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.

There are a few things you can do to help determine your future career. The first is to jump on the internet and search for a few jobs that are of interest to you. There are different reasons to pursue an occupation, like passion, ability, salary, qualifications, travel, weekly hours, demand, social respect, location, or benefits. Do a few searches based on a range of these reasons, to give you a broad selection of ideas to consider or reject. Find out exactly what each job entails, how much you’ll earn, what qualifications you’ll need, and what type of personality is best suited to that career. This is a great screening process. It may help you discard science teaching, and pick up an interest in radiography, or realise that no one can write The Great Australian Novel overnight, so best look into journalism.

Then, find out what course you’ll need to do in order to pursue a particular job. Check exactly what prerequisites you will need to enter a course, and compare them to what you’re studying at school. If you’ve still got a year or two to go until you finish high school, use these prerequisites to help you decide what electives to do. If you’re in year twelve and not doing appropriate subjects, then either look into other jobs that follow your interests, or research other potential avenues to study what you want.

Careernav is designed to help you with these issues. This site has a range of occupational profiles you can browse through to develop an understanding of what particular jobs entail. Some jobs will appeal to you, and some won’t. Each profile has a range of information, from a general description, to qualifications, possible career paths, and the best and worst things about the job. If reading through this information doesn’t help, don’t despair. 

You can navigate a bit further and take up the opportunity to have a career advice session, a personality test to determine what occupations might best be suited to you, and a range of professional and personal development packages. Take a look around, because your future is worth the investment of time and consideration. You don’t want to flounder after high school, drop out of an ill-considered uni course and wish after ten years that you’d had a plan in high school. And just think of how great it’ll feel to have an answer when someone asks what you’re going to do after year twelve.