Finding what career suits you

Australians will have up to three careers over their working life and some people will have even more. That means that for today’s school students there is no need to panic about getting your career decision “right”.

Any career path you choose that helps you build valuable skills is “right” whether it is also right for life or for just for three to five years.

For example, customer service skills, basic computer skills, teamwork, the ability to sell or even to persuade others and communication skills are used in nearly every job.

Accountants should be good with numbers but they also have to talk to clients so people skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are very important.

Who else needs to be good with people? Wow, how long a list could I write? Pretty much every job you can think of from nurses, police officers, and entertainers to ski instructors, teachers, lawyers, builders, security guards and hospitality workers.

If you decide after a few years to then build on those skills or change direction completely and retrain you will have created a solid foundation from which to work.

So how do school students get career ideas? Research shows that most people still get their career ideas from their mum and dad. Others stumble across a career idea while reading a book, watching a movie or surfing the net. Your career teacher at school can introduce you to a world of ideas.

However, there is a lot you can do yourself to find a career path that’s right for you.

Finding what you’re suited to

Answering this question is often the hardest part of your career research. It will help if you make a range of lists under headings like Personal Preferences; Skills and Network.

To work out your personal preferences think about:

• Things you are great at and love doing.
• Things you are good at but hate doing.
• Things you love doing but are not that great at.
• Things you are not good at and hate doing.
• Are you an extravert who loves meeting people or an introvert who prefers working behind the scenes? Do you like working with numbers or words, animals, children or adults? Ask friends and family for their input.

Next, list your skills. This should be a broad list that covers sports, hobbies, any short courses you have completed like first aid and of course your school work.

You might be a school student who is great at economics but also a great cook. So you could end up a qualified chef who then does a business course to help you open your own very successful restaurant. Or you are fantastic at science and you’re crazy about animals and so being a vet would make sense for you.

Just get it all down. Skills are also things like written and verbal communication acquired through things like debating or creative writing and leadership skills acquired through being captain of a sporting team, good organisational skills acquired though helping to plan an event at school. Other examples of “skills” are computer skills, typing and being good at fixing electronics or cars.

Attributes are “behavioural” things like being calm under pressure or at ease talking to strangers, being confident, diligent, hard working, punctual and so on.

Another example is “being very curious” – an attribute that could lend itself to becoming a journalist or a scientist. See what I mean?

Lastly, make a list of your “network” – this would include family, friends, teachers, neighbours, sports coaches, parents of your friends – anyone you know who also knows you. They all represent a way to find out about a career path and maybe land an introduction, work experience stint or holiday job.

When you have all your lists complete you will see a new picture of yourself. What you are interested in, what you think you are good at, what you enjoy doing, who you know and the sectors they represent, your past training and your education.

By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au