Careers books for children and teens in KS3 and KS4
Careers books for children and teens open up the world of work, showing what jobs involve, the skills they need, and how to get there. They range from picture books about community helpers to guides on work experience, CVs, and interviews. For younger readers, they spark curiosity; for teens, they explore subjects, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship. These books widen horizons, challenge stereotypes, link school to life, build confidence, and make the future feel less daunting and a lot more possible. We asked our schools’ focus groups to ask students and teachers which career areas were most in demand to inform this selection. This list features books by Dr Shini Somara, Tony Fadell, Helen Tupper, Sarah Ellis, Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron, Lucy Clayton, Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestley, Lydia Spurr, and Joel Elad.
Careers-themed books for children and teens – our recommendations
The Careers Handbook by Sarah Pawlewski, Christine Rowley, Imogen Gray, Heather Towers and Claire Sutcliffe
This accessible and engaging guide provides clear, practical details on more than 400 careers, covering everything from social media and science to hospitality, law, and IT. Each job profile outlines key skills, interests, and qualifications, along with salary ranges and honest advice from the field. Aimed at teens and graduates, it helps readers explore their strengths and plan future paths. With bold visuals and bite-sized summaries, this updated edition makes career research straightforward and engaging for students and jobseekers.
How to Be a Police Officer by Graham Wettone
How to Be a Police Officer is a straightforward, no-nonsense guide for anyone thinking about a career in the police. Drawing on thirty years of experience, Graham Wettone breaks down every stage of the journey, from applying and training to tackling real situations on the job. He covers essential skills, insider tips and what daily life is really like – from long shifts to working as a team under pressure. Honest and practical, it’s a clear look at what policing in modern Britain truly involves.
To Vet School and Beyond by Lorna Clark
This engaging guide is perfect for young people who dream of becoming vets. It explores the many routes into veterinary medicine, with real-life profiles of vets working in research, zoo care, fish health and charity roles. Packed with practical advice on school subjects, applications and life at vet school, it gives a realistic picture of the job. With fact boxes, quizzes and illustrations throughout, it’s an inspiring and informative read for animal lovers planning a veterinary career.
Engineers Making a Difference by Dr. Shini Somara
Celebrating engineering, this cracking hardback introduces 12+-year-old readers to 46 fascinating engineers at different points in their careers. With bold graphics, bright engaging colours and an accessible style with text broken into bite-sized chunks. Packed with information, fact files and QR codes leading to further learning, Engineers Making a Difference is a magnificent book for KS3 readers.
So You Want to Be a Brain Surgeon? by Lydia Spurr, Jessica Harris and Geoffrey Warwick
So You Want to Be a Brain Surgeon? gives an in-depth look at over 100 medical careers open to those with a medical degree. Each chapter, written by an experienced specialist, offers a clear view of what the job involves, the training required and what life in that field is really like. Covering roles from general practice and hospital medicine to forensic pathology and neurosurgery, it includes up-to-date guidance on applications and UK medical pathways. It’s a practical, insightful guide for school students and graduates planning a career in medicine.
The Long Audition by John Allpress
The Long Audition is a straight-talking guide for teen footballers who dream of going pro, and for the parents and coaches cheering them on. Drawing on decades of experience with England’s youth internationals, John Allpress reveals what really counts in the race for a contract. It’s not just skill but mindset, grit and self-awareness. Packed with honest advice, real stories and expert insight, this is a realistic, no-frills handbook for anyone serious about the beautiful game.
Exploring Careers in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics by Lucy Tsado, Robert Osgood
This guide gives students and advisors a clear look at careers in cybersecurity and digital forensics. It explains what these fields involve, from analysing networks and digital media to investigating mobile devices, while outlining the skills, education and certifications needed to get started. With chapters on government and private-sector roles, academic routes, internships and job applications, it offers straightforward, practical advice for building a lasting career and tackling the growing cybersecurity skills gap.
How to Go to Work by Lucy Clayton and Steven Haines
How to Go to Work is a sharp, down-to-earth guide for anyone taking their first steps into working life. It covers everything from awkward first jobs to office politics with warmth, wit, and plenty of honesty. Drawing on advice from professionals across different industries, it shows how to build confidence, handle mistakes, and stay true to yourself along the way. Practical, funny, and reassuring, it’s an ideal read for older teens preparing to start their careers.
AI for Beginners by Rachel Firth and Rose Hall
AI for Beginners introduces 10+ year olds to the world of artificial intelligence and how it affects everyday life. It explains what AI is, how machines learn, and how algorithms and neural networks work behind the scenes. The book explores real examples in search engines, healthcare, policing, and the arts, while also asking big questions about ethics, jobs, and the environment. With expert input and clear, engaging explanations, it helps children understand and question the technology shaping their future.
Build by Tony Fadell
This book blends memoir and practical insight from Tony Fadell’s thirty years in technology and product design. It follows his journey from early missteps in Silicon Valley to creating the iPod and iPhone at Apple and later founding Nest. Told through concise, thoughtful chapters, Fadell shares lessons on leadership, innovation, and creative problem-solving. His advice on teamwork, resilience, and designing with purpose will offer 6th formers an honest look at how persistence and clear thinking drive lasting success.
