Young people can experience difficulties with career choice, making career progress or recovering from setbacks. We recommend trying free public services first before considering our private Early Career Guidance service. So where can you go to get help?

Get help from the Scottish Government

We are lucky to have a terrific all-age careers service in Scotland. My World of Work is part of the service offered by government agency Skills Development Scotland (SDS). There are careers advisers in every local authority secondary school in Scotland, providing advice, information and guidance to pupils. Beyond school, you’ll find careers advisers in SDS centres across the country who are there to support people at any age.

You can speak to an adviser by calling 0800 917 8000. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. You can also use the live chat on My World of Work.

As part of the response to the pandemic, The Scottish Government have committed to a Young Person’s Guarantee, to connect every 16-24 year-old in Scotland to an opportunity.

Get help from your Local Authority

You can find out about employability support for young people in each of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas, including key contact details, local services, case studies, employability related information and more. Every authority is different and you can check in on the provision available from the Employability in Scotland Website.

Get help from University or College Careers Services

Career Services in Scotland’s Universities often continue to provide support to students even after leaving University. You can find all of Scotland’s University Career Services on the AGCAS Scotland members list.

There are different arrangements in place in Scotland’s Colleges with most having their own in-house careers service as part of student services like at SRUC and Perth College. Find your college and check your college website for details.

Get in-depth Early Career Guidance from a private provider

Young people can benefit from in-depth early career guidance to formulate aspirations and sense of purpose, strengthen vocational attachments, recover from setbacks or improve their competitiveness. We have been providing independent Early Careers Advice, Guidance, Counselling and Coaching to young people in Scotland on a private basis since 2007. Private appointments can be made by referral for in-depth Early Career Guidance.