The research found that 27 percent of North West 16-18 year olds questioned in the survey believe that it is easy or very easy to secure a career in the media, while 29 per cent thought it would be easy to gain a job in entertainment and a further 32 per cent believed they could easily gain a job in the field of sport; a perception, no doubt, influenced by the seemingly easy path to fame followed by the likes of David Beckham, Lily Allen or Leona Lewis.
The survey's results also showed that many teenagers see perceived 'instant careers', such as becoming a footballer, a TV celebrity or a pop-star as being far cooler than careers such as becoming a teacher, a politician or a chef, which appear to require more hard work.
The most popular careers amongst teenagers in the North West include entertainment and healthcare, while the least popular careers included those in manufacture and construction.
However, the reality is that most jobs whether they are looked upon as being cool or not, require good levels of qualifications. In fact, for those interested in pursuing a career in the music or media industries, achieving Level 2 is a prerequisite even for an entry point position. For example, to be a runner in music production or broadcasting, a Level 2 Audio-Visual Industries Induction is desirable. Highly competitive industries such as advertising will not even consider applicants unless they have a Higher National Diploma or a degree.
Jonny South of Air Management, who count Jamie Cullum and Jason Mraz amongst their artists, agrees that hard work and the right qualifications are vital to success. He says: "It has not been easy to get where I am today. To succeed in this industry you must have determination and hunger to go after the job you desire.
Three quarters of those questioned in today's survey stated that a high level of education or skills was a key to securing their dream job. Surprisingly 49.17 percent would trust their natural ability, and 46.67 percent would rely on being in the right place at the right time rather than work to secure the correct qualifications or skills required to reach their goals.
When asked what, if anything, would help them stay on in education, North West respondents stated that more support from their family (9.17 percent) and more time (9.17 percent) would be a good start; while more than half (65 percent) replied that financial support would be the biggest help overall, showing that funding such as Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) can help. EMA exists to encourage young people aged 16-18 who have left, or are about to leave, compulsory education, to carry on in learning. Eligible young people can receive up to £30 a week to spend on their studies.
Whatever your chosen career, staying in learning and achieving a Level 2 qualification will equip you to make the best start possible. There are more choices now than ever before in terms of courses and ways of getting qualified so there is bound to be something to suit everyone. To find out more visit - http://www.direct.gov.uk/ema
