As a Career Practitioner, I am staggered at the number of people who have undertaken expensive study and been left with a hefty debt, only to find out that they really didn’t enjoy the subject matter and did not wish to pursue a career in their chosen field of study, or that they were not having any success in gaining employment in their chosen area.
Even more concerning is the fact that new data released by the Good Universities Guide reveals approximately 30 per cent of undergraduates left University without any real job prospects and were struggling in very competitive job markets.
Add to this, the fact that over the past three years we have seen the demise of the Vocational education sector industry because ruthless brokers who knew nothing about education, signed thousands of innocent people into training courses that they had no interest in, or had any real understanding of what they were getting themselves into! Some irresponsible training companies even enticed unsuspecting students with new laptops and told them that they didn’t have to pay the money back.
It is now emerging that a large number of these people did not even receive their qualification because the training company closed during their studies.
In light of the current education situation in Australia, we have devised four tips that you must consider before making a career choice or signing up to any training courses.
1. Self-Assessment
Trying to decide on a career or training course without having done any self-assessment is like sailing a ship without a rudder. In today’s ever-changing work world there are many possibilities, and without self-assessment you can become overwhelmed and all lost at sea.
Start by asking yourself the following questions:
- What do I do well and enjoy doing?
- What do I really value?
- What type of people to I like to be around?
- What type of environment do I like to work in?
- What are my short term and long-term goals?
- And the question that I find most people struggle with: Who am I?
The most common answers that I hear from this question are often around what role that person has, whereas when we think about who we really are, it becomes much more or a challenge.
Examples of common answers are:
- I am a mother of two children
- I am a bank officer
- I am a grandfather
- A good friend and so on……
Take the time to reflect upon what makes you unique. Explore what you would like to be remembered for and what differences you want to make in this world.
2. Explore
Explore the occupations and learning areas that interest you and then explore some that don’t interest you. You may be surprised to learn that areas you thought you might not like, may actually get you thinking about different career pathways. Once you have done this make a list!
3. Gain Insight
Once you have narrowed down your ideas, find people who work in the particular industry you are considering and connect with them. This can be done via various online channels such as Linkedin, networking events and industry association meetings.
Ask them what it is that they most love about their work and what parts they don’t enjoy? Find out what qualifications are required and then ask where they studied? Ask them how they got into this industry and what other things you could be doing to increase your chances of gaining meaningful employment in your chosen field?
4. Crunch Time
Once you feel you have arrived at a decision, undertake some short courses in the area that you have chosen. Don’t go to the expense of spending thousands on training until you are sure this is the pathway you are really interested in. There are many short courses available where you can gauge in a short period if this is really the course for you.
Read books on the industry you are interested in. If you put it down before the end of the first chapter then you should ask yourself is this really for me? In the early stages of your career, you should be hungry for information on your chosen pathway.
About the Author:
Sally Healey is a Career Development Practitioner for the Career Development Centre www.careerdevelopmentcentre.com.au based in Brisbane, Queensland.
Sally holds a Graduate Certificate in Career Development Education, is a Professional member of the Career Industry Council Australia www.cica.org.au, Professional Member of The Career Development Association Australia www.cdaa.org.au and an Industry reference committee member of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.
