Careers guidance interviews - whether with a school careers advisor, a university careers service counsellor, or a Careers & Enterprise Company practitioner (UK) - often determine the trajectory of a young person's education and employment pathway. The recommendations made in a single conversation may not be recalled accurately weeks later, when the student is making actual decisions about sixth form options, UCAS choices or apprenticeship applications.
Creating a usable record of guidance given
With the student's and parents' consent, Listen records the guidance appointment. The AI summary extracts: the student's stated interests and strengths, the options discussed, the specific recommendations made, and the suggested next steps. This document becomes a practical guide for decision-making - rather than a vague memory of encouragement. For the SEND-related guidance that sometimes overlaps with careers work, see our article on SALT and SEND assessments.
Supporting widening participation
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to rely on school-based guidance as their primary careers information source. A documented, shareable guidance record supports these students in articulating their options to parents and carers who may be less familiar with higher education or vocational pathways.
Share the guidance summary with the student's parents or carers by email. This one step significantly improves the uptake of guidance recommendations in the weeks that follow.
View our plans for schools and careers services.