Hello there
I am always surprised when I speak with students or their parents about careers choices.
So many students make choices on a few meagre facts about the industry and then wonder why they don't like the work or study when they are in it!
Let's Talk Careers! is about helping you and your child have more information on their chosen field and help then be in the position to make really informed choices.
A very good resource that gives interviews, qualifications, pathways and talks to people who are in the field can be found in any of the 3o odd books published by Career Faqs Publishing.
Will Santow the director of the company has his own story to tell on how he began this company. He was looking for career information himself and finding none available with Australian content, he decided he'd fill the market with the right resources. Careers Faqs is the result.
You can check it our at http://www.careersfaqs.com.au/
Until next time,
Melody
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
End of Y10 ordeals!
Hello there
Those of you with Yr 10 students are probably in a state of stress as your child goes off to their exams during the month of November.
Some of you will already know that you have a child who is struggling at school and who seems to have disengaged from the education process.
Please know that ALL is not LOST!
Let's look at this scenario and see what options are available.
Option 1:
One of the options you may like to look at is changing your child's schooling from a school based education to a TAFE based education. This will enable the student to complete their HSC and get valuable practical skills as well. Some students find the more self directed learning environment of TAFE a better option than school. Check out your state's local TAFE for details.
Option 2:
If your child is intent on leaving school you might like to look at an apprenticeship (usually 4 years) or a traineeship (usually 2 years) in an industry that interests your child.
In an apprenticeship or traineeship some work is completed at 'school' i.e. TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation and the rest of the time is spent in the workplace. In some cases the training is done completely on site with assessments conducted throughout the time of the apprenticeship or traineeship. Apprentices receive a training wage which increases annually as they complete each year successfully. Some industries have also introduced a fast track learning system for those who wish to be qualified in less time than the apprenticeship model. For information on this check out the industry association in the industry of choice.
The general public have a very misguided idea of what is takes to be a tradesman. This is because of an old fashioned attitude that suggests you need to be more intelligent in academic pursuits than the more practical trades.
Today's world is much more complex that this set of beliefs holds. Most trades people are also very successful business people. They had gone on to further study in business (often at university level) and are required to have a good understanding of technology in as much as it impacts on their particular skills set.
Thus a trades person requires technical, theoretical and practical skills. The mode of learning is applied rather than theoretical.
This suits many young men and women who have energy to burn and who find concentrated thinking without action a difficult form of learning.
During my time as a career adviser I have seen over and over the impact of choosing a learning environment that suits a person's strengths - they simply bloom.
They become engaged, thinking, active and excel in their fields of endeavour and most importantly - they love what they are doing.
Those of you with Yr 10 students are probably in a state of stress as your child goes off to their exams during the month of November.
Some of you will already know that you have a child who is struggling at school and who seems to have disengaged from the education process.
Please know that ALL is not LOST!
Let's look at this scenario and see what options are available.
Option 1:
One of the options you may like to look at is changing your child's schooling from a school based education to a TAFE based education. This will enable the student to complete their HSC and get valuable practical skills as well. Some students find the more self directed learning environment of TAFE a better option than school. Check out your state's local TAFE for details.
Option 2:
If your child is intent on leaving school you might like to look at an apprenticeship (usually 4 years) or a traineeship (usually 2 years) in an industry that interests your child.
In an apprenticeship or traineeship some work is completed at 'school' i.e. TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation and the rest of the time is spent in the workplace. In some cases the training is done completely on site with assessments conducted throughout the time of the apprenticeship or traineeship. Apprentices receive a training wage which increases annually as they complete each year successfully. Some industries have also introduced a fast track learning system for those who wish to be qualified in less time than the apprenticeship model. For information on this check out the industry association in the industry of choice.
The general public have a very misguided idea of what is takes to be a tradesman. This is because of an old fashioned attitude that suggests you need to be more intelligent in academic pursuits than the more practical trades.
