Career Development Programme at EIS-Baghdad: Shaping Futures, Inspiring Success

At English International School-Baghdad, our Career Development Programme is designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary for informed career choices. Whether it’s exploring career options in Key Stage 3 (KS3), developing employability skills in Key Stage 4 (KS4), or planning future pathways in Key Stage 5 (KS5), our programme offers holistic support every step of the way.

Key Components of Our Career Programme

  1. Career Awareness & Exploration (Key Stage 3)

Exploring interests and discovering career possibilities

We start early by helping students explore the wide range of careers available, allowing them to identify their strengths, passions, and areas of interest.

What’s Involved:

  • Career Introduction Assemblies: Inspirational talks by guest speakers from diverse industries like healthcare, engineering, business, arts, and technology.
  • Interactive Career Days: Engage with career-focused subjects to connect academic lessons with future careers.
  • Workplace Visits & Virtual Tours: Organise visits to companies, businesses, or universities, or provide virtual tours to give students real-world insights into various industries.
  1. Skills Development (Key Stage 4)

Building essential skills for success and future career choices

In Key Stage 4, we help students refine their skills, including CV writing, interview preparation, and work experience to boost employability.

What’s Involved:

  • Personal Development & CV Building: Workshops to teach students how to craft standout CVs and emphasise transferable skills.
  • Interview Preparation: Mock interview sessions that help students practice and gain confidence in professional settings.
  • Career Fairs & University Visits: Attend career fairs and university trips to explore higher education and career opportunities in person.
  • Work Experience: Every student participates in at least two weeks of external work experience to develop hands-on skills in a real-world environment.
  1. Post-16 Pathway Guidance (Key Stage 5)

Helping students navigate their options and plan for the future

As students approach Key Stage 5, they receive targeted support to guide them through the important decisions of university applications, apprenticeships, or entering the workforce.

What’s Involved:

  • UCAS Support: Workshops and one-to-one guidance on the UCAS process, personal statements, and interview preparation.
  • Career Mentorship Programmes: Pair students with industry professionals for advice, career insights, and networking opportunities.
  • Financial Literacy for Post-16 Education: Workshops on budgeting, understanding student loans, and managing living expenses.
  • Work Experience: Every student completes at least two weeks of external work experience to further develop their career readiness.
  1. Personalised Career Guidance (All Key Stages)

Tailored support to match each student’s career aspirations

We believe in providing individualised guidance to help students map out their career goals and paths.

What’s Involved:

  • One-to-One Career Counselling: Personalised sessions for students in Grades 9-12  to discuss career goals and options.
  • Individual Career Action Plans: Collaboratively develop action plans to define career goals and outline steps to achieve them.
  • Career Guidance Software: Students have access to tools like Career Pilot and Unifrog to explore career paths, university options, and apprenticeships.
  1. Workplace Skills and Employability (Across All Key Stages)

Equipping students with key employability skills

We focus on developing crucial workplace skills that make students more competitive and ready for their future careers.

What’s Involved:

  • Employability Skills Workshops: Teach essential skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, and time management.
  • Digital Literacy & Online Presence: Help students develop their digital skills and create a professional online presence, such as an optimised LinkedIn profile.
  • Business & Entrepreneurship Skills: Encourage creative thinking and introduce basic principles of entrepreneurship to spark future business leaders.
  1. Parents and Guardians Involvement

Engaging families in the career development journey

We believe that parent involvement is essential in supporting students’ career choices. We actively engage families in understanding the opportunities available and how they can assist their children’s career development.

What’s Involved:

  • Careers Evenings for Parents: Host events to inform parents about the various career paths available and how they can help guide their children through critical decision-making periods.
  • Personalised Information for Parents: Provide ongoing updates and resources to help parents understand career trends and support their child’s choices.

How to Get Involved

  • Students: Take full advantage of workshops, career fairs, mentorship opportunities, and one-on-one guidance to plan your future success.
  • Parents: Attend our informative events and sessions to better understand how to guide your child’s career journey.
  • Teachers & Staff: Facilitate workshops, support career-related events, and provide mentorship to students.
  • Partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses, universities, and organisations to provide work experience and further opportunities for students.