Helping young people move from uncertainty to purpose

As we step into September and our young people have received their exam results, thoughts often turn more decisively to the world of work.

One of the privileges we’ve had over the years is being invited by clients to sit down with their children often when they’re thinking about career options. These conversations usually begin with simple questions about opportunities, interview practice, or what to expect from a work‑experience role. But they often grow into something more meaningful.

When clients trust us enough to involve us in these conversations with their children, it tells us everything about the strength of the relationships we’ve built not just with individuals, but with families across generations. And it is a real opportunity to dig a little deeper and help these young people get to know themselves a little better.

As part of these chats, we’re frequently asked what our own first roles were, or what kinds of jobs our clients do. The truth is, we look after people from a wide range of professional backgrounds from financial services, business and medicine to sports, film and the music industry.

But while we have a broad church of industries we can tap into, our aim isn’t to secure these young people a job. It’s about helping them think clearly about who they are and what they want. We often share a simple framework that can guide their early decisions:

1. Work out what you’re good at
2. Decide whether you enjoy what you’re good at
3. If so, find someone willing to pay for it

It’s a straightforward set of questions, but it helps young people move from uncertainty to purpose. And having this in mind will help them feel more confident about the direction they are taking. Having this understanding of themselves will also give them the staying power they need to find the right role, secure an interview and make the connections they need to succeed.

To be fair, getting an interview can sometimes feel as hard as landing the role itself. I often stress the importance of building rapport with the interviewer even when the interview is on video, which is never my preference. A video call removes a large part of natural human communication, but the core question in the interviewer’s mind remains the same: “Can I see myself working with this person?” If the young person has already done the deep work around who they are and what they want, the chemistry will naturally be there if the role is the right one. The interviewer (and interviewee!) will very quickly feel whether they can actually work together.

That’s why preparation matters. Why confidence matters. And more than anything, why connections matter.