In today's episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we approach a topic in direct response to the fears of some students this exam season... what happens if I fail?

First of all - if you are listening to this in real time, I want to make the obvious point that there is still plenty of time to actively work towards your exam success:

• Focus
• Study (in a variety of ways)
• Believe in yourself

However, whether you are in the middle of exam season and panicking about failure; have completed exams and are worrying ahead of your results... or whether you are listening having received disappointing results - this will be a useful episode for you.

What happens if you fail at this stage of your education?

Your I/GCSEs, A-Levels, IB, SATs, university exams...

What happens if you don't achieve the required or desired grades?

Let's spend 25 minutes today and talk through:

• The importance of not gaslighting you into thinking that your results don't matter because... well, they do. The mainstream education system means that the better grades you get, the more immediate next options you have so in an ideal world, achieving the desired grades would be optimal
• The fact that if you don't succeed in this year's exam season, you will be okay - especially if you enlist guidance including that from a qualified career development professional (who can be found in some schools, university and independently)
• Recognition that if you 'fail' this time - either your timeline or your vision may need to change - and that will be okay
• Some stories of students in my world who embody the notion of timeline or vision changing
• Further stories of those who had to pivot due to 'failing' and are so grateful for how things turned out

If 'failing' is something you are fearful of right now - let's tackle it head on...

... and then get back to your studying. It's always best to do as well as you can. You've got this.

Do stay tuned for a last thought for anyone who is having a hard time studying due to despair over local and world events right now.

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on gina@yourcareerandfuture.com with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

"Follow your passion"

Follow your passion

You ever heard that advice?

Yes?

Did it help? Hinder?

How do you feel about this idea?

In this episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we take a look at whether advice to "Follow your passions" is received in the positive way in which it is usually intended. This episode is inspired by a chat I recently had with a parent of a teen... a parent who said that as her child doesn't really have a sense of what they want to do in the future - the idea of following your passion feels more overwhelming than helpful.

This got me thinking...

I mean, I have had conversations about this topic in real life but it is the first time raising the topic on the Dive Into Your Career podcast.

When I was a teen, that advice was helpful for me, partly because I had a good sense of what I liked and didn't... and felt capable of leaning into my direction of interest (Spoiler alert: That career I was determined to do then is not the career I have now).

But what about the students who are good at everything academically?

Or ones that aren't currently self-reflective and aware of their interests

Or ones who don't know how interests can translate to jobs

Whether the phrase "Follow your passions" has positive or negative connotations for you in terms of your career development, this will be a useful episode - as it gives more context and technique around that notion.

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on gina@yourcareerandfuture.com with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

Want to know the foundation for a happy career?

You do?

Yay...

It's "careers curiosity".

I promise this is no more complicated than it sounds... it is literally the process of being curious about careers. Jobs. Sectors. Companies. Entrepreneurship.

Curiosity is the process of being eager to know or learn something... and can take many forms.

In this episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we take a quick dive into discussing the importance of careers curiosity in your early career - and also talk about they key steps alongside that curiosity... action and exploration.

There's also a tip for a careers curiosity technique when you feel a bit stuck when it comes to looking forward in your career.

If you take action on this, this can be an absolute game-changer for you!

You'll be able to take away actionable tips from this episode though if you would like my support in implementing some of this - in the form of my upcoming SORT OUT YOUR SUMMER workshop - do sign up via the link. It would be my pleasure to help you make the upcoming one a great one for your early career development.

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on gina@yourcareerandfuture.com with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!