THIS week, thousands of students in the North-East will be taking the first steps on their career paths.

As exam results are announced, many former A-level and GCSE students will be looking at what their next career move will be.

Unfortunately, the current economic climate makes this a difficult time for young people to leave education and start out in the world of work.

The fortunate ones will get a job at the first time of asking. However, those that do not shouldn’t be too disappointed if their first efforts to gain work are unsuccessful. They should look at what they can do to make their application stand out.

Gaining further qualifications and experience is vital if they want to maximise their chances of getting a job now, or in the future when the job market picks up.

Not only are there lots of good vocational courses at further education colleges in the region, which young people should be looking at to start studies next month, but they should also look at what else they can do to boost their CVs.

I was very impressed with the hundreds of volunteers at the Tall Ships event in Hartlepool earlier this month, many of whom were school and college leavers. They were working as liaison officers with the ships, working on the exhibitor stands at trade events, or at the information points around the town.

Not only was this a spectacular event to be involved in, but it also provided those people who were volunteering with valuable experiences to use on their CVs afterwards, to impress potential employers.

As an employer I am always more impressed by candidates for jobs who can demonstrate their energy and enthusiasm for work in other ways, through work related or volunteer roles they might have held.

I therefore strongly urge school leavers to look into what voluntary work they can do. Being unable to find work and simply doing nothing won’t impress anyone. Young people need to be able to demonstrate a work ethic, so when they do get a job opportunity, they can seize it with both hands.

Nearly every job will involve some sort of customer care and working with other people. If a young person can show they have experience of that through weekend jobs, charitable work or volunteering experience, it will be hugely beneficial.

While young people might not find it easy to find work at the moment, there are things they can do to improve their chances. They shouldn’t give up hope. Applicants that can demonstrate they have a good attitude to work, as well as energy and enthusiasm, will not fail to impress.

■ Martyn Pellew is group development director at PD Ports, Hartlepool.