Career navigation: What happens when the apprentice/graduate programme ends and you don't know what happens next?
17th June 2026 | This article was originally published on LinkedIn. You can find it here.
This week Rachel Salmon and I facilitated a brilliant 'Career navigation' day for apprentices and graduates coming to the end of their development programme.
The day was packed with brilliant advice from programme alumni who have 'been there and done that', celebration videos showcasing their many achievements and our fantastic new interactive game the 'Career maze'.
The career maze gives participants real career choices to make, exploring their strengths, values and what matters most to them. With each round comes different decisions, consequences both now and later in the game, along with a healthy (and realistic) dose of chance thrown in. Participants end the game in a variety of different places around the room - some having travelled long distances from where they started and others less so. But it's not a competition and there are no winners. Because every individual makes the choices that are right for them.
The beauty of the game is not just the fun, but the learning. Learning to:
* Identify how their values and motivations will inform their career choices
* Shape what career success means to them, rather than comparing themselves to others
* That there is no such thing as a 'right' or 'wrong' decision, simply the best decision you can make at any one time
* Take ownership of their own career development and next steps
* Accept that sometimes things aren't fair/unfair - you're just lucky and in the right place at the right time
* Embrace opportunity and enjoy the 'squiggle' in a rapidly changing world. Everyone's career path is unique!
If you are managing off-boarding for your graduates and apprentices and would like to find out more about our 'Career navigation' day and the 'Career Maze' exercise - just get in touch for a chat.