Written by Richard Bourne 6th September 2026

Choosing the right career starts with understanding the kind of work and life that might suit you. You can then research the industries, occupations and training routes that match your strengths, personality, work ethic and ambitions.

That sounds obvious now. It did not feel obvious when I was leaving school.

If I could speak to the younger version of myself, I would not tell him exactly which job to choose. I would tell him to look much further than the careers discussed at school.

I would tell him that university is only one route, that practical engineering skills can be extremely valuable and that starting a business is also a genuine career option.

Most importantly, I would tell him to speak to a much wider range of people before making a decision.

Why is choosing a career so difficult when you are young?

Young people are expected to make important decisions before they understand most of the options available.

At school, how many people genuinely know what a CNC programmer, maintenance engineer, toolmaker, technical salesperson, production planner or quality engineer does?

How many understand the difference between an electrician working on domestic properties, an electrical maintenance engineer in a factory and an engineer installing renewable technology?

These careers may provide good earnings, progression and the opportunity to become self-employed. Yet they are rarely as visible to young people as teaching, medicine, law or other familiar professions.

It is difficult to choose a career you do not know exists.

The problem is not usually a lack of ambition. It is a lack of exposure to the real working world.

Does traditional careers advice suit everyone?

Careers advice often reflects the experience of the person giving it.

A teacher or careers adviser may have followed a structured academic path. They succeeded at school, continued into higher education and built a career within an educational or professional environment.

They may understandably see university as the safest or most desirable option.

A parent who learned a trade may take a different view. Someone who built a successful career in sales may value confidence and experience more than academic qualifications.

Most advice is given with good intentions, but no single adviser has experienced every type of career.

An academic route may be perfect for one student and completely unsuitable for another. A practical apprenticeship may allow one person to thrive, while another may prefer research, writing and classroom learning.

Open-minded careers advice should explore university, college, apprenticeships, practical training, employment, self-employment and business ownership.

It should help a young person compare routes. It should not automatically guide everyone towards the route the adviser understands best.

What would I do differently if I were starting my career today?

I would spend more time learning about the world of work before choosing a course.

I would investigate which jobs were in demand, what they actually involved, how people entered them and what experienced workers could earn.

I would look at the lifestyle attached to each career. I would want to know whether the work involved shifts, travel, physical effort, pressure, responsibility or the possibility of working for myself.

I would also look at progression. A first job might not pay particularly well, but where could it lead after five or ten years?

Working in recruitment has shown me that some of the most valuable skills are not always the most widely discussed.

Employers regularly need people who can maintain machinery, programme CNC equipment, weld to a high standard, install electrical systems, diagnose faults and understand technical drawings.

These are real-world skills. When a machine stops, an order cannot be completed or an electrical system fails, the business needs someone capable of solving the problem.

That ability has commercial value.

Are engineering trades a good career choice?

Engineering trades can offer strong earning potential, long-term demand and several routes into more senior or specialist work.

The National Careers Service currently gives an average salary range of £27,000 to £48,000 for engineering maintenance technicians. Its profile explains that people can enter through university, college, an apprenticeship or by progressing from an engineering operative position. Experienced technicians may move into engineering, technical sales, management or contract management. Source: National Careers Service, Engineering Maintenance Technician

CNC machining is another career that is easy to overlook at school. CNC machinists manufacture precision components for engineering and manufacturing. The National Careers Service gives an average salary range of £25,000 to £42,000, with progression available into programming, quality, supervision and workshop management. Source: National Careers Service, CNC Machinist

Experienced welders can also earn good money, particularly when they develop specialist skills in fabrication, pipe welding, coded welding, inspection or difficult materials. The National Careers Service gives a general salary range of £25,000 to £45,000. Actual earnings will depend on the industry, location, qualifications, shifts and type of welding involved. Source: National Careers Service, Welder

Electricians are another example. The National Careers Service gives a salary range of £26,000 to £45,000 and identifies college, apprenticeships and workplace accreditation as possible routes. Electrical skills can lead into installation, maintenance, controls, electric vehicle charging and renewable technology. Source: National Careers Service, Electrician

These figures are broad national estimates, not guaranteed salaries. They still show that a practical route can lead to earnings comparable with many graduate careers.

