STEP 4: Other ways to find out about occupations that interest you
Carefully researching the occupations that remain on your list will help you to clarify a number of things: you will work out what the work and the prospects in the occupation are really like, as well as how realistic and achievable your goals are. It is good to work all this out before you make more definite plans for getting into the study or work area of your choice.
Use the following headings and questions as a guide to continue your research into occupations of interest.
You might like to ask yourself about the:
Occupations
- What would a person in the occupation do? Does this interest you?
- What technical and employability skills, knowledge or attributes are required and developed in this occupation?
- What qualifications are desirable/essential for this type of work?
- What is the career progression from the occupation?
Job requirements
- What are the duties and responsibilities of the job?
- What personal qualities are necessary to carry out the work?
- What are the hours of work?
- What is the salary range or award rate?
- What do people doing this job like and dislike about it?
Training and education requirements
- What pathways could I take to lead me to the work area I have identified?
- Is it possible to enter into an Australian Apprenticeship for the period of training?
- Do I need to study a course at a tertiary institution (e.g. private college, TAFE or university) as part of my pathway?
- How long does the course or qualification take to complete?
- What are the entry requirements for the relevant institutions/courses?
- Do I need work experience to complement my studies?
Industry
- Does the industry provide services or products in an area of growth?
- What opportunities for development or progression exist in the industry?
Employers
- Which organisations employ people in this occupation?
- What services and/or products does the organisation offer?
- Where is the organisation located, does it have branches and how long has it been established?
- Who are its competitors?
- Does it offer professional development?
- Does it offer apprenticeships or traineeship opportunities for school-leavers or for school students?
- What are the future career prospects?
TIP
Repeat this kind of exercise every so often because your interests and preferred job options will change as you mature, experience new things or gain new skills.
There are lots of ways to find out about occupations that interest you. Some of these are outlined below. Have a good look at these suggestions, as you may find answers to the questions above or new ideas to consider.
- Ask yourself what occupations and jobs interest you when you watch television, read the newspaper or listen to the radio.
- Use the resources of a Centrelink Career Information Centre (see the Study, work and career support section) or your local Centerlink office to gain a more complete picture of occupations.
- Read university and TAFE handbooks, career articles and job advertisements in newspapers, and the Job Guide.
- Contact companies to ask if they have any information on the type of occupations and opportunities that are available in their company.
- Talk with teachers, especially your career adviser; your parents, family and friends; human resources staff in organisations where your occupation may be located; staff at your nearest Centrelink Career Information Centre or Centrelink office.
- Look at videos and DVDs on careers at school or at a Centrelink Career Information Centre or Centrelink office; displays at career expos; and information on the internet (including ‘The Facts’ section of www.myfuture.edu.au ).
- Try for yourself through holiday jobs, work experience schemes, voluntary work, or a casual or part-time job after school or on weekends.
- Contact professional associations and employer organisations to obtain career literature. See the Useful addresses section for contact details.
- Contact Industry Skills Councils or Industry Training Advisory Boards for advice on education and training requirements and employment prospects. Contact details for Industry Training Advisory Boards and Industry Skills Councils may be included with relevant job profiles in the Job descriptions section, and can also be found in the Useful addresses section.
- Contact unions for information about award conditions and the working environment. You should telephone or write to the appropriate union for your area of interest. Contact details for unions may be included with the relevant job profile in the Job descriptions section, or can be found at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) website for secondary students at www.worksite.actu.asn.au .
- Collect job advertisements and position descriptions to get examples of the various responsibilities and tasks that make up jobs. This will give you a good indication of the skills required and the positions available in your local area.