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Free careers advice for adults

If you’re thinking about a new job, a career change or going back to learning, a careers adviser can help you work out your next step. In England, adults can get free, impartial careers advice from the government.

Where to get free careers advice

Since 1 October 2026, careers advice for adults in England is given by careers advisers working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Read what changed.

If you’re 18 or over and live in England, you can:

  • Phone a careers adviser on 0800 072 0288. Lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and closed on bank holidays. Calls are free from landlines and most mobiles.
  • Go online. The careers advice help page explains how to contact a DWP careers adviser through the Jobs and Careers Service.
  • Ask at your local Jobcentre about face-to-face careers appointments. The government said these would start in October 2026.

You don’t need to be claiming benefits.

Free online tools

The government’s Get careers information and advice website (formerly the National Careers Service) has free tools you can use any time:

  • Explore careers: job profiles showing the qualifications needed, salary and progression
  • Take a skills assessment: questions about your interests to suggest sectors that might suit you
  • Find a course: search for courses near you

What a careers adviser can help with

  • working out what jobs might suit your skills and interests
  • understanding what qualifications you need for a job
  • choosing between courses, apprenticeships and other training
  • writing a CV and preparing for interviews
  • getting back into work or learning after a break

Questions to ask about courses

If you’re thinking about a course, these questions can help:

  1. What jobs could this course lead to, and what do they pay?
  2. Do employers in my area ask for this qualification?
  3. What’s the next step after this course?
  4. Can I study it free? (Read who can get a free course.)

Other help

  • Your college or training provider. Most have their own advisers who can help you choose a course and check your funding.
  • Your employer. Ask about training, apprenticeships or development opportunities at work.
  • If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, they have their own careers services: My World of Work (Scotland), Careers Wales and the Northern Ireland Careers Service.

Next steps

Questions

Is careers advice free for adults?
Yes. Careers advice from the government's Jobs and Careers Service is free for anyone aged 18 or over in England, whether or not you claim benefits.
What's the number for careers advice?
Call 0800 072 0288 to speak to a DWP careers adviser. Lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (closed on bank holidays), and calls are free from landlines and most mobiles.
Can a careers adviser help me choose a free course?
Yes. They can help you work out which course or qualification fits your goals. They can't decide if you'll be funded: the college or training provider does that.
What happened to the National Careers Service?
On 1 October 2026, its advice service moved to the Department for Work and Pensions. The website is now called 'Get careers information and advice', at the same address. Read what changed in our guide to the National Careers Service changes.

Sources

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