Why are practical skills so valuable?

Practical skills are valuable because they solve problems that businesses and customers cannot ignore.

A factory cannot simply leave essential machinery broken. A construction project cannot continue without the correct trades. A customer with no power, heating or water needs someone competent to repair the problem.

As technology advances, practical work does not disappear. It changes.

Modern manufacturing combines traditional engineering ability with computers, automation, robotics and data. A CNC machinist may work with programming and precision measurement. A maintenance engineer may need mechanical, electrical and diagnostic skills. An electrician may move into solar energy, battery storage or electric vehicle charging.

These are not outdated manual jobs. Many are technically demanding careers requiring judgement, training and continuous learning.

Skills England identifies engineers and engineering technicians as priority occupations across advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence. It projects employment across the priority occupations in its report to grow by approximately 24% between 2025 and 2035, although all long-term forecasts carry uncertainty. Source: Skills England Annual Skills Report 2026

A young person who develops a recognised and transferable skill may have several possible employers, industries and career directions.

That creates choices.

Can learning a trade lead to starting a business?

Many practical trades create a natural route into self-employment or business ownership.

An electrician, plumber, fabricator, installer, engineer or technician may begin as an apprentice, gain experience with an employer and gradually build the technical and commercial knowledge needed to work independently.

The same person could eventually employ apprentices, recruit other skilled workers and create opportunities for the next generation.

This is one of the biggest areas I feel traditional careers advice can overlook.

When I was at school, setting up a business was not presented as a normal career path. The focus was usually on finding an occupation and becoming an employee.

For many people, employment is the right choice. It provides wages, structure, training and the chance to learn from experienced colleagues.

For others, the long-term goal could be to build something of their own.

A young person who enjoys taking responsibility, solving problems and finding customers might thrive as an entrepreneur. They may prefer the challenge of building a business to progressing through a large organisation.

That possibility deserves to be part of the conversation.

Is entrepreneurship suitable for a young person?

Entrepreneurship can suit a young person who is self-motivated, resilient and prepared to learn quickly. It is not an easy shortcut to wealth.

Starting early can have advantages. A young entrepreneur may have fewer financial commitments, more time to recover from mistakes and the energy to take on uncertainty.

They may also lack experience, savings, contacts and commercial knowledge.

That does not mean they should wait indefinitely. It means they need good advice and a realistic plan.

Entrepreneurship involves much more than being good at a trade. A skilled electrician running a business must also price work, manage cash flow, communicate with customers, understand tax, organise materials, keep records and make sure the work remains profitable.

A talented fabricator can still lose money by underquoting a job. A busy business can fail if customers do not pay on time or costs are not controlled.

Technical skill creates the service. Commercial knowledge creates the business.

Government guidance explains the differences between operating as a sole trader and forming a limited company, including the effects on tax, record-keeping and legal responsibility. Free business support is also available through national and local services. Source: GOV.UK, Set Up a Business

The right approach may be to learn the trade properly, understand the industry, build a reputation and then decide whether self-employment is the next step.

Why should entrepreneurship be included in careers advice?

Some young people are naturally entrepreneurial before anyone gives them that label.

They buy and sell things, repair bikes or phones, clean cars, create online content, organise events or find small ways to earn money.

That initiative should be explored rather than dismissed as a distraction.

A careers conversation could ask whether the young person wants to follow an established structure or create their own. It could help them understand sales, customer service, accounting, marketing and cash flow.

Not every young person who shows initiative should immediately start a company. They should, however, know that business ownership is a legitimate future option.