Today's world is much more complex that this set of beliefs holds. Most trades people are also very successful business people. They had gone on to further study in business (often at university level) and are required to have a good understanding of technology in as much as it impacts on their particular skills set.
Thus a trades person requires technical, theoretical and practical skills. The mode of learning is applied rather than theoretical.
This suits many young men and women who have energy to burn and who find concentrated thinking without action a difficult form of learning.
Your child is not a failure or less than a more academic student - he or she simply have different strengths.
During my time as a career adviser I have seen over and over the impact of choosing a learning environment that suits a person's strengths - they simply bloom.
They become engaged, thinking, active and excel in their fields of endeavour and most importantly - they love what they are doing.
What more would you as a parent want for your child than that?
There is a lot of information available about apprenticeships and traineeships.
A good site to begin is: http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/
Option 3:
Your child may engage better at school if s/he is more stimulated at home. By this I mean working part time.
If your child has not yet got a part time jo then now is the time to get one.
While you may not need to have your child working it is a really good developmental time for students to learn about the working environment.
Research has shown that students that rely on their parents for an allowance and their needs often lack the skills and attitudes necessary to survive in the world and make a good employee, or business owner later.
Letting your son or daughter get a part time job helps them discover
self esteem
initiative
prioritising work and friends
negotiating
self management
time management
money management
loyalty as it refers to work
team skills
respnsibility
maturity
And guess what?
Most of these attributes are what employers are looking for in students once they have finished there training and are ready for full time work in the work force - these are the basis of employability skills that you hear banded around in the media.
Till next time
Melody
Converging Science and Technology
Hello there
Firstly my apologies. It has been rather hectic over the last few weeks and I have not managed to get the blog entries up I had hoped - so you will get a few all together!
So today we are looking at where science and technology converge - here is the scenario:
Your lovely Yr 9 son or daughter arrives home one day and out of the blue says
On this site there is a guide. Please keep in mind that the figues are a few years out of date and are for the US market. I was unable to source data for Australia.
Firstly my apologies. It has been rather hectic over the last few weeks and I have not managed to get the blog entries up I had hoped - so you will get a few all together!
So today we are looking at where science and technology converge - here is the scenario:
Your lovely Yr 9 son or daughter arrives home one day and out of the blue says
'I think I want to work in Nanotechnology, Mum!'
Where do you go to find out what nanotechnology is and what career pathways are open to it?
Well here are a couple of websites that can start you off on your search!
1) This site gives you some background articles to the industry in Australia.
The reality is that while we have a burgeoning nanotechnology industry in Australia we do not invest the funding for projects and research in the way that countries overseas do and your Yr 9 student may eventually head overseas to expand their career.
2) This site lists the universities in Australia that offer nanotechnology
3) And the very important Ygen question - how much do nanotechnologists earn?
On this site there is a guide. Please keep in mind that the figues are a few years out of date and are for the US market. I was unable to source data for Australia.
Finally we are a nation of innovators, inventors and researchers - our own CSIRO has been at the forefront of many of those innovations.
If you contact them you can find out more about what they are doing and what is open to the public to take your science expert to!
Till next time,
Melody
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Jobs Fair Success!
Hello there
I bet you have been wondering where I've been for the last few weeks, yes? Well I have been taking a little rest after the great success of the inaugural Northern Beaches Jobs Fair.
And what a success it was!
45 businesses (all with local interest) offered in excess of 600 jobs to a large number of job seekers. We know that at least 500 turned up because that was the number of job seeker packs we had printed but how many came through the door after that? - well we have no idea. The Dee Why RSL (where the event was staged) believe the number was close to 700!
On offer for Job Seekers was help with resume writing, courses for further study with the local TAFE and careers advice from yours truly!
The whole morning buzzed with the noise of businesses and prospective employees meeting, greeting and finding out what was possible in the region.
Many parents brought their sons and daughters with them on a fact finding mission that included looking for part time jobs, finding help with other careers options and to see what apprenticeships or traineeships were available.
