119 - So, what really happens if I fail my exams this year? (A pep talk for students and parents)

Dive into your Career

In today's episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we approach a topic in direct response to the fears of some students this exam season... what happens if I fail?
First of all - if you are listening to this in real time, I want to make the obvious point that there is still plenty of time to actively work towards your exam success:

• Focus
• Study (in a variety of ways)
• Believe in yourself

However, whether you are in the middle of exam season and panicking about failure; have completed exams and are worrying ahead of your results... or whether you are listening having received disappointing results - this will be a useful episode for you.
What happens if you fail at this stage of your education?
Your I/GCSEs, A-Levels, IB, SATs, university exams...
What happens if you don't achieve the required or desired grades?
Let's spend 25 minutes today and talk through:

• The importance of not gaslighting you into thinking that your results don't matter because... well, they do. The mainstream education system means that the better grades you get, the more immediate next options you have so in an ideal world, achieving the desired grades would be optimal
• The fact that if you don't succeed in this year's exam season, you will be okay - especially if you enlist guidance including that from a qualified career development professional (who can be found in some schools, university and independently)
• Recognition that if you 'fail' this time - either your timeline or your vision may need to change - and that will be okay
• Some stories of students in my world who embody the notion of timeline or vision changing
• Further stories of those who had to pivot due to 'failing' and are so grateful for how things turned out

If 'failing' is something you are fearful of right now - let's tackle it head on...
... and then get back to your studying. It's always best to do as well as you can. You've got this.
Do stay tuned for a last thought for anyone who is having a hard time studying due to despair over local and world events right now.

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [e-mail] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE
You've got this!