Online Q&A levelling careers advice playing field 

Glasgow-based communications consultancy Perceptive Communicators is to launch an online careers Q&A on Twitter (#PerceptiveCareers) which allows young people of all backgrounds to access careers advice on sought after roles directly from professionals in those roles.

The online careers Q&A will take place between 2pm and 3pm on the first Wednesday of each month.  The first one, on Wednesday 4 October, will be hosted at Trinity High School in Rutherglen, part of Clyde Gateway, Scotland’s largest regeneration area.

The aim of the Q&A is to give young people the direct opportunity to ask questions of individuals in careers that may be of interest to them. Those interested in taking part can follow the hashtag #PerceptiveCareers and tweet @perceptivecomms which will be the channel for the Q&A during that hour.

Social media as the ‘great leveller’

This approach was the brainchild of Julie McLauchlan, managing director at Perceptive Communicators.  Julie explains: “We’re often asked to speak to young people about what it’s like to work in PR and communications.  We are very happy to help but it is individuals without this sort of network that really need this help most. Social media is a great leveller, so through this Q&A we will bring together people in sought after careers with young people of all backgrounds, some of whom may not have the benefit of parents or family with strong business networks.”

The careers Q&A will kick off on Wednesday 4 October June with Marion Forbes, Director with multi-award winning Mactaggart & Mickel Homes, who has almost two decades of blue chip experience in retail and construction, including many years in HR. Marion will answer questions relating to preparing for interviews, applying for jobs and starting work.

Future Q&As will feature people doing a variety of different jobs from journalism to joinery.