Each user follows the New User link from the main Login page to get their own unique username and password for Fast Tomato. Advisers do not need to create individual logins for their students/clients.

Users can return to the site time after time with this same login and see their results and previous explorations to investigate all their options.

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The 'About Me' and 'My Interests' questionnaires allow the user to create a profile of their interests. These take less than 20 minutes to complete and produce a detailed report about the individual.

The questionnaires are simple and fun to use and, once completed, users can start exploring all other parts of the site including Career, Course and Place Suggestions, as well as their Option choices.

       

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After completing the Starting Point questionnaires users can explore, in detail, the top 20 career areas that are best suited to their interests and intended/expected level of qualification.

Available information includes descriptions of the area of work, useful qualifications, entry routes and links to other websites to obtain specific detailed information.

Users can save their favourite careers in their Personal List where they can write their own notes and return to find out more information at a later date.

The interests and intended/expected qualifications profiles can be adjusted to explore other possible outcomes allowing the young person to explore alternative routes to achieving their future goals.

To explore other career options not shown in the user's top 20 suggestions, the Investigation List can be used to 'Find Similar' career areas to those already shown, or the 'Full List' can be viewed.

       

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We carry thousands of courses at every level from Foundation to HNDs and Degrees. This covers schools, 6th Forms, FE, HE and work-based training providers across the UK. Data provided by UCAS as well as direct from the Providers.

The top 20 General Course areas are suggested, in the same way as the Career Suggestions, once the Starting Point questionnaires have been completed. These are also displayed based on their suitabiity to the young person's interests and intended/expected level of qualification.

General course descriptions are available to give the user an idea of the area of study. Favourites can be saved in the Personal list. Notes can also be added to courses in the Personal List.

The Place Suggestions section allows users to investigate institutions and providers based on several criteria including type, location, UCAS tariff points and specialisms. Information and contact details are given for each provider and users can save favourites in their Personal List.

Exploring the details of either the Course or Place suggestions will display a specific 'Course Listing' which shows the relevant courses that are available at the places the user is exploring.

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Students can look at their available options from Colleges, 6th Forms, work-based training providers and Entry To Employment (E2E) options in their local area. Information is also provided to help students understand what different options are available to them at this critical stage.

Key Stage 5 options at their current school/college are also available - see advanced features

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This is the Fast Tomato Search engine that allows users to access directly any of the information available on the site. They can search for specific careers or courses offered across the UK, as well as work-based training providers, professional bodies and local information.

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In addition to the Starting Point questionnaires, users can also complete the additional questionnaires - My Style, My Situation and My Priorities. These help to focus the user's attention on different factors which might influence the path they take in deciding their future. The results from these questionnaires are used to fine tune the Career and Course Suggestions.

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As a user completes each section on Fast Tomato the information is presented in a Summary Report, which can be printed off and added to their record of achievement or progress file, for example.

The summary displays the most significant results from the questionnaires and brief descriptions of those results. Any careers, courses or places saved in the user's Personal List are displayed with any notes that may have been added followed by the Fast Tomato suggestions. Any selected options choices for Key Stages 4 & 5 (see advanced features) are also shown.

   

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Each section of Fast Tomato also contains links to appropriate advice for the student including help on choosing options at Key Stage 4, information on work-based training and tips for job applications and interviews.

The Local Information section provides details and links to a variety of resources, covering topics such as education, careers, health and community. (NB: Regional information is provided by the LEA. If none has been provided then national information is still available.)

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