For those looking to fill in their gap year with the Defence Force there was also the opportunity to talk to personnel from the DFA recruitment centre.
If your region ever offers a jobs fair I strongly suggest you take up the opportunity to have a look - you will be surprised what you may find in terms of work right in your own back yard.
Till next time
Melody
I bet you have been wondering where I've been for the last few weeks, yes? Well I have been taking a little rest after the great success of the inaugural Northern Beaches Jobs Fair.
And what a success it was!
45 businesses (all with local interest) offered in excess of 600 jobs to a large number of job seekers. We know that at least 500 turned up because that was the number of job seeker packs we had printed but how many came through the door after that? - well we have no idea. The Dee Why RSL (where the event was staged) believe the number was close to 700!
On offer for Job Seekers was help with resume writing, courses for further study with the local TAFE and careers advice from yours truly!
The whole morning buzzed with the noise of businesses and prospective employees meeting, greeting and finding out what was possible in the region.
Many parents brought their sons and daughters with them on a fact finding mission that included looking for part time jobs, finding help with other careers options and to see what apprenticeships or traineeships were available.
For those looking to fill in their gap year with the Defence Force there was also the opportunity to talk to personnel from the DFA recruitment centre.
If your region ever offers a jobs fair I strongly suggest you take up the opportunity to have a look - you will be surprised what you may find in terms of work right in your own back yard.
Till next time
Melody
Friday, September 12, 2008
Entertainment Choices and Changes
Hello there
One of the very 'real' skills a person in the entertainment industry requires is flexibility and the willingness to change, grow and learn new skills.
It is such a 'fashion driven' industry that a performer needs to be able to reinvent themselves as they follow their 'star'.
For the last couple of years the Australian Government has run a National Careers Development Week to bring the focus on all careers available to work age and ready people.
As part of this year's NCDW Mark Furze was 2008 NCDW Celebrity Ambassador.
Check out the Podcast interview aired on Kyle & Jackie O Show on Radio 2day FM Thursday 28 August.
The podcast starts with Mark performing "Paralyzer" (song title) by Finger Eleven (artist) and then an interview about his change in direction from acting to music - stick with it as Jackie then introduces NCDW and both Mark and Kyle talk about career change. You can listen to the Podcast at https://zipper.australianbusiness.com.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.2dayfm.com.au/shows/kyleandjackieo/listen/podcasts (The Kyle and Jackie O Show - Thursday August 28 2008).
Until next time
Melody
One of the very 'real' skills a person in the entertainment industry requires is flexibility and the willingness to change, grow and learn new skills.
It is such a 'fashion driven' industry that a performer needs to be able to reinvent themselves as they follow their 'star'.
For the last couple of years the Australian Government has run a National Careers Development Week to bring the focus on all careers available to work age and ready people.
As part of this year's NCDW Mark Furze was 2008 NCDW Celebrity Ambassador.
Check out the Podcast interview aired on Kyle & Jackie O Show on Radio 2day FM Thursday 28 August.
The podcast starts with Mark performing "Paralyzer" (song title) by Finger Eleven (artist) and then an interview about his change in direction from acting to music - stick with it as Jackie then introduces NCDW and both Mark and Kyle talk about career change. You can listen to the Podcast at https://zipper.australianbusiness.com.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.2dayfm.com.au/shows/kyleandjackieo/listen/podcasts (The Kyle and Jackie O Show - Thursday August 28 2008).
Until next time
Melody
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Innovative Options for Recruitment - 2008
Hello there,
In the Northern Beaches where I work as a Regional Industry Careers Adviser we are holding a Jobs Fair (19 September 2008 9.00am-12.00pm@ Dee Why RSL, for those who are interested to have a look).
This is an innovative approach to assisting business in the region to meet with local jobseekers and make a work-match!
The region suffers from chronic skills and labour shortages brought about by many businesses sitting ' under the radar' of most jobseekers due to a perception that there are no good jobs in the region.
