6.4 Finding your answers
The next step is to find the answers to your questions. In other words, do your research. This is the kind of activity that, before you know it, you’ve spent a few hours on. That’s fine if you have the time to spare; if not, keep an eye on the clock and try to spend no more than half an hour on your research. If you don’t manage to get answers to all your questions now, come back to the activity at another time to finish it off. You will have plenty of time in Block 3 to look over what you have done, and to decide whether there is anything more you could do that would strengthen your action plan.
Activity 12
This activity is designed to give you practical experience in finding the information you need, and in evaluating how well your work aspirations match what is available.
First, look for answers to the questions you identified in Activity 11. Spend the same amount of time on the three information sources you identified as useful. Note down any information you find, as well as the source of the information (in case you want to find it again).
When you’ve done this, use the template for this activity in the resource pack [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] to organise the information under the following categories:
- availability of the work
- nature of the work
- types of organisation
- practicalities of the work.
Comment
If any of the four categories are empty, this might be an indication of the information you still need to seek so make a note of these too. You can return to the questions later.
Now you’ve had a chance to do some research into one type of work you are interested in, bear these processes in mind for any other work opportunities you have identified, to consider in the future. It’s time to think more about the information that you uncovered.