Not interested in university and terrified by the prospect of picking a career for life? Ella Walker takes a look at the alternatives to full time study and full time work that could tempt you

Be practical, university isn't for everyone

You aren’t feeling ready for nine till five and are still weighing up what you want to do and where you want to do it… But you don’t have to jump straight into a degree or sign up to a job you don’t want but feel you can’t turn down. Here are some alternative routes to choose from.

Apprenticeships

If you want to be earning but don’t have the skills or qualifications for a specific trade, an apprenticeship is a good way to bridge the gap and train on the job. You get to train for an NVQ, Key Skill, BTEC or OCR National qualification while working for an employer.

Thanks to government guidelines, apprentices are guaranteed £2.50 an hour, 20 days paid holiday a year and still spend time in the classroom. You just have to be over 16 to qualify. From photography and journalism to car spraying, brick laying, horticulture and beauty therapy, there are lots of courses to choose from, but competition for placements is tough. You can see why considering the contacts you’d make and the benefits of having an employer invest so much in your future.

And if you decide afterwards that you are ready to do a degree, you still can. In fact, you can even advance your apprenticeship and turn it into a degree equivalent.

For more information on the application process and courses, check out:  www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Internships

Interning is a great way to trial a job you think you might enjoy and get a good insight into the industry without tying yourself down straight away. Usually lasting between three and six months, some require relevant experience or even a degree but not always. Internships aren’t just the domain of recent graduates, candidates that do well are usually the ones who show the most passion and come up with the best ideas.

Getting an internship is a platform for showing yourself off and making the most of the opportunities available to you, be it training, networking or building up your CV and your portfolio of work, especially if it’s a creative career you’re interested in.

Aside from contacting companies directly to find out about available internships, Inspiring Interns advertise placements and blog about ways to get on one at www.inspiringinterns.com.

Work experience

The hardest thing about work experience is getting your foot in the door. But it is possible, it’s just a case of getting in touch with the right people and showing your enthusiasm to help out in any way you can. Arm yourself with a wonderful telephone manner and prepare to be persistent, it’s easy to get fobbed off.

But, once you’re in and you’ve made the requisite post round, it’s normally fantastic for giving you a flavour of different industries, especially if you’re not sure what sector you’d enjoy most. Companies are usually quite good at paying for your travel and lunch if they can’t offer a daily rate.

TIP: Pick a company you’d like to know more about and call them up. Find out exactly who to talk to about work experience and ask what they are looking for. Then send them your CV and covering letter and follow up with another (polite) call if you haven’t heard anything within a week.

Time out

You don’t have to be earning to make yourself attractive to future employers, or to work out what you might like to end up doing career-wise. While a lot of critics argue gap years are a drink fuelled tactic to delay sorting your life out, a stint travelling or volunteering can shake up your priorities and give you a new perspective on what direction to take. It can also make your more attractive to potential employers because it shows you are well travelled and independent.

National Centre for Volunteering: www.volunteering.org.uk

Voluntary Service Overseas: www.vso.org.uk