Building the Foundations of a Career in the Channel Islands

As students collect their A-Level results and look to the future, the team at Alexander Daniels looks at how school leavers can start building a career in the Channel Islands.

For those just starting their careers, the idea of securing a job with little to no experience can be daunting.

School leavers, and even graduates, often find themselves in a catch-22: they need experience to get a job but need a job to build experience.

Fortunately, for students in the Channel Islands, there are plenty of opportunities to gain experience, build a skill set and thus, develop the foundations of a successful career in sectors such as finance or law.

Below, we explore how to approach finding a role with no experience, how to take advantage of local opportunities and the various third-parties able to support a new career.

Finding a job with no experience

The first hurdle that many students face is finding a role with no previous work history, especially if they’re working in a more corporate environment.

Fortunately, many of these industries also have specific internships or graduate schemes specifically designed to provide students with the opportunity.

With this in mind, the key to landing a job is to instead focus on your attitude, skills and qualifications. With these attributes, employers are more likely to prioritise you in a competitive market and recognise your potential for development.

1. Build and maintain a network

Networking is crucial, especially at the start of your career. Leveraging your existing contacts and creating new ones can significantly aid your job search.

Attend local career fairs and recruitment events to meet potential employers and industry professionals. If in-person events are not an option, use social media platforms like LinkedIn to connect with industry insiders.

Be open about your lack of experience and express your enthusiasm to learn and grow in your desired field.

2. Properly highlight your skills on your CV

It’s vital when you’re starting out your career to create an engaging CV that is grammatically correct, concise for readers and properly showcases your skill set. There’s nothing more off-putting to an employer than a CV that has bad spelling or is generally vague.

Generally you’ll want to emphasise your skills, qualifications and certifications to balance out the lack of work history. Consider highlighting soft skills such as organisation, communication and time management, plus any technical skills you’ve built during your studies.

Ensure your CV is clear and concise, using bullet points and bold formatting to make key points stand out during the screening process.

3. Work With a Recruitment Agency

In many cases, people who lack experience tend to apply for as many roles as possible in the hopes one comes through. It’s much easier to work with a recruitment agency that understands the local jobs market and how you might fit into it.

Not only does recruitment support save you time, it also makes you more likely to succeed as you’ll be speaking with employers pre-approved by the recruitment consultants. Similarly, recruitment consultants such as ours often have deep relationships with employers.

This can be useful for you as the consultant can highlight your skills over your lack of experience when recommending you.

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So what employment and training opportunities are in the Channel Islands?

The Channel Islands is home to a number of thriving professional industries, ideal for students that are receiving their A-Level results and naturally seeking local opportunities for either employment or training. Finance is the most prevalent sector across the Islands and a great opportunity to build a new career:

Employment opportunities

Local businesses in the finance sector typically offer entry-level positions that are ideal for new graduates. Financial services firms, for instance, often have structured training schemes that allow new hires to gain industry-recognised qualifications while working. These roles provide practical experience and a pathway to career advancement within the industry.

Various apprenticeships and traineeships are also available, offering practical training in finance-related fields. The Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) both offer graduate programmes designed to develop the next generation of financial professionals. These programmes provide comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and industry-recognised qualifications. 

Participants gain insight into regulatory frameworks, compliance practices, and the overall workings of the financial services sector. By combining structured learning with real-world applications, these graduate schemes equip young professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their careers and contribute effectively to the financial industry in the Channel Islands.

Alternative pathways and training

Exam results are important, but they are not the only pathway to success. Many successful entrepreneurs, like Richard Branson, have thrived without formal qualifications. Students who did not achieve their desired results can explore various alternative pathways such as:

Vocational and further education

Vocational courses and further education colleges in the Channel Islands offer qualifications that are highly regarded by employers. These institutions provide practical skills and knowledge for specific careers, enabling students to gain competencies in their fields of interest. Additionally, many local employers offer in-house qualifications and training, allowing students to learn and earn simultaneously.

Entrepreneurship

Starting a business is another viable option. The Channel Islands maintain a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, with resources like incubators and networking groups available to budding entrepreneurs. Programmes like Digital Greenhouse in Guernsey offer mentorship and resources, helping aspiring business owners turn their ideas into reality.

As Channel Islands students receive their A-level results, they face a multitude of choices. Whether they opt for local employment, vocational training or further education, the islands offer a nurturing environment for young people to thrive.

By focusing on their skills and attitude, building networks, and exploring various pathways, students can overcome the challenge of finding a job with no experience and build promising futures. Employers and educational institutions can support this journey by recognising that success is not solely defined by exam results, but by the potential for growth and development in each individual.