Careers Guidance for Comic Relief
The National Bureau of Economic Research has recently revealed that 47.2 is the age at which most people hit peak middle-aged grumpiness (https://www.pearson.com/uk/about-us/news-and-policy/policy-watch/2020/01/policy-eye-highlights-of-week-ending-17-january.html)
I’m a year or two over that age and what the report doesn’t tell you is that this peak keeps going for a long time………. when it comes to an end I’ll let you know.
Which is why I thought I would alleviate this grumpiness with a light hearted trawl through media portrayals of Careers Guidance.
This might bring a bit of Comic Relief – and also be useful for when delivering some careers education classes and workshops.
In fact, if a careers adviser had used some humour in class then it may have stopped Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett starting her grumpiness way before she reached the 47.2 years average.
‘Let’s ditch careers advisers, or we’ll have a nation of fish farmers’ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/19/careers-advisers-fish-farmers-michael-gove
Don’t dwell on the article – for several years I’ve done that for you – its cheapness will make you as grumpy as me.
Instead marvel at the surreal headline and her intelligence for foreseeing Gove’s Brexit and the rise of the fishing industry.
That’s not something you can use in the classroom/workshop. So play these You Tube clips instead.
- If you want to convince students of the need to do their research then why not use Monty Python’s ‘Vocational Guidance Councillor’ sketch.
Afterwards ask the students to research lion taming – watch the video! They’ll discover there’s only one job left and that’s already taken…
- Delivering a session on aptitude tests? Why not introduce it with a bit of this ‘Some Mothers Do Ave Em’ clip?
You could even finish it by getting the class to shout the Frank Spencer catchphrase ‘Ooh betty the cats done a whoopsie!’
Which will make you laugh but as Frank predated the students by around 40 years the last laugh may be on you…
- Got an induction or an assembly to prepare students about what happens in careers interview? Then use this fantastic sketch from Class Dismissed.
You’ll have lowered the pupil’s expectations so much the real thing will feel so much better.
- Want a good laugh with the class/workshop to make them appreciate the careers advice you give?
Then use
Contains great lines, my favouate is: ‘I like torturing and inflicting pain on others – have you considered Dentistry???’
Of course when you take the class/workshop or assembly it may feel like you are facing a classroom of comedians.
If so get them to follow the advice for becoming a comedian in the brilliant The Bonkers Book of Jobs
https://complete-careers.com/product/bonkers-book-jobs-2/ (unabashed plug!).
It’ll give you – and them – some much needed comic relief.
Author: Mark Wilkinson – who’s not really grumpy, he’s really really really grumpy!