careernav.

Think of all the big decisions you’ve had to make in your life. What part-time job to get, what electives to choose in later high school, what car you want when you turn eighteen. And then think about the decision of your future career.

It’s a big one.

The biggest yet, so why is it that so many high school students put this question on the back burner, and don’t give it the thought and consideration that it deserves? You thought long and hard about your car – so why not your tertiary studies and job?

Think about it like this: no one can pass a subject without doing the appropriate study and assessments. Just as no employer hires someone without doing their research, and no applicant gets a job without the right qualifications and personal requirements. This is the same thing. Unless you were born into the Hilton family, you’re not going to get a desirable career if you don’t do your research, study your options, and ensure that you have what it takes.

If you’re sick of being asked, ‘So, what are you going to do after year twelve?’ it’s because you don’t have an answer, and essentially, the answer will determine your future; the rest of your life. A career is a vital part of living. If you have dreams of making lots of money and living in a big, well-furnished house, then be proactive and get career savvy. If you say she’ll be right mate, then, you’re in for a rude awakening, because she won’t be right, mate, not unless you do your research and make a plan. 

So every time the question of Life Beyond High School comes up, and you get that familiar twist in your gut, that anxious sensation of feeling out of control, don’t shove it to the back of your mind. If you don’t know what you want to be or what you want to do when you leave high school, well, all the more reason to sort this doubt out for good.

But how can you sort it out? Not knowing where to start is probably another reason you keep avoiding the issue. And, according to The Department of Education, 30% of first year university students change universities or drop out altogether, so it’s not uncommon to still have no idea by the time year twelve is out. But you don’t want to be a figure in that statistic. You want to know what to do; to get it right the first time.