Drone Pilots by Andrew Morkes
Drone Pilots explores how drone technology is transforming industries from business and construction to government and research. It explains how drones improve safety and efficiency while outlining the skills, training and education needed to pursue a career in this field. The book looks at different drone types, the pros and cons of their use, and how students can start exploring the profession at school. Part of the Cool Careers in Science series for 13+ year olds, it highlights drone piloting as a modern, fast-evolving STEM career.
The Mechanic by Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestley
This book offers a behind-the-scenes look at Formula One through the eyes of a McLaren pit-lane mechanic. Drawing on years with the team, Priestley shares his experiences working alongside drivers such as Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton during major championship seasons. He reveals the intense teamwork, long hours and split-second precision behind every race, while reflecting on the rivalries, travel and unique culture that define life inside the world’s fastest sport.
LinkedIn For Dummies by Joel Elad
This practical guide shows how to make the most of LinkedIn to grow your professional presence and career opportunities. It walks readers through building a strong profile, connecting with others, and using features like recommendations and LinkedIn Learning. The book also explains how to approach employers, search for jobs and use the platform for business or recruitment. Clear and straightforward, it’s ideal for teens about to enter the workplace and new professionals looking to sharpen their online networking skills.
STEM Careers by Liz Painter
This highly accessible guide maps out the many routes into science, technology, engineering, and maths careers. It helps teens assess their interests and skills, plan their studies, and gain experience through projects or work placements. With insights from young professionals and clear explanations of qualifications and career paths, it offers practical advice for students, parents, and teachers alike. Updated and easy to follow, it gives a clear picture of the opportunities available across today’s fast-growing STEM fields.
Nurse! Nurse by Jimmy Frazier
This memoir follows the author’s return to hospital life as a mature student nurse, years after volunteering there as a teenager. Over three years of training in children’s wards, prisons and mental health units, Frazier captures the routines, pressures and lessons of life inside the NHS. Blending classroom learning with hands-on experience, he reveals how nurses build skill and resilience. Honest and insightful, it offers older teens a blunt and grounded look at modern nursing and the realities of patient care in Britain.
Entrepreneurship: A Very Short Introduction by Paul Westhead and Mike Wright
This concise book explores what makes entrepreneurs tick, how they work and why they play such a key role in today’s economy. It looks at how people spot opportunities, gather resources and adapt to constant change, showing that entrepreneurship can thrive in many different settings. The guide also considers how experience and education shape entrepreneurial thinking, and how these ventures influence markets and drive growth in an increasingly connected world. It’s an interesting read for older teens.
The Psychology Student’s Career Survival Guide by Alex Forsythe with Francesca Forsythe
This guide helps psychology students turn what they’ve learned in class into real-world career skills. It shows how to spot suitable job paths, prepare for recruitment and make a smooth move from university to work. Topics include teamwork, communication and performance, all linked to key psychological principles. With practical tools for networking, self-assessment and interview preparation, it’s a useful resource for teens and teachers focused on employability and professional growth.
Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron and Kelly Tieger
This guide shows how understanding your personality type can shape smarter career choices and greater success at work. It introduces sixteen personality types and connects each to potential occupations, with examples and exercises to help readers discover their own profile. Updated to reflect modern industries like telecommunications, biotechnology and healthcare, it offers a clear, practical way to match personal strengths with roles that suit individual working styles, ambitions and goals.
Careers 2026 by Trotman Education
This directory features more than 500 job profiles, each outlining qualifications, training routes, working conditions, salary details and future prospects. It covers both new and established careers, with a special section on roles in Artificial Intelligence supported by the latest labour market data. Organised by sector and qualification, it helps readers explore career families that suit their interests and skills. Each entry includes reliable sources for further research, making it an essential guide for teen students planning their next move.
The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis rethinks what a successful working life looks like. Instead of climbing a straight ladder, it celebrates the twists, turns and sideways moves that shape modern careers. Through real stories, practical exercises and thoughtful advice, it helps readers identify their strengths, values and motivations while building confidence and connections. Honest and encouraging, it’s a go-to guide for anyone navigating today’s unpredictable but opportunity-filled world of work.
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Careers resources for teachers
- The Careers and Enterprise Company offers an extensive range of resources to help guide students in KS3.
- Step into the NHS showcases over 300 careers in the NHS with videos, competitions, lesson plans, challenges and activities suitable for KS3 and KS4.
- UCAS offers careers planning resources for students in KS3 and KS4, including activity plans, toolkits, a KS4 careers planner, posters, and CV writing guides.
- Prospects features a quiz that helps to guide students towards jobs that match their skills, interests and personality.
- All About School Leavers. This website aims to help school leavers get jobs and understand the career paths open to them. There’s a lot of advice and an extensive job search facility.
- Youth Employment’s website includes free lesson plans for teachers, including a youth voice census, Jobcentre Plus guide for students and educators, how to apply for apprenticeships, presentations and work experience case studies.
- DfE Skills for Careers website is a hub of teacher resources and links to the National Careers website, STEM learning website, Gatsby Benchmarks website, and training and career exploration advice and activities.
- BBC Bitesize offers practical video advice on interviews, careers in the arts, media production, business, leadership, and apprenticeships. BBC Teach resources include a breakdown with case studies of the top ten jobs teens want, a guide to careers linked by GCSE subjects, and an extensive selection of tips and quizzes.
BISCAC YAN011000 – YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Careers (teens 12–18). | Thema JNR – Careers guidance