Entrepreneurship can sit alongside education and employment. Someone might complete an apprenticeship, work for an established company and later start a specialist service. Another person may build a small business while studying.

A career does not have to mean working for the same type of employer forever.

How do you choose a career if you have no idea what you want to do?

Start by thinking about the kind of working life that might suit you.

Consider whether you enjoy practical tasks, academic study, problem-solving, selling, helping people or creating things. Think about whether you prefer routine or variety, teamwork or independence, security or risk.

Then consider the lifestyle attached to the work.

A person who wants predictable hours may make different choices from someone willing to travel or work shifts for higher earnings. Someone who wants to work outdoors will probably consider different careers from someone who prefers an office or laboratory.

There is no universally easy job.

A physically comfortable office position may involve deadlines, targets and constant mental pressure. A practical trade may involve demanding conditions but give someone the satisfaction of completing a visible piece of work.

Work often feels easier when it fits your natural strengths.

Should money influence your career choice?

Money should be part of the decision, but not the whole decision.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to earn well. Income provides independence, security and choices.

The mistake is looking only at the starting salary.

A better comparison considers what someone can earn after becoming qualified and experienced. It should also consider the cost and length of training, availability of work, lifestyle and potential for self-employment.

A trade may begin with a relatively low apprenticeship wage but lead to strong earnings once the person becomes competent. It might later create an opportunity to work independently or build a company.

A graduate career may offer excellent long-term earnings, but it could require several years of study before full-time work begins.

A sales or recruitment career may have a modest basic salary but significant performance-related earnings. That can be very rewarding for someone who enjoys targets and competition, but stressful for someone who values certainty.

The best-paid option on paper is not always the best long-term fit.

Is university still worth considering?

University remains an excellent route when a career requires a degree or when a carefully chosen course produces a clear advantage.

Department for Education figures show that the median salary for full-time working-age graduates in England was £42,000 in 2024. The equivalent figures were £47,000 for postgraduates and £30,500 for non-graduates.

These figures require caution. They do not prove that obtaining any degree automatically produces higher earnings. Subject, academic background, location, experience and occupation all influence the result. Source: Department for Education Graduate Labour Market Statistics

University should be one respected option among several.

If someone wants to become a doctor, architect, scientist or certain types of engineer, a degree may be essential. If the career places greater value on practical competence and industry qualifications, an apprenticeship may be more direct.

An open-minded adviser should explain both routes honestly.

Is an apprenticeship a good alternative to university?

An apprenticeship can be an excellent route for someone who wants to earn, gain experience and develop a recognised skill.

Apprentices are employees. They earn a wage, receive holiday pay, work with experienced colleagues and spend part of their working time completing relevant training.

Apprenticeships are available from Level 2 through to Levels 6 and 7, which are equivalent to bachelor’s and master’s degree level. Source: GOV.UK Apprenticeship Guidance

This means apprenticeships are not limited to basic manual work. They can lead into engineering, accountancy, management, technology and many other professional careers.

A young person interested in engineering might compare university with a higher or degree apprenticeship. Someone interested in practical maintenance could consider an advanced apprenticeship and build their qualifications while working.

The correct route depends on the career and the person.

Why should you speak to people with different careers and lifestyles?

Speaking to different people helps remove the bias from career advice.

A teacher can explain academic routes. An apprentice can explain what it is like to learn while working. A skilled tradesperson can describe the realities of practical work. A graduate can discuss the value and cost of university.

An employee can explain the benefits of stability. A self-employed person can talk about freedom and uncertainty. A business owner can describe the pressure of finding customers, employing people and managing cash flow.

Listen to people who enjoy their careers, but also speak to those who changed direction or would choose differently.

Ask them what a normal day involves. Ask what they earn after becoming experienced, what qualifications matter and which parts of the job are frustrating.

Ask what the lifestyle is really like.

Someone earning excellent money may regularly work away from home. A business owner may have more freedom but find it difficult to switch off. A person in a lower-paid role may value flexible hours and low stress.

