Career Planning
Good preparation leads to success. This section has useful hints & links that can help you prepare & plan for your career & the world of work..
- What is a career?
- Choosing a career
- Leaving school
- Year 12 is over! Now what?
- Returning to study
- Changing your career
- What job is that?
- Industry Forecasts & Income Ranges
- Making the Plan!
Remember your career development is an ongoing process; it can be time consuming BUT is worth every minute you spend on it!
What is a career? Is it the same as a job?
A career is not just a job. It is a life balance blend of different things such as paid and unpaid work, formal and informal training/education and is influenced by your interests, commitments and responsibilities (eg: family life & leisure time)
Choosing or changing your career is a major life decision with long term implications. So it is important to take your time and make the choice that is best for you. During your career you may need to review and adjust aspects of your goals to meet the changes of modern life.
Choosing the right career for YOU!
You may have a clear idea of which career you want. However, you can explore your options using our on-line tools or with us at the CDC.
Leaving school – students & parents
Fact Sheet 5 Career Planning for School Leavers
So you don’t want to stay at school what are your options? Check out the details of the new school leaving age and visit our information on Apprenticeship & Traineeship to see what school based alternative are available – you will be surprised at the choices out there.
Your Subject Selection in years 10 & 11 are important to help you achieve your chosen career. Even if you are unsure what job you want it is important to make sure you keep your options open. For more information about this why not check out our Fact Sheet 14 A Year 10's Guide To Choosing Subjects/Courses. If you still unsure then the CDC can assist you in identifying your needs and what subjects will assist you to get there.
Remember too that there is financial assistance available to parents of 16 and 17 year olds to help with the cost of education and training. For more information on the Western Australian Government's It Pays to Learn Allowance visit their website.
Year 12 is over! Now what
Year 12 is over, now what?? Why not visit getaccess to help you plan your post school future.
Parents/Guardians feel like you need some advice on how to best help your kids with choosing their career? The getaccess website provides resources to assist both the parents & kids.
Returning to study
Whether you have been out of school for a few months or for years there are some simple steps to help make the road to study easier:
- Talk to people & do some research to find out what courses or training you need to reach your career goals. Often you can acquire the necessary skills & knowledge in different ways; there may be more than one way to qualify.
- Use the online tools or speak to us at the CDC to find out what you need & how to achieve it
- Plan ahead to make returning to study as easy as possible - make arrangements for child care, housing & transportation well in advance. Remember most TAFEs & Uni’s provide training to help you improve your study skills, essay writing & basic computer. If they don’t there are numerous places to gain these skills (contact us for details).
Changing your career
Fact Sheet 7 Changing Your Career
Most people have mixed feelings about changing their career. Especially if it involves leaving familiar surroundings and habits behind. So it is important that you make plans to cope with these changes.
- Identify your support network – family, friends etc. Remember to include yourself as one of your network.
- Manage the stress by setting priorities, eating well, doing regular exercise & getting enough rest.
- It is important to give yourself time to adjust to the changes you can’t do everything at once.
- Keep focused on your goals & use your support network.
- Most importantly remember it is your decision – be confident in your ability to choose what is right for you!
What job is that?
When you are choosing your career it is important to make sure that the job is really what you want. Do some research check out the facts, some good places to start are
The description of a job may seem glamorous but sometimes the reality can be very different. So it is wise talk to people who do the job, see if you can do some work experience or workplace shadowing. Look at related careers for related alternatives. Another way to get a taste of a job or industry is to do some volunteer work. It is also worth having a look at our Fact Sheets on different industries. You may also want to check out My Career which has an interesting section on jobs and their salaries.
Industry Forecasts & Income Ranges
Just because an industry isn't currently experiencing a skill shortage doesn't mean that there is not employment in that field - remember it may take you 6- 24 months (or more) to train or re-train for a career. So it is worth looking at the forecasts for the different industries if you are concerned about your prospects. It is also important to check that the income in a particular industry will meet your needs or wants. You may wish to visit the Industry Training Advisory Boards section of our Online Tools or here are a couple of links to help you find out more:
- Skills Info - industry outlooks
- Skills Info - Skills Shortages
- Get a trade
- My Career - Salary Centre
Making the Plan?
Like any new venture it is best to have a plan. Think about your aims and objects and set yourself a timeline (but don’t worry if things take less or more time than you thought)
Here are some simple steps to help you on your way:
- Identify what you want – consider not only what you are interested in or enjoy but what you don’t like.
- Get the facts – What do I need to start this career? What is the labour market? Is there a skills shortage? Is there a need locally or will you need to move?
- Make the Choice – talk to people, especially those in the industry or contact us at the CDC for an impartial point of view.
- Write that plan- actually write it down so that you can look at the big picture, see how it will flow, how long will it take and then take a deep breathe and start your journey to your new career.
