Geographical Association

Geographers have many skills which are valued by employers.

Geography teaches important life skills, personal learning and thinking skills (PLTs) and functional skills, as well as developing a critical way of thinking about the world. Employers are looking for quality people to invest in, and geography is a subject which explores the importance of the future.

This page includes a range of activities which will help you explore the value of geographical skills with students. It will act as a useful taster to the later activities, where some of these skills will be applied to real world situations.

The job market is a competitive one, and geography can give you an edge.

These activities can easily be adapted for use with other subjects or as cross-curricular resources. Although they can be tackled in any order, here is a suggested menu:

1. Perfect Geographer activity (Teacher information)
Summary: matching geographical skills to students to create the 'perfect job applicant'
Aims: c.f Statutory Guidance mapping - classroom task
Target audience: lower KS3 pupils
Timings: 30-45 minutes, depending on length of discussion
Resources: large copy of image to project or print out / A3 paper and coloured marker pens

2. I can... So I could... So I need to... (Student activity)
Summary: looks at the match between skills and possible jobs
Aims: c.f Statutory Guidance mapping - classroom / homework task
Target audience: KS3 pupils (Yr. 7 or 8)
Timings: 30 minutes, plus additional research time if needed
Resources: information sheets, and access to internet if required. You may also wish to use one of the following lists of jobs:

• A World of Jobs
• Jobs with Geography
• Careers list produced by the RGS-IBG

All these lists of geography jobs could be used for discussion or display and to support other activities. Encourage learners to widen their horizons, consider non stereotypical options, do further research and make links with other curriculum areas eg sciences, IT, business, environmental and land based studies.

3. Geographical Skills and Future Careers (Teacher information and student activities)
Is there still such a thing as a job for life? This document provides information about the possible nature of future career paths. The suggested 'futures' activities are suitable for KS3 students, asking them to look ahead to the sorts of skills they might need to secure a job in the future, with an emphasis on those skills which are covered in geography lessons.

4. Future Jobs task (Student activity)
Summary: thinking about possible future jobs
Aims: To consider some aspirational career choices, and a future jobs market very different to today; To link with the earlier skills task to review progress towards the end of the key stage; Classwork task, and possibly as a homework research task
Target audience: KS3 pupils (Year 9)
Timings: 30-45 minutes
Resources: copies of information sheets, and Michael Palin letter if appropriate

• Letter from Michael Palin (Letter and case studies) - the famous traveller and author makes the case for continuing to learn geography, plus case studies from current and past geography students.

5. All at Sea (Student activity) - a quick case study of a job which relates to a particular geographical skill. A possible homework research task intended to take around 30 minutes, and suitable for KS3/4 pupils.

6. Application form (Student information sheet) - a blank job application form. This could be used to develop some of the activities in this section, or act as a useful checklist as students work through the unit to see how the activities increase their understanding of themselves as future employees.

Volunteering is a great way to build up your skills and experience and can often pave the way for a paid position, either within the same organisation, or by giving your CV a significant boost. Some voluntary roles or internships can lead to qualifications such as NVQs or certification from local colleges. Further information is available on the Do-it website.

There are plenty of opportunities that have a geographical dimension, including environmental and conservation work, climate change education and working with wildlife. Do-it has thousands of voluntary opportunities on its website which you can search according to location and interest - art and culture, environment, heritage, international aid, museums, and sports and outdoor activities should all appeal to geographers.

Vinspired is a government supported national charity for 16 to 25-year-olds to encourage them to participate in voluntary work placements. V works with other organisations to offer a wide range of placements, some of which include accredited training and living expenses.

Skelton Grange Environment Centre, featured on the Careers Cards page, recruits eight V volunteers a year to undertake a six-month placement. Volunteers learn how to teach children about the environment and are trained to do a range of practical conservation activities. Find out more about the placements, and read about previous volunteers on the Skelton Grange website.

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