Importance of personal guidance

Benchmark 8 focuses on the importance of personal guidance. It sets an expectation that all students will have a career guidance interview with a professionally qualified careers adviser by age 16, and the opportunity for a further interview between 16 and 18.

It describes the one-to-one support that is given to individual students by a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level.

To be ‘trained to an appropriate level’, the Careers Adviser must hold a career guidance qualification at level 6 (degree level) or higher, according to the Career Development Institute. Personal Guidance should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made.