Vacancy Type
Trainee Career Adviser
If you require this advert in another format, please contact [email protected] or call 0300 013 5119.
We warmly welcome applications from Gaelic speakers and from those who would value the opportunity to use and develop their Gaelic language skills in this role.
About the Team
We deliver Career Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) services across Argyll and Bute, supporting people of all ages to develop the skills, confidence and insight they need to make informed, ongoing career decisions. Working with schools, learning providers, employers and partner organisations, our teams play a key role in helping individuals progress into positive and sustainable learning, training or employment outcomes within their lifelong career journey,
Build your career, while helping others shape theirs!
What You’ll Be Doing
Skills Development Scotland has an exciting opportunity for a customer-focused individual to join our Career Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) team as a Trainee Careers Adviser (TCA).
This is an excellent opportunity to join our organisation through our bespoke TCA development programme, with a clear pathway to becoming a permanent Careers Adviser, as many of our current advisers have done before. You can hear from one of our existing TCAs here.
You will be supported through a comprehensive in-house development plan alongside a fully funded Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance and Development, leading to the Qualification in Career Development (QCD).
Hear more about the role of Careers Advisers and how they support our customers.
Hear first-hand from some of our Careers Advisers about the benefits and lifestyle of a career with SDS and what makes them so passionate about their jobs.
What We’re Looking For
Ideally, you will be educated to degree level/SCQF Level 9, but we would also invite applications from candidates with an HND at SCQF Level 8 who have considerable work experience in an employability, education and/or public service role. To be successful in the role, you must be fully committed to undertaking postgraduate study while performing the duties of a Trainee Careers Adviser.
With a genuine desire to work in this person-centred profession and in this geographical area, experience in employability, education and/or public service would be beneficial. The role involves engaging with customers of all ages in schools, SDS premises and community settings, so strong interpersonal skills are essential.
This role would suit someone who is passionate about supporting people through career decisions and transitions in their community. We would particularly welcome candidates who speak Gàidhlig and can support Gaelic-speaking customers across the local authority area.
As part of a geographically dispersed team, the role will be well suited to someone who is able to work well as part of a team and who can work well independently with self-direction in complex work environments.
SDS takes its duty of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults very seriously. Due to the type of work and customer contact employees in Career Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) have with young people and their personal data, successful applicants will be subject to a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check by Disclosure Scotland. PVG is a government regulated scheme which undertakes a criminal record check to ensure that any potential employee is suitable to work with young people or have access to their personal data. We will explain more about this scheme and the process if you are successful following the selection process.
Our commitment to you
SDS has designed a comprehensive bespoke development plan for our TCAs that combines both academic and on-the-job learning. The postgraduate study will be provided by Edinburgh Napier University from September 2026 and will be undertaken part time via distance learning over two years. To enable you to undertake this study, you will receive one day of paid study leave per week, over and above the personal study expected of a course at this level. Subject to satisfactory completion of the qualification, completion of your SDS training plan for PGDip QCD learners, and satisfactory performance, you will progress to the position of Careers Adviser.
You can check out the qualification to understand a bit more about what is involved.
As part of your training plan there is structured pay progression through your traineeship as you reach and achieve set milestones. These milestones are in line with how you progress through the PGDip QCD qualification.
As you work with us, you will also gain supported first-hand experience of engaging with and supporting our customers as we enable them to identify, develop and use their career management skills. This is in line with the professional body’s ethical framework and national occupational standards.
About SDS
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills agency, focused on driving productivity and inclusive economic growth by investing in skills and supporting people and businesses to reach their full potential. Through deep partnership working, expert insights and innovative solutions, SDS helps address Scotland’s skills and labour‑market challenges, ensuring employers can access the talent they need while individuals gain opportunities to develop and thrive. SDS is guided by strong organisational values, placing customers at the heart of everything it does and fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and respect.
Through our Gaelic Language Plan, SDS is committed to supporting and promoting the Gaelic language across our workforce, services and communities.
Our Values
Our organisational values were created by our colleagues and are the compass that guides our behaviours and actions with our customers and each other. We need our future colleagues to share these values and help us continue to deliver our bold ambitions for the future:
- We put the needs of our customers at the heart of all we do
- We make use of our combined strengths and expertise to deliver the best outcomes
- We demonstrate self-motivation, personal responsibility, and respect
- We continually improve to achieve excellence
Why You’ll Love Working Here
SDS is an award-winning, equal opportunities and fair work employer where our culture is driven by our people. The values we share guide how we support our customers—the people of Scotland—and how we support one another. With progressive benefits, flexible ways of working, and a strong focus on wellbeing, engagement, and development, we’re proud to be a great place to work.
Click here to see the full range of our benefits.
Where You’ll Be Working
This role is based in Oban, where the natural beauty of Argyll and Bute meets the vibrant culture of the west coast, and which serves as a gateway to Scotland’s west coast islands. From this base, you will deliver Career Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) across schools, communities and partner settings throughout the locality, including Oban, Tobermory, Tiree and Lochgilphead. This is a large geography which requires extensive travel within the Argyll & Bute local authority area, as well as to other SDS locations as required. This role cannot be delivered remotely, so there must be a genuine commitment to be based in this location. Due to the geography of the role, travel may be required to areas not easily reached by public transport, so access to a car or other means of transport (for example, Access to Work arrangements) is desirable.
If you’d like to learn more about living and working in Argyll & Bute, take a look at Argyll – A Place to Be.
How to Apply
The closing date to submit your application is Monday 22nd June 2026. Interviews are due to be scheduled as soon as possible thereafter.
If this opportunity excites you and you would like to discuss the role in more detail to help you decide if it is right for you, please contact Marie Ann Weir, [email protected]
Using AI
AI can be a useful tool for drafting or polishing your application. Please remember to check that everything you submit is accurate and genuinely represents your skills, experience and voice. We value authenticity and want to hear your real story.
One Last (but very important) Thing
At SDS we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. If you've got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from the right candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. Therefore, while we want to know about your relevant skills and experience, please avoid disclosing any identifying characteristics.
To help you prepare and perform at your best, SDS shares interview questions with all candidates in advance. This removes unnecessary barriers, supports those who benefit from additional preparation time, and helps ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process. This approach is being trialled for 6 months from April 2026.
To find out more about working at SDS and our application process please visit us at https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/work-with-us/
Internal applicants should discuss their application with their People Manager prior to applying for this post.
