What is "Social Mobility"?
Social mobility is the idea that anyone, of any background, can become anything – based on merit, based on who is the best person for the job. It is the ideal that anyone who works hard and is smart enough, can achieve whatever they desire. A world where everyone reaches their fullest potential.
That is to say that you don’t need to have family who went to University to go to University or you don’t need relatives who worked professional jobs to get a professional job.
What are the barriers to young people achieving social mobility?
- Lack of Information and Knowledge
Sometimes young people can be unaware of the opportunities available to them, or unaware of how to get to where they want to go. That’s where things like the RMHub come in! Here we have lots of information for young people (like you!) to access and learn about careers and opportunity available to them.
- Lack of Qualifications
Sometimes young people who don’t have relatives or people they know who have attended University or had a professional job can sometimes not realize the power of having a decent set of qualifications. Doing well at GCSE or beyond only ever opens doors to opportunities.
- Lack of Self-Belief
Sometimes young people who don’t know anyone in certain professionals or with certain qualifications feel that professional occupations or certain universities are not for people “like them”. A lack of self-belief can be a hard thing to overcome but you need not look far to find people of all backgrounds who have achieved incredible things. The question to ask is – if they can do it, why can’t you?
What can you start doing now to improve your chances at gaining social mobility?
- Gain an idea of the careers you may be interested in and what you need to do to get there
Take a look at the RMHub and beyond to determine what kinds of professions you would be interested in, gain as much information as possible including the education you would need to get there.
- Take school seriously
Read our blogs on the best ways to revise, maintain do attendance and do your best at school – good qualifications open doors.
- Build skills outside of school
This can be through part time work, extracurricular activities or taking on responsibility at home – building skills outside the classroom can help you stand apart.
- Build your own confidence
Know that you can achieve whatever you want – if you work hard enough.