The aim is not to copy one person’s career. It is to understand the trade-offs behind different choices.

How should you research a career properly?

Start with the work itself.

Find out what someone actually does during a normal day. Research the environment, hours, income, qualifications and progression. Look at where the jobs are located and whether demand exists close to where you want to live.

Then study current vacancies.

One unusual job advert tells you very little. Twenty similar adverts start to reveal what employers genuinely want, which qualifications appear repeatedly and what salaries are being offered.

Look at apprenticeship vacancies as well as permanent jobs. This can show which employers are prepared to train and which industries are investing in future workers.

The National Careers Service provides profiles covering duties, salaries, working hours, entry routes and progression. It also offers a free skills assessment to help people understand what motivates them and identify careers to compare. Source: National Careers Service

Online research should be followed by real conversations and, where possible, work experience.

A few days in a workshop, office, warehouse or engineering company may reveal more than weeks of reading course descriptions.

Why should you work backwards from the career you want?

Working backwards helps you avoid choosing a course without understanding where it leads.

Begin with a possible career. Look at the qualifications and experience employers request. Compare university, college, apprenticeships and entry-level work.

If the career requires a degree, choose subjects that support the application. If employers value practical competence, find an apprenticeship or course with meaningful workplace experience.

If the long-term goal is self-employment, identify both the technical skills and the commercial knowledge required.

Someone who wants to run an electrical business must first understand electrical work. They should also learn how to quote, sell, plan, manage money and communicate with customers.

The destination gives the early choices a purpose.

What if you choose the wrong first job?

A first job does not decide your entire working life.

People retrain, move between industries and discover strengths they did not recognise at school.

A production operative can progress into machine setting. A CNC operator can develop into programming. A welder can move into fabrication, inspection or supervision. A maintenance technician can progress into engineering management or technical sales.

A qualified tradesperson might eventually become self-employed. A self-employed person may later build a company and employ others.

The first step matters, but it is not a lifelong contract.

The important thing is to keep learning and developing skills that another employer or customer will value.

What career advice would I give my younger self?

I would tell myself to keep an open mind.

I would not choose a career because it sounded impressive, and I would not dismiss a practical trade because it did not require a traditional university degree.

I would recognise that engineering and technical skills can lead to good earnings, progression, self-employment and business ownership.

I would still consider university where it supported the right career. I would also investigate apprenticeships, college, workplace training and direct employment.

I would speak to teachers, but I would not stop there.

I would speak with tradespeople, engineers, graduates, salespeople, managers, self-employed workers and business owners. I would listen to people with different incomes, working patterns and lifestyles.

Most importantly, I would look beyond the first job.

I would ask, “If I take this step, what could I be doing in five years?”

That might mean becoming qualified, developing a specialism, progressing into management or starting a business.

Young people do not need to know exactly what they will do for the rest of their lives.

They need enough honest information to choose a useful direction.

How can Bespoke Career Solutions help?

Bespoke Career Solutions speaks with employers and candidates across manufacturing, engineering, logistics and commercial sectors every day.

We see which practical skills are difficult to find, which jobs offer genuine progression and how experience can transfer between industries.

A good recruitment agency should do more than match a job title with a CV.

A proper conversation can help someone understand what the work involves, what the employer expects and whether the opportunity suits their ability, work ethic and longer-term goals.

Bespoke Career Solutions can also help employers recognise potential. A young person may not have years of experience, but they may have the attitude, practical ability and commitment needed to develop.

The best career decisions come from understanding yourself, researching the market and listening to people who have followed different paths.

University, apprenticeships, employment, practical trades and entrepreneurship should all be part of that conversation.

To discuss current opportunities, contact Bespoke Career Solutions.

Telephone: 0121 818 5188
Email: jobs@bespokecareersolutions.com
Website: www.bespokecareersolutions.com

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Information and linked sources checked on 6 September 2026.