Video Transcription
How do I know what jobs suit me? 7 ways to find out
Exploring Job Opportunities: Seven Ways to Find the Right Career Path
Exploring job opportunities can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The good news is, there are plenty of options that might suit you, and these opportunities can change at different times throughout your life. Your career path is an evolving process that often involves trying new things and exploring different areas of interest. If you’re wondering how to even know which jobs or career paths suit you, here are seven great ways to find out which direction to take.
1. Chat with Your Family and Social Networks
Your family and social networks can offer first-hand accounts of what their jobs involve, the good and the bad. This might include working conditions, wages, and future job opportunities. Who knows? Your sports coach or cousin may even be able to share insider information about a career pathway you’d love.
2. Match Your Interests, Talents, and Values
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy? What school subjects were you good at? What’s important to you in life? Thinking about these questions is one of the most effective ways to get started.
For example, if you like cooking or baking, a hospitality career might suit you. If you loved English at school, jobs in journalism, marketing, research, or teaching could be a good fit. If you enjoy helping others, social work or counselling might be for you. By matching your current interests, talents, and values, you’re more likely to choose a job you’ll enjoy and excel at.
3. Access Career Guidance
You can get support for making job decisions by accessing career guidance resources. These specialists can identify suitable options, build resumes, identify skill gaps, help with applications, and locate courses. Most schools and education providers have career guidance services you can access for free. You can also visit government websites like myfuture.edu.au and yourcareer.gov.au for additional resources.
4. Check Out headspace Work and Study
Headspace Work and Study is free and available to young people under 25 in Australia, both online and face-to-face at participating headspace centres. You can get one-on-one support, tailored to your needs and goals, such as exploring study and career opportunities, finding and applying for jobs, writing resumes and cover letters, and preparing for job interviews. You can even be matched with a volunteer career mentor to help you on your career journey.
5. Attend Career and Industry Events
Attending career and industry expos is a fun way to find out about job opportunities. You could even bring a friend along to help each other on the job-hunting journey. Check industry employer and government websites like Workforce Australia and Jobs Showcase for details of upcoming events. These expos are often free to enter and many are held online.
6. Try Work Experience or Volunteering
Work experience and volunteering are two brilliant ways to develop practical skills and connect with people who could help you find a job. There are many volunteering websites to explore, such as Volunteering Australia and Seek Volunteer. You can also try contacting businesses and councils to see if they have any available positions. You may even receive a good reference for future applications.
7. Research the Job Market
Websites like jobandskills.gov.au and myfuture.edu.au can give you an idea about what different jobs and industries involve. These sites can also provide a general indication of wages. Remember, career paths don’t always follow a straight line. People grow and change, and all these experiences shape and influence our career choices. It’s okay to try something, see how you feel, and make different choices along the way.
If you’d like support in taking your next step, visit headspace.org.au/workandstudy.
