Students plot their futures

Several hundred students went along to the latest of the conventions held despite the recession claiming jobs every day. Organiser Debra Greenfield said information about employment was still essential in spite of the currently gloomy financial situation.

"It's important not to be down and depressed," said Mrs Greenfield, the college's work related learning and careers manager.

"We have to look to the future. Most of the people I spoke to about this convention were enthusiastic. Some companies are doing really well and others are suffering a little bit."

Among those at the convention was sixth former Daniel Miller, who has his sights set on a career as a chef on cruise ships.

He is studying for a Btec travel and tourism diploma among other qualifications.

He said: "I am worried about getting a job with the recession but I think, if I stay at college and get more qualifications, that will help me get somewhere when I do leave. It's my ambition to be a chef and travel around the world and I hope to fulfill it.

"I like understanding new foods and ways of preparing them. I'm going on a three day cruise to Bruges this year and I hope to speak to some of the crew when I'm there."

Among the organisations at the convention, held in the college's lower school hall, were South Coast Roof Training Ltd, the armed forces, human resource consultants Mercer, South Coast Ambulance Service and universities and colleges.

Ambulance service technicians Clare Eggins and David Skidmore, from the town's ambulance station, were on hand to explain their job.

It is becoming increasingly graduate-based but Clare said it was equally important for recruits to have a sense of the wider world to prepare them for the situations with which they would be dealing.

"This is a good chance for us to explain what we do," she said. "There's more to the job than answering 999 calls."

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP