ADVICE for youngsters and parents anxiously awaiting exam results has been issued ahead of A-level results tomorrow, and GCSE results next week.

As part of the Welsh Government’s Where Now? campaign, Careers Wales has gathered different perspectives on exams – and life after them.

Careers advisors, like Stephen Williams, are impartial, unbiased and have a lot of information at their disposal that a young person’s support network, family or friends might not have.

“A key piece of advice we offer young people is to try not to let emotions get in the way of your decisions,” said Mr Williams.

“Put everything into perspective. If that means taking a few hours or a day to think about your options then it’s much better to do that than make a decision you may later regret.

“Remind yourself that you’re not on your own. Many other young people are in the same boat and will be experiencing the same feelings.”

Mr Williams underlined the importance of recognising that not getting the required grades is not the end of the world.

The UCAS clearing system is a well-travelled route for students still seeking further education outside of their preferred option, while the Jobs Growth Wales service from Careers Wales shows opportunities available for people between the ages of 16-24 who want to kickstart their careers.

Those interested in an apprenticeship can look into visiting the Apprenticeship Matching Service, while post-GCSE students will find most further education colleges are open immediately after results.

“It’s important to remember there are so many different routes to employment other than university, including apprenticeships,” said Mr Williams.

“Young people are naturally curious and many want to be aware of every option before committing to university.

“They want to know how much it will cost, how long it will take and what their job prospects are after they leave.”

Parents of students have also been provided with tips from Careers Wales:

- Be supportive and keep calm.

- Be practical.

- Be prepared for the outcome.

- Talk to your child about your own experiences, both successes and failures.

- Encourage your child to think about what they want from their working life.

- It’s not always bad news

- Inform yourself about the options available should your child not get the grades they want.

The Careers Wales helpline is available on 0800 028 4844 Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm.

A web chat service is available at www.careerswales.com