choosing a career
Deciding
which career direction you want to pursue is the first step in planning your
future.
While this may not be easy while you're still at school, it helps if you determine a general area that interests you. Try these steps:
- Find out what's out there
- Read the savvy career map
- Look at yourself
- Make a shortlist
- Get some experience
- Keep on track
Find out what's out there
Before choosing a career, you need to know what's out there. To find out
about career options:
- Talk to your school career counsellor
- Speak to friends and family about choices they made and how they made them
- Surf the internet. Start with the list of great sites we have carefully chosen for you
- Scan the employment section in the newspaper to see what jobs are out there
- Attend the UniSA Open Day
- Check out OZJAC, a computer database of careers and training, obtainable from most school libraries
- Comb through The Job Guide, available in most school libraries
- Visit the Career Information Centre located at 55 Currie Street, Adelaide, (08) 8401 3279.
Read the savvy career map
Another great starting point is to look at or search career areas to get some ideas on career areas that may interest you. The Future students - career areas lists possible career outcomes, associated UniSA degrees and SACE prerequisite subjects. This information is also available as a downloadable savvy career map (PDF 644kb - download Adobe Acrobat.)
Look at yourself
Identify your likes, dislikes, strengths and limitations. Do you like technology, the outdoors, working with people? Are you artistic?
Jobjuice is a fantastic website that has a Career Quiz where you tick off a list of tasks and the results displayed tell you if you're suited for practical, technical, creative, administrative, people-oriented or helping professions. We have also identified a few more quizzes for you to complete to assist you on your journey.
Make a shortlist
Select a few professions that match your interests and strengths and find out about these professions. Talk to people in the industry. Then explore what further education or training is needed.
Gradlink's industry career profiles provide great information about the range of occupations available in various careers and what skills and qualifications you need to get into these careers.
Get some experience
Next, arrange to do work experience or arrange to visit workplaces of
interest to get some firsthand knowledge. Your school career counsellor
will be able to help you with this.
And you don't have to restrict work experience to the subject in your school
curriculum. Take advantage of school holidays to get out there and learn
more about the industries and careers you may be interested in.
Keep on track
Once you have some idea what career(s) interest you, you need to choose the right school subjects to ensure you're heading in the right direction.