To date the committee has registered 42 businesses and these companies between them are offering over 150 jobs.
These are from all industry sectors and range from entry level school based traineeships,
traineeships, apprenticeships and cadetships, mature age retraining jobs and university qualified jobseekers in middle management.
There is something for everyone.
Your child is in an enviable position as s/he moves through to their first work choice. There will be many more positions available to work in than there will be people to fill the positions due to the retirement of many of the baby boomers (those hitting retirement age) over the next few years.
If you child likes where you live and wants to stay in the district one of the ways of finding out what's happening is to attend events like the Northern Beaches Jobs Fair. At present this is an innovative approach to recruiting but keep your eyes and ears open, there will be many more before we hit 2012, as business try to keep there doors open and attract young people into their companies.
Innovation along with a known brand name in business is what will attract your child to check out the company.
Your child's peer group will have a lot of sway when it comes to work, so be prepared to offer very good reasons as to why working with a less profiled company has benefits.
If you can offer reasons such as
In the Northern Beaches where I work as a Regional Industry Careers Adviser we are holding a Jobs Fair (19 September 2008 9.00am-12.00pm@ Dee Why RSL, for those who are interested to have a look).
This is an innovative approach to assisting business in the region to meet with local jobseekers and make a work-match!
The region suffers from chronic skills and labour shortages brought about by many businesses sitting ' under the radar' of most jobseekers due to a perception that there are no good jobs in the region.
To date the committee has registered 42 businesses and these companies between them are offering over 150 jobs.
These are from all industry sectors and range from entry level school based traineeships,
traineeships, apprenticeships and cadetships, mature age retraining jobs and university qualified jobseekers in middle management.
There is something for everyone.
Your child is in an enviable position as s/he moves through to their first work choice. There will be many more positions available to work in than there will be people to fill the positions due to the retirement of many of the baby boomers (those hitting retirement age) over the next few years.
If you child likes where you live and wants to stay in the district one of the ways of finding out what's happening is to attend events like the Northern Beaches Jobs Fair. At present this is an innovative approach to recruiting but keep your eyes and ears open, there will be many more before we hit 2012, as business try to keep there doors open and attract young people into their companies.
Innovation along with a known brand name in business is what will attract your child to check out the company.
Your child's peer group will have a lot of sway when it comes to work, so be prepared to offer very good reasons as to why working with a less profiled company has benefits.
If you can offer reasons such as
- more flexible learning opportunities
- opportunities to move ahead more quickly
- get a broader level of experience sooner
These reasons should work wonders!
This is where your understanding of the workplace can shine.
Till next time,
Melody
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Juice on Jobs!
Hello there
The Australian Government has funded a lot of websites to assist your child to find out just what they would like to do as the first of their future careers. (Remember your son or daughter is likely to have as many as 5 complete careers changes and quite a few more jobs as they train and grow.)
One of these is www.jobjuice.gov.au.
But don't just let your child have a look at it - there is a lot of information here for parents, careers advisers and career mentors
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au/news-and-events/Resources+-+For+Career+Counsellors+and+people+that+work+with+young+people.htm
And yes there is even a section for you if you wish to get back into the workforce yourself!
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au/extra-assistance/employment-preparation-for-parents.htm
Till next time
Melody
The Australian Government has funded a lot of websites to assist your child to find out just what they would like to do as the first of their future careers. (Remember your son or daughter is likely to have as many as 5 complete careers changes and quite a few more jobs as they train and grow.)
One of these is www.jobjuice.gov.au.
But don't just let your child have a look at it - there is a lot of information here for parents, careers advisers and career mentors
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au/news-and-events/Resources+-+For+Career+Counsellors+and+people+that+work+with+young+people.htm
And yes there is even a section for you if you wish to get back into the workforce yourself!
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au/extra-assistance/employment-preparation-for-parents.htm
Till next time
Melody
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