When your further education is almost done and you are already thinking about how you are going to spend the next 4 decades, this is a milestone in anyone’s life; it is also a critical time when you choose a career path. Sadly, there are young people that choose a career that turns out to be unsuitable and they waste valuable time and money graduating in a field they have no interest in. You might be already on a career path and are not prepared to compromise your happiness; a change of career sooner is better than later, if you aren’t happy in your work, that isn’t going to change.
Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect career.
- Make good use of the Internet – Whether you are interested in law or would like to be a certified personal trainer, there is lots of information on the web. You can probably find YouTube videos that are related, plus there are forums where professionals exchange ideas and they are always happy to advise young career-minded people. Google is your best friend when it comes to sourcing information and don’t exclude life-changing opportunities. If, for example, you are prepared to study for 3-4 years, you can become a certified personal trainer and work at an exotic location. Imagine integrating travel into your life and being able to see the world and experience new cultures.
- Identify your strengths – There are more than 3 million Australians who are registered as disabled, those with mobility issues can contact their local disability employment service provider and think about things you are interested in; if you are a nature lover, why not look into environmental conservation? Our National Parks require officers and working in such a beautiful place has its perks! The goal is to engage in a career you love, then it is no longer work, it is your passion.
- Professional advice – Talk to a career guidance counsellor, a professional who can help you list occupations and do some research to find out more about that line of work. Think about qualifications and courses that would help you enter into a new field; online study is always possible and you can study in the evenings and at weekends while continuing your full-time job. After a single session with a career guidance counsellor, you should have a shortlist and be able to research the qualifications needed to enter that field.
- Government support – It might be that you can receive support and assistance from the Australian government; a quick online search can tell you whether you are eligible for financial support if you want to become certified in a profession. Click here for a few career options for tomorrow. Digital tech is an exciting sector with so much potential if you are IT-minded and competent.
- Engage with people in your chosen occupation/profession – If you fancy yourself as a truck driver, for example, go out of your way to talk to truckers about their work. Most are happy to talk about their work; doing this gives you a realistic perspective and look at the negative aspects, the long periods away from home, and spending many hours alone in your truck.
- Create a list of potential careers – Take your time with this; think outside the box and include fields you know little about, so you can do some research. It might be that it isn’t right for you and you can cross that one off and move on. Do you like working with people, are you service-minded, or perhaps you have excellent IT skills? Ask yourself questions to get a clearer picture of your skillsets and don’t be afraid to ask for help and opinions. This is, after all, probably the most important choice that you’ll make in this life. While you should listen to your peers, don’t let anyone push you into something you are not entirely happy with.
If you are disabled, there is government support from Disabled Employment Services (DES), with local providers all across Australia who are committed to helping disabled people find suitable employment.
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