School leavers and parents listen up…

By Kate Southam

A university degree or qualification from TAFE or a private college is the “price of entry” to many careers.

When choosing a program of study, consider your learning interests and strengths but also research the industries and professions offering greatest employment growth.

According to IBISWorld, jobs in the child care, veterinary services, “integrated” logistics, health and finance sectors offer the greatest employment and salary growth between now and 2016.

Vet services include chiropractics, ophthalmology, dentistry and dermatology for pets. Logistics is a $100 billion industry that involves moving, storing and then distributing everything that is mined, grown, manufactured or imported.

Health includes a wide range of careers with demand for physiotherapists, surgeons, anesthetists, occupational therapists, medical technicians, radiologists, pediatricians and ambulance officers expected to be particularly strong.

And in Finance, the roles showing most growth include security, share registry services, mortgage broking and superannuation management.

Often people choose a course because they think it sounds glamorous or fun but if the employment opportunities are severely limited then grads will be behind the rest of the pack and might be forced to do a second degree before they get their career underway.

Students also believe doing an under graduate degree and then a master’s degree back to back will give them a competitive edge in the job hunting market.

This is largely untrue. Someone with a bachelor degree and then two years experience is often more valuable in the open employment market and able to command greater dollars than a candidate with a bachelor degree and masters but no relevant industry experience.

Also, if you wait until you have worked a few years then the master’s degree you choose might be very different to what you would have chosen if you stayed at university. A master’s might not be necessary and a certificate or diploma might be a better cost and strategic decision. Getting into the workforce gives you the opportunity to purse post graduate study specifically related to your career strategy.

Another advantage of waiting to pursue a post graduate course is the opportunity to get your employer to pay for it instead of running up a higher HECS debt. Employees do need to demonstrate how the further study will help their employer as well as themselves but training and development is a perk many organisations offer.     

 For those choosing to study at TAFE or a private college, it is important to ask the teaching institution about how employers view their qualifications. Other questions you should ask include whether the college organisations work placements with employers or hosts special events where students can meet potential employers or even if employers contact the college when they are looking for new hires.

A tertiary qualification is also a great way to meet people outside your usual group of friends. A student at uni or college today could be an important work contact in the future so try and develop a wider network than just your usual social clique. Get involved in campus life and try activities that take you out of your comfort zone.

Also, check with professional and industry associations related to your study and career choice as many offer free or low fee membership to students. Membership could provide access to mentors, part time work and potential future employers.

For example, the Australian Institute of Marketing hosts a range of career development events for final year marketing students including breakfasts, work shops and evening events.

Fees range from $33 to $77. Find out more

The Australian Computer Society has a high focus on developing future talent providing loads of support for young members. Fees range from $60. Find out more    

These are just two examples but there are a large number of professional and industry groups out there who provide support for students and graduates so search online or ask your career counsellor on campus.

Also, don’t wait until your penultimate year to start attending on campus employer events and career shows. Many companies have traineeships and cadetships that support university students throughout their years of study and on campus career shows are a great way to find out about these.

Even if you don’t secure an industry-related part time job, any part time work is highly valued by graduate employers including retail, hospitality, call centre work and people-related services.

Any job that offers exposure to customer service, working in a team and people skills will help you when you start interviews at the end of your course.

Article from CareerOne.com.au