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Job for life is dead

17/06/2008

The 'job for life' is dead, according to a poll of young people, with 84 per cent of 16-21 year-olds who have left full-time education saying they will only stay in their current line of work for a few years.

According to Alliance & Leicester, over half of young people say their dream career doesn't need a degree and an increasing number are choosing to go straight to work rather than university.

And a significant number (12 per cent) of young people aspire to work in the fashion industry, Alliance & Leicester found in their survey.

The bank, which offers a high-interest current account to young earners, is offering 16-21 year-olds the chance to gain a unique insight into the fashion industry with stylist-to-the-stars and presenter of Channel 4's How to Look Good Naked, Gok Wan.

"I am taking 21 account holders or people who want to come onto the campaign and giving them a day in the life of a fashion stylist and it is to do with the idea that you don't have to go to university to get some experience and it is an insight to the fashion industry," said Wan.

"It is a great day to see how stylists work, this fashion course is an amazing opportunity," he added.

There is a huge pressure on young adults to go to university in order to achieve their career goals, but higher education is not for everyone, Wan said.

"I think young adults are often bullied to go into professions. We used to call them 'graduate graveyards' when you spend three years doing history or whatever then you end up going into a call centre because you haven't got an internship or apprenticeship.

"Alliance & Leicester are promoting that you don't need to go to university to get a good job.

"I think it's great that Alliance & Leicester are supporting this because there is big pressure on young adults as well if they can't afford to do it, they may not be from a privileged background and are often told they have to work in a job they hate and I think it is brilliant that they don't have to.

"I think everyone needs the opportunity to go to university if they want to, I am not for a second saying don't go to university, but what I am saying is if you are not going to university don't feel like you are not going to be given the same opportunities."