they want a job, any job, anywhere, doing anything!  This is great and you need to keep up that positive attitude, but......

It is worth thinking about the future too and where a job or career may lead.  You can always find out more about careers on this website www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk.

Interview with Sophie, who is currently studying on the ONIT course at 4rce training, Ipswich. This is a year long course designed to help young people who are NEET or who are leaving college to participate, motivate themselves, improve personal skills and employability skills  while also improving their qualifications. The aim is that afterwards they will either return to college or enter work, apprenticeships or further training afterwards.

I can’t tell you how many times I have had the “what career is right for me?” discussion with one of my 17 year old clients. The answers have ranged from a Vet - until she found out the intensity of some of the examinations she would have to do - to a Hairdresser, but then she decided that she didn’t want to stand up all day - to a photographer, because she likes taking “selfies”.

In reality there is only one person that can come to a real conclusion - YOU!

Last week at the MTV Video Music Awards in the United States, Miley Cirus attracted a storm of criticism and controversy in the news and on social media. Dressed in a flesh-coloured bikini, and prancing around stage with a foam finger, twerking as she went, the performance of the 20 year old singer at the awards has been described as inappropriate by many, seeing her in particular as setting a bad example to her young fans who look up to her and admire her.