The Questions Most Asked
The Age
Sunday May 16, 1993
CAREER ADVICE/ MY GRANDFATHER was a ``chippie" _ a carpenter _ all his working life and at 91 my grandmother still makes the best Irish stew you ever tasted. Their jobs were lifelong and they were prepared for them at an early age, leaving school at 13 or 14.
The world of work which you face is very different from theirs, and the experts agree that you can expect at least three major and several minor career changes in your lifetime. So it is very important to ask the right questions when you drop in to your school's career centre.
Students often weigh right in with this question: Which VCE subjects do I need for accounting, or aerospace engineering or art and design? This sort of question is a snap. But it should always be answered at the end of a process of researching all your options. Start your research by getting to know something about yourself. What do you need from a job? Do you need to work in a team with lots of direction and company? Or are you a self-starting sort of person who needs to be able to make lots of work decisions for yourself and branch out on your own? What do you really value in a job? Are megabucks a real attraction or are you more attracted to a job that's about helping others? Let's be realistic about your skills and abilities right now. Most people find it difficult to assess their own skills and abilities accurately, so get a relative, a teacher or an employer to make a list of your top 10 strengths. Compare them with your own for a whole new look at yourself.
And don't forget those hidden talents. Sure, your grades in English, biology, Vietnamese and so on are important, but remember that being a regular member of a netball or debating team demonstrates the ability to work as part of a team and to be punctual and reliable. Captaincy demonstrates leadership, being team scorer proves accuracy and providing sets for the school production requires creativity and the ability to meet deadlines. Baby-sitting demonstrates responsibility _ and never underestimate the value of a second language.
Your school's career adviser, the friendly staff at the Careers Reference Centre and the Vocational Orientation Centre or your local Youth Resource Officer can all help you run through this process. When you feel you know you, back to front, they can also provide you with DEET's `Job Guide '93' and the Job And Course Explorer computer program (JAC) to look at lots of jobs that suit you.
Other common questions are: Which is the best university for this course? I'd be off to Bermuda if I had $10 for every time I've been asked this one. But this is a question you must satisfy yourself about. Attend as many university and TAFE open days as you can fit into your busy year.
Your careers teacher can provide you with a calendar for open days and help you draw up a list of questions to ask when you get there. Are former students from your school already studying the courses you have in mind? Your careers teacher will know and you may be able to talk to them about their experiences, the quality of the teaching, the level of support provided and student life at their institution.
Professional bodies, such as the Institution of Engineers and the Institute of Chartered Accountants, are often happy to discuss different career options with you.
Should I apply to TAFE? More than one in three of our school's 1992 students are studying in the TAFE system this year. TAFE provides vocational courses which teach the skills and knowledge necessary for a range of workplaces as different as electronics and textiles, farming and footwear.
Two more reasons for studying at TAFE are that some of your VCE studies may give you credit towards completion of a TAFE course, and some TAFE courses carry credits towards a higher education qualification. TAFE courses are popular, so don't leave your application to the last second.
Will I get a job if I do this course? This is an impossible question because no one knows the answer. But you can keep up to date on job prospects, first by developing the habit of scanning `The Age' job advertisements each Saturday.
Second, most schools have a copy of Rod Stinson's `Job Prospects Australia Supplement' January 1993 and 1990's `What Jobs Pay' (Hobson's Press).
Third, the Job Explorer program has an industry information section that includes recent employment trends for each big industry.
Why should I stay on at school? Put simply, the higher the level of your education, the better your chances of finding the job you prefer. Staying at school increases your access to higher education and training and provides you with the kinds of skills that employers ae looking for.
Heather Sheard is extension education officer for the Careers Education Association of Victoria and careers adviser at Springvale Secondary College.
© 1993 The Age